CRACOW REGIONAL GUIDE

CRACOW REGIONAL GUIDE I. WELCOME Welcome to our Region We are pleased that you have chosen our region as a place where you can make another step in the development of your research career and take an active holiday in your free time. We hope that what we can offer to you will live up to your expectations. This Guide gives an insight into the geography and culture of our region, as well as a few practical tips for foreigners on how to find their way in our region. The Guide has been published by the Polish network of EURAXESS Services Centres created to provide information and help to mobile researchers in administrative, legal, educational and cultural matters. The Guide summarises more detailed information available on the website of our Centre at: http://www.eracareers-poland.gov.pl/krakow.html. The EURAXESS Services Centre in Cracow: - operates as part of the Technology Transfer Centre (www.transfer.edu.pl) at the Cracow University of Technology (www.pk.edu.pl), and is based on the Regional Contact Point for EU Research Programmes; - covers 2 voivodships: Małopolska and Subcarpathian. Address: ul. Warszawska 24, WIL building, office 2 31-155 Kraków Tel.: (+48) 12 628 25 88, 628 28 45 Fax: (+48) 12 632 47 95 E-mail: mobility@transfer.edu.pl, markiewicz@transfer.edu.pl How to get to the Centre Our office is situated exactly in the centre of Cracow (on the campus of the Cracow University of Technology), not far away from the Railway Station. From the Railway Station (Dworzec PKP): You may get to our office on foot; it will take you ca 15 minutes. After leaving the station, walk in the direction of Basztowa Street (to the left), then keep straight on in Basztowa Street for ca 100 metres, where you will see Matejko Square on your right, turn to the square and walk straight on; Matejko Square leads to Warszawska Street; after ca 150 metres you will see the premises of the Cracow University of Technology (a red-brick building complex) on your left. From the Coach Station (Dworzec PKS): The Coach Station is situated in the immediate vicinity of the Railway Station (see: how to get from the Railway Station). From the John Paul II Airport (Lotnisko im. Jana Pawła II) in Balice (http://www.krakowairport.pl/) Bus: Take bus number 192 and get off at the Politechnika Krakowska stop (ca 35-minute travel). Taxi: Use only those with a taxi company number (avoid taxis which are not well marked and do not have a clearly displayed price per km) 1

II. ABOUT THE REGION MAŁOPOLSKA VOIVODSHIP: Introduction It is worthwhile visiting Małopolska to understand Poland s history and traditions and to see its natural beauty. Cracow, the old capital of Poland, is situated only 100 kilometres from the ridges of the Tatra Mountains and the picturesque Beskid and Gorce Mountains. It is exactly here that you can find many magnificent manor houses, churches, ruins of castles and charming places, as well as worldwide rarities such as virgin forests, rushing mountain rivers and stunning rock formations. The Małopolska Voivodship is situated at the crossroads of major routes. The oldest route, dating back to the ancient times, is the Amber Road used to transport this precious material from the Baltic coast to the south of Europe. Two other ones are the Wallachian route leading to the southeastern borderlands of Europe, and the Hungarian route going from Cracow southwards. They were used to transport copper and wine from Hungary to Poland, and above all extremely precious salt from Wieliczka and lead from Olkusz in the opposite direction. A major transport route from the West to the East still goes across Małopolska today. The Małopolska region covers an area of 47,000 sq km and has 7 million inhabitants, which accounts for 15% of the territory and 18% of the population of the country. It is also worth emphasising that Małopolska is actively involved in co-operation with regions across Europe. The areas of the co-operation include both the support for economic development, which contributes to increasing foreign direct investment in the region, and the promotion of the voivodship, its cultural qualities and natural environment. Cracow, the capital of the region, has impressive cultural achievements and a remarkable history, and