The Bonerowski Palace is an elegant 5-star hotel located in the city center of Krakow, in a very convenient point at the intersection of ul. St. John and the Main Market Square.

Beautiful, historic building from the Middle Ages, along with the Market Square environment as an object classified to the Unesco World Heritage has been restored with the utmost care and furnished with adequate class space taste.

Common name comes from Boners, noble family, which played an important role at the court of the Jagiellonian dynasty. Tenement rebuilt several times, partially complementing the original Gothic style elements of the Renaissance and Baroque.

In 1836, rebuilt the front elevation, and in the mid-nineteenth century, a number of changes were made to expand the facility, without interfering with the integrity of the design, so that the building became eclectic, historicist character.

Today this unique property of The Bonerowski Palace is one of the finest monuments of mixed architecture of old Krakow. Archaeologists identified here important architectural treasures, like a medieval pillar cut in a way that Gothic murals depicting rural scenes, a wonderful specimen of the seventeenth century.

In this beautiful place in the magical surroundings of old Kraków, operates a luxury The Bonerowski Palace, the place where history and spirit of several eras are intertwined with modern technology, comfort and kitchens in the world.

Accomodation

The Bonerowski Palace – elegant 5-star Hotel in Krakow – puts 8 elegant Deluxe rooms and 8 luxury apartaments at your disposal. Choose the most attractive luxury accomodation in Krakow, with the breathtaking view at the Old Market Square and Św. Jana Street. Each room has beautiful stylish wooden furniture and spacious marble bathrooms.

Suite
Suites of The Bonerowski Palace, can enjoy overlooking the main square, which is not possible in any 5 ***** property. Each apartment is equipped with plasma TV, comfortable, stylish sofas and king size bed.

Restaurant

Looking for a perfect eatery in Krakow? There are as many as three elegant places in the beautiful, historic setting of The Bonerowski Palace where guests will find fine dining and fun. Amalia Steak&Fish, cozy café and stylish cocktail bar – all right in the Old Market Square in Krakow.

St.John Cocktail Club

Feel invited to St.John Cocktail Club set in the historic cellars of the Bonerowski Palace. You can find a great selection of alcohols from around the world and the ambiance you can experience in the best jazz clubs of the world.

The Club can seat up to 120 people in three rooms. Whenever you wish to use the dance floor, this number will be limited to 80 people. The interiors are air conditioned and three bars are available. DJ or band can mount up to perform their show.

Weddings
The Bonerowski Palace staff will make every effort to ensure that one of the most beautiful days of your life was unique and special. We offer stylish and beautifully appointed banquet rooms overlooking the main square. Staff will assist you in the proper arrangement of the room, choosing decorations and flowers.

SPA & Wellness

Wellness Center at The Bonerowski Palace, located on the 4th floor of a historic building in the city center, is the ideal place to relax and soothe your senses after a busy day. Looking for a luxury Spa in Krakow? Stay at The Bonerowski Palace and relax in a Spa unlike any other hotel’s spa.

In our Wellness guests can rest in the dry Finnish sauna, which stimulates the new energy or purifying steam sauna, modeled on the Roman bath. Active and health conscious people will feel great exercising on cardio equipment.

The wide range of massages performed by skilled masseurs, is a guarantee of relaxation and wellbeing. Massages have a positive effect on blood circulation, reduce tension of intervertebral nerves, stimulate the senses and release positive energy. On request we organize massages in the rooms.

Chopin Concerts

One of the gratest Polish composers Fryderyk Chopin is permanent guest in the Bonerowski Palace.It is an unusual experience for lovers of Chopin’s talent.

Nocturnes, preludes, waltzes can be heard during concerts, which take place at the Royal Hall in the Bonerowski Palace.Pianists who give concerts in the Bonerowski Palace are very talented and show emotions though the music.

Eligiusz Skoczylas

Eligiusz Skoczylas has performed in concert at home and abroad, including in France, the Netherlands, Lithuania, the UK, Spain, Germany and Japan.

His artistic achievements have been rewarded with many prizes and grants, including grants from the Sapere Auso Foundation and the Polish National Children’s Fund (2007); in 2004 and 2005, he received the Mayor of Cracow’s Award from Professor Jacek Majchrowski. In 2008, he was awarded a Creative Grant of the City of Cracow.

He is currently a grant-holder of the Pro Musica Bona Foundation. He received a ‘Young Poland’ grant from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski to purchase a grand piano.

He has won prizes in many national and international competitions. He won First Prize in the Manchester International Concerto Competition for Young Pianists.

His competition successes include the special Conservatory Prize at the International Piano Competition for Musicians in Enschede (Netherlands) and Second Prize in the James Mottram International Piano Competition in Manchester.

Eligiusz comes from Cracow. He began learning piano at the age of six. He attended the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Primary School of Music and the Fryderyk Chopin Secondary School of Music in Cracow and Cracow Music Academy.

Anna Miernik

Professional pianist who has already performed on 5 continents in 33 countries. She performs in prestigious concert halls such as Sydney Opera House, Gran Teatro Nacional in Lima, Teatro de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.

Anna received her honours degree from the Academy of Music in Kraków in 2013, after completing her studies in professor Andrzej Pikul’s piano class.

She has also studied under tuition of professor Sławomir Zubrzycki (constructor of viola organista, the unique instrument designed more than 500 years ago by Leonardo da Vinci). Anna participated in master classes run by eminent pedagogues, such as prof. Paul Badura-Skoda, prof. Andrzej Jasinski, prof. Dina Yoffe.

She has won several international and national prizes. In recognition of her artistic and scholarly accomplishments Anna Miernik has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships, including the ones granted by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Minister of Science and Higher Education.

Krakow

Krakow was and is one of the most important centers in Poland, traditionally regarded as the cultural capital of the country.

Co-created by the beautiful architecture and unique history, the atmosphere of Krakow has always given birth and attraction to artists, scientists, writers, theater and cinema personalities.If you would like to know the soul of Poland, search for one in Kraków.

Attractions

Wawel Cathedral

It was the coronation church of the Polish kings. In a series of chapels in the interior of the cathedral, Sigmund Chapel is the most perfect work of Renaissance architecture and sculpture in Poland and throughout northern Europe.

Exhibits from the treasury of the cathedral include nounced and liturgical vessels, reliquaries, regalia, royal insignia. Among the five bells hung in the bell tower, “Zygmunt” is one of the largest in Europe.

In the basement of the cathedral are the tombs of the kings and their families and poets and national heroes. Opening hours: Mon – Sat 9:00 – 14:45, Sun and public holidays 12:15 – 14:45

Kazimierz

Kazimierz district is as lively as the Old Town, has its own unique atmosphere, a distinct history and wonderful sights that delight everyone. It is an ideal district for both daily walks and night follies.

Jewish Heritage Route starts at the Center for Jewish Culture (Meisels Steet) and leads toward Jewish temples – in turn: Tempel Synagogue (Miodowa Street) 1862, Kupa Synagogue (Warszauera Street) and Isaac Synagogue (Jakuba Street) – from the seventeenth century., and finally the High Synagogue (Józefa Street) from 1590., the highest in Krakow.

Completion of the route is Szeroka Street with three Jewish temples, including the most valuable – Old Synagogue (Alte Schul), which is the oldest Jewish building in Poland, its origin dates back to the fifteenth century.

Most of the synagoges present the exhibition devoted to the history and culture of the Jews of Cracow. The Renaissance Synagogue Remuh of 1557. has one of the three oldest in Europe historic cemetery – a cemetery dating back to even earlier times (1511).

Visiting at the end of the seventeenth-century Popper Synagogue, you may leave the historic center of Kazimierz, to see the New Jewish Cemetery on Miodowa Street. Kazimierz is now a Jewish cultural center with plenty of exquisite Jewish restaurants with klezmer music.

Every year in June, takes place here International Festival of Jewish Culture.The grand finale of the festival on Szeroka Street attracts crowds of people from Poland and also foreigners.

The Royal Route

The Royal Route is the most attractive and the most known tourist route in Krakow – starts at St. Florian Church at the Matejko Square, where the Rector of the University together with the Senate once greeted a new king.

Passes the Barbican and the remnants of the old city fortifications and through the main gate – Florian Gate – enters the precinct of the Old Town. In St. Mary’s Basilica is a magnificent work of Veit Stosh – the largest Gothic altar in Europe.

