Krakow Insight Pocket Guide

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Small, light, and packed with information - Rated
A nice, useful little guidebook. Slim and light, though quite tall, it slips into handbag (although will stick out at the top a bit). Unlike a lot of other city guidebooks, this one avoids gimmicks and 'top 10s' and sticks purely to imparting useful information. There's just the right about of history and background information to make the sights interesting, lots of good colour photographs, and several itineraries to help you get between the sights. The maps are clear and easy to use.

After a nicely written potted history of the city, the main part of the book focusses on getting around the sights of the city, laid out in the order you encounter them. This is especially helpful when actually in the city and makes it easy to find things, both in the book and in the city. All of the main sights are covered. There is also a section detailing five excursions - to the mountain town of Zakopane, the former concentration camp at Auschwitz, the Wielicza Salt Mine, Pieskowa Castle, and to Tyniec Abbey.

The final section of the books gives general information on shopping, eating, nightlife and events, including recommendations of restuarants and clubs. There is also a section of all the basic practical information needed (money, health, transport, business hours etc.) and a good few pages of hotels with brief descriptions, grouped by budget. The only thing it lacks is a phrasebook section.

On the whole, this is a really useful guidebook - small enough to carry, but still containing enough information to be informative and helpful. Definitely good for a short stay and for taking away with you.