Category Archives: travel

Krakow, Poland, travel

Ultimate Krakow Guide: 35 things what to do in Krakow

Krakow, the cultural capital of Poland, is one of the most beautiful and lively cities in Europe. With its charming Old Town, fascinating history and friendly people, there is always something to see and do in Krakow. We lived in Krakow for three years and this city grew close to our hearts, it is our second home.
If you are planning a trip to this wonderful city, in this article you will find everything you need to know before your trip to Krakow.

How to travel to Krakow

Krakow is an ideal weekend trip by car from Slovakia. It is not only a destination to visit some of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the world, but there is also a lot to see in the summer.

You can travel to Krakow comfortably by car, but also by train, bus or plane. We often traveled up and down between Krakow and Slovakia, and Flixbus is the best price and time solution. But you can also get to Krakow by train (the most frequent transfer is via the Czech Republic). The journey by car takes about 5 hours and you don’t even need a Polish highway stamp.

 

Where to stay in Krakow

You can find nice accommodation in hotels, hostels or rooms in the city centre and in the surrounding area. I recommend searching for hotels on Booking.com and apartments or rooms on Airbnb. If I had to choose where to stay in Krakow, it would definitely be the historic district of Kazimierz, where there are also many restaurants, cafes and bars.

Take a look on accommodation in Kazimierz:

 



Booking.com

How to move around the city

As in any major city, you can move around the city in several ways.

Take a walk

Krakow is a beautiful city with many historical buildings, monuments and attractions in close proximity. Walking is a great way to explore a city and soak up its atmosphere. You will discover beautiful streets, small romantic businesses or interesting buildings. Most of the attractions in the city centre are easily accessible on foot.

Public transport

Krakow has an extensive public transport network, including buses and trams. You can buy tickets at most kiosks or machines at bus and tram stops. Tickets are valid for a certain time depending on the type of ticket purchased. You can also pay by card in most machines.

 

I recommend the Jakdojade app for public transport schedules. You can find all connections and stops there.

Taxi

Taxis are widely available in Krakow and relatively cheap compared to other European cities. We most often used Uber or Bolt, because you can set the exact location in the application and you don’t have to call anywhere or look for a taxi in the city.

 

Read more travel guides from Poland.

48 hours in Poznan. What to do in polish city you will fall in love with.

Tip for weekend trip: Moving sand dunes in Poland

 

Rent a bike or scooter

Renting bicycles or scooters is becoming increasingly popular in Krakow and is a great way to explore the city at your own pace. There are many bicycle rental stations in the city, all you need is a mobile phone and an app.

There are cycle routes throughout the city, which you can use to safely travel around Krakow. I used such a rented bicycle to go to work or shopping in the morning. You get on at one station and put your bike down at the other. It’s even easier with scooters, just find the nearest one in the app and you can leave it almost anywhere. You can try the Lime app, for example.

Private tours

If you want to explore Krakow with a guide, you can find them at every turn in Krakow. Just enter the city centre and you will be offered guides on small carts who will take you to the most beautiful sights of the city.

 

What food to try in Krakow

Krakow is a great place to discover new tastes. The city offers a diverse culinary scene, from traditional Polish cuisine to international cuisine, and has plenty of options to suit all tastes and budgets.

Here are some of the best Polish dishes in Krakow:

Pierogi

Similar to Slovak dumplings, they come in different fillings such as meat, cheese, potatoes and cabbage. You can find them in most Polish restaurants.

Bigos and Zurek

Bigos is a hearty, traditional Polish stew made from sauerkraut, meat and various spices. Zurek is a sour rye soup usually served in a bread bowl. It is a delicious and filling meal. Both are ideal food for cold winter days.

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Zapiekanka

It’s a popular street food that’s similar to pizza, but instead of pizza dough, it’s made with a baguette. It is usually served with mushrooms, cheese and other toppings. We dream about a casserole quite often, and the best one is in the very heart of the historic district of Kazimierz. Endzior is strategically located among the bars in the city and in small windows they sell the best zapiekanki. Just choose the best combination of flavours.

Krakowskie pączki

Every February, Poland lives on donuts – the Tlusty Czwartek holiday is the day when 10 million donuts are eaten in Poland. And that’s also why you’ll find some of the best donuts in Krakow. Be sure to visit one of the best donut shops in Krakow – Stara Pączkarnia or Gorące Pączki.

 

Ice cream

Poles love ice cream. They can stand in long lines for good ice cream in winter and summer. That is also why you will find many excellent ice cream shops in Krakow. If you like ice cream, be sure not to miss some of these places:

  • Good Lood – The ice cream parlor offers homemade ice cream with a wide range of flavors. Their ice cream is made from natural ingredients and they also offer vegan and lactose-free options.
  • Lodziarnia Starowka – Located in the heart of the Old Town, this ice cream parlor offers a wide selection of ice cream flavors, from classic vanilla to more unique ones like gingerbread or lavender.
  • La Rotisserie – This French-style bakery and ice cream shop offers artisanal ice cream made with high-quality ingredients. Their ice cream flavors include pistachio, hazelnut and strawberry, among others.
  • Krowarzywa – This vegan burger restaurant also offers vegan coconut milk ice cream. Their ice cream flavors include chocolate, vanilla and raspberry.
  • Limoncello – This Italian-style gelateria offers delicious gelato in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, hazelnut and pistachio.

 

Craft beers

Just as you can find excellent wine in Moravia, you can also find excellent craft beer in Krakow. Forget Zywiec, Lech and Tyskie. Throughout the city you will find many breweries offering craft beers of various tastes, quality and strength.  Make sure to visit one of our favourite breweries:

  • Omerta Pub: This cozy pub is known for its excellent selection of craft beers from local breweries, as well as some international options. It is located in the heart of the old town and has a relaxed atmosphere.
  • House of Beer: With over 200 different types of draft and bottled beer, House of Beer is a great place to try a variety of craft beers. They also offer beer tastings and have experienced staff to help you choose your beer.
  • Strefa Piwa: This craft beer bar has a rotating selection of beers from small Polish breweries, as well as a few international options.
  • C.K. Browar: This brewery and restaurant in the center of Krakow is a great place to try local craft beers. They offer a variety of beers and cook traditional Polish dishes.
    Weźże Krafta: With an ever-changing selection of craft beers on tap and in bottles at Weźże Krafta, you’ll find great beer and atmosphere.

 

Where to eat in Krakow

Krakow is a city famous for its rich history, vibrant culture and delicious cuisine. The city has a thriving culinary scene that combines traditional Polish flavours with modern influences. As you explore the city, you’ll find a variety of dining options, from cozy cafes and street food stalls to upscale restaurants and trendy bars.

To help you navigate this culinary landscape, we’ve put together a Krakow food guide. This guide will introduce you to some of our favourite restaurants in the city. Whether you’re a foodie looking to explore the latest gastronomic trends or simply want to savour the flavours of Krakow, this guide has something for everyone.

 

What to do in Krakow

Krakow is a beautiful city and we fell in love with it not only because of the good food, rich history and amazing architecture. We were in the city as tourists, locals, but also as guides for our family and friends. And that’s why we’ve listed some of the best things to see and do in Krakow.

The main square – Rynek Glowny

The Main Square is the heart of Krakow’s Old Town and is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. It is surrounded by historical buildings, cafes and restaurants. In winter, Christmas market is held here, and during the year you can visit the year-round Sukiennice market in the center of the square.

 

Our tip: If you want to have a view of the city from the mountain, try the cafe on the roof of the music school Metrum Retrobistro.

Ul. Sw. Tomasza 43, Krakow

At Rynek Glowny Square, don’t forget to wait for the trumpeter who plays the trumpet every hour in the window of the Mariacki Basilica. The church is beautiful inside and out. Unfortunately, you will often find a long line of people waiting to see inside.

Another of the monuments on the main square is Eros Bendato. The statue referred to as “The Head” – has become a popular tourist spot. Visitors come to admire the interesting work of the artist Mitoraj, which depicts Eros, the Greek god of love and desire, with his head resting horizontally on the ground.

If you are interested in museums on the main square in Krakow, you will find one immediately underground – Rynek Podziemny. Don’t miss the museums and galleries in Krakow if you have at least a little time to spare. Most, including this underground one, are interactive, modern and interesting.

From Rynek Glowny, walk through the streets of the city up to Wawel Castle.

