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The Square in the heart of Kraków Old Town

McDonalds preserved the basement of a building in the Old Town when they opened.
(photos above: UK Gay News)

Above and below:  Inside the 7 Klub
(photos courtesy 7 Klub)

Kraków
Telephone area code 012  (from outside Poland , dial 0048-12)
(Currency mentioned on this page is Polish Zloty (PLN) , with approx UK Pounds and Euros.
Some establishments price in Euros only).  $1 (USA) = 2.21PLN (June 15, 2008)
XE.com Personal Currency Assistant for current conversions

There are no restrictions for people with HIV/AIDS entering Poland.
See HIV Travellers Website for current Polish regulations.

Last updated: 19 September, 2010

With the advent of low cost airlines flying to Kraków, this university city - the third largest in Poland - is becoming an attractive bet for a long weekend break.  While Poland is largely regarded as a somewhat "homophobic" country, it is only because of the Roman Catholic Church and the ruling political party.  Yes, the city can be conservative, yet it is also enchantingly eccentric. At no time did we feel at all "threatened".

Kraków, with Prague and Vienna, ranks as one of the architectural gems of Central Europe and is in itself a good enough reason to visit Poland. At the heart of its Old Town is one of the grandest of European squares, the Rynek Glówny, and the streets of Kraków are a cavalcade of churches and aristocratic palaces. The Wawel Hill, with its castle and cathedral, is home to an amazing collection of art. The Main Market Square hosts a plethora of restaurants, cafés and cellar bars immersed in its somewhat Italian atmosphere.

Climate:  Average temperature in July and August is about  23 degrees.  Coldest months are mid-November to February when the mean temperature is around zero. Frequent rain (like UK) and snow in winter

Getting There:  There are a number of "low cost" airlines flying between the UK (and other European cities) to Kraków John Paul II International Airport.  There are also flights by LOT (about £180 return). Flying time from London is about two hours.

Low cost airlines are Centralwings - owned by LOT Polish Airline (London Gatwick from about £60 return including all taxes), Sky Europe - a Slovakian airline - flies daily from London Stansted (from £55 return) and from Manchester (from £65 return), and easyJet with daily flights from London Luton from £55 return.

WizzAir, a British/Hungarian/Polish airline, flies between Liverpool John Lennon (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) or London Luton (at least one flight a day) and Katowice, with connecting coach service to Kraków.  Return fares, including all taxes, start at about £70 from Liverpool and from about £50 from London Luton.  Return shuttle coach is 75PLN return (£12).

Tourist Office:  Centre of Cultural Information.  ul Jana 2.  (  421 77 78  website

Shopping:  Ridiculously cheap, especially if you go to Tesco!  Even the "smart" shops in the city centre offer fantastic prices, even though the VAT rate is higher than in UK.  Being in the European Union, you can shop to you drop - and Customs are not interested as long as items are for your personal use.  American brand cigarettes like Marlboro can be bought for around 65PLN (£10.25, €15.20) a carton of 200, so don't fall for the "duty free" trap on your outward flight if you are a 'nico-addict'!

Getting Around:  The cheapest is by bus or tram.  A 72 hour ticket allowing unlimited travel costs 25PLN (£4,  €5.85).  Taxis are, by comparison with the UK, very cheap - as low as 6PLN (£1, €1.40) for a couple of miles.

Famous natives of Kraków:  Pope John Paul II

Have you anything to say about Kraków?  Perhaps you have knowledge of one of the listing below and would like to give your view, or suggest a new listing.  Send us an email and we will include your thoughts

Gay Information

Culture for Tolerance - Pride
April each year

Community

GENERAL TOURIST

Crakow City Tours.  Plac Matejki 2.  (  421 13 33.  website
Daily trips to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial - a "must" when visiting Kraków - from 80PLN (advance booking is recommended).  Also daily trips to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the top tourist attractions in Poland - from 90PLN.  If you want to stay in the city, there is the Oscar Schindler Sites tour (60PLN), and the Kraków Ghost Tour (60PLN).  For something fun, try the "Good Bye Capitalism, the Communist Era Is Back!" tour - you tour guide drives an East German Trabant and takes you through the old "communist" district built around the steelworks, maybe stopping off at the communist disco!

Hotels/Guest Houses

Telephone area code 012  (from outside Poland , dial 0048-12)

  indicates exclusively gay

  2nd Floor,  ul Nowowiejska 4.  ( 294 56 99.  website (English)
2nd Floor was created as a small guest house exclusively for the gay tourist. Three guest rooms with IKEA furnishings in an apartment.  Shared kitchen (with fridge and microwave), bathroom and toilet.  Three tram stops from the centre.  Local well-stocked supermarket 100 yards away - and it is open literally 24/7. Free wireless internet connection for your laptop and 60-channel colour TV in every room.  Exceptional value at prices from €15 (£10.16) per person a night! Summer rates slightly more.

