Krakow, Poland

       Krakow, Poland

 

  Poland’s second city has been experiencing a quiet cultural revolution, and it’s finally getting the attention it deserves. This World’s Best debut, known for Gothic fortifications and a laid-back, blasé attitude, has enchanted travelers with something akin to magic, and overcome even stalwart favorites like Istanbul and New York City. Perhaps it’s the marvels of the Old City, like Rynek Glówny—the largest Medieval square in Europe—and the Royal Castle of Wawel that have captivated intrepid travelers seeking something unfamiliar out of their explorations abroad. In the old Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, where synagogues that survived WWII still stand, there’s a notably bohemian vibe taking hold in new hip spots like Bar Propaganda, appropriately outfitted with a bust of Lenin. Some, however, will tell you it’s the mystic chakhra stone of Wawel Hill that has, like a love spell, bewitched the world.