Rabka is a mountain resort and spa in Małopolskie Province in southern Poland, 70 km south of Kraków. Zdrój means "spa" hence the town's longer name of Rabka-Zdrój. It's the main base and access point for Czorsztyn Lake, 45 km southeast, with its two castles, boat rides, water sports, skiing, restaurants and museum.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]By train
[edit]- Train connect Rabka with many near towns as well as Krakow. However, the train is very slow and it is much faster to use a bus or taxi.
By car
[edit]Get around
[edit]See
[edit]
- Open-air Railway Museum at Chabówka 2 km outside Rabka. This features a superb collection of steam trains, some of which have appeared in old films.
- Władysław Orkan Museum - The museum offers a unique look into Rabka's past through artefacts, tools and equipment used in everyday life. Housed in a historical 17th-century larch-wood church, includes one of the largest collections of folk sculpture and paintings on glass.
- The world's only Order of the Smile Museum (dedicated to a unique order that children award to adults).
- Myślenice is a small resort halfway along the road between Kraków and Rabka-Zdrój. It has skiing and tobogganing in winter and hill-walking in summer. It's worth a brief stop en route to see the old market square and churches.
Do
[edit]- Rabcio Puppet Theater has performances of traditional Polish puppetry for children.
- Gorce National Park - trails from the Central Park Zdrojowy (Health Park) lead up to Maciejowa hill and the national park. There are tourist shelters which offer overnight bunks and food for walkers en-route.
- Ski, skate, toboggan, snowboard, paraglide, horseback ride, quadbike ride, hike and climb.
- The town has a sports stadium, tennis courts, amusement park and bicycle rentals.
- Nearby hills have walks above and below the tree line. There's easy access to Mt Grzebień (678 m), Mt Maciejowa (837 m), Stare Wierchy, Krzywoń and Bania hills.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Mulled wine and beer, śliwowica łącka - (read: [shlee-voh-veetsa won-tskah]) strong (70% alcohol) plum brandy
Sleep
[edit]Hostels, hotels, lodging houses, holiday homes, cottages and rooms for hire.