Kraków

I have visited Krakow many times over the years. In fact, Krakow is probably my most visited city outside of the UK.

With fond memories of feeding the pigeons as a child, and of horse drawn carriage rides around Rynek Glówny, Krakow has something that just keeps drawing me back.

The picturesque old town square, with the Sukiennice cloth hall at its heart, is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. To the south, on the banks of the river Vistula — or the Wisła as I’ve always known it — is the Wawel castle & cathedral. An impressive museum that was once the seat of the Polish monarchy.

For me, food has always played a big part of my visits to Poland, and you can’t visit Krakow without trying the excellent Pierogi and Gołabki at a Milk Bar. For lunch, a bowl of Rosul makes a great winter warmer, or try the Zapiekanka, a mushroom topped pizza baguette, from one of the many street kiosks.

Krakow also makes a great base for visiting the salt mines of Wieliczka and the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Further afield, the Tatra Mountains and town of Zakopane are only a couple of hours drive away.

Musicians outside the Sukiennice

St Mary’s Basilica, Krakow