Cracow, Poland — Overview
Cracow (Krakow) is the biggest drawing card in Poland. At the height of summer, the country's third largest city throngs with tourists, and pavement cafes seem to occupy every cobble of the main square. Even out of season, the city pulsates with street performers, horse-drawn carriages and dance clubs heaving till dawn. It is immediately clear why so many people flock to this magical city. Situated on the banks of the Vistula River and within easy reach of the Tatra Mountains, Cracow has one of the best preserved medieval city centers in Europe. Its scores of notable churches, monasteries and abbeys make it a jewelry box of gothic and Renaissance; a walk through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978, is like a step back in time. Cracow's cultural heritage is mirrored in its intellectual achievements; Jagiellonian University is the second oldest in central Europe. Away from high culture, Cracow offers a myriad of more modern diversions, including hundreds of restaurants, bars and music clubs tucked away in its narrow alleyways and cellars.
