Once Poland's royal capital, the splendor and pomp of Krakow's history is still visible everywhere in its architecture. Now an eclectic modern city, first-time visitors can be overwhelmed by the variety of its attractions. Here are seven must-see things to begin with.

Perched high above the Vistula river, Wawel Royal Castle is Poland's most important historical and cultural monument – a place where the nation's story has often been written.

Built for King Casimir III the Great in the 1300s, the castle has undergone many changes over the centuries. Today it's a visual record of all of Europe's main architectural styles, reflecting every manner from Romanesque to Renaissance.

The castle is also home to one of Poland's most illustrious art collections. Along with great works from artists like Rubens and Botticelli, the museum contains the largest collection of Ottoman tents in Europe and many artefacts from Polish history. 

The largest medieval town square in Europe, Krakow's  Rynek Główny  dates back to the 13th century. The scene of great victory parades, ceremonies and congresses through Polish history, it has served mostly as a traditional market square.

The square is also home to several historic buildings that should be on any visitor's itinerary. The most impressive of these are St Mary's Basilica, a 14th-century Polish Gothic church, and the central feature, the grand Cloth Hall, once a hub of commerce. 

Today, the Main Square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the rest of Krakow's picturesque Old Town. Just as it has been for centuries, the square is a lively place, where you'll find seasonal festivities, concerts, beer gardens and horse-drawn carriages.

Up until 2007, the Wieliczka Salt Mine continuously produced table salt. It was one of the oldest salt mines in operation – with a history dating back, incredibly, to Neolithic times.

Today the salt mine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Poland's official Historic Monuments. You'll find the old mine shafts and a maze of passageways, along with an underground lake, exhibits on historic salt mining, and statues and sculptures hewn from rock salt. 

In Kraków's Zwierzyniec District is a towering earth structure with a spiral path that runs all the way to the top. This is the Kościuszko Mound, a memorial to Tadeusz Kościuszko – a military leader and statesman who fought for Polish freedom against Russia in the 18th century.

Today, visitors can walk the serpentine path all the way to the summit. Once at the top, approximately 326 metres above sea level, they'll find scenic views of the city spires and Vistula river.

Until the events of the 20th century, Krakow's large Jewish community lived and worked in the picturesque Kazimierz quarter. Today, you'll still find Jewish-themed restaurants, bars, bookstores and souvenir shops dotted along the winding streets.

In summer, Kazimierz hosts Europe's largest Jewish cultural festival, attracting visitors from around the world, with music from the Middle East, the United States, Africa, and elsewhere. An enchanting place at any time of the year, Kazimierz is popular on the tourist trail.

Anyone who stays more than sixty minutes in Krakow will hear St Mary's Trumpet Call, a five-note bugle call which sounds on the hour, every hour. The bugler blows in the four principal directions – east, west, north and south – from St Mary's Basilica in the Market Square.

Why the trumpet call? The exact origins are unknown. The most plausible theory is that the bugle call originally announced the opening and closing of the city gates at dawn and dusk, during the reign of King Louis I in the 14th century.

Today, the bugle halts abruptly just before the final note. This is to honor the brave Cracovian bugler who, long ago, was cut down by a Mongol's arrow just as he was sounding his warning – or so legend has it.

Just a short distance from the center of Krakow is the spectacular Zakrzówek reservoir. A former limestone quarry, it was flooded in 1990, creating a dramatic natural environment that is now popular with hikers, cyclists and anglers.

With crystal blue waters and thick green forest, Zakrzówek is a haven for locals and tourists alike. On the ledges surrounding the quarry, there are butterflies and birds of many species, while the clear deep waters of the reservoir hold pike, trout, perch and Wels catfish.

Once a year, on the first Thursday after the Feast of Corpus Christi, Lajkonik appears in the market square of Krakow–a man, dressed in an oriental outfit, seemingly sitting on a dummy horse that is actually attached to his waist.  

According to legend, the character of Lajkonik refers to the Tatar invasion of Poland in the 13th century.

As the legend goes, the bravest of them returned to the town on horseback, donning Tatar clothes.

 At first, this was a pastime of Kraków raftsmen who took part in the procession of the Feast of Corpus Christi while wearing exotic outfits. 

However, due to the importance of that religious holiday, in 1787 Bishop Józef Olechowski forbade the Lajkonik suite to participate in the ceremony. Since then, it has become a separate ritual. 

Lajkonik's outfit changed throughout the years. 

Until the end of the 19th century, the suite members wore random clothes. The outfit used these days is a copy of the apparel designed by Stanisław Wyspiański in 1904. 

The original clothing weighed just over 88 pounds (40 kg). It includes a Turkish kaftan with loose sleeves, a red long robe, boots, and trousers made of red linen.

On his head, Lajkonik wears an embellished turban, crowned with a crescent moon symbol, and embedded in beads.

By his side, he carries a short, curved Turkish saber with an embroidered grip. In his hand, Lajkonik holds a baton he uses to jokingly strike passers by. 

The dummy horse is covered with a saddlecloth–the so-called "shabrack"–with Oriental decorations, sewn-in pearls and corals, and decorative gold crescent moons. His neck is covered with a breast plate with golden discs, and his head is adorned with an ostrich plume.

The Lajkonik procession is related to various additional rituals, such as a ceremonial dance, a tribute collected from merchants met along the way, a toast to the good fortune of the city, or a dinner at the Hawełka restaurant.