Every an hour from the higher tower of the church the trombone plays a bugle call. Almost opposite the facade of the church stands a monument of Adam Mickiewicz – a popular meeting place for both of Krakow, as well as tourists.

The central place occupied The Cloth Hall , which is the largest medieval Europe Market. On the way to Wawel Castle you can admire the Gothic churches and monastery complexes Dominicans and Franciscans.

The latter is decorated with wall paintings and stained glass Wyspiański. Next to the church appears Cracow City Hall, now the headquarters of Krakow municipality. Continuing the tour through Grodzka Street we visit Romanesque St. Andrews Church and the Baroque Peter and Paul church.

Grodzka Street runs to Kanonicza Street of newly renovated townhouses and unique atmosphere. Both streets lead straight to the foot of Wawel Hill with Royal Castle, which is considered one of the finest residences of Renaissance in Europe.

National Museum

National Museum in Krakow, founded in 1879, is the oldest national museum in Poland. It contains a rich collection of works of art- Polish, European and non-European, creating one of the most important and most interesting collections in Poland, but also in Europe.

The structure of the Museum is based not only on the main building, but also on the eight branches located in historic buildings in the city center. Main Building, Gallery Century Polish Art in the Cloth Hall, Jan Matejko House, Wyspiański Museum in Szołayski, Dom Joseph Mehoffera, Center for Japanese Art and Technology “Manggha” Princes Czartoryski Museum.

Footsteps of John Paul II

Krakow is the only city in the world where there are places connected almost the entire life of John Paul II. Here, almost at every step, you may see where the Holy Father was a student at the Jagiellonian University, worker, actor, seminarian, then bishop, cardinal and pope. Tens of hundreds of monuments remind us with a unique presence Man who changed the world.

Route university

Academic traditions of Krakow dates back to the fourteenth century. In 1364. King Casimir the Great founded the Academy of Krakow, from nineteen century known as the Jagiellonian University. It is the second oldest university in Central Europe.

To this day, our city is one of the most important centers of learning in Poland. Location of the first buildings of the University is unknown. Once renewed in 1400. by King Wladyslaw Jagiello, it was built near the church of St. Anne.

The oldest preserved building of the university is Collegium Maius-from the beginning is the residences of professors and lecture halls. Today it is a museum of the University, the treasury and the famous Jagiellonian globe with the first mention of the American continent.

Website: www.palacbonerowski.com

Rooms: 8

Price: from 109 EUR per night

It is our great pleasure to invite you to the Wentzl Hotel, located in the heart of Krakow, at the Main Market Square. Our hotel comprises eighteen comfortably equipped rooms. With its individually chosen decor, each room is unique in its character.

Breakfast is served in the Wentzl restaurant on the first floor, from 7.00 am. to 10.30 am. It is possible to prepare lunch packets when early departure.

THE HISTORY
Next the Cellari family, which left Milan for the far of country on the Vistula River, to trade in cloth, lived here. As the family was hard working, and fortune smile upon them, they soon became one of the richest families in the city.

In 1633, Paweł Celar, whose lovely tomb is found in the Mariack iChurch, renovated the building. His son Jan Paweł – the burgrave of Krakow and a general – during the Swedish “deluge” fought against the Swedes and was the commander of the fortress in Jasna Góra in Częstochowa.

At this time, the building already belonged to the castellan of Krakow, Stanisław Warszycki. This rowdy and trouble-maker, showed himself to be of an upright character during the “deluge” – as he was one of the few who remained faithful to King Jan Kazimierz, even though most of the rest of the country had already succumbed to the Swedish invader.

The aforementioned Baltazar Haller took possession of the building in 1796. He was the son of a distinguished Krakow family, which set up the first printing press in Poland, in Krakow , in the XVI century. Over two hundred years it printed more than 230 titles ( amongst others the first book in Polish – the History of Christ’s Passion).

Baltazar himself traded in spices and English beer. The building, together with his daughter, became part of the Wentzl family. That’s how it’s remainde until today, the Wentzl name has remained the name of the building, and of the renowned hotel and restaurant located her today. I has become a good trademark.

The Wentzls, who “married into” the building, hit the mark, because the place not only had a centuries-old tradition, but also a certain “positive” energy. How else can one explain the fact that during the great fire of 1550 this building was spared, while others around it were gutted?

The miracle was attributed to the picture of Our Lady which was painted on the facade in 1718,hence the building’s name “Under the Picture”.During the fire nevertheless, three big churches and a lot of houses which had holy pictures on their facade, were destroyed.

RESTAURANT & CAFE WENTZL
Cukiernia Słodki Wentzl continues a tradition dating back to 1792, when Jan Wentzl moved his catering establishment to Kamienica pod Obrazem in the Main Market Square, which he received as a dowry from his wife, Marja Hallerówna.

For 220 years, the rooms on the ground floor of the building at Rynek Główny 19 welcomed guests, both from Krakow and numerous visitors to the city. At the end of the 19th century, it was a meeting place for painters.

It was here that the idea of ​​establishing the National Museum was born during a meeting of a group of friends, headed by Henryk Siemiradzki, who decided to donate the first exhibit, a monumental painting of his own, “Nero’s Torches”.

In the interwar period, this place enjoyed particular sympathy among the establishment of that time, both in Krakow and in Warsaw. This is evidenced by entries in the guest book from the 1930s, which can be seen in the café at the Main Market Square. There are drawings, dictations and footnotes by, among others, Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński, Vlastimir Hoffman and Marshal Rydz-Śmigły.

Over the last dozen or so years, the contemporary character of the café has been created by experts in Polish and French confectionery: Susana Osorio de Mrożek, Olivier Boudon, Grzegorz Zdeb, and especially a certified master of French pastries, Anthony Lelievre.

In the nearby Słodki Wentzl confectionery workshop, exquisite cakes and tortes are created, and their high quality and aesthetics are the only criteria followed by confectioners. They are produced from proven, branded, natural ingredients, and their quality is supervised by the head of the workshop.

Rooms: 18

Price: from 88 EUR per night

Source: www.wentzl.pl

In the very heart of the Krakow Old Town, next to the Main Market Square, there is a unique hotel. Since 1887 the Grand Hotel Krakow has been welcoming distinguished Guests, taking care of their comfort and satisfaction.

This former Palace of the Czartoryski Princes impresses with the beauty of its historical interiors renovated meticulously, unique atmosphere, elegance and luxury. It is also the first five-star experience hotel in the City of Krakow.

The guests of Grand Hotel Krakow have at their disposal comfortable rooms furnished with period furniture and unique, historical suites, including two Palace Suites, with the total floor area of approx. 100 m2 each.

The Grand Hotel Krakow has also become a multiple “media hero”, described in literature and film. It is an iconic place on the map of Krakow and its history has long been a legend. Dignified, legendary, luxurious… Grand Hotel Kraków.

EXECUTIVE SUITE
We recommend it to the Guests who need a comfortable and quiet place to work in a historic interior. Huge sliding doors allow to customize large spaces in a manner most convenient for the Guest.

Two-room suites with a stylish bathroom with a bathtub and a set of organic luxury cosmetics. Each room has a view of the historic streets of Krakow. They are equipped with a sofa, telephone, LED television set, mini-bar, safe and comfortable writing desk.

PALACE SUITE
The largest suites of approximately 100 m2 of floor area, with gilded, antique wooden panelling, ornaments decorating the walls and a marble fireplace. Exquisite Louis XVI style furniture and crystal mirrors.

The walls are decorated with the marble from the Chęciny quarry. The interiors are also enriched with exquisite portraits and carpets and tastefully selected furniture in the Empire style.

DELUXE ROOM
Bright, spacious historical interiors. Every detail designed to provide our guests with unforgettable experience. Each room is located in a historic former palace, equipped with a sofa, telephone, LED television set, mini-bar, safe deposit box and comfortable working desk. All rooms are air-conditioned, have a bathroom with bathtub, and an always-on Internet connection.

BUSINESS ROOM
Designed to give you a personal space to rest, relax and work while on a business trip. A comfortable bed, a convenient writing desk, LED television set , mini-bar, safe deposit box, mineral water replenished daily and unlimited High-Speed Internet are the benefits of this room.

GRAND CAFÉ
The Grand Hotel Café was opened on 12 February 1900, in the golden age of Krakow’s cafés. It soon became legendary and became the most fashionable focal point for artists, professors of the Academy of Fine Arts, writers, poets and numerous Krakow inhabitants who appreciated not only the taste of the specialities served at the Grand Café, but also the exceptionally inspiring atmosphere of the place.

