Most romantic places in Poland

Many people say about Poland that it is a "heart-shaped country" and if you take a good look on a map you'll see it's true. Although in Poland we don't show our feelings in public very often, at least not like in Italy, where you can see kissing couples everywhere, we can be very romantic :) On Valentine's Day there is no other subject than LOVE so it is a perfect occasion to show you the most romantic places in Poland.

The Little Market in Kazimierz Dolny
This pearl of Polish rennesaince and very old little town is one of the most beautiful places in Poland known from exceptional atmosphere, picturesque views and great monuments. It's located in the centre of Poland and is one of the favourite 'places to runaway' for people from Warsaw. The Little Market and the panorama from the Mountain of Three Crosses will take your breath away!

Mariacka Street in Gdańsk
Mariacka Gate through which you can enter Mariacka street is one of the things that Gdansk is very pride of. The street itself is believed to be one of the most enchanting streets in Europe. It seems to be taken out from some fairy taile, with all the sculptures and decorated tenement houses. In the past, all rich habitants of Gdansk lived there. Also it's a place where you can buy high quality amber stones.

The monument of lovers in Grudziądz
The Polish soldier and his lady are hugging in front of the Grudziądz City Hall. Grudziądz itself is a city in the northern part of Poland with many places to sightsee: old city wall, St Mary's Church, St Nicholas Church and many parks where you can hide from the city crowd.

Chełmno - the city St Valentine
Chełmno is the city of love. It's a place where the relicts of St Valentine are kept in the old medieval Fara Church. You will find many old churches there and a beautiful town hall.

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.

View Hungry in Kraków in a larger map

Off to Cracow!

Yeah! I've got a day off and I've decided to go to Cracow for a little bit of sightseeing, a little bit of good food and coffee. I'm taking a 9.30 am train from Warszawa Zachodnia station (but you can go also from Warszawa Centralna station) and I'll be in Cracow at 12 o'clock. That'll give me all day of walking, eating and relaxing :) In the evening I'm going back to Warsaw.

How to make a trip like that (and better ones)? Check the train timetable on the Polish Railway's website.

Time for walking!

Last autumn our incredible Helvetia Team explored Warsaw to find the best places for you to visit.
Today we are presenting Powiśle (a riverside area) and surroundings of Nowy Świat St - all nearby Helvetia Hostel.

Feel an atmosphere of a student life in a beautiful garden on the top of the University Library.
Visit the maginificent Copernicus Science Centre or the Chopin's Museum.

Have a cup of coffee and meet some of Polish writers and poets at Mariusz Szczygieł's "Wrzenie Świata" cafe.

Travel to the past watching photos in sepia in Fotoplastykon.

Pokaż Helvetia Hostel presents: Promener autour de Varsovie na większej mapie

The haunted house

Have you ever seen a real haunted house? I have! While walking around the area of Gdańsk called Oliwa (more about Gdańsk here!) I've seen an 'artistic' haunted house. Great place to visit on Halloween! Click here to find it on a map.

More posts about street art at the Baltic sea:
SEA some street art (part 1)
SEA some street art (part 2)

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

According to ice cream my choice is always the same.
My brain has only one algorithm implemented,
in any programming language it can be written using two lines of code:

If ice_cream
then Malinova

See Malinova on google maps

Malinova café, appeared several years ago and quickly became a significant place of the all ice cream lovers.
You can take-away or enter painted in delicate violets interior and sit at a small round table surrounded by pink soft chairs. Before or after (or both) you can take a walk in Mokotowskie Fields Park or explore the green streets of Old Mokotów district - a mixture of old villas and modern apartments.

Check out other places in Warsaw:
Wanna cake?

International Children's Day

So today we are celebrating International Children's Day. For all travelling kids and they parents I've prepared a map of places in Warsaw, that could be interesting for both of them. On my map you can find parks, playgrounds, museums, skate parks, swimming pools and other attractions. Have fun!


View Warsaw For Kids in a larger map

Wanna Cake?

Hidden in a green bush Cafe Misianka serves the best cakes on the right bank of Vistula. It's not widely known, but on Sunday morning it's hard to find a free table. For all off-the-beaten-track-cake-lovers it's a must!

See Misianka on google maps

Surrounding the cafe Skaryszewski Park (called by locals Skaryszak) is worth a walk or a bike tour. It has nothing to do with pompous Royal Baths Park, where everything (running, cycling, dogs & laying on the grass) if forbidden. Here you are free to do all these typical park activities.
Skaryszak provides typical and 100% local park atmosphere, with slowly walking oldies, running kids, and students reading books on the grass . It's big enough to provide a cozy place for everyone - in a shadow of big trees, on a sunny grass, or at the bank of one of lakes.
Te park not only provides relaxing atmosphere in all shades of green but also gives unique possibility of boat cruises in the middle of the city. "Pod Pstrągiem" ("Under The Trout") restaurant rents kayaks and water bikes, after some paddling you'll surely stay here for grilled trout and a a glass of cold beer.

Check out other cafes in Warsaw:

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream!