Self catering holidays in Malopolskie

Malopolska means 'little Poland' and if you had to choose only one part of Poland to visit on a self catering holiday then you Malopolska may be a good choice for you because of the sheer beauty and cultural wealth of this region. The Tatra Mountains in the south are spectacular and a magnet for walkers and skiers. People of all ages walk in Poland. Young families with babies strapped to their back climb the mountain paths. There is a fair amount of camaraderie and plenty of shelters to rest and eat Polish fare. The sour cabbage soup and apple pie of this region is delicious. The rafters on the Dunajec River in their colourful embroidered waistcoast and feathered hats entertain the tourists as they steer them through the Dunajec Gorge in the Pieninski National Park which defines the border with Slovakia. Horse drawn carts provide tours in various areas and part of the charm of this area is the highland folk culture and peasant traditions which live on in everyday life. Special mention must be made of the love that Poles in this region have for wooden craftwork. See the most amazing wooden churches and buildings adorned with carvings. Zakopane is the main town and tourist Mecca for walkers and sighteeers. It offers plenty of accommodation, restaurants, clubs, museums, a thriving market which is good for sheepskin products, cheese known as oscypki and local crafts.

The Tatra mountains gradually give way to the Beskids and Gorce hills as one travels north towards Cracow. This part of Poland is also worth visiting for the smaller but equally beautiful national parks such as the Gorczanski and Babia Gora. Visit Rabka Zdroj for a spa town set among rolling hills and less arduous walks and ski slopes than the mountains. People come here to take the waters and indulge in health treatments, massage and beauty treatments.

Krakow is the city where most people fly into and is one of the top ten favourite short break destinations. It is written as Krakow in Polish and the airport in Balice, north west of Cracow has been named after Pope John Paul II. The Old Town in Cracow is built around an enormous square, the second largest in Europe. It is lined with former merchant's townhouses which now serve as restaurants, shops and clubs. There is a  new tourist attraction underground in the square telling of its history. Places of interest in and around Cracow depending on your tastes are the salt mines at Wieliczka (south east of Cracow), the Auschwitz  Memorial (west of Cracow), The Old Town with cathedral and Wawel Castle overlooking the River Wisla, the Old Town sqyare or Rynek for  souvenirs, eating out and Christmas Market, the Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz and for some the thousands of pretty Polish girls, cheap beer and literally hundreds of restaurants in Cracow. This is a good time city which should be included in any trip to Malopolska.