Numerous photographs and memorabilia come from this period, The most valuable of which – such as Jacek Malczewski’s caricatures of his friends drawn on café napkins – framed, still adorn the walls of the Grand Café.

It was in this iconic Grand Hotel café, at the beginning of the previous century, that eminent Polish artists and representatives of the Young Poland era would meet every day: Jacek Malczewski, Leon Wyczółkowski, Teodor Axentowicz, Jan Stanisławski and Konstanty Laszczka.

The Grand Café was also frequented by Kazimierz and Włodzimierz Tetmajer, Lucjan Rydel, Feliks Jasieński or the famous Nobel Prize winners Stefan Żeromski and Władysław Reymont, who stayed in the city for a while.

Based on over 100 years of tradition, at the Grand Hotel café, you can order today, just like the former visitors of the place, the famous Galician cream puff, Krakow’s cheesecake, fruit meringue or rose ice-cream à la Grand. Everything is based on old, original recipes, but served in a new version and composed in a modern way.

GRAND SIGNATURE RESTAURANT
A place hallmarked by famous writers, the Nobel Prize winners, painters, hosting renowned figures from the world of science, culture and art. An eye-witness to many historical events the GRAND SIGNATURE Restaurant is the only place in Krakow that can boast of such a long and rich history.

Opened in the second half of the 19th century, it became famous for its excellent cuisine, appreciated by the aristocracy and landed gentry who visited the hotel in large numbers, as well as Krakow’s intellectual elite. Its lovers included world-famous writers such as: Henryk Sienkiewicz, Władysław Reymont, Stefan Żeromski or Joseph Conrad.

Today’s Grand Signature cuisine refers to the rich tradition of the place by using old recipes, such as Krakow’s dippy dip , sour soup on rye and oat ferment , or cream puff à la Grand served for over 100 years. However, the Chef does not treat these inspirations too literally, creating rather modern compositions based on local products and contemporary food trends.

UNIQUE COFFEE FLAVOUR
The taste of exceptional coffee at the Grand Hotel café was mentioned 120 years ago by the famous Polish Nobel Prize winner Henryk Sienkiewicz, who used to drop in here every morning for – as he wrote – “a coffee with cream famous for its deliciousness”.

Perhaps it was here, at the Grand Hotel, that Sienkiewicz created the plots of his literary works, including “Quo vadis” novel, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1905. We will never know, but the unique atmosphere of this place certainly had an impact on the Polish artists like no other place on the map of Krakow and continues to exert such impact to this day.

Only here, while sipping a small black coffee, can you admire the bronze busts sculpted by Professor Marian Konieczny of the members of the historic “Cinderella Club” meeting at the Grand Hotel, headed by the Professors Krawczuk, Zieliński and Podraza.

The enthusiasts of Krakow, history and art can sit down at the “Professors’ Table”, where Krakow professors gather, as they did 100 years ago, to discuss without any haste, over their morning Grande coffee and cream puff , the world changes taking place so rapidly…

WEDDINGS IN KRAKOW
A wedding reception is one of the most important events in one’s life. It should therefore take place at a unique place and leave unforgettable impressions.

The legendary Grand Hotel Mirror Room, remembering the crazy balls of the interwar period, described in Henryk Worcell’s book “Zaklęte Rewiry”, and later captured in the film under the same title, is undoubtedly such a place. Due to its rich history and excellent location, it is a unique place on the map of Krakow.

Situated just a few steps away from the Main Market Square and St. Mary’s Church, spacious, able to accommodate up to 120 invited guests, covered with an Art Nouveau stained-glass roof, full of the glitter of crystals and mirror reflections – the Mirror Hall is the perfect place to organize the Wedding of your Dreams.

EVENTS & BANQUETS
A well-deserved fame is still enjoyed by the Mirror Room, which has been preserved in almost its original condition since the hotel was built. It was here that in the interwar period the most elegant balls of the elite of the Second Republic of Poland were held.

Octagonal, roofed with stained glass, with cosy offices at the ground floor and Art Nouveau loggias at the first floor is still considered the most beautiful Ballroom in the City of Krakow.

The palace interiors of the Mirror Room are perfect for all kinds of grand, wide-sweeping events such as balls or wedding parties , but also for all kinds of banquets, family celebrations and company anniversaries, concerts, performances, fashion shows or presentations of luxury product brands.

FINNISH SAUNA
The session in the dry sauna cleanses our body of toxins, improves metabolism, reduces the feeling of tiredness, relaxes after a day of intense sightseeing. Pouring stones with a mixture of water and carefully selected essential oils, we additionally create a beneficial effect on our respiratory and nervous systems.

“GANBANYOKU” JAPANESE SAUNA
The name “ganbanyoku” means “rock bath” in Japanese. This unusual sauna consists of volcanic plates which are heated during the session from 36 to 42 degrees Celsius.

It is recommended after an intensive workout or a long walk, because while lying on the plates, the heat emitted from them penetrates deep into the body tissues, relaxing the muscles. The Japanese sauna speeds up metabolism, detoxifies the body and also has an anti-depressive and stress-reducing effect.

RELAXATION ZONE
Here, you can relax to the sounds of quiet music after a visit to the sauna and calm down after a day full of excitement.

FITNESS
Our guests do not have to forget about their workout plans. The Grand Hotel provides an airconditioned, well-equipped exercise room, located in the Wellness Zone (next to the Sauna and Relaxation Zone). Upon a special request we can also organise a personal coaching service. Please contact the hotel reception desk to arrange this.

THE HISTORY
The “Grand Hotel” brand – synonymous with hotel services at an unprecedented, luxurious level appeared in the 19th century. Hotels of this class were built in the most attractive districts of cities, often in palace buildings, with interiors filled with works of art, but also equipped with the latest technology.

In this way, they could satisfy the refined tastes of the
most sophisticated clientele. The history of Krakow’s Grand Hotel also begins in the 19th century, although the history of the building itself, or rather the complex of buildings forming today’s structure, dates back to the Middle Ages.

That is why in the oldest, underground part of the building, we can find medieval cross-ribbed vaults, and in many rooms and suites, architectural remains of past eras, including: Renaissance, carved columns, 16th century wooden ceilings with multi-coloured polychromes, antique supraportes or historical ornaments and woodgraining decorating the walls of the most representative rooms.

In 1873 a tenement house at 5, Sławkowska Street, and soon also the neighbouring one at number 7, was purchased by the ducal couple Marcelina, Fryderyk Chopin’s most famous pupil, and Alexander Czartoryski.

At that time, under the supervision of the famous architect Maksymilian Nitsch, two townhouses of medieval-Renaissance origin were transformed into a ducal residence, still regarded as one of the finest in the Republic of Poland. The palace soon became a focal point of social, intellectual and artistic life.

In 1886 Alexander Czartoryski’s heir and son Marcel leased out the palace to a hotel and after a few years sold it to Eustachy Jax Chronowski, a well-known connoisseur and collector of works of art.

The adaptation works were supervised by the famous architect of the Art Nouveau and Modernism eras, Tadeusz Stryjeński, who left behind the unique Art Nouveau stained glass windows, which now adorn the bay windows in the corridors of the first and second floors of the hotel.

On 15 January 1887, the opening ceremony of “the largest, most modern and most luxurious hotel in the city” took place, as the press wrote, making comparisons with the best European hotels.

The Grand Hotel soon filled up with guests mainly from the Polish and European aristocratic circles , and the hotel continued to undergo modernisation and expansion, resulting in a hotel enterprise of world renown, far ahead of its time.

With its own power generators, the hotel was the first to shine with electric light. The rooms were equipped with bathrooms and running water, and a legendary glass-roofed restaurant was built, named the “Hall of Mirrors” after the Belgian mirrors – a witness to the sumptuous balls, receptions and banquets of the political and intellectual elite of the time.

The main gate from Sławkowska Street, covered with a beautiful Art Nouveau awning and the stained glass windows decorating the corridors and the restaurant also date back to this period.

A frequent guest at the hotel’s café in those days was the famous Nobel Prize winner Henryk Sienkiewicz, for whom, as Adam Grzymała-Siedlecki recalled: “Krakow would not be fully Krakow if he did not turn up at 10 a.m. for a coffee with cream”.

