Poland's old royal capital ringed in snow: the vast Rynek Główny with its Christmas market and bugle call from the basilica tower, Wawel Castle above the frozen Vistula, and cellar bars everywhere heated to tropical levels. Eat pierogi and drink hot honeyed vodka — grzaniec — for shockingly little, and take the atmospheric night walk through Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter, ending in a candlelit café that hasn't changed since 1910.
Featured in Ten cosy winter city breaks for two · Romantic
Kraków's old town hides more bars per square metre than almost anywhere in Europe, from candlelit cellar pubs under the market square to the shot-bar chaos of ulica Szewska. The Jewish quarter, Kazimierz, is the discerning choice — vintage-furnished bars, courtyard gardens and zapiekanka flatbreads at 3am from Plac Nowy's rotunda. Vodka flights cost less than a London pint.
Featured in Ten European party spots beyond the obvious · Nightlife
Kraków packs cellar bars, cocktail dens and clubs into a compact medieval core where vodka comes in flights and beer undercuts bottled water. The stag-do gravity centres on ulica Szewska — simply drink elsewhere: Kazimierz's mismatched-armchair bars for atmosphere, the club cellars off the main square for dancing until it's light. Weeknights are wonderfully calm and just as open. Whatever happens, finish with a zapiekanka from Plac Nowy.
Featured in Ten budget party cities where your money goes further · Nightlife