Wavel castle

Wawel Castle is located on a hill overlooking Krakow and is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. It dates back to the 14th century and was the seat of Polish kings for centuries. The rock itself, on which Wawel is located, is estimated by scientists to be 150 million years old. From the courtyard there is a beautiful view of the Vistula River and its surroundings.

If walking around the castle courtyard is not enough for you, you can also look into the official rooms that were used to receive important visitors or into the private royal apartments and the jewelry and armory.

But one of the most popular attractions of Wawel Castle is located below the castle. You will find a fire-breathing dragon here.

Why a dragon?

According to legend, there used to be a dangerous dragon in the rock on the hill, which began to terrorize the inhabitants of the city. They had to give him part of the crops and livestock every week, and in return he did not attack them. If they didn’t have enough food, they had to sacrifice a couple of virgins, which he then ate.

 

Booking.com

However, King Krak wanted to end this suffering and asked his sons to trick the dragon somehow and drive him away, or kill him. They agreed to fill one of his cowhides with sulfur. When it was thrown to him, he thought it was meat and swallowed it at once.

Sulfur ate his whole insides and the dragon was defeated. However, one of the brothers was greedy and his sibling Krak II. murdered, claimed victory over the dragon. His deception was later discovered and the city was named Krakow in honour of his dead brother.

 

Kazimierz

This historic Jewish quarter is now a popular tourist area of Krakow with plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants. It is also home to several synagogues and Jewish cemeteries that are worth exploring. You can reach this part of the city by going from Wawel Castle around the dragon, still along the river. It is a very nice walk or bike ride.

 

What to see in Kazimierz:

Wander through the alleys

Kazimierz is a beautiful neighbourhood that you can explore on foot. Stroll the winding streets and take in the sights and sounds of the vibrant community. There are many local shops, businesses and historic buildings. My favourite neighbourhood for a Sunday walk or nightlife.

Old Synagogue

It is one of the oldest synagogues in Poland and is located in the heart of Kazimierz. Today, the building houses the Jewish Museum, which shows the life of Jews in Poland.

Remuh Synagogue

This is an active synagogue and is one of the most beautiful in Kazimierz. It is also the final resting place of Rabbi Moses Isserles, an eminent Jewish scholar.

Jewish cemetery

This cemetery is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Poland and you should definitely not miss it if you are interested in more Jewish history.

Plac Nowy

This square is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. It is known for its lively atmosphere and famous food stalls serving traditional Polish dishes such as pierogi and kielbasa. You can also find the best baked goods here. 🙂

 

Go on a street-art tour

Kazimierz is known for its vibrant street art scene, and there are several tours that offer guided street art tours of the neighbourhood. Even if you are not a big fan of this art, at least check out the street art on Plac Bawół 3.

Try some traditional Jewish food

Kazimierz is home to several restaurants that serve traditional Jewish dishes such as matzo soup, gefilte fish and challah bread. The most popular restaurants can be found on Szeroka Street, where you will feel as if you have traveled back in time.

Enjoy the night life

Kazimierz is known for its lively nightlife, with plenty of bars and clubs to suit different tastes and preferences. If you want to go out in the evening in Krakow, definitely go to Kazimierz. Overall, Kazimierz is a beautiful and historic neighbourhood with a rich Jewish heritage and is definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in history and culture.

Get lost in secondhand shops

Podgórze

From the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, go to the Podgórze district. It is a part of the city that is separated by the Vistula River and the most popular pedestrian crossing is the Kładka Ojca Bernatka. A modern bridge for pedestrians decorated with sculptures of acrobats by the artist Jerzy Kędzior.

From there, head to one of the most photogenic churches in Krakow – Kościół św. Józefa. Behind the church, you can relax in the park Bednarskiego w Krakowie, where you can observe the fearless squirrels running around the park.

If you are looking for an interesting place to take photos, try Kolorowe schody, which is located in a hidden Tatrzańska alley near Kościół św. Józefa.

Rainbow stairs

Visit the Schindler Factory Museum: This museum is located near the park and is definitely worth a visit. It tells the story of Oskar Schindler and his efforts to save the lives of Jewish workers during World War II. If you are going to visit the Auschwitz concentration camp, I do not recommend visiting Schindler’s factory either, it would be too much misery for one weekend.

Schindler’s Factory is a very interesting museum, but book your tickets well in advance as it tends to sell out.

On your way to Schindler’s factory, don’t miss a visit to my favourite caffee.

Take a break at Handelek bakery – my favorite place for breakfast, coffee, brunch. I love their concept of simplicity, local ingredients and tradition. If you taste some pastries from Handelka, you won’t want to leave. You can find them at Slusarska Street 9.

And now we get to the part that is not visited by so many tourists. If you are up to your neck in crowds, hop on the tram and let yourself be taken to the Podgórze SKA stop.

From here you can reach one of the mysterious Kraków hills – Kopiec Kraka. Legend has it that the mound is the final resting place of King Kraków – the founder of Krakow. Everything you need to know about the Krakow Mound can be found in this article.

If you are interested in dark tourism and are not afraid, you can also try urbex in Krakow. The old, abandoned Plaszow labor camp, where the film Schindler’s List was filmed, is also located near the Krakow Mound.

Kopiec Kościuszki is another of such mounds like the Kraka Mound. Although it is on the other side of the city, it is a very nice walk through nature. You will have a view of the other side of Krakow, and on top you can enjoy a coffee in a cafe with a view. If you want to climb to the top of the hill, you have to pay an entrance fee.

Kopiec Kraka
View from Kopiec Kraka

Unusual activities in Krakow to do

Krakow is a city rich in history and culture, offering visitors a wide range of attractions, from stunning architecture and historical monuments to excellent cafes and restaurants. However, if you are looking for something a little unusual, there are also unconventional places in Krakow that will take you off the beaten track.

Pijalnia wodky i piwa

Pijalnia wodky i piwa is a popular concept in Poland, which combines the two most popular alcoholic beverages in the country – vodka and beer. Literally translated, it means “place for drinking vodka and beer”. One of the main attractions of the pub is its affordability. Drinks are served in small glasses or bottles, which means they are relatively cheap.

Another unique feature of the pub is the atmosphere. These places are often decorated in a traditional style with wooden furniture, dim lighting and sometimes live music. It creates a cozy atmosphere.

One of the most popular drinks in the pub is “strong” beer. This beer is stronger than regular beer, with an alcohol content of around 7-9%. It is usually served in small bottles or glasses and often with a shot of vodka. Another favorite in the pub is a shot of vodka. It is 0.2 ml of flavored vodka. The most common flavors are cherry, raspberry and lime, but you can also find, for example, monte. Pijalnia vodky i piwa is not just a place for drinking and eating, it is a cultural experience. If you ever visit Krakow, be sure to stop here.

Pinball museum

Located in the heart of the city, the Krakow Pinball Museum is a nostalgic tribute to the golden age of pinball and arcade games, offering visitors the chance to play over 100 vintage pinball machines and classic arcade games. The owners have been collecting slot machines for over two decades. They have amassed an impressive collection of machines from the 1960s to the present, including rare and unique machines found nowhere else in the world.

Have a coffee in the company of bunnies or cats

If you don’t want to just sit in a cafe without company, be sure to visit a cafe where you can drink coffee in the company of animals. The first cafe with bunnies in Europe – Bunny Café – was opened in Krakow. If you want to play with the bunnies in their enclosure, you pay an entrance fee of PLN 19.90. In addition to the fact that the cafe is special for its four-legged companions, its decor is also unusual – it is all pink.

Another cafe where you can enjoy the company of male companions is the cat cafe Kocia Kawiarnia – Kociarnia. If you’re a cat lover, you’ll definitely love it. The cafe bakes its own cookies, you drink a good klava here and there will be cats all around you.

 

Krakil – Museum of Illusions

The Museum of Illusions in Krakow is the right stop for anyone interested in the fascinating world of optical illusions. The museum has more than 70 exhibits. From a room where visitors seem to change size, to an infinite room where mirrors create an infinite illusion of space.

Entrance fee for adults is PLN 55.

 

You can visit Krakow at any time of the year and there will always be something to do. You will surely enjoy yourself in this city and you will want to come back here. If you fell in love with this city as much as we did, discover other Polish cities with us, such as Poznań.

For more inspiration to travel take a look on another articles or follow me on instagram @tina_twovelers. 

 

 

Spain, travel

Exploring the Beauty of Malaga: A guide to the city’s best places

Malaga is a beautiful city located on the southern coast of Spain. With its Mediterranean climate, stunning beaches, and vibrant culture, it’s no wonder Malaga is a popular destination for travelers from around the world. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach getaway or an exciting nightlife, Malaga has something to offer everyone. Here’s a look at some of the top attractions and activities you can enjoy while visiting this amazing city.