The Grand Hotel restaurant hosted two lavish parties attended by this great writer. The first one was a wedding reception, which took place on 11 November 1893, after his marriage to Maria Wołodkowiczówna, and the second one – a jubilee reception, which was organised in honour of the Nobel Prize winner by his friends from the Academy of Arts and Sciences on 21 June 1899.

A little later – in 1914 – during his stay in Poland, another great writer and Nobel Prize winner with Polish roots stayed here – Joseph Conrad and his family, who also greatly appreciated both the local atmosphere and cuisine.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Grand Hotel became the most elegant venue in Krakow during the interwar period, attracting the most eminent celebrities from the world of science, culture and art. On one of the restaurant walls hung a huge canvas on which famous painters, poets, publicists and artists expressed their thoughts.

It displayed hundreds of different sentences, sketches and poems written by the most eminent representatives of the Young Poland movement, such as Lucjan Rydel, Stanisław Wyspiański, Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer, Tadeusz Boy-Żeleński or Ludwik Solski – lovers of the Grand Hotel café who spent long hours there every day.

In 1936 the Grand Hotel hit the headlines, due to an unusual event that took place within its walls. In June 1936, the Marble Suite was inhabited by the world-famous tenor – Jan Kiepura. This was not his only stay in this place, but this one went down in history due to the unique, spontaneous performance from the hotel window.

On the next day, after the concert, which with the participation of the artist took place in the Wawel Castle courtyard, from the early morning hours, despite the heavy rain, such a large crowd of admirers gathered in front of the hotel, that it completely paralyzed traffic.

Then the artist, dressed only in a dressing gown and a flat cap on his head, stood in the window of the suite where he lived and began to sing, and the crowd was stunned with delight.

When in the following year the artist came to Krakow, this time to perform during a charity concert at the Old Theatre with his wife – the world-famous singer and actress Marta Eggerth, he again stayed at the Grand Hotel.

This time, a crowd of admirers blocked Sławkowska Street all the way to the Main Market Square, and only thanks to the foresight of the hotel’s management, who, having realised the situation, led the artists out through the back exit, the concert could take place on time.

The 1920s and 1930s were the period of the hotel’s greatest splendour. It was a time of social meetings at café tables, of banquets, receptions and balls attended by the elite of the Second Republic of Poland.

In 1936, the Grand Hotel entered, or rather (according to Zygmunt Nowakowski’s review) “rode on 100 horses” into Polish literature thanks to the book written by its former waiter Tadeusz Kurtyka – “Zaklęte Rewiry” (“The Enchanted Territories”), which is a document depicting life of the most famous café and restaurant in Krakow.

The post-war years marked the beginning of a difficult period in the history of this historic place, marked by stagnation and progressive devastation. However, the beginning of the 1990s turned out to be lucky again for the underrun Grand Hotel.

Its new leaseholder Wawel-Imos International S.A. – is carrying out a thorough renovation of the building, carefully restoring the damaged pieces of architecture and furnishings, restoring the splendour and beauty of the former Czartoryski Palace and modernising its hotel functions.

The achievements of the hotel were noticed and highly valued by the Chapter of the prestigious competition of the Polish Promotional Emblem “Poland Now”. During its 10th edition, the Grand Hotel was granted a golden statuette and was awarded the first prize in the category of the best hotel and catering services.

On 22 March 2004, the Grand Hotel received another award with great satisfaction, worthily representing over a hundred years of tradition and obtaining the status of the first five-star experience hotel in the City of Krakow.

The beautiful, but also turbulent history of the Grand Hotel seems to confirm the idea that this place has been guarded by “genius loci” for centuries. This good spirit certainly also takes care of all those who live here…

The elite character of this legendary Krakow hotel, its rich history and location in the heart of the Old Town are still appreciated by crowned heads of state, heads of government, worldfamous artists, writers, prominent representatives of science, business and aristocracy.

The long list of Grand Hotel’s famous guests includes British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Brigitt von Hohenzollern of Sweden, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder.

The Grand Hotel was the organisational centre of the stay in Krakow of the Japanese imperial couple – Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress Michiko.

From the Polish government circles the following officials have stayed at the Grand Hotel: Nobel Peace Prize winner – President Lech Walesa, President Aleksander Kwasniewski, Prime Ministers: Marek Belka, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Jerzy Buzek, President of Poland in exile Ryszard Kaczorowski, legendary war courier and director of Radio Free Europe – Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, or Minister of Foreign Affairs – Władyslaw Bartoszewski.

Apart from representatives of the world of politics, artists and writers have always been numerous guests of the Grand Hotel. Not so long ago, one could meet at the Krakow’s Grand Hotel the Nobel Prize winner Czesław Miłosz who already passed away, Sławomir Mrożek or William Wharton.

Since the very beginning of its operations, the Grand Hotel, closely connected with the artistic world and being the metaphysical home of Joseph Conrad in Poland, became a partner of the Joseph Conrad International Literature Festival in 2009. The film making industry has also took liking to the unique atmosphere of the Grand Hotel.

Many film directors have stayed here: Roman Polański, Agnieszka Holland, Juliusz Machulski, famous actors such as Holly Hunter, Kenneth Branagh, or Adrien Brody. Hotel guests included also famous musicians: the founder of Deep Purple – Richie Blackmoor, guitarist of Queen – Brian May and many others.

The tradition of intellectual disputes held daily at the hotel café by a group of eminent Krakow’s professors (the Cinderella Club), at the now legendary table – known as the “professors’ table” – has been revived.

GRAND HOTEL IN LITERATURE
In 1936, Krakow’s Grand Hotel entered Polish literature for good thanks to the book titled “Zaklęte Rewiry” (The Enchanted Territories), which was received by the literary circles as an excellent debut by Tadeusz Kurtyka – a former waiter at the Grand Hotel, publishing under the pseudonym Henryk Worcell.

He worked between 1928 and 1936 as a waiter, first in the café and then in the hotel restaurant. In 1933 he began writing his memoirs, which with time turned into a kind of autobiographical novel full of invaluable information and anecdotes concerning hotel life “behind the scenes ” to “the café table”.

Undoubtedly, it was the Grand Hotel café that was the place where the waiter Kurtyka transformed into the writer Worcell, who, according to Zygmunt Nowakowski’s review, “rode into Polish literature on a hundred horses”.

The most valuable features of Worcell’s novel were the vivid depictions of café and restaurant life from behind the scenes: “from the perspectives of kitchen, buffet, pantry and sideboard”.

In the novel, the author called the Grand Hotel the “Pacific” (thus the English name of the feature film is “The Pacific Hotel”), and hid himself under the figure of the main character Roman Boryczko, who started his way to becoming a waiter from a position of dish washer in the kitchen.

In real life, waiter Tadeusz Kurtyka, having the opportunity to observe the behaviour of café guests and participating in the daily operations of the Grand Hotel’s catering facilities, was able to convey the unusual atmosphere of the place and, in an interesting literary record, record the history of this legendary hotel. The book was reprinted many times and in 1975 Janusz Majewski made a film based on the book under the same title.

The Grand Hotel in Krakow turned out to be such an interesting subject that it has been the subject of a comprehensive monograph written by Professor Irena Homoli-Skąpska.

The author describes the history of this place in an extremely interesting way, bringing closer the history of the historic tenement houses, which were later incorporated into the Grand Hotel complex, as well as the people who owned it and those who met for many years at the hotel’s café and restaurant.

We can thus trace the process of conversion of the Renaissance townhouses into the ducal palace of Marcelina and Alexander Czartoryski and setting up the most famous artistic and literary salon of Krakow, and after the sale of the palace to Eustachy Jax Chronowski, the transformation of this place into the most luxurious hotel of Krakow.

The author recalls many amusing stories and anecdotes connected with famous café regulars and hotel guests – often eminent figures of the time. She also quotes humorous poems that famous guests often left on café napkins.

“Zaklęte Rewiry” (The Pacific Hotel) directed by Janusz Majewski is a faithful screen adaptation of Henryk Worcell’s novel of the same title. The director cast a young Marek Konrad in the lead of Roman Boryczko, and an excellent Roman Wilhelmi as the brutal waiter Fornalski who persecuted him.

Both were awarded for their outstanding acting performances. For the purpose of the film, the Krakow’s Grand Hotel is renamed into Hotel “Pacific”. The director invites us to visit this hotel and take a look at its quarters, usually inaccessible to guests.

