Krakow is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland, located in the southern part of the country, on the Vistula River, in a valley at the foot of the Carpathians. Dating back to the 7th century, Krakow began as a small Stone Age settlement on Wawel Hill and later became a bustling market town. Since 1999, it has been the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, serving as one of Poland's most important cultural, academic, artistic, and economic centers.

With over seven million visitors annually, Krakow is a top tourist destination, featuring numerous attractions:

Jordan Park and Planty Park, iconic green spaces in the city.

Main Market Square, with St. Mary’s Basilica and Sukiennice Cloth Hall.

Palace of Fine Arts, a prime example of Art Nouveau architecture.

Pawilon Wyspiański 2000, a rare instance of modern architecture in the Old Town.

Wawel Castle, a symbol of Polish history.

Jurassic Landscape Parks and Basztowa Street, one of the city’s most iconic radial boulevards.

National Museum of Art, housing valuable collections.

Sigismund Bell at Wawel Cathedral and St. Florian’s Gate with the Barbican, part of the royal coronation route.

Czartoryski Museum, home to masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt.

Nearby attractions include:

Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Tatra Mountains, perfect for hiking.

The historic town of Częstochowa, known for the Black Madonna icon.

The former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz.

Ojcowski National Park, featuring the Pieskowa Skała Renaissance Castle.

Krakow hosts a variety of annual festivals and events, including:

Great Dragon Parade, Bread Festival, and Culture Festival.

Iuliada, a sports and recreation event.

Summer Jazz Festival and Old Town Music Festival.

International Early Music Festival (October).

All Saints’ Day Celebration and Etiuda&Anima International Film Festival (November).

Christmas Market, held in December.

You can visit Krakow by flying with airlines such as Lufthansa, LOT, Austrian Airlines, Wizz air and Air Berlin.