How to travel from airport to city center

To get from the airport to the city of Malga, the easiest way would be to take a taxi or a ride-sharing service (cost cca 55€). If you’re on a budget, you could also take the public bus or train. The bus stop and train stop are located just outside the airport and the ride takes approximately 30 minutes. It’s important to remember that you will need to purchase a ticket before boarding.. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter or from the automated vending machines.

The cost of the train from the airport to the center of the city or the bus terminal (Maria Zambrano station) is 1.80 €. You can take a look on timetable of Airport trains to make sure you catch one.

WHAT TO DO IN MALAGA

Malaga is a beautiful city  with plenty of attractions and activities for travelers of all ages. Here are some of the top things to do in Malaga.

Take a hike up Mount Gibralfaro for picturesque views

Mount Gibralfaro is a stunning mountain located on the top of the hill near the city center. It stands at an impressive 771 meters above sea level and is an iconic part of the city’s skyline. It has a rich history and is the site of the ancient Gibralfaro Castle, built in the 14th century by the Moorish rulers of the region. The castle is a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors making the trek up the mountain to see its impressive views of the city below. The mountain is also home to a large park, which is perfect for a leisurely stroll or a picnic. Mount Gibralfaro is a beautiful part of Malaga and a must-see for any visitor to the city.

 

Be prepared that the road to the castle is really slippery. Road is made by stones, which were walked so many times that it became really slippery during the years.

Visit the Alcazaba, an 11th century Moorish fortress

The Alcazaba of Malaga is one of the most stunning landmarks in the city. It is a hilltop fortress that was built in the 11th century as a military stronghold in order to protect the city from possible invasions. It is an impressive sight, with almost 3 km of walls, towers and palaces, which are all made of red brick, and stand out against the blue sky. Inside the walls, there are several gardens, courtyards and a cistern, as well as the remains of the old palace. Visitors can also explore the archaeological site, which includes the remains of the old Roman theater and the old Moorish bathhouse. The fortress is a great place to explore, with its stunning views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. It is also one of the most important historical sites in Malaga, and a great place to learn about the city’s past.

Take a look on tickets, because you can save some money by purchasing ticket for both The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro entrance instead of paying twice.

 

 

 

 

Take a look on another interesting places we visited

Weekend in Budapest – what to do for two days in the capital of Hungary

Via ferrata in Slovak Paradise. Adventure you will never forget.

 

Spend a day at the beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying the beautiful Mediterranean Sea

Spending a day at the beach in Malaga is always a treat. The sun is shining, the water is sparkling, and the sand is soft and inviting. There are plenty of activities to do, such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and jet skiing. Or, if you just want to relax, take a stroll along the shoreline and soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere. There are plenty of beach bars and restaurants along the waterfront, so you can enjoy some delicious tapas and a drink while you take in the stunning views. Once you’ve had your fill of beach lounging, don’t forget to explore the old town of Malaga, with its winding streets and Moorish architecture. It’s a great way to end a perfect day at the beach!

 

Mediterrian Sea in Malaga is not as warm as you would expect. Water during August was still quite cold, but we still enjoyed the sun.
Beautifull day at the beach

Visit Mercado Central de Atarazanas – market with delicious local food

Mercado Central de Atarazanas in Malaga is a beautiful market located in the heart of the city. It is a vibrant, bustling place full of life, culture, and tradition. This market has been in operation since the 13th century and offers an array of fresh produce, seafood, meats, spices, and more. The market is a great place to go to buy the freshest ingredients, while also experiencing the culture of Malaga. The market also features a variety of traditional products, such as pottery, leather goods, and handmade jewelry. Visitors can also find a variety of restaurants and cafés in the market, offering tasty regional specialties. With its vibrant atmosphere, Mercado Central de Atarazanas in Malaga is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the city.

 

Fall in love with local cousine

Malaga  is known for its flavorful and delicious cuisine. From classic tapas dishes like patatas bravas and croquetas to fresh seafood like paella and espetos de sardinas, Malaga has a wide variety of options to offer. Whether you’re looking for a casual lunch spot or a formal dining experience, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your taste buds. Be sure to try some of the typical dishes like gazpacho, salmorejo, and boquerones for an unforgettable culinary experience. With its abundance of fresh produce, Malaga also has a great selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes to choose from. From its traditional flamenco to its vibrant nightlife, Malaga is a city that offers something for everyone, including its flavorful and delicious food

 

Tina

 
 
Our recommendations for the great culinary experience in Malaga:

Malaga offers something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday or a cultural experience, Malaga has it all. With its year-round mild climate and stunning scenery, it is no wonder Malaga is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists from all over the world. So why not take the opportunity to explore this wonderful city and make some unforgettable memories?

travel, Uncategorized

Weekend in Budapest – what to do for two days in the capital of Hungary

On the first weekend of March, we went to the capital of Hungary to celebrate birthday. Budapest is an excellent place for a weekend trip, its center extends over the two former cities of Buda (west of the Danube) and Pest (east of the Danube). Most of the sights are within walking distance, but count on the fact that you will find your way around. Can’t decide which places to visit? Here’s our guide to spending a weekend in Budapest.

Friday evening in Budapest

We started our trip exploring the nightlife and having a drink in the famous VI. area, which is also called “Budapest party district”. Király Street is the busiest nightlife district in the city. There are dozens of cafes, pubs, nightclubs and bars in this area. In addition to Király street, there are also wonderful places on Wesselényi, Akácfa and Kazinczy streets. For dinner, we immediately tasted Hungarian langosz at the Karaván yard, where there are food trucks with food from all over the world. We also recommend trying the langosz burger, which was surprisingly low in fat and very tasty. You can choose from different types of meat and they also put their Hungarian bryndza in the burger, which was much weaker than our Slovak one.

Saturday

For such a short trip, we chose a hotel with breakfast so that we wouldn’t leave the hotel hungry, as we like to start our exploration of the city early in the morning.

Fisherman’s Bastion

We started our journey from the Elizabeth bridge, from which you have a view of both sides of the city. Go to the Buda area and take a walk along the river to the Fisherman’s Bastion. Along the way, you can stop at the Hungarian National Gallery, which shows the history of Hungarian art from Renaissance stonework to remarkable sculptures from the 20th century. You can get to the Fisherman’s Bastion through the winding streets on your own, or you can take the cable car, which is one of the oldest land railways in the world, for only 1400 forints (3.8 e).

The fishing bastion is open 24/7 and offers a wonderful view of the other part of the city – Pest. It is one of the busiest monuments in Budapest and very “insta friendly”. People wake up early in the morning just so that it is empty and they can take beautiful photos. But you can enjoy the view from here during the day, but also in the evening when the whole city is lit up.

Buda Castle

We continued along the top of the hill on which the Fisherman’s Bastion stands to the presidential palace, near which is the exit from the cable car. From there we continued to Buda Castle. During the entire walk, you will be accompanied by the view of the other side of the river.

Gellért Spa

From the Buda Castle, we returned to the river again and walked to the Gellért Baths, which are the most famous thermal baths in Budapest. They were opened already in 1918, so a piece of history breathed on us. We tried all 10 pools of different sizes and temperatures and during the winter it was a nice variety of the trip. The spa is open every day from 9:00 to 20:00 and you can spend the whole day here. Tickets can be bought online, but also on the spot.

Liberty Bridge

The Gellért baths are located right across from the famous Liberty Bridge. The Liberty Bridge connects both parts of Budapest – Buda and Pest, and at the same time connects two sought-after places – Gellért Baths and the Market Square. This bridge is the shortest bridge in the center of Budapest. It was originally built as part of the Millennium World Exhibition in the 19th century and is still in use today. The bridge is one of the “instagram friendly” places in Budapest, you will find many people trying to take the best shot.

The Great Market

We walked across the bridge to our favorite part of any trip, the market. The Great Market (Nagyvásárcsarnok in Hungarian) is an experience for all food lovers. It is divided into three floors. Most of the stalls on the ground floor offer local produce, meats, pastries, candies, spices and spirits. Here you will find paprika, Tokaj wine and sausage. On the second mezzanine there are restaurants and tourist souvenirs. In the basement there are fish shops and stalls with canned vegetables. Be sure to visit the basement and take a look at the smiling canned peppers.

