Food

There’s no better hangover cure than hearty Polish food, made to fuel locals for biting winters. Fill up onpierogiesin Krakow’s Old Town: iconic little dumplings stuffed with potato and cheese (impossible not to stuff into your mouth by the fistful). Walk through trendyKazimierzfor sizzlingkielbasa sausages, or theJewish Quarterforpotato pancakes(lightly fried and served with sour cream).

Booze

You can’t beat a night out in Krakow’sOld Town, where the city’s best bars and clubs are all conveniently within staggering distance. To get down with the cool kids, wander down the gridlines ofNowa Huta:a former communist district with secret speakeasies now built into its housing blocks.

Krakow’s Laws

Legal:

Strip clubs are perfectly legal in Krakow, but they come with a notorious reputation. If you go it’s advisable to pay with cash, as card transactions are often skimmed and significantly overcharged and often amounting to tens of thousands of pounds,.

Illegal:

Smoking indoors and at bus and tram stops, crossing the road outside of designated pedestrian crossings, drinking outdoors in public (100 zloty fine), being drunk and disorderly outdoors (can land you a night in a cell), possession of drugs (up to three years in prison). Worth noting that brothels and "pimping" are also illegal so if you are tempted to enter such an establishment be aware that you are stepping into a criminal world.

Stare Miastro

In the heart of Krakow, the winding streets of the Stare Miastro (Old Town) are packed with traditional Polish restaurants, antique shops and bars in all shapes and sizes. Market Square is a hive of activity with seasonal open-air markets and towering church spires attracting the crowds. Wawel Castle is perched on a hill just outside the city walls and is filled with stories of kings and conquests from the Middle Ages. Live out your own medieval fantasies at one of the extreme axe-throwing clubs in the Old Town.

Spring and autumn still offer pleasant temperatures around 10C, making for a more affordable (if nippy) stag do. It's inadvisable to book forJanuary, with the thermometer dropping to a freezing -19C.

Once you’ve landed in Krakow it’s a30-minute drive to the city centre. We recommend you take anairport transfer with guide.

Summer:Krakow enjoys hot summers (June to August) with plenty of sunshine, broken up by the odd thunder storm. This is when the streets of the Old Town and Kazimierz are at their liveliest and outdoor stages across the city host a variety of live shows and music, all for free. The biggest street party is Wianki, where locals don flower wreaths and hop around tons of club nights. Beer gardens are the place to be, best enjoyed during the fried and steamed delights of the Pierogi Festival.

Autumn (September to November):Sees a significant drop in temperature, so be prepared to bundle up. This is the best time to appreciate Krakow’s hearty, traditional food and drink in toasty warm taverns. If you’re in the market for a bit of a rave, the electronic Unsound Festival brings wild parties and superstar DJs.

Winter:The dark nights of winter (December to February) are made a little brighter in Krakow as the Christmas Market gets into full swing. Beers and bratwurst, gluhwein and grilled meat keep bellies full and spirits high. As the thermometer drops below freezing, there’s a chance of catching Krakow in a postcard-perfect dusting of snow.

• Get acquainted with the tastes of Poland

Savour the flavours of five classic Polish vodkas on ourTasting Tour, where an expert bartender will give you the lowdown on the nation’s favourite spirit. If your liver can handle it, theWine Tastingsession is a delicious way to start the night, followed by beer-marinated roast pork, bread and pickles at our belt-bustingPolish Brewery Dinner.

• Bare it all

All aboard theParty Bus, where a professional stripper will strut her stuff to an epic sound system as you cruise around Krakow's finest bars. If you prefer a meal with your show, theStrip Dinner) excels in saucy private entertainment. To go truly wild, theOil Showsees two beautiful performers lather themselves up and wrestle for your viewing pleasure - stag participation is mandatory!

• Splash out on water-based fun

Grab life by the oars on ourWhite Water Rafting experience, giving you an hour to fly through the rapids on a man-made Olympic course. If you prefer your water less furious, theVistula River Cruiseis a chilled way to soak up Krakow’s riverfront sights with a drink (or more) in hand. For something even more relaxed, ourSpa Daywill melt away any knots as you slip inside the sauna and jacuzzi.

• Pay your respects in Auschwitz

The unforgettableAuschwitz Touris one of our most popular options in a Krakow stag itinerary, providing a sobering look at the horrors of WWII. Spend three hours exploring the site, with an expert guide to explain how 4 million people lost their lives here under brutal Nazi rule.

• Shoot to thrill

Thrill seekers should definitely opt for ourPistol & Shotgun Shooting experience, where you’ll blast holes through targets (and keep the bullet-ridden remnants as evidence of your marksmanship). Go full commando on thePaintball experience, painstakingly designed after a Polish military simulation, or take the wheel of a4x4and burn some rubber.