One day in Krakow: itinerary and highlights

The Wawel Castle begins the day: the hill overlooking the Vistula hosts the royal complex where Polish sovereigns lived for centuries, with the Cathedral of Wawel, place of coronation and burial of kings, alongside the royal halls.

At the base the legend of the Wawel Dragon tells, the bronze statue spitting fire in front of the cave entrance that, by tradition, was its lair.

Back toward the center you reach the Rynek Główny, the vast medieval marketplace, among Europe's largest, dominated by the Basilica of Saint Mary: every hour, from the highest tower, a trumpet plays a motif cut short mid-way, in memory of the sentinel hit by an arrow warning of Tatar arrival.

For lunch, the Sukiennice, the ancient cloth market at the center of the square, still hosts stalls and venues where you taste Polish dishes like pierogi.

Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter with its historic synagogues and cafés in old shops, made famous also by the film Schindler's List shot among its streets.

To the north, the Barbican and remains of medieval walls, with the Florian Gate, mark the historic entrance to the center.

The underground vaults of Rynek Główny, turned into restaurants and venues, are the most suggestive setting for a dinner at visit's end.

Wawel Castle, the Rynek Główny, and the Basilica of Saint Mary help understand Krakow's regal soul, while the afternoon choice between Kazimierz and the Barbican adds its more intimate or defensive side.

The salt mines of Wieliczka, just outside the city, and an excursion to the memorial of Auschwitz-Birkenau remain chapters for a second trip. Hearing the interrupted trumpet sound from Saint Mary's tower remains the image that best tells Krakow.