It’s summertime. The relentless solar is baking the slender streets of Kraków’s Previous City, the place the warmth appears to radiate from the very buildings. You’ve carried out what you possibly can to remain cool: consumed epic portions of ice cream, haunted varied museums to maintain out of the daylight, and hid out in your resort room. None of it appears to do the trick.
However earlier than you take into account taking off your garments and leaping into the Vistula River (not an important concept, which is why you received’t see Cracovians doing it), we’ll allow you to right into a secret: landlocked Kraków has seashores and different wonderful locations to chill down. Right here’s the place the locals go to beat the warmth.
Bagry Lagoon is Kraków’s hottest place to swim
Get an early begin and head to this artifical reservoir positioned in Podgórze Płaszów, about 5km (3.1 miles) southeast from central Kraków – arguably the town’s hottest and finest swimming vacation spot inside straightforward attain.
Households have a tendency to assemble on the developed recreation space, with the adults unpacking snacks and packed lunches on the picnic tables or swaying within the hammocks whereas the children run across the playground and the lifeguards (on obligation mid-June to mid-August) hold an eagle eye on the swimmers.
For those who’re a water sports activities fanatic, you’ll discover sailboats, canoes, SUPs and paddleboats for lease (June until late September) on the two marinas by the recreation space, and may even partake in occasional crusing races. Fishers and solar worshippers in the hunt for seclusion take the paths across the reservoir to the wild, undeveloped seashores additional out.
Kryspinów Lagoon has a number of seashores
Simply past Kraków’s western metropolis boundary, simply south of the airport, Kryspinów is one other Cracovian favourite, with a nominal entry payment guaranteeing a enjoyable day of solar and sand. With more room to unfold out than Bagry, this huge reservoir is reachable by common bus from central Kraków.
Households cluster on the recreation space subsequent to the extra developed of the 4 spacious seashores, inside straightforward attain of playgrounds, a ropes course, and two correct karczmas (Polish taverns) offering refreshments.
Adrenaline seekers can get within the water and study the fundamentals of wakeboarding (a cross between water snowboarding, browsing and snowboarding). There’s a correct wakepark at one of many seashores (guide forward), the place you get towed forwards and backwards by a cable, with jumps within the lake for extra superior wakeboarders. And if wakeboarding is insufficiently thrilling, then maybe flyboarding will do the trick: you soar on a board excessive above the lake, propelled by twin jets of water.
Przystań Brzegi has a celebration vibe at weekends
On the japanese outskirts of the town, some 12km (7.5 miles) away from Previous City, this interesting, lengthy, sandy seashore between two reservoirs is one more wonderful Kraków bathing spot. For those who’re after a quiet swim and a spot of sunbathing, weekdays are finest. On weekends, a seashore get together vibe prevails. The youngsters scramble alongside the water impediment programs and whizz down inflatable slides beneath the watchful eye of on-duty lifeguards, whereas the adults participate in spirited video games of volleyball and tug-of-war, or take to the water in rented kayaks and rowboats.
Throughout summer season season (June to late August), a per-person entry cost applies and there are three shuttles each day to Przystań Brzegi. Out of season, you want your personal wheels and are prone to have the place virtually to your self.
Kraków Water Park is nice enjoyable for the entire household
If sand and solar usually are not deal breakers, then Kraków’s huge indoor aqua park, north of Previous City, is a perfect cooldown spot for water infants of all ages.
Savvy locals come right here on weekday mornings (keep away from weekends or you may be lining up for every water slide) and purchase a day move to benefit from all of the watery sights – from swings and climbing partitions to pirate-themed play space. In case your youngsters are sufficiently old to entertain themselves, you possibly can watch them with an indulgent eye from the pool-side cafe, or pattern the the recent tubs, saunas and therapeutic massage fountains.
Nova Huta Reservoir’s synthetic seashore is a summer season sizzling spot
When the socialist-realist staff’ paradise of Nowa Huta was constructed within the northwest of the town within the Nineteen Fifties, this reservoir and surrounding parkland was supposed to supply a much-needed recreation space for the employees and their households. Severely uncared for within the ’90s, they’ve been revamped and on sizzling summer season days the synthetic seashore with solar loungers throngs with locals and their youngsters. The meals vehicles and ice cream stands give the place a summer season honest vibe, and should you’re not courageous sufficient to go swimming within the reservoir itself, you possibly can head for the close by sports activities advanced with two swimming swimming pools.
You will discover some tranquility among the many solitary fishers on the alternative aspect of the reservoir (fish are recurrently restocked by metropolis authorities), or by renting a kayak and steering away from the merry gaggle of paddleboats.
Discussion board Przestrzenie is a hip riverside hangout
Channelling large seashore vibes sans precise seashore, this huge, grafitti-adorned riverside cafe/bar/bistro has develop into one in every of Kraków’s hippest and most unique summer season spots, attracting a crowd of younger native trendies. It opened within the grounds of the hideous concrete monstrosity, Discussion board Lodge – a throwback to the times of Soviet hospitality – however derelict dinosaur apart, the views at this bend of Vistula River are fairly nice, and there are few nicer locations to spend a lazy summer season’s day than in a seashore chair on a strip of synthetic seashore, toes firmly in sand, and chilly craft beer in your hand. We assure you’ll really feel cooler simply fascinated about it. If not, simply head subsequent door to the Termy Krakówskie Discussion board.
Zakrzowek Quarry is being redeveloped as a leisure space
Tall limestone cliffs and dense pine forest encompass this former limestone quarry with its irresistibly blue, seemingly bottomless waters, which have lengthy drawn locals for some illicit swimming and cliff diving. Though Zakrzowek feels 1,000,000 miles away from Kraków’s city bustle, it’s really solely a brief tram journey (#1, #4) to Kapelanka, southwest of Previous City. A neighborhood diving outfit, Nurkomania, teaches scuba diving right here in spring and summer season, with these plumbing the reservoir’s depths encountering sunken boats and even a small plane with two faux skeletons within the cockpit.
On the time of writing, the lagoon itself was off-limits whereas the native authorities develop it right into a public leisure space, however you possibly can nonetheless go climbing alongside the thickly forested limestone bluffs, admire views of Wawel Fortress from the quarry rim, and sit up for future swims in these azure waters.
Termy Krakówskie Discussion board has a sauna and cooling pool
Additionally on the grounds of the “iconic” (learn: unpretty) Discussion board Lodge, this sauna advanced provides you the chance to chill down whereas appreciating unobstructed views of Wawel Royal Castle, sporting nothing however a smile (okay, and a towel. However no bathing fits: That is an old-school sauna). “Why would I’m going to the sauna when it’s baking outdoors?” we hear you ask. Effectively, as a result of you can also make use of the small out of doors pool, and scamper to the cooling space to douse your self with buckets of ice water after a stint within the Turkish tub, salt room, and infrared sauna.
Plac Szczepanski has water jets to chill you down
Positively not a seashore or place to swim, this can be a little bit of a final resort should you’re dragging your self round Previous City within the warmth and really feel your self about to show right into a puddle of melted goo. This little sq., a block from Rynek Glowny, is centered on a fountain in entrance of the Artwork Nouveau Palace of the Arts. As jets of water erupt from the bottom in several spots, you’ll see youngsters (and infrequently adults) enjoying amidst the spray, whereas probably the most adventurous ignore the “don’t climb within the pool” indicators and splash in the principle physique of the fountain.
