There are so many things to do in Krakow that it’s hard to see everything and thoroughly explore the city in just a few days.
However, if you only have a few days in one of Poland’s most beautiful cities then you’re definitely going to want to spend it somewhere that’s comfortable, reasonably priced and that has a good location.
With those features in mind I eventually settled on the Yarden Aparthotel.
The Yarden Aparthotel
Located just a short walk away from the city center the Yarden Aparthotel is an elegantly designed hotel right in the heart of the city.
It’s close to all of the main attractions, offers direct access to the far-reaching Krakow public transportation and it’s easy to get to whether you’re driving or arriving by bus or train.
There are nearly 50 rooms available and each one is bright, spacious and comfortable enough that you’ll be able to easily relax after a long day of walking around and exploring the city.
The hotel itself takes up the entirety of two different 19th century buildings and one of the highlights of the whole setup is the private, quiet courtyard at the rear of the buildings.
In the courtyard it’s possible to escape the busy city streets of Krakow and relax in peace under large trees and green surroundings.
The Yarden Aparthotel is definitely a suitable choice for accommodation in Krakow and now that you know a little bit more about it let’s take a look at my review and experience.
My Yarden Aparthotel Review
Check-In and Interior
I arrived at the hotel by car so after parking in the lot out back I made my way into the building.
Entrance from the front is much more dramatic, with a high-ceilinged entryway and an overal more historical layout compared to the rear entrance where it feels like you’re sneaking in.
The lobby was a small, cramped space right beside the elevator and for some reason there were two girls working at a single desk.
After giving them my details they provided me with some information about the hotel and directed me on how to reach my room.
I pushed the button for the elevator and, i’ll be honest, it was a bit awkward standing there since the two receptionists were just staring at me from behind the desk until my elevator came.
My room was on one of the top floors and the speaker system in the elevator read out each floor as we passed so it’s not hard at all to determine where you’re supposed to go.
After getting off the elevator on my floor I walked down the hallway and down a short flight of stairs to my room.
I wasn’t able to check out the restaurant/breakfast area yet since it was in a different building but overall I had a fairly positive first impression of the interior.
Nothing was too over-the-top and it was about you would expect staying at a nicer hotel of this calibre in the city center of Krakow.
The Room
After opening the door to my room I was a bit surprised by how small it was but for business travelers or solo travelers the size wouldn’t be an issue at all.
The bed was positioned right in the center of the room and took up a significant amount of the available floor space even though it was just a double bed.
There was also a desk against one wall, which took up even more space, although having a proper desk with a suitable chair is also a huge benefit to me as a travel blogger.
Apart from that there was a wardrobe for storing clothes and luggage so even though the interior space was a bit small any issues could be avoided with proper storage and organization.
One thing I thought was a bit weird were the pictures of the birds on the wall and I wish the hotel went with some historical photos of Krakow which I think would have been a lot more fitting to the overall theme of the hotel itself.
There was a large window, which let in plenty of lighting, and it was even possible to open it up where it turned into a French balcony that offered a nice view over the courtyard and towards the surrounding buildings.
I wasn’t able to check out any of the other rooms in the hotel although I noticed that some of them had balconies and I would assume that there were some available that offered more space for families or groups.
I didn’t experience any issues with noise in my room but I was reading some reviews where people stated that the rooms facing the street were quite loud, especially with the tram passing by constantly, so if you’re a light sleeper you should consider asking for a room that faces the courtyard.
The Bathroom
Considering the size of the room the bathroom itself was quite spacious.
The bathroom took on your typical hotel appearance with a stand-up shower, sink and toilet all in the same room.
I actually prefer the stand-up shower rather than the bathtub since it’s less likely for water to get everywhere when you’re having a shower and it’s not often that travelers have enough time to take baths anyways.
An ample amount of towels were provided and there were also some amenities available.
The amenities were sourced by Bashira and Artery Hotels, two brands that I’m not familiar with, and there was soap, lotion, shower gel and shampoo available.
