If you believe the legends, Kraków was founded on the defeat of a dragon, and it’s true a mythical atmosphere permeates its attractive streets and squares. Wawel Castle is a major drawcard, while the Old Town contains soaring churches, impressive museums and the vast Rynek Glówny, Europe’s largest market square. In the former Jewish quarter, Kazimierz, remnant synagogues reflect the tragedy of the 20th century, while lively squares and backstreets symbolize the renewal of the 21st. Here and throughout the Old Town are hundreds of restaurants, bars and clubs. However, there’s more to the former royal capital than history and nightlife. As you walk through the Old Town, you might be overwhelmed by the harmony of a quiet backstreet, the ‘just so’ nature of the architecture and light. At times like these Kraków reveals its harmonious blend of past and present, an essential part of any visit to Poland.

Kraków, a southern Poland city near the border of the Czech Republic, is known for its well-preserved medieval core and Jewish quarter. Its old town – ringed by Planty Park and remnants of the city’s medieval walls – is centered on the stately, expansive Rynek Glówny (market square). This plaza is the site of the Cloth Hall, a Renaissance-era trading outpost, and St. Mary’s Basilica, a 14th-century Gothic church.