After visiting Wawel Casle in Krakow the afternoon was still warm and sunny so we wandered down to the river Vistula only minutes away for a walk along the riverbank. Nice easy walking on a tarmac pathway with a cycleway running alongside.
River Vistula riverside walk
It doesn't really get any better, pleasant grassed areas to the side of the river, superb view of the castle, and the river traffic which consisted of small pleasure craft, gondolas, kayaks and river cruisers travelling up and down the river. After a short distance we came across one of the river cruisers tied up, its captain and crew touting for business, we were not sure whether to try a trip until I saw the Tyskie ( Polish Beer ) sign on the top deck, we decided a river cruise it would be, if only for an hour in duration. It turned out that the large cruiser we were ushered onto was just a staging post, a very pleasant one at that, live music, open sun deck with brollies for shade, the river gently running by and of course a litre of cool polish Tyskie beer, the afternoon that could not get any better was now excelling itself. Half an hour of pleasant relaxation later another slightly smaller river cruiser the 'Nimfa' came into view and tied up alongside this it turned out was to be our transport for our trip upriver.
Wawel Castle in the background
After boarding we found comfortable seats at the rear of the boat from which we had a good view of the river and surrounding points of interest. Within ten minutes the crew had cast off and we were on our way in glorious sunshine. Our position on the aft deck gave us a good position for photography and we spent the next fourty five minutes or so happily clicking away, There were so many points of interest, we passed under the Debnicki Bridge with the suberbs of Nowy Swiat on our right and Debnicki on our left. On the cycleways and riverside paths were people also taking advantage of the afternnon sunshine, further along were fishermen, it was very idylic. Soon the boat was making the turn for its return journey and it wasn't long before Wawel Castle came into view, what a sight, the castle with its spires and red brick walls, sat on the hill just beyond the bend in the river it really was the highlight of the cruise.
Wawel Castle, Krakow
Should you visit Krakow take the time to stroll to the river Vistula. If you go via Wawel Castle there is a stunning view of the river from the castle entrance and if you need refreshment after climbing up to the castle there is a bar/cafe in its grounds.
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