All of the amenities smelled quite nice and I definitely enjoyed using them during my stay.
The shower pressure was suitable and there was even a towel heater that helped to keep everything dry and ready for the next time you took a shower.
Overall, I was very pleased with the bathroom and didn’t have any issues with it at all.
The Details
Cost
I checked the price for a twin room for random dates in October and if you’re planning on staying at this hotel you can expect prices to start at around $85 USD.
Many of the rates include breakfast although parking isn’t included and it will cost you a few dollars more if you’re arriving to Krakow by car.
Given the location and proximity to the wide range of different restaurants, bars and cafes nearby I would say that this is quite a reasonable price for accommodation in Krakow and it’s a little more competitively priced compared to what you spend in the Old Town.
Location
The location of the Yarden Aparthotel is ideal for exploring the city on foot.
It’s located a short 10-15 minute walk from the Old Town Square and it’s possible to reach Wawel Castle in under 25 minutes.
As for reaching Kazmierz or Podgorze I’d actually recommend taking public transportation or ordering an Uber as it can be a far walk to those locations, even if you’re staying in the very center.
Nearby you’ll be able to find a wide range of small shop, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, bars, clothing stores and just about anything you would need while you’re traveling.
There are some public transportation stops right out front and an Uber driver will have no issues picking you up from out front of the building.
Wi-Fi
As a travel blogger it’s always important to me that hotels offer suitable Wi-Fi to their guests.
At the Yarden Aparthotel I found the Wi-Fi to be reasonable quick and the connection was very steady throughout my entire stay.
Although it wasn’t as fast as I would have liked the connection strength more than made up for it and I was able to upload both photos and videos without having to worry about the signal reliability.
For business travelers that need to get some work done or anyone looking to browse the web or use social media the internet is more than suitable enough and you shouldn’t experience any issues with the speed, signal strength or connection quality.
Breakfast
Since the hotel takes up two buildings breakfast can be held in one of two areas depending on which hotel you’re staying in.
The breakfast I had was held in a small dining room located on ground level with large windows looking out onto the street.
The selection was quite large with both hot and cold options available.
For the hot options there were some eggs, sausages, bacon and some hot coffee and tea.
For the cold options there were sliced meats, cheeses, cereal, mixed nuts, yogurt and a small selection of different fruits.
Water and juice was also available as well.
There are so many options for eating in Krakow that I’d actually recommend having a light breakfast at the hotel and venturing out on your own to find something better to eat.
If you don’t have the time to head out to a local cafe then the breakfast options at the hotel are very reasonable and are about what you would expect at a mid-range hotel in Eastern Europe.
Parking and Accessibility
As I’ve already mentioned there is on-site parking available at the hotel.
There are a few spots available but make sure to let reception know in advance that you’ll need parking so that a space will be reserved for you.
To access to the parking you have to drive through a small passageway that’s located right off the main street out front.
The passageway is very narrow so take your time when you enter it and if you’re driving a large car or truck you might actually want to tuck in your mirrors.
For accessibility, the hotel is an easy walk from both the train and bus station so you won’t have any problems reaching it on foot as long as the weather is nice.
If not, i’d recommend ordering an Uber and it’s a quick few dollar ride from the train or bus station to the hotel.
Final Verdict
When it comes to the best hotels in Krakow I would definitely recommend checking out the Yarden Aparthotel if you’re looking for somewhere reasonably priced to stay with a good location.
It’s great being able to walk to all of the main tourist attractions and having so many different restaurants and cafes nearby really open up the possibilities when it comes to how you can experience the city.
If you’re traveling with a family I would suggest asking for a bigger room but business travelers and those traveling in a pair will be fine in the twin, double or standard sized rooms.
While there are definitely a wide range of different options for accommodation in Krakow the Yarden Aparthotel offers its guests a pleasant and laid-back place to relax and spend the night.
Further Information
- Hotel website
- TripAdvisor
- HotelsCombined (check pricing and availability)
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