Fall in love with
EASTERN EUROPE
The Vistula River flows through the city of Kraków
These super-cool cities are just as romantic as Paris
WORDS: LYDIA SWINSCOE. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY
Kraków, Poland
This pretty city in southern Poland has a brilliant food scene, beautiful buildings and a whole load of history. Spend a day wandering through the Old Town before taking a trip to the nearby Wieliczka and Bochnia salt mines. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these mines are some of the oldest in the world and were carved, astonishingly, by hand. While they may not seem like the most romantic of places, the eerie chambers, lit by grand chandeliers, are pretty special. For lunch, stop off at Café Camelot, with its squeaky
46
WOMAN
floorboards and tiny tables. It’s super cosy and there’s an antique shop upstairs. In the evening, head to CK Browar – it’s one of the best restaurants in the city and even has its own brewery. Try traditional Polish dishes, like pork knuckle (sounds weird, but it tastes amazing) and delicious meat stews for under £10. The brewed beer samplers in mini glass tankards or the hazelnut vodka are the drinks to order. Book one of the 16 rooms at The Bonerowski Palace Hotel, right on the market square. Doubles are priced at £126 per night.
Be sure to visit the atmospheric salt mines
Bratislava Castle overlooks the Old Town
