Krakow is undoubtedly the most popular tourist destination in Poland thanks to its incredible combination of history, architectural beauty and its picturesque location on the banks of the Vistula River. A weekend in Krakow can be great but a week is even better as it takes some time to absorb the atmosphere of this magical place and gain a deeper understanding of the culture. Read on to find out what makes this Polish city so captivating:

To start with, it is one of the biggest and oldest cities in the whole of Poland, with a history dating back to the 7th century and having been the Polish capital for several centuries until 1596. Krakow has always been Poland’s leading city in terms of academics, culture and art and you only have to look at how many art galleries and museums are dotted around its streets to see the legacy this has left behind. I would recommend investing in a two or three day Krakow Tourist Card which will allow you to use all public transport (including the bus to and from the airport) and gives you free entry to museums such as the National and Czartoryski. The card costs 50 – 65 Zloty and can be bought at the airport or any tourist information centre. If you are staying at a hotel in Krakow city centre, they quite often sell them at the reception.
The main places of interest for tourists tend to be the Stare Miasto (Old Town) and Wawel Castle. The Old Town was declared a World Heritage Site in 1978 and with just once glance at this area dotted with beautiful renaissance and medieval buildings miraculously unharmed by WW2, it is easy to see why. If you want to stay somewhere really special, book accommodation in Kazimierz, the city’s Jewish quarter with its peaceful synagogues and haunting past. Wawel Castle sits perched on the west side of the Vistula River, looking over the city below. A visit to this historic monument is a must for any visitor to Krakow. There is a lot to see and do around the city too, such as visit the Bochnia and Wieliczka salt mines or the Ojcow National Park and its caves.
Poland used to have a reputation for being a harsh, poor place where tourists would struggle to get by due to the language barrier and lack of infrastructure, but this couldn’t be further from the truth today. You will find friendly locals in Krakow (many of whom speak fantastic English) and a well-established tourism network. Naturally, there are curious cultural differences that may have you a little bewildered at first, like the toilet symbols (a circle for women and a triangle for men), but that is part of the fun of traveling, isn’t it?  To get more information on what’s on in the city, contact the Krakow 200 Festival Bureau.