Old World Charm

Stepping into Krakow is like stepping back in time. With much of its medieval architecture surviving, you truly get a sense of the Old World. Red-roofed buildings with dominating facades tout a mixture of baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic styles. Coupled with cobblestone streets and impeccably preserved architecture (even the McDonald's opens its Gothic cellar to diners), one could easily lose themselves in time and space.

The Old Town and its square (Stare Miastro) are still lined with shops and bustling with vendors and consumers much as it was centuries ago. Though now people barter with money and trade for trinkets, you truly get the feel for what this market square once was. Dominating the square is Krakow's Sukiennce – once a major center of international trade and business negotiations, this Cloth Hall still functions today selling items of superfluity rather than necessity.

Seeing much prosperity during the Renaissance, Krakow still boast remnants of its Golden Age. Krakow embraced with alacrity the art, architecture and free thinking of this era. And who better to put Krakow on the map as the center for European Renaissance than the proponent of heliocentricism himself – Nicolaus Copernicus. Educated in Krakow at one of Europe's oldest university's, you can still visit the courtyard of Collegium Maius where Copernicus once studied and roamed.

Medieval charm and Renaissance resplendence will entice the curious and apprehensive alike. In fact, the only thing lacking charm is the city's name – Krakow literally means "City of Krak" (and the most expensive real estate in town – the top floor of the "Boner Palace," a mighty erection indeed).