The film is set in the early 1930s and tells the story of a teenage boy from the countryside who is hired to work in the restaurant of the city’s most luxurious hotel and climbs the hotel career ladder at the cost of constant humiliation.

In an excellent way it presents a picture of the life of the Grand Hotel in Krakow, seen through the eyes of its waiter and based on his own experiences. It is an excellent study of the attitudes and behaviour of the hotel’s staff and regulars in the Grand Hotel’s cafés and restaurants. British film critic David Shipman expressed the opinion that “there is no better film about hotel life than this one”.

GRAND HOTEL IN FILM
If you want to see the Grand Hotel in a different setting, we recommend watching several films shot in its interiors, which are a charming scenery desired by directors to shoot their productions there.

Over the years, several feature films and many hotel episodes have been shot here, enhancing the recognition of this place on the map of Krakow and making the legendary Grand Hotel a contemporary “media celebrity “.

The best-known film production for which hotel scenes were shot in the Grand Hotel in Kraków is the excellent 2004 comedy “Vinci” directed by Juliusz Machulski and starring Borys Szyc, Robert Więckiewicz, Kamila Baar and Jan Machulski. Another comedy, directed by Robert Gliński, premiered the same year – “Długi weekend” / “Long weekend”, this time filmed almost entirely inside the Grand Hotel.

“Women Without Shame” shot in 2016 is a contemporary Polish comedy directed by Witold Orzechowski and starring, among others, Joanna Liszowska and Anna Dereszowska. Many of the film’s scenes were shot precisely in the Krakow’s Grand Hotel.

The Polish Television 2018 flagship series, kept by Maciej Migas in a “Belle époque” style, also contains some scenes shot at the Grand Hotel. There are many more film productions to come, as film crews have developed special liking to our hotel and keep coming back.

GRAND HOTEL IN JOURNALISM
When the BBC presenter and host of the acclaimed programme “Great Continental Journey” arrived in Krakow, he could not fail to stop at the legendary Grand Hotel and add it to his script.

The programme crew moved with the camera through the historic interiors of the Krakow’s Grand Hotel, trying to move their viewers back to the year 1914, when Joseph Conrad, his wife Jessie and sons: Boris and John stayed here and to revive the ambience of the place and the bygone era.

It would be difficult to list all the programmes that were filmed inside the Grand Hotel, because the place has become so important in the history of our country and so many prominent representatives of the world of politics, culture and art have been connected with it over the years that it is difficult for the makers of these programmes to skip the Grand Hotel in their scripts.

The History Channel of the Polish Television visited our hotel many times with a camera, filming scenes related to various historical figures. One of the most interesting programmes shot by this station was a film attempt to recreate Jan Kiepura’s stay at the Grand Hotel in 1936 and his spontaneous concert in a bathrobe in the window of the Palace Suite for the crowd of admirers gathered in front of the hotel.

Website: www.grand.pl

Rooms: 64

Price: from 164 EUR per night

The Balthazar Boutique Hotel Krakow on 63 Grodzka Street was created in a beautifully restored tenement house from the 19th century situated at the foot of Wawel. This is a hotel that does not have a matching equivalent in its category.

The delightfully designed and equipped hotel interiors with attention to detail bring to mind New York or London boutique hotels, in which the eclecticism of design, the best materials, a palette of colours and tasteful details create an atmosphere of particular chic and luxury.

The Balthazar Design Hotel is an embodiment of a dream of a truly remarkable place in Kraków coming true – both for those travelling on business as well as those visiting Kraków for its tourist and cultural appeal.

An apparently modest historic town house at Grodzka street, opposite St. Martin’s Church with the Baroque Saints Peter and Paul Church in the vicinity. Today’s building dates back to the 1870s when it took shape following a conversion and an expansion of the oldest utility and gate buildings which in turn can be traced back to the 16th century.

The contemporary, delightfully designed and outstandingly furnished hotel facilities bring to mind boutique hotels in New York and London. An eclectic design, top quality materials, complementary colours and sublime details.

The heart of the city – The Royal Route with the Balthazar Design Hotel where guests are whisked off to an incredible world, with a discernible atmosphere of intimacy and breathing space.

ROOMS & SUITES 
An exceptional room, just right for you, here at the Balthazar Design Hotel. At a place where meticulous perfection shines through the charming Art Deco interiors. Where a sumptuous cuisine will take your senses on an unforgettable journey. It is here that we have created a unique experience, which will linger in your memory for a long time to come.

ROYAL SUITE 
The Royal Suite Apartment comes with approx. 50 sq. m. of floorspace. It is located on the second floor and overlooks Grodzka street (The Royal Route).

The apartment comprises two rooms, interconnected by a door, with two bathrooms and a plethora of accessories. Just as in Deluxe rooms the TV is larger (47’) and it comes with an extended range of cosmetics. The feel of the apartment benefits greatly from a congenial electric fireplace, a day zone (large four man table) together with comfortable seating.

DELUXE ROOM
DELUXE double rooms with a floorspace of approx. 25 sq. m. are located on the first and second floor, with views of the Wawel Royal Castle, Grodzka street and the Fiorentina restaurant patio. All these rooms have one large 180 x 200 cm bed, and in two of them we can (upon request) split the bed and convert the spaces into twin rooms with two single 90 x 200 cm beds.

Additionally some of these rooms feature a comfortable, fold-out sofa which can be used as a rollaway bed for one adult or two younger children. There is a larger TV (47’) and are stocked with an extended range of exclusive Molton Brown cosmetics.

SUPERIOR ROOM
SUPERIOR double rooms feature approx. 18 sq. m. of floor space and are located on the first, second and third floors. They either look out onto Grodzka street (The Royal Route), the yard, Fiorentina restaurant patio or have roof windows.

All these rooms have one large 180 x 200 cm bed, and in three of them we can (upon request) split the bed and convert the spaces into twin rooms with two single 90 x 200 cm beds.

FIORENTINA RESTAURANT
Fiorentina offers what is the essence of European cuisine – the simplicity and joy of composing dishes based on the best ingredients imported from various regions and from local Polish suppliers. The menu card changes 4 times a year.

The restaurant uses the highest quality seasonal products from which you will experience the essence of their flavours. The menu is based on fresh, unprocessed products, without preservatives, dyes and enhancers. Fiorentina has been awarded with the BIB Gourmand in Michelin Guide 2020 – Main Cities of Europe.

The specialty of Fiorentina is the wonderful bistecca alla fiorentina – that is a Florentine steak. The secret of bistecca alla fiorentina lies in the unique way of cutting the meat and its quality. It resembles a T bone steak and always contains a bone with a portion of sirloin on one side and roast beef on the other.

Meat for our bistecca comes from 8-year-old Angus and Hereford cows, it is seasoned for a minimum of 30 days before it can be properly grilled. Bistecca alla fiorentina is always served bloody – to fully enjoy its unique taste.

BUSINESS TRAVEL
We are at hand to organise well thought out cosy business meetings or celebrations of those special moments, where every detail has been taken care of.

Balthazar’s and Fiorentina’s outstanding and prestigious location, boutique interiors, character and philosophy of the facility together with an atmosphere of discretion make this the perfect venue for smaller meetings.

Rooms: 25

Price: from 117 EUR per night

Source: www.balthazarhotel.com

Described by the Daily Telegraph as one of the most beautiful hotels in the world, the Hotel Copernicus blends the very best of the old and the new.

Rescued from the crumbling fate that once seemed on the cards for so many of Cracow’s buildings, the hotel opened in 2000 and quickly established itself as the city’s most enchanting place to stay.

The Copernicus lies nestled at the foot of the Royal Castle on an ancient and tranquil street. It’s a rather special part of town that seems to live very much in a world of its own.

Inside, charming Renaissance frescoes cast their spell, and splendidly carved stone portals adorn the walls. During the Middle Ages, these houses were the residences of bishops, and the magnificent wooden ceilings and marbled floors echo those of the Royal Castle itself.

Whilst great care has gone into letting the Copernicus’s old character shine through, historic flourishes are dovetailed with modern luxury and convenience.

The rooms have a cosy elegance, with velvet and dark wood furnishings, and the bathrooms are marbled throughout. With air-conditioning in Summer, and warm heating during the Winter, the city can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.

One of the most exciting discoveries during restoration can be found downstairs in the restaurant, which is graced by a splendid Renaissance ceiling. Here the chef serves classic Polish dishes with a light, modern twist, whilst the cellars specialize in a range of Italian wines.