at the same time throbs with life, contemporary music, hubbub of the street and joy. It is a city which, while being a world culture monument, has the greatest concentration of bars, pubs and cafes per square kilometre. Major cities and towns Cracow (755,000 inhabitants), Tarnów (115,000), Oświęcim (41,000), Olkusz (37,000), Zakopane (28,000). Tourist attractions Cracow: An extraordinary city, the old historic capital of Poland until the early 17 th century, now the capital of the region and the centre of research and cultural life in Małopolska. It is one of the oldest European university towns where many outstanding Poles, including Nicolaus Copernicus and Pope John Paul II, were pursuing their studies. Because of its history, spiritual value and monuments, Cracow was entered into the first UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage list in 1978. Main monuments in Cracow: - Old Town: founded in 1257, together with the largest medieval market square in Europe, historic tenement houses and charming side streets; - St Mary s Tower (main market square): the only tower in the world from where a trumpet player has sounded a bugle call to the four compass points every hour around the clock for over 600 years; - Cloth Hall (main market square): a historic 13 th century shopping centre where you can now buy souvenirs from Cracow, leather and amber products; 2

- Royal Castle on the Wawel Hill: the residence of Polish kings as from the 13 th century; the coronation and burial place of many Polish kings; the Wawel Hill is home to one of the earth s seven energy chakras; - Kazimierz: an old Jewish quarter. Near Cracow: - Wieliczka and Bochnia: salt mines the oldest ones in Poland and among the oldest ones in the world. The mine in Wieliczka was entered into the first UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage list; it is the only mining site in the world which has continuously been in operation since the Middle Ages; - Auschwitz-Birkenau: a German extermination camp in Oświęcim-Brzezinka during World War II (the largest German concentration camp with most inhuman conditions). - Zakopane: the winter capital of Poland, situated at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, with superb views and extraordinarily scenic tourist routes; - Wadowice: the hometown of Pope John Paul II. Scenery and climate Our region is situated in the southern part of Poland, in the moderate climate zone. The maximum temperature ever recorded in the region is +37 C, and the minimum is -38 C. Such a difference in temperatures is related to the land levels varying considerably in relation to the sea level. The average annual air temperature in Małopolska is 5-8 o C. July is the warmest month, and January and February have the lowest average monthly air temperatures. Małopolska is a region where you will find beautiful and dangerous mountains, forests, caves and the only desert in Poland. There is also the Jurassic Cracow-Częstochowa Upland, stretching out right behind the Vistula line, which attracts tourists with its calcareous island mountains, ravines and caves. The natural qualities of the region are protected by national parks and nearly 100 nature reserves and landscape parks. Some natural attractions: - Five Lakes Valley - Lake Morskie Oko - Cracow-Częstochowa Upland - Błędów Desert - Mylna Cave in the Tatra Mountains and the King Łokietek and Ciemna Caves in the Ojców National Park. Annual events Cracow: - Festival of Music in Old Cracow: the festival is held every August; it brings together outstanding Polish and international musicians; - Jewish Culture Festival: an annual festival held at the turn of June and July in Cracow s Kazimierz (an old Jewish quarter); - Festival of Street Theatres: held in the first half of July; performances given by street theatres from all over Europe; - Court Dance Festival: held in August in the Cracow Old Town Square; traditional royal dances in the open air. Near Cracow: - Highland Folklore Festival: organised in August in Zakopane; every year, it brings together performers from all over the world from Zakopane to Honduras and Sierra Leone. Concerts are held on festival stages, but there are also unforgettable street concerts and a parade of festival bands in the streets of the town. 3