The Great Market is open from Monday to Saturday from 6:00 AM. It closes at 5:00 p.m. on Mondays, 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays to Fridays, and at 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

We were so tired after swimming that we didn’t continue sightseeing, but ended our day with a good meal. If you find a specific restaurant where you want to have dinner on the weekend, we recommend that you make a reservation, because the good places are usually full. On the way to the hotel, we couldn’t do it and had to try a Hungarian street food called Tölcsibe. The food caught our attention mainly because of its unconventional serving – in a salty cone. It looked like we bought a large ice cream cone filled with lettuce. They have different meat versions, but the Tölcsibe version with jackfruit caught our attention. We didn’t have time to take a proper photo of anything, so take a look at their Instagram, maybe this streed food novelty will interest you. 🙂

Where to go next:

Tip for weekend trip: Moving sand dunes in Poland

Via ferrata in Slovak Paradise. Adventure you will never forget.

Sunday

A walk along the Danube and the parliament building

We kept a part of the city of Pest for Sunday exploring. We started with a walk along the Danube river, which led us to the parliament building, which we had only been looking at from a distance the whole previous day. It is a really huge building, approximately 40 million bricks were used for its construction. The red carpet inside is almost 3 kilometers long and you can enter the building through up to 27 doors.

You can look at it from the outside and find out if there really are as many towers as there are days of the year, but also from the inside. Tickets can be purchased online.

Monument with shoes

Right next to the parliament building is an inconspicuous monument with shoes. The monument on the bank of the Danube commemorates the inhabitants of Budapest who were murdered during the Second World War. The victims were shot on the bank of the river so that their bodies would fall into the water and be washed away by the water there. Before they were shot, they had to take off their clothes and shoes, this is what the monument reminds of.

Basilica of St. Stefan

We continued walking in Kossuth Lajos square, where we were surrounded by other magnificent buildings – the Museum of Ethnography or the building of the Ministry of Agriculture. We reached the Basilica of St. Stephen (Saint Stephen’s Basilica). It is the largest Roman Catholic temple in Budapest and its monumental dome can be seen from a great distance.

Our stomachs had other plans, so we stopped for some delicious pho bo at Oriental Soup House. This is the end of our trip in Budapest, but we still have some tips for you from friends that we didn’t use.

  • Driving around Margit Island, which is in the middle of the Danube, in small cars
  • Visit the pinball museum and play old school games
  • See Budapest from a boat that travels along the Danube
  • Visit one of the ruin bars in the center, which have a very specific vibe

When visiting Budapest, don’t hesitate to buy a ticket for public transport, because otherwise you’ll be walking around a lot. Enjoy your trip and fill your belly with Hungarian specialties. 🙂

Tina

Austria, travel

Hiking with dog in Austria. Rax mountain in Vienna Alps is the perfect place for dog-friendly trip.

We traditionally celebrated my birthdays in another country. I dreamed of mountains, a fireplace and nature, and so we went to Austria with our four-legged partner Balu.
Lower Austria is an ideal destination if you want to spend time in dense forests and mountains, but don’t want to travel too far from Vienna. Only an hour from Vienna you will find the Vienna Alps, which are nicknamed the “Paradise of views” due to their wonderful alpine panorama and are a popular skiing destination in winter. We went here in autumn, but we will definitely come back here at another time of the year.

The Vienna Alps

Only a two-hour drive from Bratislava, vineyards disappear and high hills begin, offering beautiful views and alpine terrain. The Viennese Alps in Lower Austria are visited by tourists all year round. In winter, skiing or cross-country skiing is mainly done here on the 100 kilometer long Wechsel – Semmering panoramic track. In the summer, you can go on many hiking or cycling routes. We went in the fall, when the music festival season is over and we can enjoy the weekend together.

In the Viennese Alps, get ready for hills, roads full of twists and turns, but also for beautiful views and lots of grazing with animals. The most famous tourist spot is Semmering, but you can also find accommodation in small villages and towns in the vicinity. We stayed in the village of Trattenbach with very nice people who even baked us a welcome cake.

Tip for dog friendly accomodation

We stayed in the Ferienhaus Bauer in the village of Trattenbach, under the forest and next to a gurgling stream. If you are looking for peace, a fireplace, a terrace with a view of the mountains and good internet, this is the right place. We loved it there, we even had a small yard where the dog could run in the morning while we enjoyed breakfast on the terrace. To welcome us, the lady of the house baked a cake and lit a fire in the fireplace.

There are also many other places where you can stay with your dog and these are our top pick:

Rax Mountains

The Rax mountain range is a popular excursion destination near Semmering. Raxalpe with its highest peak Heukuppe (2,007 m) is located approximately 150-180 km from Bratislava. The peak provides beautiful views of the rest of the Viennese Alps, the peaks of Schneealpe, Hochschwab and Schneeberg can be seen in the distance. A cable car will take you to the top of the Rax mountain range.

How to travel to Rax

How do you get to Rax?
The Rax cable car leaves from the Hirschwang district in Reichenau an der Rax and takes you to the mountain station at an altitude of 1600 m in just 8 minutes. A number of diverse hikes with unique views lead from here. There is a parking lot right next to the cable car station where you can park your car for free.

If you decide to travel by train, you will have to change trains. From Vienna, the train goes to the station Payerbach-Reichenau and from there the regional bus 341 takes about 15 minutes to the Hirschwang Raxseilbahn stop. The journey from Vienna takes about 2 hours.

Cable Car

The journey on the oldest cable car in Austria will take you only 8 minutes and you will reach a height of 1600m. The cable car runs every day, you can go here for both summer and winter hiking. Take a look on the current timetable before your trip.

You may be surprised by the price of this short ride, but you will be driving very quickly to a great height. In September 2022, we paid 29€ for the cable car for a return trip. You can choose just one route and go to the top on your own. Tickets can be bought online so you know exactly when the cable car will take you up. During the summer/winter season, this will ensure that you get to the cable car, as it is quite a busy place.

If you decide to walk to Rax and not use the cable car, park at the Preiner Gscheid parking lot and the route leads to the top from there.

If you buy cable car tickets online, don’t forget to exchange them for physical tickets at the checkout. You will not be allowed in the cable car without tickets from the ticket office.

Cable car to Rax with a dog

If we go out into nature, we almost always take our dog with us. Dogs are welcome on the Rax cable car and in the national park.

The dog also needs a ticket. We paid 9€ for the ride, it doesn’t matter how big your dog is. Every dog must be muzzled and on a lead. If you forgot your muzzle, they have many sizes to rent right in the building from where the cable car departs. The spaces of the cable car are quite cramped, you all stand there together and the dog will not have much space for himself. Rax is a popular trip for many dog walkers, so think about whether your dog can handle this side of the trip.

Take a look on our trips around Europe

Moving sand Dunes in Poland. The best weekend trip.

Via ferrata in Slovak Paradise. Adventure you will never forget.

Routes on the Rax mountain range

After arriving at the top, snowy or green alpine meadows, magical views and healthy mountain air will await you. The interesting thing about this trip to Rax is, that the road leads from past the mountain huts. In the cottages there are restaurants with traditional Austrian food, they tap you beer, have a toilet and you can also sleep there. They even have buffets for dogs with water and small snacks (free).

Along with the ticket, you will also receive a map on which all the huts and the routes to them are marked. You can choose which way to go and how far. The Ottohaus Hut is the first hut right after the mountain station. You can enjoy the view of the Schneeberg mountain all the way.
Next, you can determine your own route. You can choose just an easy 10 km walk, or you can go all the way to the top to the Karl Ludwig Haus. Don’t forget that the weather here changes very quickly, one moment we were here in t-shirts and the next in a winter jacket.

If you want to end your trip before you have a cable car ticket, you can simply rebook it at the machine at the mountain station. If there are no free seats, just simply wait, the cable car employees announce before each boarding how many free seats there are, so you can get down earlier.

All routes are clearly marked. You can use a paper map or the Am Wiener Alpenbogen app. or Mapy.cz also works here, just don’t forget the offline version, because we didn’t have a signal on the hills almost the entire time.

With the dog on top of the hill

Most of the routes are completely manageable even with a dog. You will mostly walk along gravel roads or meadows. But there are also sections with chains, or those that are very close to the cliff. Our dog Baloo is not scared of heights and is really curios , so we avoid such sections.

On the way from one mountain hut to another, we found almost no trash cans. In national parks, it is forbidden to leave dog excrement in nature, so you have to take it with you. Don’t forget to pack a box in addition to dog excrement bags, so that your whole backpack doesn’t stink. When you get to the cottage, you can throw it there.

