Referred to as little Rome, and in 19th century as the Slavic Rome, Krakow has kept its unique character as a European artistic complex connecting tradition with modernism. Krakow was once Poland’s national capital, and Wawel Hill with the Castle was the former residence of Polish kings. It has always been a city of history and art, as well as an ambassador of Polish culture. In the Middle Ages, the city was described as an important political, economic, and trade center. It is still considered by many to be the spiritual heart of Poland because of its history of more than a thousand years. The Old Town has many significant monuments, churches, theatres and houses. There is also a variety of architecture - Renaissance, Baroque, and Gothic. The city is lucky to not have been severely damaged during World War II and left many cultural objects and buildings untouched.

Krakow is also a major center of education and has the oldest university in Poland which was established in the 14th century (Jagiellonian University). This is where Polish kings, poets, writers, and politicians studied. The two most famous students were Nicolas Copernicus and John Paul II.

One of the most spectacular sites of Krakow is the Main Square, the largest of all of Europe's medieval cities. You can find the oldest shopping mall in Poland - Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) dated back to 13th century that is still used for commerce. Krakow's main church, St. Mary's Church is a monument of glory and fame for the city. The Barbican together with the Florian Gate are part of the city’s fortification complex which were once the Porta Gloriae, through which kings and foreign deputies rode into Krakow.

Krakow has over 50 museums and art galleries, 50 convents and monasteries, over 30 theatres, and 120 churches which makes this city a leading centre of culture.

Krakow has two Nobel Prize winners in literature: - Wislawa Szymborska and Czeslaw Milosz.

Krakow's clubs, pubs, cafes and restaurants are open day and night. Also many events and festivals take place here creating a vibrant atmosphere.