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Krakow
for the Disabled
Tourist
attractions of Krakow are mostly situated within walking
distance in the Stare
Miasto (Old Town) medieval district.
It has been largely turned into a pedestrian mall, and
generally its streets and squares are fairly level and rather
easy to negotiate. Conveniently, the historical quarter also
remains the core of today’s city life as Krakow’s
administrative center, it’s chief business hub, and the main
shopping and entertainment precinct. And there is no shortage
of hotels
in the area as well.
As
Krakow’s Old Town is peppered with hundreds of restaurants,
cafes, and clubs, a good deal of them operates underground, in
vast medieval cellars down steep stairs.
The
handicapped living in Krakow.
Over
135,000 residents of Krakow are disabled one way or another,
even if only a fraction of them is bedridden or
wheelchair-bound. Anyway, statistically, the handicapped
comprise roughly 18.2 percent of the city's population,
considerably more than Poland's average of 14.2 percent (the
2000 census).
Facilities
for the disabled in Krakow’s buildings.
Since
the mid-1990s Poland’s building code has required all new
public buildings, from office blocks and schools to museums
and theaters to shopping centers and housing developments, and
their various on-site facilities, to be wheelchair accessible.
Refurbishment of older buildings also entails installation of
facilities for the disabled. Yet Krakow is an old city with
lots of very old architecture, so it will take probably
decades before it is made entirely comfortable for the
handicapped.
Many
Krakow
hotels
have common spaces and some rooms outfitted with the
facilities for the disabled and furnished accordingly.
Public
transportation in Krakow and the handicapped.
For
years the municipal public transport utility has taken care to
order new buses and streetcars with low floors, wide doors,
and enough free space to accommodate wheelchairs.
Unfortunately, the replacement of older vehicles is far from
complete, so boarding many city buses or streetcars requires
effort from those bound to the wheelchair, and sometimes even
some help from fellow passengers. And Krakow has no subway,
i.e. underground rail transportation.
Specialized
taxis with lifts for wheelchairs are operated by Partner
corporation, phone 0129633. Plus its services are subsidized
by the Krakow municipality so the handicapped pay only half
the regular fare.
Krakow
information services for the disabled
An
information center for disabled is situated at 94 Krolewska
street, open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. It's phone
number is (+48) 126368584.
Also
there is a toll-free
information telephone for the handicapped - 0800533335.
Krakow’s
Landmarks with Facilities for the Disabled.
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The
Wawel Royal Castle overlooks Krakow from the top of the Wawel Hill, yet
with some effort the rather low elevation can be scaled in a wheelchair by
way of both of its ramp-like approach roads (driving a motor vehicle through
requires a pass). Entrance to the castle is at the ground level, then the
disabled can use an elevator.
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The
Wieliczka Salt Mines have been recently made
wheelchair accessible after four-year, million-dollar adaptation, complete
with elevators, ramps, and toilets. The disabled may tour most popular parts
of one of Europe’s prime tourist attractions, together with two of its
subterranean lakes, underground churches of St. Kunegunde’s and of the
Cross, and the Dwarfs’ Cave.
Collegium
Maius has elevator to its upstairs museum and ramps to toilets.
Museums
in Krakow with Facilities for the Disabled.
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The
Krakow National Museum’s main gallery at 1, 3 Maja street is outfitted
with elevators, ramps, and wheelchair hoists.
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Palace
of Bishop of Bishop Erazm Ciolek at 17 Kanonicza street – the Krakow
National Museum's branch exhibiting its rich collection of the old
Polish art as well as Poland's best collection of the old Orthodox Church
art. The splendid Renaissance palace has been thoroughly refurbished and
turned into the museum as recently as 2007, with facilities for the disabled
added.
-
Aviation
Museum at 39 Jana Pawla II street has toilets equipped for the
handicapped and there are no stairs whatsoever there.
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Museum
of Municipal Engineering at 15 Sw. Wawrzynca street boasts wide doors
(to toilets as well) and no upstairs exhibitions whatsoever.
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Ethnography
Museum at 1 Wolnica Pl. has an elevator and a ramp.
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Gallery
of Old Japanese Art in the Manggha Center at 26
Konopnickiej street has ramps and toilets equipped for the disabled.
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Celestat
Museum at 16 Lubicz street is wheelchair accessible – ground floor, wide
doors and no stairs or thresholds.
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Remembrance
Museum at 18 Bohaterow Getta Pl. has its exhibition on the ground floor.
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Young
Poland’s Rydlowka Museum at 28 Tetmajera street has entrance ramp and
its exhibitions are on the ground floor.
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Zoology
Museum at 6 Ingardena street has ramps and elevators.
Click here for more tips.
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Krakow
hotels
Krakow
lodging guide
You
have 26,000-plus beds to choose from.
Dinning
guide to restaurants in Krakow
The city’s central Old Town
historic district is crammed with stores of all sorts. And big new
shopping malls are nearby.
Tax-free
Shopping in Krakow
Getting
around in Krakow
Gift
Ideas
Make everybody happy back home with a
souvenir from Krakow.
Krakow
Galleries
Enrich yourself with a first-rate work
of art at a very reasonable price.
Krakow
Foodstuffs
Tips on getting Krakow's bread and
butter as well as other dairy products, fruits,
vegetables, meat, seafood, etc.
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