Hungry in Cracow

As one of the cheapest cities in Europe, Kraków has got impressive amount of attractions to offer. Especially for those who are searching for something to fill your belly with. I asked my friend who lives in Kraków to make a list of places which are her favourites and which backpacker will enjoy. She picked top 5 places where you can eat something delicious, unique and in reasonable prices:

1. Momo
It's something between a milk bar and a restaurant. It's a great place for vegetarians and Indian cuisine fans (they serve Indian dishes, but without their extra spicy flavour). Momo is an eko vege bar located on Kazimierz, very old district in Kraków. Address: Dietla 49 street.

2. Love Krowe
They serve burgers, burgers and once again burgers! All kinds of it, American style, with lots of different and sometimes unusual ingredients. Inside the restaurant there is also a gallery where you can buy photos, graphics by Polish artists or see the exhibition. PS. The interior is decorated by a Polish street-artist Why-duck. Address: Brzozowa 17 street.

3. Casserole under the 'Okrąglak'
Absolutely legendary casserole from Kraków you'll find only here. If you expect a bar or restaurant, you'll be suprised. 'Okrąglak' is a round building with 10 or more windows where you order a casserole. If you don't know which window to pick - take this one with the longest queue :) Basic (cheese&mushrooms) casserole costs 4,50 PLN (!!!) and you can compose your own food by adding other things like pepper, onion, ham, bacon, dozen kind of sauce (even Dracula sauce) etc. If you are searching for local specialities, this is a totally must visit! Address: Nowy Square 4b.

4. Filarek Milk Bar
Traditional Polish home-made dishes. If you want to try 'schabowy' or 'pierogi' the way they are eaten at Polish homes, you have to come here. The prices are extremely cheap and it's a place typical for the locals. You won't meet any foreigners here. 'Pierogi' with strawberries, 'schabowy' and 'żurek' soup are the best choices. Address: Starowiślna 29.

5.Morskie Oko
'Morskie Oko' is a beautiful lake in Tatra Mountains, so it's easy to guess that this place serves dishes loved by highlanders. If you are searching for a big dinner sprinkled with folklore, this is the best choice. Also, the decorations are great. Address: Szczepański Square 8.

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Cracow & Warsaw are the cheapest

The European Backpacker Index for 2013 is here! And it shows where to go to avoid losing all your savings. The authors of the Index have good news for travellers: many hostels or budget hotels have actually gotten a bit cheaper since comparing to 2012.

The cheapest group of cities are bunched together in price, and almost all of them are bunched together geographically in southeastern Europe as well. Krakow continues to feel like the best travel bargain on the Continent, as a charming city where prices almost seem too low, but if you head south you’ll find things to be even a bit cheaper, with longer fair-weather seasons to go along with them.

According to the list, Krakow is 3rd cheapest city in Europe and Warsaw is on 9th place. In Krakow you'll spend only 25 dollars a day and in Warsaw you need approximately 15 dollars more. Drinks, entertainment and attractions included. See the Index here: http://www.priceoftravel.com/1979/european-backpacker-index/

       

What on earth is 'Oscypek'???

'Oscypek', pronounced something like 'Oh-stzee-peck', is traditional Polish smoked cheese, made of salted sheep milk. It is produced especially in Tatra Mountains in the very south of Poland. In 2007 'Oscypek' became a protected trade name under the EU's Protected Designation of Origin geographical indication. There are some strict regulations which you have to follow if you want to produce delicious 'oscypek', for example:

• cow milk can be mixed with sheep milk, but there musn't be more cow milk than 40% of all the milk used
• cheese can be produced only from May to September and sold until the end of October
• 'oscypek' should weigh between 60 and 80 dag and be 17 - 23 cm long...

 ... otherwise, it isn't 'oscypek' :) Some sellers don't obey those rules and sell their products under the name 'scypek'. If you'd like to buy an original 'oscypek' you have to have your eyes wide open :)
To buy the best 'oscypek' you have to visit southern areas of Poland (which are stunningly beautiful!), for example: Zakopane (amazing town under the highest mountains in Poland), Kraków (very popular city, which used to be a capital of Poland many, many years ago), Nowy Targ (a place where every week a big market takes place) or Bukowina Tatrzańska.

Traditional 'oscypek'
source of the photo

Many kinds of smoked cheese are sold on Krupówki, famous market street in Zakopane
source of the photo