The historic Polish city of Krakow has been named as the best city in Europe in a recent pool by Which? Travel magazine.
Poland’s second largest city – behind only the capital Warsaw – can trace its roots back to the Stone Age and achieved an overall score of 94% in the poll.
All 47 destinations that were included scored above 60%, while more than two-thirds scored over 80%; showcasing the wealth of wonderful destinations that are available to visit across Europe.
Milan and Naples were found at the bottom of the list but both Italian cities still scored 62% and 64% respectively in the poll which only included cities within a three-hour flight from the UK.
Other popular cities for UK visitors were Munich and Prague – both of which scored 93% – while Berlin and Valencia completed the top five destinations.
Europe’s best city break
More than 4,500 people were asked to rate their holiday experiences, and Krakow beat Amsterdam, Paris and Rome to be named Europe’s favourite.
Results included star ratings for accommodation, cultural attractions, how easy it is to travel around, food and drink, shopping facilities, how welcoming locals are, and if it offers value for money.
Krakow is packed with well-preserved historical buildings and narrow cobbled streets, many of which feature on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
It’s small enough to travel around on foot while public transport is cheap, making getting around a simple process. It’s also less than a two-and-a-half-hour flight from the UK.
Why Krakow?
The city received the top rating for being welcoming and for its top quality food and drink – including the traditional favourites of hazelnut vodka and ‘Bigos’ stew.
The former Polish capital on the Vistula River also received a five star score for being value for money – of little surprise when the typical cost of a hotel room is £55 and a bus from the airport to the city centre is less than £1.
Among the popular destinations to visit are the Main Market square, St Mary’s basilica, the Wawel Hill castle complex and the Wielicska Salt Mine just outside the city.
Financing a city break
Travelling with a prepaid travel card can provide money to spend without the need to carry lots of travellers’ cheques or foreign currency.
With a prepaid card you can only spend the amount which is on it at any given time, making budget management possible, although it can be topped up if you so wish.
Additional security exists on these cards, while the exchange rate seen will be the one when the original transaction took place – providing protection should the exchange rate vary dramatically during a trip.
