Page 216 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

214  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Travellers with
Disabilities
Facilities for people with
disabilities are still limited in
Krakow. Moving around in a
wheelchair is not easy due to the
lack of contoured pavements
and the large number of cars
parked in pedestrian areas.
Improvements are being made:
some pedestrian crossings have
low kerbs, and those equipped
with an audio message for
the blind is on the increase. Crowds watching the annual Dragon Parade on Market Square
Wheelchair access and lifts
are available at the city's main Travelling with Children across the social spectrum – but
railway station. Krakow is an enjoyable and safe sometimes draws large
Good facilities can also be environment for children, thanks numbers of conservative
found in a number of museums, to the largely pedestrianized city counter-demonstrators.
including the National Museum centre and the extensive areas of
in Krakow's Main Building (see park in the surrounding areas.
pp150–51), most of the National One of the best public
Museum’s other branches, and playparks is in Jordan Park, west
the Japanese Centre for Art and of the Old Town. The Stanisław
Technology (see p45), as well as Lem Garden of Experiments,
in some cinemas and theatres. east of the centre towards
The main Post Office also offers Nowa Huta, is an open-air,
easy access. All hotels with four hands-on science museum that
stars or above offer at least a encourages children to learn An ISIC card (International Student
couple of rooms for wheelchair about science by playing on Identity Card)
users (see p180). An increasing large pieces of apparatus.
number of trams and buses Groteska Theatre is Krakow’s Travelling on a Budget
have low-level entry floors leading children’s theatre, In comparison to other major
for wheelchair access. whose productions often mix European cities, Krakow is not
There are several organizations puppets with live action. that expensive and with some
that assist the disabled in Groteska also organizes the planning it is possible to get
Krakow, including the Polish annual Dragon Parade in June, around on a low budget. Many
Association for the Blind and when puppet monsters museums and galleries are
the Polish Assocation for the descend on Market Square free at least one day per week
Deaf. The Radio Taxi Partner followed by fireworks beside so you can save a lot of money
company operates a fleet of the River Vistula. on entrance fees if you pick
vehicles especially adapted Finding child-friendly your days carefully.
for wheelchair users. accommodation in Krakow is For young travellers, inter-
usually problem-free (see (see ( p178). national youth and student
cards such as ISIC (International
Student Identity Card) and the
Gay and Lesbian European Youth Card are worth
Travellers
obtaining. Both cards entitle
Although Krakow is more liberal holders to reduced rates in
than many other European museums, tourist attractions,
cities, Poland as a whole is a hotels, hostels and on intercity
conservative country and the buses. A wide range of other
gay and lesbian scene remains Krakow businesses offer
discreet. Krakow has a handful of discounts to bearers of both
clubs specifically tailored to the cards, including car-hire firms,
gay and lesbian community, and cafés, hairdressers, pizzerias,
a broader choice of bars, partic- travel agents and theatres. The
ularly in the Jewish Kazimierz logos of the cards are displayed
quarter in the west of the city, in the windows of those
that encourage a mixture of all businesses offering discounts.
customers. The annual Tolerance An ISIC card is available to
March, a gay-pride-style event anyone who is either a full-time
An example of a disabled parking that takes place in mid-May, student or who is under the age
sign in a Krakow street attracts many supporters from of 26. You can obtain one in