Things to see in Cracow

Part of the Wawel castle complex, this cathedral was the coronation site and burial place of almost all of Poland's monarchs and rulers. It was built in the early 11th century by King Boleslaw the Brave after Cracow was made a bishopric, and substantially added to since. The relics of St Stanislaw, the patron saint of Poland, are kept here, as are the bodies of many kings, queens and national poets in many elaborate chapels built into the walls. Controversially, Poland’s late president, Lech Kaczynski, who died in a plane crash in 2010, was laid to rest here in what had traditionally been a royal burial site. After admiring the architecture, visitors can climb the tower to see the 9,979kg (11-tonne) Sigismund Bell and enjoy fine views.

Laid out in 1257, this is one of the largest and most beautiful market squares in medieval Europe. Occupying the centre of the square is the 15th-century Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), its vaulted, ground floor passages now filled with souvenir stalls. Along the sides of the building, pavement cafés draw locals and tourists alike. A gallery of 19th Century Polish art is upstairs, full of lavish, melodramatic paintings that are actually quite fun. The square is lined by grand old houses, and filled with the church of St Wojciech (Cracow’s oldest) and the lone 15th century town hall tower. It’s the towering twin spires of the Gothic Mariacki church, looming in one corner, that really dominate the square and catch the eye.

This modern structure is strikingly different from Cracow's many historic buildings, and Manggha remains just as unexpected inside. The museum has one of Europe’s finest collections of ancient Japanese art, ceramics, weapons, fabrics, scrolls and woodcuts. It features some 7,000 pieces collected by Feliks Jasienski (1861-1929), who adopted the pseudonym “Manggha” after discovering Japanese art while studying in Paris in the 1880s. The pseudonym is a transliteration of the Japanese “manga”, the title of Hokusai's famous series of sketches.

Next door to Schindler’s Factory is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAK), one of Cracow’s newer attractions. Unveiled in 2011, the modern, imposing museum is a marvel in itself, and once visitors have admired the aesthetics outside, they will find a host of exhibitions that showcase everything from aspiring young Polish artists to international names within.