In addition to the events mentioned above, Cracow and its region host every year numerous other events, festivals, vernissages and exhibitions. Latest information at: www.krakow.pl and www.wrotamalopolski.pl Map of the region Tourist Information Tourist information is free. You may also obtain some free information materials. Małopolska Tourist Information Centre (Małopolskie Centrum Informacji Turystycznej) in Cracow Rynek Główny 1/3 (Cloth Hall Sukiennice, entrance on the side of St Mary Church) Tel.: (+48) 12 421 77 06, 12 421 30 51 and ul. Floriańska 40, Tel.: (+48) 12 423 00 31, e-mail: info@mcit.pl Opening hours: High season mon. - fri. 9.00-20.00 sat. 9.00-17.00 sun. 9.00-16.00 Low season mon. - fri. 9.00-17.00 sat. 10.00-16.00 sun. 10.00-14.00 More information at: www.mcit.pl SUBCARPATHIAN VOIVODSHIP: The Subcarpathian Voivodship is situated in southeastern Poland, sharing a 134-kilometre long border with Slovakia and a 236-kilometre long border with Ukraine. It is thus the southeasternmost Polish voivodship. Moreover, the mountain of Kremenaros (1,221 m above sea level) in the Bieszczady Mountains is the point of contact between the borders of three states: Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. The Subcarpathian Voivodship covers an area of 17,844 sq km, which represents 5.7% of the total area of Poland. Ca 35% of the area is covered with forest, and almost 45% are various tracts of lands designated to protect flora and fauna or landscape. The Subcarpathian Voivodship has 2.97 million inhabitants, accounting for 5.5% of the population of the country. The voivodship has a transitional climate, in between marine and continental climates. It is distinguished by significant regional variations in the average annual temperature: temperatures are highest in the eastern part of the Sandomierz Valley (above 8 C), below 7.5 C in the remaining area of the valley and the foothills, and below 7.6 C in higher parts of the mountains. The voivodship has remarkable tourist qualities and attractions. It is an area with many unique natural and landscape qualities, foothill and mountain areas with natural landscape, large forest complexes, a wealth of flora and fauna, numerous monuments of material culture, rich folklore, and abundant mineral and therapeutic water springs. The Bieszczady Mountains, which may certainly be regarded as the gem of the Subcarpathian tourism, are a European oasis where nature has run wild again, hiding the material remains of nearly half of a millennium during which Boykos, Poles and Jews lived there. Another area which has a lot to offer is the Beskid Niski range, with an extraordinarily beautiful valley of the upper Wisłok River, where Lemkos were the predominant ethnic group in the old days. In turn, the northern part of the voivodship, with the Sandomierz Valley and the adjacent Roztocze region, is an area with a wealth of valuable cultural monuments. 4

Tourist information in the Subcarpathian Voivodship: Tourist information is free. You may also obtain some free information materials. Regional Tourist Information Centre (Regionalne Centrum Informacji Turystycznej) in Rzeszów ul. Asnyka 6 Tel./fax: (+48) 17 852 46 11, e-mail: rcit@commback.pl More information at: www.rcit.res.pl 5

III. RESEARCH IN THE REGION Research potential in the region The potential of Cracow, the main academic centre of the Małopolska Voivodship, determines its place among the leaders in the country, giving it second position, next to the Warsaw centre. It is Cracow that hosts the Jagiellonian University, the second oldest university in Central Europe. Moreover, for many years universities in Małopolska have been placed at the very top of the rankings of Polish higher education institutions. In 2003, 28 higher education institutions of the Małopolska Voivodship had 167,278 students, accounting for nearly 10% of the total higher education student population in the country. The research staff working in higher education institutions in Małopolska represent 12.7% of the total number of Polish researchers. In terms of expenditure on science and research, the voivodship ranks second in the country. Selected higher education institutions: Public higher education institutions: - Jagiellonian