Besides the bar on the ground floor, there is also a littlehide away up on the roof. A delight during the Summer, with its views over the castle and onto the domes and cupolas of the city, you could well imagine the hotel’s namesake, Copernicus, the famous Polish astronomer, marveling away at the stars by night.

A regular visitor to this house as a young man, he would no doubt have relished this marvelous spot. Meanwhile, descending into the subterranean world of the cellars, one can loll about in the swimming pool for an hour or two, or stay fighting fit with a stretch in the exercise rooms.

Back upstairs in the library you can unwind in a very congenial atmosphere, and perhaps order a Tatanka – a rather delicious Polish beverage that’s well worth a try.

Hotel Copernicus’s young and helpful staff are always on hand to make sure that you have a relaxed and enjoyable stay. Certainly worth a thought are the suites, which would make an enchanting choice for honeymooners. Outside, all the delights of the city lie in wait.

Double room
Double Rooms are located on all three floors of the Hotel. Rooms available with either one double bed or two single beds. Bathrooms have bathtubs or showers.

Suites and Apartments
Suites offer amazing views of Wawel, The Royal Castle. The suites have a bedroom with a king size bed plus a sitting room with a desk, table and sofa. The marble bathroom contains a bath.

The Auschwitz Tour
Should one visit Auschwitz? It is a difficult question, and a deeply personal one. For many people, be they pilgrims on a private journey, backpackers exploring eastern Europe, historians, travellers or native Poles, it is a must.

The proximity to Krakow (Cracow) makes a visit to the museums a very real option – the town of Oswiecim (Auschwitz) is an hour and a half journey by car from Krakow.

And certainly, having seen the camps (regardless of how many other groups are also filing through) few will regret the experience. The camps and their legacy are an indelible part of today’s world, and visiting them is both sobering and edifying.

The basic structures of both camps have survived, and the experience of these is amplified by a number of exhibitions about the major victims of the atrocities, chiefly the Jews, but also Poles, Gypsies and Russians.

There are many different exhibits, and the apparatus of the camps, as well as the personal belongings left behind by the victims will speak for themselves.

Tour Information
We will drive you to the museum at Auschwitz from Krakow. We will also arrange for you to have a tour with a museum guide – all are experts on the camps and their legacy.

The tour will also include nearby Birkenau (the expansive satellite of the Auschwitz camp), which for many visitors makes a more powerful impression than the first.

As always, we offer unique tours, free of overcrowded buses and full of worthwhile information – on site and on the way there! Our guides are knowledgeable and spirited locals and will make sure you get the most out of your tour.

Salt Mine Tour
The chapel of Saint Kinga in Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the wonders of Poland. Hand-carved one hundred years ago by a group of highly gifted miners, it is an awe-inspiring thing to behold.

It would be a great shame to miss it if you’re coming to Krakow, and besides, there are many other attractions to be explored here too, including underwater lakes, as well as ancient, smaller chapels – the mines here date all the way back to the thirteenth century.

Although there are so many interesting features about Wieliczka that you will discover on a guided tour, here you can read about 5 of the most amazing facts about the salt mines.

Tour information
We will drive you direct to the mines, which saves you having to mess around with buses or trains. We will pick you up straight from your hotel. Once there, we’ll see to it that you can join an English speaking tour of the interior.

Of course, after the tour of the mines, we’ll drive you back to wherever you would like to be dropped off in Krakow! As always, our tours are original and free of overcrowded buses!

We’ll make sure you know all the info and that you won’t miss anything along the way. All of our guides are locals with great personalities and they really know their stuff. They’ll make sure each and every tour is perfect!

Website: www.hotelcopernicus.com

Rooms: 29

Price: from 169 EUR per night

Unicus Palace Hotel is a luxurious five-star hotel in the center of the historic city of Krakow. We offer 60 elegant and comfortable rooms and suites in classic, deluxe and premium options.

Thanks to its location on the corner of St. Florian (Floriańska) Street, the city’s most prestigious main street promenade with the landmark St. Florian Gate, and St. Mark Street, our hotel is only a few-minute walk away from the famous Market Square, the largest medieval market square in Europe, with its central feature – the Cloth Hall, one of the city’s most recognizable icons and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our hotel is housed in a magnificent, historic townhouse in the heart of the Krakow Old Town. Listed as a Historic Monument, the building is under the protection of the City Monument Conservator.

Due to conservation restrictions, no roof could be placed over the entrance gate leading up to the hotel parking lot. To compensate for this inconvenience, our hotel boasts additional attractions, including a luxury SPA & Wellness Center.

The interiors of our hotel emulate and mirror the unique and splendid décor of the magnificent 17th century townhouse in St. Florian (Floriańska) Street where it is housed. The building is called the Morsztyn Family Palace, so every bride can feel like a real princess here.

ROOMS & SUITES
Unicus Palace Hotel is a luxurious five-star hotel in the center of the historic city of Krakow, only a few-minute walk away from the famous Market Square with its central feature, the Cloth Hall. Our hotel offers 60 elegant and comfortable rooms and suites in classic, deluxe and premium options.

DELUXE APARTMENT
In a two-room Deluxe Apartment, the magnificent history of Krakow city combines with the most elegant version of the present. The spacious interior is equipped with ergonomic furniture – convenience provides the greatest comfort and makes you really want to relax here.

Guests traveling in business reasons will be appreciated by the wide desk and coffee table with stylish armchairs – a perfect combination for private meetings.
One of Deluxe Apartments is located in the historical part of the hotel and its unique décor referring to the 17th-century splendor at Florianska Street.

Guests staying in it can draw from the universally perceptible atmosphere of luxury and feel like members of the aristocratic Morsztyn family, from whose the hotel building took its name.

PREMIUM APARTMENT
The spacious apartment is designed for guests seeking exceptional comfort and convenience. Its elegant interior decorated in subdued colours perfectly combines the royalty of Krakow with a hint of modernity.

Three of the available rooms of this type are located in the historical part of the tenement, whose walls remember the times of the 17th century splendour when it was called the Morsztyn Palace.

Our guests will appreciate a wide, comfortable bed and sofa that make this room a fantastic place for family holidays. Ergonomic furniture and a wide range of equipment in an elegant, spacious bathroom will make all our guests feel like at home inside this beautiful interior.

DINING
We invite you to dive into the richness of unique flavors and aromas at our hotel restaurant, The Unique Taste, which serves a fusion of European cuisines with distinct Polish accents.

Our Head Chef has created a menu composed of dishes made from the finest quality ingredients, as well as aromatic herbs and spices, to satisfy even the most refined and discerning palates.

THE RESTAURANT
Our chefs not only know how to best satisfy the taste of our Guests but they are also true masters of the culinary art, recognized by food critics and restaurant guides, including the famous Gault & Millau. They will take you on a journey of fine dining experience with their exquisite and delicious creations, full of unique flavors and aromas.

THE LOBBY BAR
With its wide offer of coffee and tea, as well as soft and alcoholic drinks, our Lobby Bar is an ideal place for a small, intimate business meeting or just a drink after a long, busy day to relax and recharge.

THE BREAKFAST
We believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It should be nutritious and give you the energy you need to deal with everyday challenges. To do that, your breakfast should be well-balanced, composed of wholesome and best-quality ingredients, and, last but not least, delicious to get you in the right mood!

We are proud of our breakfast buffet which offers a wide range of finest quality products and exquisite breakfast dishes, according to the old proverb “Eat breakfast like a king”.

We provide you with the best ingredients from which you can create a unique and tasty breakfast composition on your plate. A healthy and nutritious breakfast is the best way to start a good day!

SPA & WELLNESS
At Unicus Palace Hotel, we want to provide the best luxury hotel experience to all our Guests. Therefore, we offer you the opportunity to regenerate after a busy day and to take care of your health and beauty in our luxurious SPA zone.

Take advantage of our wide range of massages, treatments and rituals with premium-quality cosmetics, to relax, rejuvenate and detoxify. In our offer, you will also find cleansing, moisturizing and nourishing treatments, which will not only improve the appearance of your skin but also restore the internal harmony of your body.

BEAUTY TREATMENTS
Treatments combining traditional and the latest cosmetic and therapeutic recipes based on the highest quality cosmetics inspired by nature are the philosophy of our SPA. In the field of wellness, biological reconstruction and daily body care, we have created an offer that meets the needs of the most demanding Guests.

