May is the month for blossom and fresh greenery

Spring is always a beautiful season with its new fresh green leaves, bright spring flowers and blossom emerging in the sunshine.

It can also be pleasantly warm and one of the best seasons of the year.

There are crocus filled valleys in Zakopane as the snows recede, blossom in May.

There are lots of fascinating places to visit in southern Poland; in the scenic Cracow to Zakopane to Szczawnica region.

• The city of Cracow is the 3rd most visited city after Rome and Paris - things to see and rentals near Cracow
• picturesque and peaceful national parks in Malopolska, Poland with kilometres of hiking trails and cycle paths

Car rental from Cracow Balice Airport for easy sightseeing

Hire a rental car in Poland to go sightseeing and get the most out of your trip.

The roads are relatively quiet which allows you to enjoy the views as you drive.

Rent a GPS for easy navigation from about 10 zlotys per day.

We've found Budget to be the best and most trouble-free car hire rental at Cracow Airport.

This way you will be able to get around easily and visit Cracow, Auschwitz, the ski resort of Zakopane, national parks, the salt mines, Dunajec river and anything else that takes your fancy.

Polish wooden architecture

The Poles are extremely proud of their wooden architecture. There are wooden churches dating back to the 16th century and plenty of regional buildings such as houses, shops and restaurants built of wood.

These are sometimes carved with Highland or goralskie symbols. Carved wooden products are also sold in the markets so that you can take home a traditional Polish souvenir.

DIY Tours in Poland

There are quite a few organised tours and trips to the Bochnia or Wieliczka Salt Mines, Auschwitz, rafting on the Dunajec etc. but you will find that you can do it much more cheaply and at your own convenience with a hire car.

Southern Poland isn't difficult to get around - places are well signposted and maps available at petrol stations. Outside the cities, traffic is generally light.

Nature in Spring:

• March - for drifts of wild crocus
• April - visit in April for wild flower meadows in the Tatra valleys
• May - visit in May for storks nesting

Events in Malopolska in May

• Women's Day when men give the important women in their life a flower.
• May 3rd celebrations which is essentially a Bank holiday with a long weekend.
• The thrd week of May sees the Annual Soup Contest where chefs cook up vats of soup and compete for the title of 'Soupmeister'. This is held in Plac Nowy, Kazimierz, Krakow.

• holidays to Poland in May

Events in Malopolska in June

• World-renowned Jewish Culture Festival is held in Cracow in the last week of June; enjoy a range of musical performances including Klezmer music.
• Cracow's traditional 'Wianki' Festival' with outdoor performances by Wawel Castle and the Vistula are also held around this week celebrating the official beginning of summer. In 2007 it was the sounds of the 80's presented by Polish and international bands.