It is also forbidden to walk in national park with an unleashed dog. The fine is up to 5 thousand Euros, if the dog is not on a leash. Therefore, don’t forget a leash with which you and your four-legged friend can go comfortably.

The trip with the dog to Rax was a very good idea and we really enjoyed it here. We will definitely return to the area, there are many beautiful places. You can follow this and many other trips on my Instagram.

I hope we have inspired you to choose to explore the Viennese Alps with your four-legged companion. See you somewhere on the roads.

Tina

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camping, Slovakia, travel

Slovakia: Traveling with campervan

During the two years since we started writing a blog, but also during those when we didn’t even own a smartphone, we slept in all sorts of places. In the tent, in the open air, in hostels but also in more luxurious hotels, in the car and on the train… but we have always wanted to try what it’s like to travel and sleep in a motorhome. We watched all sorts of videos on YouTube and thought about how these people live there and how they work in such a small space. During our last weeks since returning to Slovakia, it was not so amazing as we imagined, so we decided to “turn off” a bit and try something new and unconventional.

WHAT IS A CAMPERVAN

A campervan is a self-propelled vehicle that provides space for transport and sleeping. Campervans are divided into several types, but in this article I will write only about the built-up van that we used. Such a van differs from a caravan mainly in that it was not originally manufactured for the purpose of accommodation. It is a normal van that is converted into a motor home.

We have been following a community of people for a very long time, who work on various trips, travel and live in them. When we learned that there is couple with this kind of camper van in Hlohovec and it is possible to rent it, we did not hesitate and tried such travel and life in a small space. We borrowed a BeVan for a few days and based on our experience, this article was created.

WHAT YOU CAN FIND IN A CAMPER VAN

Each self-remodeled van is different and you will find a different layout and equipment. It depends mainly on the owners, their lifestyle and what they need for life and is the most comfortable for them. And that’s why each of these cars is unique and we also like them. You can also find more about how to live in such a van life community in the documentary on Youtube – Portrait of an Alternative Lifestyle.

The basis of this style of travel and life is minimalism, ie that you will not overcrowd the car with unnecessary things and focus on what you need as much as possible. A comfortable place to sleep and a full stomach is a priority for most people. Therefore, in the camper van you will find a bed and a place for cooking. In a small kitchen you can cook everything you can do on the stove.

Storage space is also important. Everything must have its place in the motorhome and be properly secured so that things do not fly over the entire van when traveling. You will definitely find drawers, crates, hangers and all sorts of handles in all motorhomes.

A chemical toilet is also included in most residential vans. These toilets usually differ only in location. Some cars have a built-in toilet, others have the opportunity to carry them (you can sit comfortably in the toilet on a meadow or in the woods ?)

On the other hand, you will not find an internal shower (as we have it at home) in campervans, just because of the lack of space. We used an outdoor shower (which was also with a view) where you shower outside in front of / behind the van. Unfortunately, during our trip to Orava region, it was quite cold in the spring and we did not enjoy such a shower very much.

HOW TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK OVERNIGHT

For the first time, we tried sleeping in the car a bit “wildly” in our Octavia and with the seats folded down in Slovenia. You can find more about how camping works in the article Camping in Europe step by step.

The fact that you can stop almost anywhere and immediately go to bed is a great advantage of a camper van. Its disadvantage (compared to a tent or car) is that it is not inconspicuous.

If you are planning a trip to Slovakia or abroad, we wrote down a few of our experiences that could help you plan your trip more easily and make it easier to find a place to camp.

6 apps that will make it easier for you to find a place to sleep

1. Park4night

If you don’t want to invest in camps and just want to park your car and sleep, I recommend the Park4night app, in which like-minded people like you add places where they have managed to sleep, stop, or even spend a few days. You will find rest areas, parking lots, forest paths, but also places with great views. And if you find nice places, you can add them there as well and join this community.

2. Vanlifelocation

 The Vanlifelocation application works very similarly to Park4night. It has a more beautiful design, so you can try one that will suit you better. We didn’t use it much, because there were no added places in the area where we were looking for a parking space.

3. Ioverloader

Another application that works similarly is ioverloader, in which you will find more places that are more difficult to access and where you will probably need 4 × 4.

4. Google Maps

Google Maps is the best companion for finding a place and viewing locations before you travel. You can plan your route and see on the map all sorts of side paths that could lead you to a nice place to camp. Planning a route ahead is important, because you can see what the terrain will look like and what to expect.

5. Booking.com

If you are the type of traveler who likes things planned in advance, you can also find and book campsites on the Booking.com. While searching you can filter the type of accommodation for camps.

Don’t despair if the first place fails. It’s not always easy and it happens that the place you searched for in the app or found on the map will be completely different in reality. We did not manage to park for 2 hours near the Orava dam, because it is a protected area with rare birds and you cannot drive there by car other than by road. In the end, we found a place, but precisely because we didn’t quarrel and blame ourselves for something that none of us knew before. With vanlife, it is clear that patience is a key. ?

5. Camping.info

If you don’t like sleeping “in the wild” somewhere in the woods, in a parking lot or on a meadow, camps are a great option. The camps are equipped with sanitary facilities, you can leave your car parked there without any worries for several days. Small and larger camps are scattered throughout Slovakia. You can use Google to search, or you may come across one along the way. Another great option is the camping.info application where you can search for campsites that are closest to your location.

6. Compass

The compass is an invaluable travel companion. I hate winter and love the sun, so we always tried to choose a place to sleep on the east so that we woke up in the morning in the morning and the sun shone on us from the morning. So we could enjoy the morning coffee with the warm rays of the rising sun.

How to sleep safely in a car outside the campsite

Starting a fire

In Slovakia, there is a  forests law, which generally states that setting up a fire and camping outside the designated areas is prohibited in the forest. You can not start a fire anywhere from the car if you are not in camps or campgrounds, but we think it is best not to put it on the car at all.

Protected areas and their rules

Do not forget that we also have nature protection zones in Slovakia, which are different. They are often very inconspicuously marked with signs and you may find yourself navigating a dirt road to the forest and just in front of the forest you will find an indication of which zone it is and whether you can stop here or not. Nature protection zones are divided into:

  • Zone 1 – the whole territory of Slovakia
  • Zone 2 – Protected Landscape Area (PLA)
  • 3rd-5th zone – forbidden camping and bivouacs, movement only from sunrise to sunset (for example, in TANAP in the parking lot you should not even sleep in the car – you risk a fine)
  • National reservation and monuments – the strictest prohibitions for protection

Invisible and inaudible

The best thing to do is to find a place to sleep during the day, but do not park your car immediately. During the sunset (or just after) you park your car at your night spot and it is very likely that you will not run into anyone there during the night. Remember the invisible and unheard rule. ?

Private land

In Slovakia you will find many meadows, fields and pastures, which do not have the designation “private land”, but this does not mean that they do not belong to anyone. What may seem like grass to us can be pastures for sheep, what looks like overgrown weeds can be planted herbs. Therefore, be careful where you move the car – use the paved field roads instead of crossing the field.

Wiring

The lines, which we usually don’t notice, leads through fields or forest roads, which you will probably look for when sleeping in a car. Be careful not to stop under it.

Trust your instincts

Never park on site if in doubt. Always trust your inner feeling – whether it’s a bad feeling from the place, you feel like someone is watching you, or someone is hanging around you too often. It is better not to risk anything and move elsewhere.

HOME OFFICE or NOMADS IN THE CAMPER VAN

Working every day in a different place and with beautiful views sounds like a dream. We tried it for only a few days, but we managed an interview in a van, for example, or even write this article. If you only need a computer for your work, you will usually find a table and chairs in your campervan, or you can work straight from the bed.

The van we borrowed also had a solar panel that produced electricity, so we didn’t have to worry about our laptop running out of power unexpectedly. It was enough to park in a sunny place and we had energy for the whole day.

WHAT WE LIKED IN THE CAMPER VAN

We always wanted to try how we could handle such a trip and whether we could fit there. As everything is high for me and everything is small for my boyfriend. Such travel is a great experience, because now we know that if we started to make such a car, what would we do differently and what we need.

We really liked that we can look at the beautiful views or the sunrise from the bed. After hiking, we just went to the parking lot and we could immediately relax with fresh tea or cook food. This way we also managed to save money on food in restaurants, because we could cook “at home”. This also suits me very well because for food intolerances I can’t eat everything and I don’t have to bother with preparing food for the whole day.