University (Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie): www.uj.edu.pl - Jagiellonian University Medical College (Collegium Medicum Uniwersytet Jagielloński): www.cm-uj.krakow.pl - Tadeusz Kościuszko Cracow University of Technology (Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki): www.pk.edu.pl - AGH University of Science and Technology (Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza im. Stanisława Staszica): www.agh.edu.pl - Cracow University of Economics (Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie): www.uek.krakow.pl - Agricultural University of Cracow (Uniwersytet Rolniczy w Krakowie im. Hugona Kołłątaja): www.ar.krakow.pl - Pedagogical University of Cracow (Uniwersytet Pedagogiczny im. Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie): www.up.krakow.pl - Academy of Physical Education in Krakow (Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w Krakowie im. Bronisława Czecha): www.awf.krakow.pl - Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow (Akademia Sztuk Pięknych im. Jana Matejki w Krakowie): www.asp.krakow.pl - Ludwik Solski State School of Theatre Studies in Cracow (Państwowa WyŜsza Szkoła Teatralna im. Ludwika Solskiego w Krakowie): www.pwst.krakow.pl - Academy of Music in Cracow (Akademia Muzyczna w Krakowie): www.amuz.krakow.pl IV. PRACTICAL INFORMATION 1. EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS 997 Police 998 Fire Brigade 999 Ambulance Service 986 Municipal Guard 112* Emergency telephone number accessible from both mobile and fixed phones; after an interview about the nature of the emergency, the operator will connect you with the relevant emergency service. * The system is operational in some voivodships, and is currently being implemented in all parts of Poland. 6

2. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Tram and bus Cracow offers you the following means of public transport: trams, urban buses, PPKS (Public Road Transport Company) coaches, and minibuses. To get to places situated near Cracow, you can take a PPKS coach, a minibus or a train. There are various types of tickets for travelling within the city. Tickets which you need for trams and urban buses are available at Ruch, Kolporter and Relay news-stands, MPK (Urban Transport Company) ticket outlets (addresses: ul. Podwale 3-5; ul. Mogilska 15a; ul. św. Wawrzyńca 13; ul. Kalwaryjska 32; os. Centrum D 7; ul. Polonijna 1; MPK Bus Station (Dworzec Autobusowy MPK) Mistrzejowice ; tram terminal Krowodrza Górka ; tram terminal Borek Fałęcki ). You may also buy a ticket from the driver, paying however an extra charge. A lot of ticket-dispenser cover Tickets are divided into: single, one-hour, night, 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, family and group (up to 15 or 20 persons) tickets. Another option is to buy a monthly travel card for one or all lines; monthly cards are available only at MPK ticket outlets. Regardless of the type, there are full-fare and reduced-fare tickets (which does not apply to foreigners). If you carry luggage which exceeds one of the following dimensions: 60 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm, you should pay an additional charge (which means that you need to stamp one additional single ticket in the machine). Fixed-period tickets are most popular. You should choose the type of ticket depending on the duration of travel as given in the timetable displayed at a stop. With one fixed-period ticket, you may change trams or buses. Examples of ticket prices (May 2009): - single ticket: 2.50 PLN - 15 minutes ticket: 1,80 PLN - one-hour ticket: 3.10 PLN - 24-hour ticket: 10.40 PLN - 48-hour ticket:18,80 PLN - 72-hour ticket: 25,00 PLN - 7- day ticket: 38,00 PLN The Cracow Tourist Card has been introduced and it allows you to travel at will on buses and trams across the city, as well as granting free access to over thirty of the city's museums. Prices for a two or three-day card come in at a very reasonable 50 and 65 PLN respectively. More information at: www.krakow.pl, www.mpk.krakow.pl and www.krakowcard.com Car There are 3 limited traffic and parking zones within the city centre in Cracow. You are required to pay a charge for parking in these zones. Charges are paid for parking in the city centre on working days between 10.00 and 18.00. Zones: Zone A: Open only to pedestrians and cyclists (Main Market Square and streets leading to the square). Zone B: Residential zone where the maximum speed is 20km/h and parking is allowed only in designated places (streets within the Planty Park: a green area around the Main Market Square and streets leading to the square). 7

