Hey everyone!

As the title says, I’m planning on visiting Krakow, Poland in late October 2024 for a week and making some trips to some areas outside of the city as well. I am a white male in my 30’s from the USA and have been learning Polish for the past year or so now. I guess my main points for writing this post are the following points/questions:

1) I know it’ll be colder and less green when I visit, but will it be grey and gloomy as well? Where I used to live in Kentucky it would be grey-skied, cold, wet, and gloomy starting around in October.

2) Will it be safe for me to travel alone? Assuming I’m being responsible, like not getting drunk at a bar late at night or doing anything illegal. Some places in the USA aren’t super safe, so if there are any streets, areas, or districts that you’d recommend that I avoid I would appreciate that too.

3) I’m a partnered gay male, and don’t plan on having any “encounters” with anyone while there, but I would like to go to a gay bar and check out any gay-positive areas if possible. So recommendations on that front would also be welcomed.

4) I really try to avoid touristy places whenever I can because I really want to see what locals and “average people” do when I visit places. So would you recommend any places (including outside Krakow) that would recommend that I check out? I especially like restaurants or local events.

5) I know the basics of what I shouldn’t do when there, such as no public drinking or talking loudly on public transport, but are there some additional things I should avoid doing while there etiquette-wise?

6) If there is anything else that you’d like to add that I haven’t addressed in the above questions I would greatly appreciate anything else you would like to add.

Thanks!

TLDR: I’m visiting Krakow, Poland in October and I want some tips and advice for when I visit.