HOTEL COPERNICUS

Behind the hotel’s Gothic façade there are only 29 rooms, the finest of which holds wooden ceiling beams from 1370 and 16th-century frescoes. There is a smart blend of historical heritage and modern comfort throughout, with atmospherically-lit wood panelling that seems to tell stories of its past. More sensitively still, its medieval cellars have been transformed into a swimming pool, sauna and L’Occitane spa. An exceptional find in the centre of this lively city. Suitable for:

• Long weekends
• Families with older children
• History lovers

Things to do at the property: 

• Enjoy drinks and superb views on the rooftop terrace
• Marvel over manuscripts in the Fireplace Room 
• Relax in the glass-covered courtyard 
• Try Renaissance-inspired Polish cuisine in the restaurant  

Things to do nearby: 

• Explore Wawel Castle, long-time home to Polish royalty 
• Admire the Kościuszko Mound monument
• Tour the 13th-century Wieliczka salt mines 
• Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former concentration camps 
• Take a trip to the verdant Ojców National Park 
• Wind along the Vistula River, weaving through Kraków