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Jadka

Wroclaw will be host to several matches in the upcoming Euro 2012 Soccer Championship and it was home for me for a while too. If you’re coming to town for the football or passing through on a tour of Central & Eastern Europe, here’s my personal top ten places to eat in Wroclaw. You’ll find a mix of local and international cuisines represented here.

1. Mosaiq
If you want to splurge this is the place do it, excellent creative dishes and the only true fine dining experience you’ll find in Wroclaw, for now at least.
ul. Świętego Mikołaja 12

2. Jadka
Polish cuisine with an international flair in a beautiful classic and authentic setting all comes together to create a great local experience.

Pod Papugami

3. Pod Papugami
Wide variety of tasty world cuisine dishes in a fun and happening setting, right in the middle of the main market square. Th
ul. Sukiennice 9a

4. Cantina
The best Italian food hands down in Wroclaw, very fresh and authentic along with great wine list.
ul. Nożownicza 4

5. Darea
The top Asian option in Wroclaw, mainly Korean food but also a sushi bar. (turn down your speakers before clicking on the link – the site autoplays music!)
Ul. Kuznicza 43/45

Przystan

6. Pryzstan
The ideal summertime spot, beautiful terrace right on the Odra river and good Mediterranean food to boot.
ul. Księcia Witolda 2

7. Bernard
Very good American type food, think an upscale TGI Friday’s so this is the place if you’re craving steaks and other meat dishes. It’s named after the beer that’s served there, from the family-owned Bernard brewery in neighbouring Czech Republic. You’ll find a few Czech specialities on the menu there too, a handy way to try some Czech cuisine if you’re not making a stop there on your tour.
Rynek 35

8. The Mexican
Good for a fun night out and atmosphere. Mexican food has a long way to go in Poland but they make a respectable effort
ul. Szewska 61/62

Piwnica Swidnicka

9. Piwnica Swidnicka
Chunky wooden tables and vaulted ceilings so a true medieval experience. Main reason to go is for the Golonka (pork knee).
Rynek Ratusz 1

10. Pierogarnia Stary Mlyn
You are in Poland so you have to try piergoies and this the place to do with a wide selection
Rynek 26

Bonus late night eats

Sometimes you forget to have dinner and it gets too late for a restaurant. When that happens, head to Setka - they’re open 24 hours and are definitely the best thing in town for after midnight eats, located at ul. Leszczyńskiego 4

Related posts:

1. Our 8 Favourite Restaurants in Hvar
2. Our 9 Favorite Restaurants in Dubrovnik

Jayway Travel

Still weighing up where to go in Europe this year? Here are a few destinations that are popular with our guests for summer 2012.

1. Hvar, Croatia – relax with the jetset

Europe’s sunniest island is popular with the stars of Hollywood and the sporting world – Hvar‘s guest book reads like the guest list for the Oscars: Clooney, Paltrow, Malkovich, Nicholson, Beckham, Agassi.

It’s not hard to see what draws them here. Hvar is steeped in history with an impressive fortress and the Franciscan monastery and has some great beaches with crystal blue waters. Hvar is an ideally located departure point from which to visit the nearby Pakleni archipelago – rent a small-engined boat and circumnavigate the islands on your own or take a water taxi. Our guests usually visit Hvar as part of a tour of Croatia that includes other popular destinations like Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes and Trogir.

2. Berlin, Germany – the city with something for everyone

Berlin‘s relatively northerly location means summers there are quite mild (a few degrees cooler than Prague for example) making it an ideal time to check out one of Europe’s hippest capitals. Plenty for the history buff to see as well as a thriving local arts scene and a packed line-up of big name concerts and the summer events season kicks off at the end of May with the Carnival of Cultures, a 4 day multicultural celebration.

Just because Berlin’s not on the coast doesn’t mean you can’t soak up the sun – there are man made beaches on the banks of the Spree with open air bars and even beach volleyball courts. If beach bars aren’t your thing there’s always one of the city’s excellent beer gardens such as Prater, the city’s oldest beer garden on Kastanienalle in trendy Prenzlaurberg.

3. Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic – fairy-tale setting

This fairy-tale town in south Bohemia, not far from Austria, will make you feel like you’re on a medieval-era movie set. The center of Cesky Krumlov with the Vltava river running through it is a labyrinth of cobblestone alleyways with cosy accommodations and delightful shops. No matter where you are all the town’s highlights are no more than five minute walk away. Get a bird’s eye view of the place from the ornate castle tower or for a different perspective you can take a raft or canoe on the river (watch out for the weirs!).

4. Budapest, Hungary – for a real ‘hot in the city’ experience

Budapest can be pretty hot in the summer but it’s also a great time to see the city with plenty of cafés along the Danube and outdoor thermal spring-fed pools, like the Széchenyi baths pictured here (photo courtesy of Flickr user Vlastula). There’s plenty of nightlife too with open-air clubs where you can dance till dawn.

