Outdoor skating in Poland during the festive season

This winter, Galeria Krakowska is offering visitors and residents of Krakow a special treat in the form of a massive (and free!) ice skating rink in front of the shopping centre and the train station. The skating rink opens in December, and will remain open throughout February if the cold weather holds - but as this is Poland, you may even be skating there well into March!

when - Throughout February
where - Galeria Krakowska, ul. Pawia 5

Ice skaters will probably enjoy a small ice-rink that usually opens on the Blonia in winter time. It’s close to Żaczek
and most of the time quite crowded.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 18, 08, 14:54 / #
Evening chaps... You know how temprary outdoor ice-rinks spring up around the UK at this time of year... at Somerset House and the Tower of London plus all up and down the UK? I guess in a bid to copy the rink at the Rockerfeller Centre in NY... Is there anything similar in Poland?

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,309 Joined: Apr 21, 08	Edited by: time means Nov 18, 08, 14:58 / #
i know they have had one in wroclaw over the last two christmas periods.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 18, 08, 15:13 / #
time means: wroclaw Excellent - thanks... am just looking for details on t'internet.

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,309 Joined: Apr 21, 08	Nov 18, 08, 15:16 / #
it was by the centenial hall last year. i fell on my arse numerous times.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Edited by: LondonChick Nov 18, 08, 15:19 / #
time means: it was by the centenial hall last year. i fell on my arse numerous times. Ha! I went to something similar in London. Was doing really well (had lessons when I was a kid, inspired by Torville and Dean... ha! that show's my age) until some kid in front of me got a bit shakey and fell over.. and I ended up in a pile-up :( Don't s'pose you know where I could find out more i.e. times / prices etc?

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,309 Joined: Apr 21, 08	Edited by: time means Nov 18, 08, 15:28 / #
LondonChick: Don't s'pose you know where I could find out more i.e. times / prices etc? not at the moment sorry. if i find anything i will let you know. last year it was open quite early dec and it was quite cheap for skate hire and a session. any wroclaw residents know????

WroclawThreads: 74 Posts: 7,276 Joined: Apr 1, 06 [Moderator]	Nov 18, 08, 16:29 / #
time means: it was by the centenial hall last year. There's a first. It's the first time I've ever heard anyone use 'Centenial Hall' Ask most people in Wroclaw where it is... and they have no idea what you're talking about. I've only seen the rink in Rynek. It's not expensive. We've spoken about Wroclaw's rink before. I think there are/were some pictures. Many people skate on frozen ponds in some urban parts of the city. When they are frozen almost solid that is. There are or possibly were one or two ordinary outdoor rinks in the city. Folks here don't use ice rinks in summer. Indoor ones that is.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 18, 08, 16:46 / #
Wroclaw: Many people skate on frozen ponds in some urban parts of the city. When they are frozen almost solid that is. I tried skating on a lake in Denmark a few years back... it was really difficult as the surface was quite rippled. Wroclaw: I've only seen the rink in Rynek. It's not expensive. Cheers - I'll make a few phone calls in the morning and see if I can find out more. Are there any temporary rinks in any other cities in Poland?

osiolThreads: 59 Posts: 4,714 Joined: Jul 25, 07	Nov 18, 08, 16:55 / #
LondonChick: Are there any temporary rinks in any other cities in Poland? I saw one in the square in Lomza last winter. It was quite a small rink and the surface was about as smooth as a Danish lake.

polishgirltx	Edited by: polishgirltx Nov 18, 08, 17:04 / #
In Krakow: This winter, Galeria Krakowska is offering visitors and residents of Krakow a special treat in the form of a massive (and free!) ice skating rink in front of the shopping centre and the train station. The skating rink opens in December, and will remain open throughout February if the cold weather holds - but as this is Poland, you may even be skating there well into March! when - Throughout February where - Galeria Krakowska, ul. Pawia 5 or Ice Field (Skating-rink): Krakowianka, ul. Siedleckiego 7, tel. 421 13 17 or Ice skaters will probably enjoy a small ice-rink that usually opens on the Blonia in winter time. It’s close to Żaczek and most of the time quite crowded.

sausageThreads: 25 Posts: 1,053 Joined: Sep 21, 07	Edited by: sausage Nov 19, 08, 11:46 / #
In Warsaw next to the Palace of Science and Culture. Not sure what time of year it starts, this photo taken December 20th last year... my 1000th post. sto lat!

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 19, 08, 14:24 / #
time means: really? :-) Guys - just to clarify, I called Wroclaw City Hall today, and the girl that I spoke to did indeed confirm that it was held at "centenial hall". sausage: my 1000th post. sto lat! Congrats - and thanks for the pic.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 18, 08, 17:10 / #
Oooh!! Brilliant - cheers guys :)

WroclawThreads: 74 Posts: 7,276 Joined: Apr 1, 06 [Moderator]	Nov 18, 08, 17:14 / #
LondonChick: Cheers - I'll make a few phone calls in the morning and see if I can find out more. Confusion. Sorry. I meant in past years I've only seen the one in Rynek. We will probably get a rink in December.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 18, 08, 17:22 / #
Wroclaw: Confusion. Sorry. I'll probably call the city offices to find out if there will be one, and what the deal will be :)

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,309 Joined: Apr 21, 08	Nov 19, 08, 11:11 / #
Wroclaw: There's a first. It's the first time I've ever heard anyone use 'Centenial Hall' really? :-) Wroclaw: I've only seen the rink in Rynek it was defo at the "centenial hall" (sorry could not resist) last festive season. the 100m spire thing was made up like a christmas tree as well, also there were a few food and drink outlets as well.

pawianThreads: 80 Posts: 4,542 Joined: May 30, 08	Edited by: pawian Nov 19, 08, 14:56 / #
LondonChick: Evening chaps... You know how temprary outdoor ice-rinks spring up around the UK at this time of year... at Somerset House and the Tower of London plus all up and down the UK? I guess in a bid to copy the rink at the Rockerfeller Centre in NY... Is there anything similar in Poland? polishgirltx: In Krakow: or or Last winter was snowless and natural ice rinks didn`t work at all. There is one big indoor ice rink in Krakow (with real ice) and a few plastic ones.

LondonChickThreads: 43 Posts: 1,261 Joined: Nov 19, 07	Nov 19, 08, 16:02 / #
pawian: Last winter was snowless and natural ice rinks didn`t work at all. There is one big indoor ice rink in Krakow (with real ice) and a few plastic ones. We don't get much snow in the UK, so plastic ones pop up in towns and cities like a rash at this time of year. You can easily spend £30 once you've paid for entrance, skate hire and a hot cider. polishgirltx: when - Throughout February where - Galeria Krakowska, ul. Pawia 5 By the way, I called Galeria Krakowska earlier today - they are not doing the skating this year.