Zone C: Vehicles may enter and park. On working days between 10.00 and 18.00, you are required to have a parking card which you can buy at news-stands, post offices or from the parking attendant (streets around the Planty Park, mainly up to Trzech Wieszczy Boulevard). The parking charge per hour is ca 3 PLN. More information at: www.krakow.pl Taxi There are many taxi service providers, including companies and individual drivers. Some of them are members of bigger corporations, thus offering better prices and getting quicker to their clients. We suggest that you should use such company taxis because their drivers charge the same price per kilometre. When ordering a taxi over the telephone, you automatically get a discount. It is thus cheaper than catching a taxi in the street. It is not advisable to take a taxi directly at the airport or a railway station because taxi drivers there often demand higher prices than in case you call a taxi company. Company taxis have the name of their company and its telephone number displayed on the car side door and the price per kilometre on the side windows. Some taxi company numbers which you may call: 196-61, 9191 or 9629. 3. ADDRESSES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES Registration: Cracow: Municipal Office (Urząd Miasta) - Population Register Section for Districts I to VII (Referat Ewidencji Ludności dla Dzielnic od I do VII) Al. Powstania Warszawskiego 10 Tel. (+48) 12 616 93 33, 12 616 93 32 Fax: (+48) 12 616 93 44 Information on registration Tel. (+48) 12 616 91 40 - Population Register and Identity Cards Section for Districts VIII to XIII (Referat Ewidencji Ludności i Dowodów Osobistych dla Dzielnic od VIII do XIII) Ul. Wielicka 28a Tel. (+48) 12 616 56 80, 12 616 56 85 Fax: (+48) 12 616 56 81 - Population Register and Identity Cards Section for Districts XIV to XVIII (Referat Ewidencji Ludności i Dowodów Osobistych dla Dzielnic od XIV do XVIII) Osiedle Zgody 2, Tel. (+48) 12 616 87 23, 12 616 87 34 Fax: 12-616-8724 Visa extension, residence permit and residence card: Cracow: Małopolska Voivodship Office, Department for Citizens Matters and Foreigners (Małopolski Urząd Wojewódzki Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich i Cudzoziemców) ul. Przy Rondzie 6 e-mail: so@malopolska.uw.gov.pl Tel.: (+48) 12 422 31 05 Fax: (+48) 12 422 30 19 Monday 9.00-17.00, Tuesday-Friday 8.00-15.00 8

Work permit Małopolska Voivodship Office, Department for Social Policy, Section for Labour Market Supervision and Monitoring (Małopolski Urząd Wojewódzki, Wydział Polityki Społecznej, Oddział Nadzoru i Kontroli Rynku Pracy) ul. ul. Basztowa 22; office 574 tel. (+48) 12 392 15 74 e-mail: mczy@malopolska.uw.gov.pl Documents should be submitted in person to: Official Correspondence Register of the Małopolska Voivodship Office (Dziennik podawczy Małopolskiego Urzędu Wojewódzkiego) ul. Basztowa 22, office 24; or sent by mail to the following address: Małopolska Voivodship Office (Małopolski Urząd Wojewódzki) ul. Basztowa 22 31-156 Kraków Embassies and consulates A list of consulates and embassies is available in the section FOREIGNERS on the website of the Cracow Centre at: www.eracareers-poland.gov.pl/krakow. An up-to-date list of all embassies and consulates in Poland may also be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at: www.msz.gov.pl. 4. HEALTH SERVICE Researchers holding a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are entitled to free primary medical services in healthcare institutions which have concluded a contract with the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, NFZ). These institutions are marked with a plate with the following logo: In the event of an emergency, you may use the ambulance service. Please remember, however, that should your call be unjustified, you will be charged for the services provided. Our region has over 40 hospitals and over 200 out-patient clinics