Take a break from the city with a day trip or overnight stay at Lake Balaton, the top summertime retreat for Hungarians.

5. Salzburg, Austria – Alpine summer break

New to our destination line-up this year Salzburg is already proving to be a very popular addition with out guests. With its well preserved UNESCO World Heritage listed old town and an alpine backdrop Salzburg is a great place to immerse yourself in some culture and explore Mozart’s birthplace on a Mozart-themed city tour. If you tire of the city you can enjoy some breathtaking local scenery on one of our day trips from Salzburg.

6. Ljubljana, Slovenia

The Slovenian capital is a very popular destination on our multi-city tours and its location means it is a real cultural crossroads between Mediterranean, Balkan, Austrian and Slavic influences. The architecture is Central European but the attitude is more laid back than you would find in the neighbours to the north. There’s a deeply ingrained café culture in Ljubljana that means you’re never short of a venue for some people watching. After a couple of days seeing the city we suggest getting out into Ljubljana’s picturesque countryside with one of our day trips or maybe an overnight stay in the mountain resort of Bled, with its famous lake.

7. Krakow, Poland – one for the fans

If you’re into watching sporting events on big screens in UNESCO World Heritage listed town squares then you’ll love Krakow this summer. Poland and Ukraine are co-hosting the Euro 2012 Soccer Championship (8 June – 1 July) and whilst Krakow is not one of the host cities (two other JayWay destinations: Wroclaw and Warsaw are though) you can expect a big deal to be made of it. A great place to soak up the atmosphere of a big crowd watching the beautiful game. Aside from the football Krakow’s got a lot more going for it too – once the capital of Poland it is still the country’s cultural, artistic and scientific center.

Still not sure where you’re headed? Get in touch and tell us what kind of vacation you’re looking for and we’ll build you the perfect custom itinerary.

Related posts:

1. Cities of Central & Eastern Europe Grand Tour
2. Top 10 ideas for your 2012 Croatia Vacation

Jayway Travel

It was such a beautiful morning (blue skies, wispy clouds) that I couldn’t resist walking down to Old Town Square and snapping a few pictures.

Related posts:

1. Easter Market in Prague’s Old Town Square
2. Getting to Prague from Berlin

Jayway Travel

This autobiographical evocation of combat in Vietnam April 1969 imparts the poorly supported day to day survival of a Marine Company against an NVA Regiment

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New regulations protecting holiday-makers come into force in the UK on April 30th 2012.

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These days it’s well worth bringing at least some of your shiny objects with you on vacation to make life easier. To make the most of your gadgets follow these 7 useful tips.

1. Avoid Hefty Roaming Charges 1 – by roaming smart

If you’re packing your smartphone, make sure you switch off data roaming or your pocket-sized computer will bleed you dry with background tasks like checking email. Check with your mobile provider to see if they have any data roaming packages that might help. Or if your phone is unlocked, consider getting a local sim and enabling data on it.

2. Avoid Hefty Roaming Charges 2 – by being offline-ready

Lonely Planet’s guidebook apps function without an internet connection (and you can still take advantage of your phone’s GPS capability in the guide’s built-in city map). If you want a more detailed map, then OffMaps for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch is a good solution, and works out cheaper if you just wanted a map rather than a whole guidebook.

3. Keep an eye on the pennies (and kunas and crowns and forints)

Download a currency app for your phone, my favourite for the iPhone is Currency (free – ad supported, .99 without ads). It caches the data it gets when its online so update it when you’ve got wifi and you’re good to go.

4. Send useful files to your Kindle (or Kindle app)

With ‘Send to Kindle’ utilities available for Mac & Windows, there’s no excuse. Send Word, Text, PDF or image files to your Kindle or Kindle app (and make sure to download them to the device) and you’ve got a handy place to store things like flight information or the JayWay Destination Info PDFs we send to all our guests.

5. Stay in touch with the folks back home

There are plenty of ways to stay in touch and let folks back home keep up with you on your travels these days, from checking in to places with the Facebook app and posting a pic to go with it or having a Skype video chat using your smartphone or tablet.

and an obvious but oft-overlooked one:

6. Don’t forget to pack a plug adapter (or two)

Most electronic devices these days have 110-240v auto-switching power supplies (it’s 220v in Europe) but you’ll need a plug adapter to connect them to the grid.

7. Make sure your gadgets are insured

In all the destinations we cover crime is lower than most US cities, but there’s always a risk from pickpockets or petty theft. Make sure your travel insurance policy (or possibly even your home contents insurance) covers your gadgets and that the excess isn’t too, um, excessive.

Related posts:

1. Ten Taxi Tips for Prague
2. Internet access for the smartphone addict in Venice

Jayway Travel

According to polls and statistics, the United States, England and Scotland are the most popular settings for romance novels.

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