At the Unicus Palace SPA you will find space for a moment of relaxation after an intense day. Regardless of whether you want to rest or take care of your good condition, we are prepared to take care of you in the best possible way.

THE WELLNESS ZONE
For all Guests, Unicus Palace Hotel offers an opportunity to relax and regenerate after a long and hard day in our luxurious Wellness Zone, which along a sauna, a steam room and a gym also boasts an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub and a salt cave.

Amateurs of active recreation can choose to swim their stress away in our indoor swimming pool. For those looking for peace and serenity, we offer a session in our sauna or steam room. Even a short stay in our state-of-the-art salt cave will have a relaxing and rejuvenating effect on your body.

THE SWIMMING POOL 
The large indoor swimming pool is one of the most popular places in our Wellness Zone. With each length swum, not only do you improve your stamina and endurance but also benefit from the relaxing effect of the serene ambience of the space around you – the stylish, brick structure of the vaulted ceiling above and the crystal-clear water.

THE HOT TUB
In our Wellness Zone, you can also enjoy a relaxing dip in our luxurious hot tub. With water temperature up to 36 degrees Celsius, it has a positive effect not only on your well-being but also on your health. Even a short bubble bath session will help you relax and regenerate your muscles and joints.

THE SALT CAVE
Seaside climate so far inland as Krakow? Now it is possible in in our Wellness Zone. Our state-of-the-art salt cave will allow you to feel the benefits of sea salt, including cleansing your skin, boosting your immunity and calming your nervous system. A few minutes spent in the cave will provide your body with all the valuable microelements to keep you healthy!

THE SAUNA
For enthusiasts of traditional Finnish sauna, we offer a session in our dry sauna. With temperature reaching up to 110 degrees Celsius and humidity dropping to just 10%, it provides the ideal conditions for cleansing your skin, regenerating your muscles and even lowering your blood pressure.

THE STEAM ROOM
The steam room is perfect for our Guests who want to rejuvenate and stay healthy but are less tolerant to heat. With temperature reaching no more than 50 degrees Celsius and very high humidity, it clears your skin and gives it a healthy glow by removing toxins and promoting healthy blood flow. It also helps release tension and reduce stress while boosting your immunity.

THE GYM
During your stay at Unicus Palace Hotel, you don’t need to change your exercise plans. For our Guests only, we provide a cosy gym with basic exercise equipment for a cardio workout to help you keep fit and healthy.

EVENTS
Charming atmosphere, elegant interiors, excellent food, as well as professional and friendly service are the key ingredients for a successful and memorable event, whether private or business. We will go the extra mile to make sure that your special celebration or business function is truly unforgettable and that all your guests feel welcome and comfortable.

When organizing any kind of event, we draw on the unique combination of our experience and creativity which ensures complete success. Whatever the occasion, our approach is always flexible and client-oriented. We adapt to each of our client’s bespoke requests in a creative and original way.

At our hotel, we can organize for you all types of functions and events. These include family and corporate celebrations, team-building meetings, first communion and baptism receptions, birthday and anniversary parties, art openings and other.

WEDDINGS IN KRAKOW
The choice of a venue for the wedding reception is crucial. To make your wedding day really perfect, you need not only a charming atmosphere, stylish interiors and delicious food, but also the assistance of a professional wedding coordinator. At Unicus Palace Hotel, we provide an all-around professional wedding service for your memorable and special day.

MEETINGS
Important conferences and top-level business meetings require an elegant and luxurious setting. That is exactly what Unicus Palace Hotel in Krakow has to offer. Your guests and business partners will be charmed by this splendid venue located in a magnificent historic townhouse in the city’s most prestigious promenade St. Florian (Floriańska) Street.

THE OLD JEWISH QUARTER OF KAZIMIERZ
Kazimierz is a special place on the map of Krakow. The one-of-a-kind atmosphere of the old Jewish quarter, with its many Jewish-inspired restaurants and bars, art galleries, antique and handicraft stores, makes it a magnet for all visitors to the city.

“Aron Weinberg Haberdashery” or “Holcer Carpentry” – these old shop signs echo the pre-war bustling Jewish life in this part of Krakow. Don’t forget to visit the Joseph Street, the historic Jewish main street, where each year the Jewish Culture Festival is held.

CHRISTMAS IN KRAKOW
If you are planning to come to Krakow at Christmas time, be sure to visit the Krakow City Historical Museum. From December to February, you will find there the famous handcrafted and beautifully-decorated Krakow nativity scenes.

The lightweight constructions feature the nativity scene surrounded by miniature houses, monuments and churches of Krakow. The Krakow nativity scene (szopka) is on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

COLLEGIUM MAIUS
Collegium Maius is the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University with historic interiors, including the Assembly Hall and the Old Library Chamber.

Dating back to the 14th century and subsequently rebuilt in the late 15th century, it is a late-Gothic structure with a large inner courtyard bordered with arcades. It counts among its most famous students the Renaissance astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.

RAINBOW STAIRS
Located on the other, right side of the Vistula River, Podgórze is a green district with lovely architecture where history meets modernity. Apart from the site of the Krakow ghetto and old cemeteries, it boasts lively restaurants, bars and cafes.

In Tatrzanska Street, you will find one of the district’s new attractions – rainbow stairs with quotes from famous people, including the Nobel Prize winner and Krakow-native Wisława Szymborska.

Rooms: 60

Price: from 119 EUR per night

Source: www.hotelunicuspalace.pl

Hotel Stary Krakow is the first price winner of the renowned Paris contest Prix Villégiature as “the most beautiful hotel interior design in Europe”. The charming atmosphere, elegance and style of the building blend together with the modern surroundings. Proud of the centuries – old history of the tenement, we implement modern, highest quality standards of hotel industry.

THE HISTORY

• 1300: There is an unusual story behind Szczepańska Street where the hotel is located. In times when one of the official study topics at Jagiellonian University was wizardry, famous magicians and astrologists, such as Paracelsus, John Dee, Edward Kelley and even doctor Faust himself frequented it. Szczepańska Street may easily be compared to Golden Lane in Prague. There are many reasons why Stary Hotel is described with these words: “with form they can reach further, they made it possible to reach beyond what’s material and visible“. The building of Stary Hotel has been adapted from a ruined, XIV century tenement. During renovation, many historical details were kept, thanks to which we can now notice elements of various architectural styles: from gothic, through renaissance and baroque to classicism.
• 1823: Inside the tenement, several antique elements have been renovated, gothic beams have been partially reconstructed, XVIII century polychromes have been revealed and early XVI century piers between windows have been perfectly kept. During renovation, ceramics (most probably from the pre-location period), medieval workshop and XVII century import documents, which allowed world wine trade, have also been revealed. The present form of the elevation was created by August Plasqude, an architect who rebuilt it in 1823. He placed on the attic a figure of Mercury, a roman god of trade, profit and merchandise, backed on a shield, with the initials of the then owner of house – Aleksander Market. What’s interesting about the building, is that the following owner, Piotr Steinkeller, initiated in 1838 creation of the first rail connecting Warsaw and Krakow using steam cars from his company.
• 1918: After I World War, a restaurant called Feilguta was situated in the tenement house at Szczepańska Street, being one of the first catering facilities in Krakow. It was later known as Pod Trzema Rybkami restaurant, which was running until early 90s. The catering past has left us a wrought grille with the image of three fish, which we can be seen in the National Museum.
• 2006: The building has been purchased and renovated by Holding Liwa – the owner of the chain of luxurious hotels. Opening of the Stary Hotel took place in June 2006, and in 2007 already won the prestigious price in Paris Prix Villegiature contest, in the category of “ the best hotel interior architecture in Europe”.

ROOMS
Hotel Stary offers 78 highest quality rooms. With a view to the comfort and delight of our Guests, we created rooms that are spacious and distinguished. They are characterized by unique arrangements and extraordinary style.

We decorated the hotel with the most refined materials. Decorations, original furniture designs and light add elegance and glamour to the interior. For the comfort of our Guests each room has free of charge access to fast Internet.

The rooms are located on storeys I – IV, and each level is characterised by different colour which harmonizes with toned-down decorations. Since the Hotel is located in the very center of Cracow, some rooms have balconies with a marvellous view of the Main Square – one of a kind Sukiennice and the towers of Mariacki church.