which have concluded a contract with the National Health Fund. Once you have found a hotel or other accommodation for your stay in our region, please check where you have the closest out-patient clinic. It is advisable to go there and obtain all the necessary information before you may urgently need their services. If you wish to see a general practitioner, you should first make an appointment (preferably by phone) and remember then to bring your identity card and medical insurance document. If you wish to see a specialist medical doctor (other than a gynaecologist or obstetrician, dentist, dermatologist, venereologist, oncologist, ophthalmologist or psychiatrist), you need a referral from your general practitioner. Please remember that prescriptions given by a medical doctor are valid only for 30 days, and those for antibiotics for 7 days. Selected hospitals and pharmacies: Hospitals: 9

- L. Rydygier Voivodship Specialist Hospital (Wojewódzki Szpital Specjalistyczny im. L. Rydygiera): os. Złota Jesień 1; tel. 12 646 80 00, e-mail: rydygier@kki.pl, www.rydygierkrakow.pl - John Paul II Cracow Specialist Hospital (Krakowski Szpital Specjalistyczny im. J. Pawła II): ul. Prądnicka 80; tel. (+48) 12 614 20 00, fax: (+48) 12 614 22 66 sekretariat@szpitaljp2.krakow.pl, www.szpitaljp2.krakow.pl - University Hospital (Szpital Uniwersytecki): ul. Kopernika 36; tel. 12 424 70 00, www.su.krakow.pl - St Louis Voivodship Specialist Children s Hospital (Wojewódzki Specjalistyczny Szpital Dziecięcy im. św Ludwika),ul. Strzelecka 2; tel. 12 4211344, www.wssdzkrakow.hg.pl 24-hour hospital emergency departments: - Emergency ambulance service (Pogotowie Ratunkowe): ul. Łazarza 14; tel. 999, 12 424 42 00, www.kpr.med.pl 24-hour pharmacies: Pharmacy "Apteka pod Opatrznością" przy u. Karmelickiej 23 (tel. 12 631 19 80); Pharmacy (Apteka), ul. Galla 26, tel. (12) 636 73 65; Pharmacy (Apteka) "CEFARM", ul. Kalwaryjska 94; tel. (12) 656 18 50 Pharmacy (Apteka) "CEFARM" os. Centrum A bl. 3, tel. (12) 425 75 40 Pharmacy (Apteka) "VENA-VITA", ul. Wolska 1, tel. (12) 265 29 70 Pharmacy (Apteka) "MAGICZNA", ul. Ćwiklińskiej 10, tel. (12) 658 10 01 Moreover, virtually every bigger shopping centre has a pharmacy which is also open on Saturdays and Sundays in the business hours of a given centre. Detailed information, including addresses of hospitals and 24-hour pharmacies, may be found in the section for foreign researchers of The Researchers Mobility Portal Cracow. A list of hospitals and pharmacies on duty is also published in local daily newspapers. 5. BANKS, PAYMENTS When choosing a bank, you should first of all check its charges and commissions for operating a newly opened account and ease of access to cash machines in all parts of the city. Banks are open from Monday till Friday, few of them also work on Saturday, and all are closed on Sundays and public holidays. However, you will find many 24-hour cash machines (ca 100 only in Cracow). Large banks have their own cash machines, and there are also independent cash machine networks (Euronet, Cash4YOU). If you have a card of a given bank, you may use its cash machines free of charge, whereas other card holders pay a commission. Some banks do not charge their clients for using Euronet cash machines or make only nominal charges. More detailed information can be obtained from your bank. Charge cards are very popular; you may use this non-cash payment method in most bigger and medium-size shops as well as restaurants (where you can see card logos on the entrance door). In some bigger supermarkets or chain shops, designated cash desks accept payments in euro at the exchange rate given there. Currency may be exchanged in banks and exchange desks (the latter usually offering a better exchange rate). You may not pay with traveller s cheques in Poland. However, cheques may be cashed in some bigger banks. Website addresses of major banks together with a list of cash machines in a given city are available in the section for foreign researchers of the Regional Portal. 10