If you are attracted to the reconstruction of a car or such a nomadic life, we definitely recommend trying it for a few days, maybe just like us with BeVan. Marek and Veronika (owners of this van) are really nice and helpful. And you will see if you are ready for it and you will experience a new adventure. ?

If you are interested in anything, or have more questions about how it works in such a campervan, let us know, we will be happy to add it here.

Tina & Matej
Twovelers

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Poland, travel

We will (not) fly to Cambodia, or how coronavirus changed our travel plans.

We did not want to comment on coronary viruse for a long time, or we are not epidemologists, neither doctors nor scientists. We have critical thinking, we read a lot about it and trying not to panic. Think we’re not the ones to give advices on the Internet. But we been asked what will going to happen to us now. It is why I am writing this blog post, although initially there should be a full positive indication on the topic “how we quit corpo and travel”.

How did it all started?

The year 2019 was really very fast and hectic. A lot of work, a lot of money saving, less time for friends and family, but also a lot of nice travel experiences, because we have traveled whole Slovenia and Poland. We decided to marry and planned a year already (we will reveal date at the right time ?).

In December 2019, we decided that it was enough of the nomadic life between the two countries and decided to return to Slovakia. But before that, we wanted to visit our dream country – Cambodia. Go through the country, slow down, use time without computers to sort our thoughts, try a bunch of new tastes and activities, and especially fill this blog with new interesting articles.

This decision was made much before the threat of an epidemic came, now a pandemic. We recalculated everything at least 10 times, prepared for all possible financial and life situations, bought vaccinations, gave notice at work and from the apartment, planned our dream trip, we just did not add the corona virus to the equation.

Life update

Today we started packing things from the apartment that we are handing over next week, discussing whether we are going to Cambodia or not, and finally Slovakia solved it for us. The country is strictly banned and the airport in Bratislava closed just at the time when we supposed to leave.

In a week we will come to Slovakia, unpack things from the car, but we will not meet anyone and walk straight into quarantine ( is mandatory now for everyone who come from abroad). Where it will be we have to figure out with our families, because our housing in Poland ends in a few days. That is also why we have phone calls with the family that resemble a crisis session.

It’s not really our dream journey. We do not rejoice, but we are rather sad, probably as if your dream runs away. This is not the situation we have planned. But we respect it, precisely because of our families, the families of our friends and others we don’t even know, but we do care.

Immunity. Hygiene. Insulation. It is the motto of 2020.

There are ugly comments on the Internet for people returning home from abroad. Please do not hate them, do not curse them. Their lives, just like yours, are hit, and certainly, like us, they didn’t plan it that way. Be aware that these people may have no place to stay abroad, are returning from a business trip, or they may have just decided to return to their native country at the wrong time. But we, like you, are willing to close somewhere for as long as necessary.

In these difficult times, let us support one another, let us help one another. Do not spread anger on the Internet or personally. Do not be ashamed to use the veil, in some countries and in Krakow, people wear it routinely. Do not sell expensive disinfectant gels on the Internet, do not buy more than you actually consume, stay without a beer in a pub for while, and let us be asocial for a while.

We wish everyone strong nerves and especially good health.

Tina and Matej

Slovakia, travel

Via ferrata in Slovak Paradise. Adventure you will never forget.

I put my foot slowly on a piece of iron that is in a rock and I hold onto a metal rope with my hand. I know I’m locked in with two rigid carabiners, but even the loud waterfall failed to drown out my thoughts on what would happen if I fell. A little in front of me awaits my dad one and behind my back I am encouraged by Matej and my mother. I will climb to the next step, which is also the last one on this rock and realize that, despite fear of heights, I enjoy this adventure in the Slovak mountains.

Adrenaline called via ferrata

What does via ferrata mean? It is a protected road in difficult mountain terrain. Secured means that there are iron steps, fixed ropes, or ladders on this route to help you cross difficult terrain, even though you have never climbed a climbing route.

If you do not know whether you dare to such a climb, then via ferratas are divided into different degrees of difficulty. This is done using the Schall scale, where difficulty is indicated by the letters A (easy), B (medium), C (complicated), D (difficult), E (extremely difficult).

But even if you are assisted by footrests and ropes on your way through the via ferrata, you will not pass the via ferrata in flip flops. You need equipment to help you with safety.

Via ferrata equipment

As you climb the  via ferrata, a gear is rented to help you physically pass the via ferrata safely. So this equipment also helped me mentally, because I’m afraid of heights, helped me to calm down at the highest points, because I knew that nothing would happen to me.

The base is a helmet, because there are many rocks around you. It is very easy to see where you put your foot and at the same time bang your head on the protruding rock.
Other helpers are a harness and a ferrata set with a shock absorber. The via ferrata set has two ropes that end with carabiners. You can hook these carabiners onto metal belay ropes that run along the steps in the rocks.

Being afraid of heights, the equipment helped me calm down at the highest points that nothing would happen to me.

This equipment will be borrowed for a fee on entering the via ferrata, but you must bring the other part of your gear. Solid hiking shoes are a very important companion when climbing. I also recommend long pants, because it is very easy to scrub your legs off the rock. Also, the rocks in the forest are not exactly the hottest, and shaking on the rocks because you are cold will not help you very much during ascent. We said after the climb that we would also use gloves, because you are constantly holding the wet metal  rope.



Booking.com

My mom with Matej ready for adventure


I hook one carabiner on a metal rope, which I hold with one hand. I feel my knees tremble because I let my fear go further than I wanted. I take a deep breath and hook the second rope. I have a long way to go around the damp rock. This rope safety helps me more than I thought. I can still hear the snap of the metal carabiner on the metal rope that I hold, and that somehow calms me down. Two strong metals…

Via ferrata in Slovak Paradise

Since 2016, a via ferrata Kyseľ has been accessible in the Slovak Paradise National Park. You can visit it from 15 June to 31 October, the rest of the year is closed. This via ferrata Kyseľ in Slovak Paradise belongs to the group C in difficulty.

Remember that the via ferrata route goes one direction, you can only go up, so you can’t change your mind in halfway.

Beginning of the tour on via ferrata Kyseľ we started in the parking lot Čingov, where we also borrowed equipment. Entrance to the national park is 5 € and for equipment rental fee you will pay 10 €. You can borrow it from 8:00 am and must return it by 6:00 pm at the latest.

You do not have to wear the borrowed equipment immediately, because part of the via ferrata nature trail does not start in Čingov. You will have to walk through the forest for about one hour until you reach the footrest section ( Kyseľ, ústie nad Kyseľom). In the first hour you will have to cross a few wooden ladders over the brook, it is such a warm up until a real adventure comes. ?

Between climbing rocks and ladders I jump like a roe deer. The water in the stream is quite high, so we have to look for the most convenient and at the same time the driest path. I jump from stone to stone, walk on fallen stumps and hope not to drop into cold water.

Hiking really near a stream

We went on hiking early in the morning, because we wanted to avoid having to go too fast or too slow, because of the many people there. We got up early enough and by 8:00 we were ready to go.
Our hiking was planned for the whole day, because we wanted to see the Tomášovský výhľad (Tomášovský view)  in addition to the via ferrata. Our route was:

Čingov-Ďurkovec – Čingov, centrum – Biely potok, ústie – Kyseľ, ústie – Nad Kyseľom – Kláštorisko – Kláštorská roklina, ústie – Letanovský mlyn – Tomášovský výhľad – Čingov-Ďurkovec

Waterfalls and clean nature this is Slovak paradise

During the whole climb to Kláštorisko we were looking forward to cold tap Kofola and good lunch. This was all the more disappointing when we found the restaurant closed and there was an overpriced kiosk. We were very surprised and disappointed, not only the restaurant, but also dilapidated cottages in the area. Now that we live in Poland we travel quite a lot in the mountains and the surrounding area and we can feel the difference in services in Slovakia and abroad which makes us very upset. But this was the only negative side of our entire hike.

Read also other articles from our trips to nature:

Crooked forest in Poland. It this forest really so magical?

Tip for weekend trip: Moving sand dunes in Poland

The highest ascent during hike in Slovakia

Our last stop was Tomášovský view, which really warms up at the heart.

In the middle of the climb, I was grateful for strengthening my hands in the gym and I thought I was quite tired. But when we finished and stripped the gear I was sorry. I would like to continue…

Let me tell you honestly, it was quite a long hike and at the end our feet really hurt. We returned the equipment just before the office closed and immediately sat down in the nearest restaurant where we ate, a real Slovak traditional meal.