Greg & Tom Hostel,  ul Pawia 12/7.  ( 422 41 00.  website (English)
Gay-friendly hostel in the centre of the city (opposite the main train station) that offers dorm (no bunk beds) accomodation and double rooms.  Recommended by Lonely Planet.  "All you can eat" breakfast is included. Evening meal is also offered.

Finger, ul. Warszawska 18.  (   423 40 16.  website (English)
Located in the centre of Kraków close to the Old town, Market Square and Railway/Bus Station.  Clean and inexpensive guest rooms, all with en suite showers, from  €33 (£22) single or  €42 (£29) double a night.  Apartment is available for  €80 (£53) a night.

Express by Holiday Inn,  ul Opolska 14.  (  614 57 00  website
Situated in the northern part of the city (about 7km - 4 miles) from city centre. International Airport in Balice is 4km (2.5 miles away) and close to the roads to Warsaw, Wroclaw and Katowice. Room rate varies, but a double room can be as low as €44 (£30) a night.

Europejski.   ul. Lubicz 5.  (  423 25 10  website
An "upscale" hotel, but with reasonable rates.  Located in the city centre.  A double room with ensuite facilities including jacuzzi starts at   €77 (£52) per room/night,  for a stay of two days or more - and breakfast is included. 

Clubs/Bars

  7 Klub,  ul Filipa 7.   (  631 95 00   website (in English)  Main website (Polish)
The oldest gay bar in Kraków - and frankly the best! Mixed (male/female; young/old)  About 5 minutes walk from centre and is in the basement.  Very stylish in a fairly "old fashioned" way.  Dance area and no smoking room. Drinks very reasonably priced - 5PLN (£0.80; €1.17) for a half litre (English pint) of draught lager!  Bar snacks (a toasted ham and cheese sandwich - actually you get two sandwiches - is around 6.50PLN (£1 ; €1.52) Open seven days a week from 6pm.  Closes at 2am Sunday to Thursday and at 5am on Friday and Saturday nights.  Door charge of 5PLN (£0.80; €1.17) on Friday and Saturday, otherwise free admission. Entrance to the 7 Klub can be difficult to find!  Go into the main door of ul Filipa 7 and the door to the club is the first on the left - ring the doorbell to be let in!  Location map

  A'Tak.  Plac Szczepanski 2.  Gay pub/club is now closed

  Ciemnia Club,  ul Krowoderska 31. ( 0 692 651 311 (during opening hours).  website (English language option)
"Ciemnia" is Polish for "darkroom".  Men only.  Primarily a sex club, but they do have a bar.  Drinks expensive - about twice the price of other bars.  Few of the staff speak English and the place is generally not too friendly to foreigners.  But then, it is a ciemnia!  Admission price is 8PLN (£1.27 ;  €1.87), increased to 14PLN (£2.22;  €3.27) on Fridays and Saturdays.  Open from 6pm to 5am every night except for Wednesday and Thursday when it closes at 2am.

Kitsch Night Club,  ul Wielopole 15 (second floor).  ( 422 52 99  website (in Polish only)
Gay-friendly.  With over 300 square metres of space, this club is located on the second floor of an old tenement building, just opposite the Holiday Inn.

Jazz Club "U Muniaka". ul Floriañska 3.  ( 423-12-05 website (English)
This is one of the wonders of the world of jazz!  For connoisseurs, it’s truly a musical sanctuary from the omni-present din of techno, rap and disco that engulfs us these days, the club's website proclaims.  And how right they are! The founder and proprietor is legendary Polish saxophonist Janusz Muniak.  Things get wild around 9.30pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Good food and a 'metric pint' (50cl) of draught Żywiec beer for 6PLN (£1; €1.60)

Bookshops/Video

Black & White Sex Shop,   ul Westerplatte 3.   (   429 20 91
Gay and Straight mixed, Cabins, Dark/Backroom, Sex shop

Saunas/Bathhouses

  Spartakus Sauna,  ul Konopnickiej 20.  (   266 60 22   website
The only gay sauna in the region and open since 1990. 500 sqm on 3 floors. Finnish sauna and steam room, rest areas, cafeteria, solarium during the summer, mini fitness, cabins and lockers, sun deck. A unique opportunity of nude sun bath in the centre of the city with a view on Vistula river. Don't expect a very modern sauna.  The staff is friendly. Open Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm and on Sundays from 2 pm to 9 pm.  Entrance fee 25PLN (£3.95; €5.85)