6. POSTAL SERVICE The Polish Post delivers mail (letters and packages) from Monday to Friday. Unregistered mail is dropped into letter boxes (each apartment has its own letter box). Registered letters and packages are delivered by a postman in person. If nobody is at home (mail is usually delivered before noon), the postman leaves a note in your letter box. To collect your registered mail, you need to go the relevant post office, bringing the note together with your identity card. When sending mail, you may choose either a regular rate or a priority rate for which you pay an additional charge as priority mail is delivered within a shorter time. The time of delivery for priority mail is: - 24 hours for letters within Poland; - 3 days for letters within Europe; - 5 days for letters to non-european countries. Selected post offices in the centre of Cracow: - ul. Lubicz 4, near the Railway Station (open 24 hours); - ul. Westerplatte 20 (Monday-Friday 7.30-20.30, Saturday 8.00-14.00), - Pl. Wszystkich Świętych 9 (Monday-Friday 8.00-20.00) - ul. Starowiślna 56 (Monday-Friday 8.00-20.00) 7. INTERNET CAFES There are plenty of Internet cafes in the city centre. Internet cafes charge a fee for using the Internet. The price per hour is ca 4 PLN (May 2006). However, you may also use free (wireless) Internet connection available in the Cracow Market Square and Szeroka Street (quarter of Kazimierz). Selected Internet cafes situated in the most convenient locations in Cracow: - Internet Cafe: Rynek Główny 23, (24 hours) - Internet Cafe Hetmańska, ul Bracka 4, (24 hours) - U Louisa: Rynek Główny 13 8. LAUNDRIES AND DRY-CLEANERS Dry-cleaners are the most common type of cleaning services in Poland. Some of them also offer ironing services. There are few self-service laundries, and they are not so popular as in other European countries. Self-service laundry: FRANIA Cafe, ul. Starowiślna 26, Opening hours: Monday Friday: 8.00 22.00, Saturday Sunday: 10 18 www.laundromat.pl, frania@franiacafe.pl Each shopping centre in Cracow has a dry-cleaner s where you can normally have your clothes cleaned within ca 1.5 to 2 hours. 9. SELECTED SUPERMARKETS Cracow has a number of hypermarkets of large international chains, including Real, Carrefour, Tesco, Lidl, Albert and Geant. Some of them operate their own free bus services; 11

buses leave from stops situated in the city centre. Hypermarkets are open till late evening on week days, as well as on Saturday and Sunday. They accept charge cards. Some shops have Euronet network cash machines where you can get money. Cheques are not accepted. Prices of products offered in hypermarkets are generally lower than those in local chain supermarkets and small shops in the city. Local chains of smaller supermarkets include, for example, Biedronka, śabka and Lewiatan. Supermarkets are open in roughly the same hours as hypermarkets, some of them even for 24 hours. The places increasingly frequented in Cracow are shopping centres which house both small exclusive boutiques and a supermarket. They are open on all days of the week. Selected shopping centres: - Galeria Kazimierz : ul. Podgórska 34 - Galeria Krakowska, ul. Pawia 5, (near The Market Square) - M1, al. Pokoju 67 - Plaza Kraków : al. Pokoju 44 - Carrefour CzyŜyny : ul. Medweckiego 2 - Zakopianka : ul. Zakopiańska 62 - Krokus (Geant): ul. Bora-Komorowskiego 37. 10. POLISH LANGUAGE COURSES FOR FOREIGNERS Selected language schools offering Polish language courses for foreigners: - Polish Language School GLOSSA: ul. Dietla 103; tel. (12) 429 40 51; www.glossa.pl - POLIGLOTA: Pl. Szczepański 8; tel. (12) 421 81 28; www.poliglota.pl - PROLOG: ul. Bronowicka 37; tel. (12) 638 45 65; www.polishcourses.com - School of Polish Language: ul. Królewska 39; tel. (12) 636 75 34; www.polishcourses.pl 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Selected websites presenting our Region: - www.krakow.pl information about City - www.warsaw1.net/krakow.htm accommodation - www.cracow-life.com a lot of information about daily life in Cracow - www.visit.krakow.pl Cracow for Visitors - www.thevisitor.pl/krakow.php all about Cracow accommodation, cars, trips, etc. - www.inyourpocket.com/poland/krakow/en/ a lot of information about daily life in Cracow - www.krakow4u.pl culture, entertainment, Cracow by night - www.krakow-info.com a lot of information about Cracow - www.wrotamalopolski.pl - The Malopolska Region authorities portal - www.erzeszow.pl/en/ - information about Podkarpackie Region and Rzeszów 12