Accommodation

Many of the locals in the surrounding villages rent accommodation. Sometimes it’s just one room, or even the whole part of the house, where the whole family or group of friends can fit. Finding such accommodation is not at all difficult and at the same time you support people who live there and they can recommend many things, that are not mentioned on the Internet. ?I recommend to look for accommodation on Booking.com or Megaubytovanie.sk websites.

Happy family on the end of this adventure

Ferrata Kyseľ in Slovak Paradise was a real adventure for me. Thanks to the support of my loved ones, I overcome the fear of heights while spending good time together. Such an adventure is in my opinion a great team building activity in nature. And now I look forward to next year when we try other via ferratas in Slovakia.

Tina

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travel

Slovak fair brands for your autumn wardrobe

Autumn is already here, it is full of autumn colors outside and we are starting to pull out the warmer clothes from the closet. I always look forward to pulling my coat in the fall again, but then I look forward to packing it in the spring. But with this unpacking of autumn things, the “I have nothing to wear” crisis will come every year, or just fashion has changed so quickly since last year that we all feel like everyone is wearing new clothes. If you are trying to live more responsibly and not buy clothes from the “fast fashion” category, it is sometimes difficult to find clothes that are functional, fair and nice at the same time. I have been collecting Slovak clothing brands that meet these criteria for a long time. For the time I find out that I don’t have anything to wear either. 🙂

Lull Loungwear

I started immediately with my favorite of autumn 2019. Warm, pleasant, stylish and comfortable clothes at the same time. In addition to the design and functionality of clothing, I also share the description of their brand, which is perfect for autumn. What do you think?

“Lull introduced the world to a woman who wants to look and feel beautiful in her own world of home and wants to muffle up in her cardigan and read a book with a cup of hot tea while the rain is dripping down the closed window.”

Lull Loungewear web

Mellow

The mellow brand impressed me with its nice design, which is not only for children. You can find mainly T-shirts and socks from the clothes, but also all accessories have this fairy-tale design. And I’m already saving money for a blanket with a bear. ?

Simply grey life

Small Slovak business creating  beautiful dresses, skirts, shirts and much more are made from 100% flax. Clothing is a bit more expensive than what we can buy at the mall, but I believe that a piece of this honestly produced will last long. And those colors of autumn are great.

Twigshop

Like Simply Gray Life, this brand has 100% material, but this time it’s cotton. Stylish and timeless fashion that is at great prices. And most of all, mothers can match the colors of their clothes with their children because they have a lot of children’s assortment.

Mile

That a fairy can only be when I’m a child? The fact that this is not quite true is convinced by the Mile brand, which creates clothing for children that adults will also want to wear. Oh, and this checkered dress confuses me in dreams, unfortunately I don’t need anything new now. ?

Severanka

A brand from northern Slovakia that even has an upcycled collection. Very nice and honest instagram profile, enhances my good feeling of this brand.

2ponožky

The more colorful, the better this is motto or this brand. And when is the better time to show your socks than in the fall? The legs must always be warm, our mothers said, and they were right. And now it is fashionable to show socks, not to hide them.

Láskovo

Handmade in Slovakia made of organic cotton materials, such as Laskovo underwear. I really like the fact that they try to minimize waste in their production and so, for example, bra straps are made of cloth cuttings.

FakeFolk

The combination of Slovak folk culture with the fashion of the 21st century has made Fakefolk excellent. Evening dresses or elegant skirts … I haven’t found anything I haven’t liked from this brad yet.

Jaroslava Wurll Kočanová

While we are at formal dresses, my Pinterest dream list must not miss these dresses from a Slovak designer. And actually, I don’t even have a word for it, it’s just magical. ?

Mamke

Everybody knows about Mamke, because its concise and cheeky inscriptions are very easy to remember. And I still have trouble choosing which one I like the most. Which shirt is your favorite?

Dreams brand

Very nice designs Dreams brand is not the only thing that interested me in clothes. I really like the fact that they are trying to help and from every item of clothing or accessories sold 1 € goes to a good cause. And with the autumn weather come the cold nights, which unfortunately some people do not spend in the warmth of home and if you can not help personally, you can also this way, buying a nice thing.

For fitness, hiking or yoga these two brands are my favorite because they are worn like a second skin. Comfortable, nice and made in Slovakia.

Abraka store

First I was fascinated by the colorful designs, then that their stuff was made of materials that are made from recycled PET bottles and regenerated fishing nets, and finally I found that they were from my region. And I recommend their leggings and sports bras everywhere, because they are great to wear.

Yoginess

Yoginess babies have created very nice and comfortable clothes not just for yoga exercises. They transfer their author’s illustrations to a fabric, from which they then sew quality clothing. And I certainly didn’t finish the first piece of their clever hands.

There are many skilled people in Slovakia who produce beautiful and quality clothes, so there is definitely a lot to choose from. I hope I inspired you to invest in something that lasts and at the same time you support local producers.

Tina

Poland, travel

Tip for weekend trip: Moving sand dunes in Poland

Sometimes in primary school I learned that they have a desert in Poland. I wasn’t really interested in it, but somehow it miraculously kept this information in my mind, and a few years later, when we moved to Krakow, we began to think about how to get to the desert and whether it really exists.

In the article you will find where to find the Polish Sahara and why not underestimate the clothes when you visit it there.

Where is the Polish desert?

Because of the desert you do not have to travel thousands of kilometers to Africa at all, you only need a hundred, because at our neighbors in the north in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, where the Baltic Sea inhabits the country you will find a truly natural unique moving sand dunes. This remarkable area is located in Slowinski National Park, which is only a two-hour drive from Gdańsk.

Slowinský national park

The National Park was founded in 1967 and twelve strictly protected nature reserves have been created in the park, as there are about 260 species of birds, rare butterflies and beetles. Interestingly, you can see here lots of elk, seals or occasionally dolphins. The park has a very confusing name, thanks to which you would probably think it is  in Slovenia. But it got its name from Slavic people who were called Slovenes in past.

The park is located along the Łebski Lake, the third largest lake in Poland. You will find swamps, meadows, forests and moving sand dunes, moving east towards Leba at a speed of 3-10 m per year. Dunes are among the largest in Europe and the highest moving dune, Wydmy lack, is the main attraction of the park, because you can “climb” it and observe the surroundings. Wydmy lack is 40 meters above sea level and scraping up a sand hill was not easy at all.

Slovenian National Park is divided into several smaller parts. Wydma Czołpińską is the longest stretch of moving dune belt. In the park you will find several hiking trails and cycling is also very popular. For example, the blue tourist sign will lead you to the lighthouse in Czołpinie, which stands on the highest wooded dune Człpinka (55-56 m above sea level) and to the former missile base. At the base, the Germans tested missile weapons during World War II.

The dunes literally buried a few villages and are still moving south. More and more inflated sand is rising from the sea and the dunes rise. In order to slow the shift of these dunes, pine trees are planted in the park .

The park is open from 1 May to 30 September, at which time entrance fees are collected. All-day admission costs 6,00 PLN, discounted 3,00 PLN – multi-day tickets are cheaper.

 

When walking on the dunes you don’t feel like in Poland. Even in Europe.

We went to the park at the end of April 2019, when the entrance fee was not collected, but several of the places that could be visited there were closed (eg. Museum, restaurant, lookout).

Why dress something warm?

What really surprised us was the weather. The park is only a few kilometers from Gdańsk, where it was warm and sunny, but when we got to Slowinski National Park, it was very cold, windy and humid because of its location. The cold wind blew both from the Baltic Sea and from the lake, and we underestimated our clothing.Therefore, if you go to the dunes, take your clothes on every occasion and certainly something that will protect you from the strong cold wind.

Articles you may also like:

What to see in Poland, from sea to mountains
48 hours in Poznan. What to do in polish city you will fall in love with.

 

Walk on the dunes

Walking on moving dunes was an incredible experience. Stepping on the sand hills from where there was a view of the wide surroundings, legs bogging in the cold sand, and a strong wind that blew sand all around, creating a very strong atmosphere. I didn’t feel like Poland at all, it was very strange. The dunes drag into the distance and you feel that if you stop paying attention, you can easily get lost. The sand hills smoothly recede towards the sea, where they overgrow high, wind-blown grass and end with a pebble-sand beach.

 

You can easily reach the dunes from Leba. In addition to the route to the largest sand dune, you can choose from a number of other routes that lead through the park. The sand dunes lead through a forest, which you can walk, by bike (yours or you can rent a bike before entering the park), or on an electric car that drives people back and forth for 20 PLN.