DELUXE SUITE
Hotel Stary offers 3 Luxury Suites ranging from 75m2 to 90m2. They are divided into a sitting room and a bedroom. Luxury Suites are spacious, comfortable and full of light. Each room is equipped with two plasma TV sets.

The décor of the room includes unique light and furniture design, which harmonise with the wooden floors, oriental carpets and subtle decorations. Highest quality marble and onyx were used to decorate the bathroom’s interior. They accent the high standard and add grandeur to the modern designs.

JUNIOR SUITE
Highly recommended for families. The rooms are spacious, decorated in a contemporary and functional style. Rooms are divided into a bedroom part with a King size bed and a work area with a stylish desk and comfortable leather armchairs. Additional bed for a child is also available.

DOUBLE ROOM
We offer double rooms, decorated in two different styles: modern and contemporary. The colour theme and interior decoration are different depending on the floor.

The rooms are spacious (approx. 45m2), with wide 180cm beds. Elegant furniture and wooden parquets highlight the grand character of the place. The restrooms were decorated with marble imported mainly from Italy.

THE RESTAURANTS
Hotel Stary has two elegant restaurants. 3 Rybki, is an elegant restaurant located in the open space on the ground floor of Hotel Stary. Rybki Nove Restaurant located on two floors of the newer part of the Stary Hotel.

In the summer, we invite our customers to the sky bar and summer restaurant situated on the top floors of the hotel. The restaurant offers an exceptionally rich selection of wines – mostly Italian but also French and Spanish.

In 2014 our wine list got the award of the renowned magazine Wine Spectator – Award of Excellence. If you like any particular wines, we invite you to taste and purchase them at our store vinoteka 13.pl

3 RYBKI RESTAURANT
3 Rybki, is an elegant restaurant located in the open space on the ground floor of Hotel Stary. The exceptional interior of the renaissance rooms, unique ribbed vaults and subtle ornamentation of the Gothic windows contrasts beautifully with the modern dining rooms.

Tradition and modernity can also be found in the menu, which refers to the traditional Polish cuisine and changes along with the seasons.

Spring and summer is the time for fresh vegetables, asparagus and artichokes while in the autumn and winter, game, mushrooms and forest fruits dominate the menu. All the above are served in a subtle and modern arrangement.

RYBKI NOVE RESTAURANT
Rybki Nove Restaurant, is located on two floors of the newer part of the Stary Hotel. Large, roomy space creates as much arrangement potential, enriched with the possibility to direct connect with the conference room.

This place is not only for a cameral business meeting, but also for big conferences, banquets or weddings. Menu changes according to seasons. Spring and summer is the time for fresh vegetables, asparagus and artichokes while in autumn and winter, game, mushrooms and forest fruits dominate the menu.

RYBKI NOVE GRILL & SKY BAR
In summer, we invite our customers to the Sky Bar and Rybki Nove Grill Restaurant situated on the top floors of the hotel. Sky Bar with it’s own roof terrace, situated on the sixth floor of the hotel, offers a outstanding view of St.Mary’s Church and the Cloth Hall on the main market square.

This is a place well-know for atmosphere, unique and ideal for a drink with a beautiful scenography. Rybki Nove Grill Restaurant, situated on other side of the hotel’s building, on the fifth floor, offers a unique panorama of Cracow’s historic towers and rooftops. A nice and quite place for late lunch and dinner.

CHEF DE CUISINE – KRZYSZTOF ŻUREK
Born in Krakow. A trained and passionate chef. He belongs to the generation that changed the way of thinking of polish gastronomy. He began the adventure with modern cuisine in Restaurant Pod Różą where he had the opportunity to work with Alfredo Chiocchetti – his guide and master.

He acquired his knowledge in many renowned restaurants in the entire country among others at Restaurant Concept in Warsaw, Monopol Katowice, Concept 13 in Warsaw’s VITKAC and Monopol Wrocław.

He also trained outside of Poland alongside the best chefs in the world, in Pichler Bolsano, Al Bersagliere Mantua and Onice Florence. All highly recommended by the Michelin guide. He appreciates the diversity and quality of Italian produce, he likes to provoke by bold combinations of flavors which he continously discovers.

WELLNESS & SPA
A modern, superbly equipped Wellness & Spa centre is located in the medieval cellars (level -1) of the Stary Hotel. To our guests’ disposal, we offer a gym, two swimming pools, a sauna and a salt-iodine chamber. Our guests can also enjoy a healthy massage.

SWIMMING POOL
Azure coloured water around us, medieval vaulting above and a beautiful mosaic under our feet. This is what swimming pools located in the Stary Hotel Wellness & Spa look like. Crystal clear water and the unique look of old Cracow cellars intensify the feeling of relaxation.

Original, medieval walls surround the pools (measurements 4,10 m x 8,10 m and 2,30 m x 8,10 m) that are separated by only a narrow brick wall. The intimate and guiet atmosphere will make learning how to swim a pleasant experience even for the ones most afraid of water.

We provide swimming lessons for children up to 3 years old and adults as well as technique learning lessons. A qualified instructor is there to make you feel safe.

GYM
The gym is equipped with cardio and workout machines. They can be adjusted to the experience level of the user – it provides workout for both beginners as well as professionals. Well-qualified staff will guide you through an individually selected programme on stationary equipment, treadmills, bicycles, steppers and orbitreks.

DRY SAUNA
The Finnish sauna is a great way to release the stress after a hard working day. After a session in a sauna you will feel noticeably relaxed and content. Sauna works well on the psychophysical state. Its influence on health is invaluable.

Among other things, it cleans the body from toxins, cares for the skin, improves metabolism, intends for weight loss and makes you feel lighter. A moment spent in a Finnish sauna will make you feel relaxed and find strength for work.

In this type of dry sauna, the temperature reaches 100C but thanks to low air humidity our bodies do not feel such heat. Thanks to the unique climate inside, the sauna sessions are so popular.

The fact is, Finnish people have one of the longest experiences when it comes to saunas. Archaeological studies show that it is two thousand years old. Let’s trust the Scandinavians and remember the Finnish saying: “In the sauna anger cools and hatred burns away”.

SALT-IODINE CHAMBER
The salt-iodine chamber, located in the basement of our hotel, is one of the few places in the centre of Cracow where you can breathe sea air. Here you can ease your mind and calm your senses.

Unique setting, discreet lighting, selected music and comfortable armchairs will help you forget about the surrounding reality. The salt chamber is an unusual way of utilizing salt from the Dead Sea for relaxation, rehabilitation, prophylactics and healthcare.

The unique microclimate positively influences the psychophysical state of the human body. The beneficial effects of rock salt have been known for thousands of years. It contains lots of vital minerals and elements e.g. magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, copper, selenium.

One of the crucial elements is iodine that influences the nervous system, concentration, clear thinking, resistance to stress as well as regulation of the circulatory system and muscles. Salt bath also has a beneficial effect on the skin. Keep in mind that the mythological Aphrodite, Greek goddess of beauty and love emerged from salt sea foam.

STEAM ROOM WITH AROMATHERAPY
The steam room is one of the most comfortable ways of getting desired rest and relaxation. A steam bath provides exceptional sensations for the body and senses and calms the soul. The temperature in the steam sauna is about 50C but due to the high humidity the sensible temperature can be twice as high. The skin stays deeply moisturized long after leaving the sauna.

Our steam room is combined with the power of aromatherapy. The smell of etheric oils in the air will sooth your senses and keep you in a good mood. The aromatic scent of the oils will make relaxation even more pleasant.

WEDDINGS
Adequate decorations, professional staff and mood music will let you enjoy incredible moments on this beautiful day. The Rybki Nove restaurant will prepare a special wedding menu. In a traditional way, a glass of champagne will welcome the newlyweds.

The head chef will offer fabulous dishes together with a special selection of wine chosen by the sommelier. The nightlong reception will be accompanied by a buffet full of hot and cold dishes, unconventional snacks and wonderful desserts.

CONFERENCES
Cracow is a city full of monuments and tradition as well as one of the most important centres of business and culture in Poland. We welcome both tourists and people of science, artists and entrepreneurs.

The Stary Hotel is a place where you can easily combine work and leisure. We created a superb, well-equipped conference-banquet centre, which will surely satisfy the needs of the most demanding clients. We can organise business meetings, banquets, special events and take care of all participants.

Rooms: 78

Price: from 159 EUR per night

Source: www.hotel.com.pl