Polish vodka tasting crawl (self-guided)

The Polish vodka tasting crawl is a self-guided, roughly two-hour route through Krakow's Old Town, in the Lesser Poland region of southern Poland. No operator is involved, so visitors set the pace, choose the order and pay at each venue. The route starts at Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa on ul. Floriańska 34, a bar focused on vodka and beer served at the counter in the traditional Polish way, and continues to Restauracja Starka on ul. Józefa 14, in the Kazimierz district, where flavoured starka, a style of aged Polish spirit, is on offer. The two stops are a short tram ride or walk apart, which gives the crawl a natural pairing of the medieval Old Town and Kazimierz. The tasting centres on flavoured Polish vodkas, and the drinks are traditionally accompanied by savoury snacks such as pickles and herring, which help balance the alcohol. The balance is therefore firmly savoury, with sweetness limited to the flavoured spirits themselves. Total spending is about 60-120 PLN (roughly $16-32 USD) depending on the number of shots and snacks ordered. Shots are paid for individually at the venues, and no transport, guide or pre-set tasting menu is included. Because the crawl involves several strong drinks, a slow pace and a proper meal beforehand are strongly advised, and drinkers should keep track of the total served. Non-drinkers can use the route for the snacks, though the experience is built around spirits. Vegetarian visitors can focus on pickles and other non-fish snacks, since herring is a common accompaniment, and allergens should be confirmed with staff. Group size is up to the visitor, and English is widely understood in Old Town bars. Visitors must be of legal drinking age, which is 18 in Poland, and should carry identification.