Well sprinkle us with sugar, the holidays are here again. If you’re after holiday magic, there aren’t many destinations better than Kraków, which not only looks the part, but also performs it in its own special way. In addition to the inescapable Christmas market (p.10), Poland’s ancient capital has a cavalcade of holiday happenings and traditions over the next two months, and we’ve detailed them all; do your homework (starting on p.6) and you won’t be surprised when you get your presents three weeks early, or find a fish in your friend’s bathtub. We’ve also highlighted some uniquely Cracovian gift ideas (p.126), and continued to expand our new Local Flavours section with a rundown of PL’s most delicious coffee companions and after-dinner treats. Because we’ve all been good this year, and now it’s time for our just desserts (p.91). Indeed, it’s been another industrious year for Poland IYP as in 2018 we published 27 full print guides to destinations across PL, launched new miniguides to Katowice and Bydgoszcz, and even an online shop (iyp.me/polandshop). In 2019 we’ll be celebrating 20 years of Kraków In Your Pocket with a steadfast commitment to continue publishing the best city guides on the market. Here’s to the next hundred (sto lat!), and happy holidays from everyone here at IYP. Now pass the damn champagne already.
Cover story
Cracovian Christmas feels, featuring the iconic St. Mary’s Basilica and the city’s annual holiday market on Rynek Główny, © Anton Gvozdikov. Head straight to one of the barrels dispensing hot mulled wine to properly enjoy the festive season.
Main Feature: Christmas ‘po krakowsku’
The Poles, to their credit, really make the most of the holiday season, opening festive Christmas markets (p.10) before the calendar even hits December and carolling all the way into February. That’s over two full months of sustained winter wonderland, and through it all enough customs, traditions and events that we could literally fill page after page of this guide…and indeed we have. Read on to discover all the highlights of the holiday season in Kraków.
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