You can catch contemporary and classical drama, as well as captivating musical shows, at the Juliusz Slowacki Theatre, a few minutes’ walk from our hotel. Built in 1893, the grand Baroque building was modelled on the great European concert halls of its day, including the Paris Opera. Inside, look out for the frescoes by Austrian artist Anton Tuch.

The city's Opera Krakowska opera house – 15 minutes’ walk from the hotel – is relatively modern, having been founded in 1954. It stages over 200 performances every year, so if you’re looking for a dose of high culture, you can take your pick from international and Polish grand opera, ballet, operettas and even musicals aimed at children.

A short taxi ride from the hotel, the multi-purpose ICE Krakow Congress Centre is home to a theatre, exhibition hall and meeting rooms. The venue hosts an eclectic mix of concerts and events, and can seat up to 2,000. If you love jazz you won't want to miss the international summer festival, which attracts big-name artists from around the world.

If you want to spend the evening with some of the biggest names in showbiz, head for the TAURON Arena Krakow. Shaped like a giant Frisbee, this futuristic building was opened in 2014 as a venue for concerts and major sporting events. Its vast indoor arena has space for 15,000 fans, who come here to see concerts by top global pop and rock artists.

The old town’s sophisticated Wierzynek restaurant can trace its origins back to 1364. It was once a regular haunt of the Polish royal family, and its sumptuous interior and fine food make it a favorite among its current national and international clientele. It's renowned for its traditional Polish delicacies – make sure that you try the venison.

You can tuck into a mouthwatering array of modern European dishes beneath an impressive vaulted ceiling at Szara, a stylish restaurant on the city's main square. The menu covers everything from a fried breakfast to Dutch mussels, but the house is particularly known for its bouillabaisse style fish soup, as well as delicious rabbit and duck.

If you really want to get to grips with the local cuisine, you can start your voyage of discovery at the Old Kleparz market right outside our door. Graze your way around dozens of food stalls and you'll get to taste a wealth of traditional local foods, including salty precels (pretzel) and regional Krakowska sausages.

You can grab a simple, traditional dinner at one of Krakow’s many herring bars. The concept is straightforward: order from the huge range of flavored herrings, pick a herbal vodka from the menu, and tuck in. Polish dining doesn’t get more old-fashioned, yet today bars such as Kazimierz‘s Maly Sledz are packed with the city's hippest young artists.