Things to Do in Krakow

Krakow was Poland's capital until 1596, when the royal seat moved to Warsaw, yet it remains the cultural heart of the nation.

The Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) is one of Europe's largest medieval town squares at 40,000 square metres, lined entirely with Renaissance townhouses.

Wawel Castle, perched on a limestone hill overlooking the city, has been the residence of Polish rulers, bishops and kings for over 1,000 years.

The Cloth Hall in the Main Square still operates as a marketplace today, selling traditional Polish crafts and souvenirs, much as it did in medieval times.

Krakow was spared major destruction during World War II because Nazi forces made it their administrative capital for occupied Poland, preserving its Renaissance architecture.

St. Mary's Basilica's hourly trumpet call (hejnał) has been played from the tower every hour since the 13th century, traditionally cut short to commemorate an archer killed during a Mongol invasion.