Hotel Copernicus

Hotel
Copernicus is located in Krakow's Old Town on the picturesque
Kanonicza Street, one of the city's oldest streets, which leads toward
Wawel Castle. The neighboring buildings are similar three-story Neo-classical structures that date back to the 15th century,
but the hotel stands out because of its red brick facade. The arched
doorway opens to an elegant entrance of marble floors and
exquisitely painted vaulted ceilings. The large internal courtyard
gets lots of natural light thanks to the three-story glass-roofed atrium, and the guest rooms open onto long inner
balconies overlooking the courtyard from above. There are many
decorative details like wrought-iron railings, exposed wooden beams,
and hardwood floors which give the property an elegant and classy Old World feel. Most guests staying here are leisure travelers traveling
as couples or families, though children aren't especially catered to and the ambience is quite peaceful.

Many
of Krakow's most popular tourist attractions are easily accessible on foot from the hotel, thanks
to its location in the city's Old Town. Wawel Castle is a
seven-minute walk away, and the city’s main market square is a
nine-minute walk from there, in the center of the Old Town. A
12-minute walk away is the historic Jewish district of Kazimierz,
where Remuh Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery are located. Other
popular tourist attractions include St. Mary’s Basilica, an
eight-minute walk away; Krakow Barbican -- the gateway to the Old Town -- is a 13-minute walk from here; and the Schindler Museum is a
10-minute drive away. Krakow Airport is a 22-minute drive from the
hotel, depending on traffic. 

Each
of the hotel's 29 guest rooms is decorated in a simple and elegant, classical
style that highlights the historical ambience of the building. The
floors are covered in dark hardwood and laid with patterned rugs. Heavy furniture is made of quality oak adding elegance to the rooms. But some of the leather chairs and sofas feel more in line with the 1980s than the 15th century. Walls are painted
in tones of sienna or
cream, and many of the rooms have wooden ceilings and exposed beams.
Rooms 101 and 108 on the first floor feature exquisite ceiling
frescoes dating back to the 16th and 17th
centuries, which were discovered during the building's renovation. All the rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, but other appreciated extras commonly found in upscale hotels are absent, such as coffeemakers. The minibars, however, are well-stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.The
bathrooms feature red marble vanities, L'Occitane
toiletries, and whirlpool bathtubs (but no shower) in some, or small
shower stalls (and no tubs) in the smaller bathrooms. Many
of the beds have high footboards, which may present a problem for
particularly tall guests, and other common complaints by guests
concern the low-quality mattresses and pillows, and the limited
number of electrical sockets in the bedrooms and bathrooms. Some of
the rooms located in the interior of the building can also be quite
dark.

As an upscale hotel, the Copernicus offers several features that reflect its history, but it's lacking in other amenities for this pearl rating. The
on-site restaurant and bar gets good reviews from past diners for the
seasonal Polish cuisine served here, and its gastronomical
seven-course chef's tasting menu which is paired with different
wines. A hot and cold buffet breakfast is served in the mornings for
an extra fee. A highlight is the hotel's swimming pool, occupying an atmospheric space in the red-brick vaulted cellar set with mood
lighting. The spa is located in the same space and includes a sauna
and massage treatments. There's also a fitness center with several Technogym fitness machines that are in great condition, but dated models. The
hotel's rooftop terrace offers scenic views of nearby Wawel Castle,
the rooftops of the Old Town, and domes of nearby churches. For
meetings, the library room is available and can fit up to 25 people.
Other services on offer include dry cleaning, laundry services, and
on-site parking for additional fees. Wi-Fi is available for free throughout the hotel, but there are no meeting rooms nor a business center.