Where to stay

If you are going to travel by car it is great to see, in addition to moving dunes also one, in my opinion, of the most romantic places in Poland – Gdańsk. There are many hotels, hostels and rooms you can use and you can reach the sand dunes in two hours.

The town of Leba is very popular with tourists thanks to Slowinski National Park, so it is not at all difficult to find accommodation here and enjoy a longer weekend.



Take a look on some special accomodation options:

Add exceptional accommodation at the castle to the perfect experience of the sand dunes Zamek Łeba Resort & Spa.

Or try this budget friendly option Apartamenty i Pokoje Piaskowy Mak.

To the nearest desert in Africa is quite far and moving dunes are in Europe, so pack your backpack and go check it out. It’s really worth it. 🙂

Tina

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Poland, travel

What to see in Poland, from sea to mountains.

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Poland is a slightly underrated country. We are neighbors, but many people have never been here, or have no idea about beautiful places in Poland. So many of us don’t even want to travel to Poland.  I explored Poland for the first time while I was studying in Katowice, and a few years and miles traveled, I came back again, but this time to Krakow. When we explored the beautiful historic town, we decided to explore more cities in Poland.

In this article I will show you what magical places are hidden in Poland you may not even know about.

Why travel to Poland?

You probably already know about the magical Christmas markets in Krakow, or that Slovakia share Tatra’s mountains with Poland. But the fact that Poland, like Slovenia, has mountains, sea and desert is not so often said. The country is huge, believe me, and it doesn’t take a short while to travel through.
The area of ​​Poland is 312 679 km² and it will take you 7 hours by car from the Tatras to the Baltic Sea. During this journey, however, you can stop in cities that have a history, in a forest where all the trees grow crooked, or bathe in the cold sea.

Poland is a much cheaper country, such as its neighboring states. What really surprises me is the quality of service, which is very high. Restaurants offer international cuisine with excellent quality and large portions at affordable prices. Museums and galleries are interactive and interesting and you can choose from different types of accommodation and we have not yet encountered any that we are not satisfied with.

Poland will definitely surprised you. 

The most beautiful places of Poland

If you are deciding where to wander in Poland, choose also according to how much you are willing to sacrifice driving. Distances between places are often 3 or more hours. Of course you can travel for example Flixbus, but some places get harder. But if you are planning to travel all over Poland during one road trip, in the article below you will also find a map where I marked the most advantageous route.

Take a look on roadtrip map

Map thanks to Wanderlog, a vacation planner app on iOS and Android

Zakopane

Zakopane is a town just below the Polish side of the Tatras. A town full of wooden houses, tourists who came to hike in mountains, or just to relax in thermals. In Zakopane you will find a little bit of every corner, there are beautiful mountains, fresh air and above all delicious traditional food. The restaurants play live music, the staff is dressed in costumes and in the menu you will find local specialties such as sausage, borsch, potato pancakes with goulash, meat and cheese from local shepherds. Accommodation is often in large wooden houses or cottages and all this is much cheaper than on Slovak side of the Tatras.

Where to stay in Zakopane

We been in Zakopane few times and we can recommend some of places we rent so far.

Willa Majerczyk – Small rooms with kitchen in common area, but this accommodation was really warm during the winter.

Domki Mroz – Small cottages next to each other in the center of the Zakopane are great if you travel with other couple. 

Smrekowa Polana Resort & Spa –This apartments are definitely my favorite. Great view from there, breakfast and spa is all I need when I really want to rest. 

 

Krakow

Krakow is much more than just beautiful Christmas markets. It is a historic city that was not destroyed even in World War II, despite the sad history this city has. In addition to the classic visit to the historic center and the Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz, I recommend climbing on some of the hills around the city, such as the Krakus hill, which offers a magnificent view of the city. There are many interactive museums in Cracow, but the most interesting was definitely the Schindler Factory, where we learned all about the history of the city, the sad history of World War II. This museum is interactive, interesting and scary and sad at the same time, but the 3 hours we spent there were worth it. You have to book tickets in advance to this museum, as well as to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Oświęcim, because many people want to visit.

 

If you get hungry in Krakow, don’t be afraid to try restaurants that look more luxurious, because almost all businesses in the city are keeping a certain standard, mainly because of the large number of tourists who come to Krakow every year. Located in historic buildings, restaurants and bars enhance their luxurious feel. If you don’t feel like traditional pierogy, try one of our favorite restaurants for more info in Where to Eat in Krakow.

Poznań

You will find this city when you leave Krakow to Germany. Poznań is one of the oldest and largest Polish cities. I feel that this city is a combination of Czech Brno and Polish Krakow. In the city you will find romantic historic streets, colorful city center, hipster businesses and lots of greenery. Poznań was love at first sight. We recommend you spend at least two days to visit the city, as you will not want to hurry away from there.

Where to stay in Poznań

Same like other big polish cities in Poznan you can find a lot of great places to stay. We stayed in hotel with most comfortable bed ever what is great when you really need rest. And it is one of the reasons why I can recommend Hotel Gaja. 🙂 

Crooked forest

From Poznan you can go to the mysterious Crooked Forest, in which all the trees are bent in one direction. You can find the crooked forest on the border with Germany and it is about 3 hours by car from Poznań. You can find the crooked forest in almost every article “what to see in Poland”, but you can read more about how we liked it in the article The crooked forest in Poland, is it really so mysterious?

 


Gdańsk

A city in the north of Poland, which lies already at the Baltic Sea. The culture of sailors, nordic countries and Poland is mixed here. In the restaurants you can find fresh fish from the sea but also traditional pierogy. The romantic city center with hipster cafes, breweries and amber jewelery shops and the river that passes through the city create a unique atmosphere that you will not find in any city in Poland. For me, Gdańsk is one of the most romantic places I’ve ever been.

You can take the tram to the sandy beach where it looks like any other resort. Restaurants, shops and a promenade create a holiday atmosphere, the only thing that is not exactly holiday is the cold water in the Baltic Sea. On the beach you can feel free to open a beer and enjoy the sunset.

Where to stay in Gdansk

Apartment right in Old Town : Dom & House 

Cozy small apartment for couple: Apartamenty Vitage

 

Slowińsky National Park

When I mentioned the desert above you probably did not believe very much, but Poland really has more than one desert. Slowinsky National Park is located in Primorsko, just a 2-hour drive from Gdańsk. The most interesting in this national park are the largest moving sand dunes in Europe.

The dunes, moving up to 10 meters in the east each year, resemble a sandy desert that stretches along the narrow division of the Baltic Sea and Lake Łebsko. The dunes look really impressive, and the idea that you are walking around something that is constantly moving is really strange.

The park is open from 1 May to 30 September, at which time entrance fees are collected. All-day entrance fee costs 6 PLN, discounted 3PLN – multi-day tickets are cheaper.

We went to the park at the end of April 2019, when the entrance fee was not collected, but several of the places that could be visited there were closed (eg. Museum, restaurant, lookout). Walking on moving dunes was an incredible experience. Stepping on the sand hills from where there was a view of the wide surroundings, legs burying in the cold sand, and a strong wind blowing sand everywhere.

Malbork Castle

Malbork is located in northern Poland, founded in the 13th century by the Teutonic Order. It is known for the medieval castle of Malbork, which was built in the 13th century as the seat of the Order. The castle complex is in fact a combination of three castles and its construction lasted almost 230 years. It is the largest brick castle in the world and one of the most impressive of its kind in Europe. When the Second World War broke out, the castle was restored by the Germans. During the war the castle was destroyed by more than 50%. Since the war its renewal. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This castle is definitely worth a visit and if we did not have a long way home we probably would spend there all day, the castle is huge, fascinating and reserve for his visit at least 3 hours. Very interesting is also the way of accompanying, when you get headphones and a device with a screen that shows you the direction of your route and also locates you according to GPS coordinates and accordingly tells you to the headphones electronic guide. If you choose not to follow a route that is specified, the guide automatically adapts to your location.

Warszawa

The capital of Poland, which like most capitals is also very industrial. In fact, Warszawa is not close to my heart, but it is interesting to visit it mainly for a mix of history and architecture. The historic center was completely destroyed in World War II and reconstructed after the war. Part of the capital reminded me very much of Washington DC and is also known for its busy nightlife.

Do you know any other interesting places in Poland worth visiting? Let us know for inspiration for the next travel. 🙂

Tina

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