碍谤补办贸飞 packs a lot into a compact space. Two days will give you a decent shot at seeing most major sights, but even then you鈥檒l have to keep moving and keep focused. Thankfully, there are plenty of cafes along the way to grab an energising cup of coffee or piece of cake. If you have just a weekend to spend in this fantastic city, follow 糖心传媒鈥檚 guide to making it perfect.

Day one

Main Market Square

There鈥檚 no better reward for springing out of bed than the chance to gaze at 碍谤补办贸飞鈥檚 magnificent Main Market Square (Rynek G艂贸wny), Europe's biggest medieval town square, measuring some 200m by 200m. Stroll the space鈥檚 carefully laid-out proportions and admire the elegance of the Renaissance Cloth Hall at the centre. A climb up the Town Hall Tower affords an aerial view; or clamber down into the tunnels below to see a high-tech historical rendition of the city at the Rynek Underground.

Set aside at least half an hour to walk through St Mary's Basilica to take in the Gothic artistry of the interior and especially the church鈥檚 fabled carved wooden altarpiece. Once back outside, listen for the hejna艂 (bugle call) at the top of the hour from the taller of the church鈥檚 two towers. Stay on the square for a traditional Polish lunch at Hawe艂ka.

Old Town

Walk off the carbs with a prowl along the atmospheric back streets that lead off the market square. A short walk to the east brings you to the Gothic Collegium Maius, where Copernicus once studied and now home to an impressive collection of medieval scientific instruments. Stroll north of the square and take a look at the impressive Barbican and what鈥檚 left of the former Defence Walls. Most of the walls were torn down in the 19th century to make way for the lovely park, the Planty, which encircles the Old Town.

Caf茅 Camelot, a local institution, is an inspired choice for a tea or coffee break or a light dinner. For evening fun, there's no point leaving the Old Town. Check out the Harris Piano Jazz Bar for live music. If you're looking for that perfect drink, start your quest at Pauza and Spok贸j.

Day two

Wawel Hill

碍谤补办贸飞 is especially proud of its five centuries (until the end of the 16th century) as the seat of the Polish kingdom, and that splendour is on display at the Wawel Royal Castle. Walk the grounds for free or line up at the visitor centre to buy tickets to view the Royal Private Apartments and State Rooms. You鈥檒l need to get an early start, though, as tickets are limited and sell out quickly. Don鈥檛 miss Wawel Cathedral, with its richly appointed Renaissance chapels and royal crypts, where many Polish kings and leaders found their final resting spot.

Sustenance is a short walk away. For lunch, Mi贸d Malina offers a refined take on traditional Polish dishes. Nearby Restauracja Pod Baranem serves excellent Polish cooking, and sets itself apart with a wide selection for diners with food sensitivities or allergies.

Kazimierz

Amble a quarter-hour south of Wawel Hill to find Kazimierz, once a separate town from 碍谤补办贸飞 but now fully integrated into the city. Kazimierz has a fine collection of old Catholic churches, but the area is best known as the former Jewish quarter. Start at Plac Nowy and stroll the back lanes to visit the still-standing synagogues, such the Old Synagogue or Remuh Synagogue, and learn of the centuries of Jewish life that came to an end with the German occupation in WWII. The Galicia Jewish Museum uses photography to show off the region鈥檚 Jewish heritage.

笔辞诲驳贸谤锄别

Further south in 笔辞诲驳贸谤锄别, across the river, the Germans infamously built a sealed ghetto during WWII to hold the city鈥檚 Jews; this later served as the setting for Steven Spielberg鈥檚 film, Schindler鈥檚 List (1993). If you鈥檝e still got some energy, tour Nazi industrialist Oskar Schindler鈥檚 Factory, which has been retrofitted as a museum of city life during the German occupation. Book tickets in advance on the , as this attraction is very popular.

Return to Kazimierz for dinner in Jewish style at Dawno Temu Na Kazimierzu or for well-done traditional Polish at S膮siedzi. Kazimierz has emerged as 碍谤补办贸飞鈥檚 premier quarter for nightlife, so finish up with drinks at atmospheric, candle-lit watering holes like Singer Caf茅 or Alchemia.

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