Małopolska’s second city by size, Tarnów is absolutely dwarfed by Kraków but features many of the same charms without the crushing crowds, inflated prices and occasional feelings of herd mentality that unfortunately come with a tourist market the size of Kraków’s. On the contrary, Tarnów offers visitors the comforts and appeal of a small town along with the rich history and heritage of a bigger city. Possessing one of the most picturesque and well-preserved Old Towns in Poland, Tarnów is a showcase of medieval urban planning and Renaissance architecture. As a romantic stroll through the city’s cobbled pedestrian lanes quickly reveals, Tarnów is loaded with historical monuments at every turn, plus several worthwhile museums and galleries.

While the city’s nightlife may not have the sizzle of Kraków, there are still plenty of bars , cafes and restaurants , where you’ll find it easy to meet friendly local folks who are proud of their city and eager to impress out-of-towners. The perfect place for a romantic weekend or overnight escape from Kraków , Tarnów offers cheap accommodation even in the most choice locations, enough culture and attractions to occupy a couple days, and most of all, a peaceful and friendly atmosphere away from the crowds. If this is your second or third trip to Kraków, it’s time to head over to Małopolska’s second city and discover what Tarnów has to offer.

1. The Quintessential Charming Old Town

Tarnów’s historical centre is one of the most well-preserved and picturesque in Poland, living up to every imagined ideal of the quintessential European Old Town . Laid out in the early 14th century, the medieval urban plan is characterised by narrow lanes leading up to the large open plaza of the market square (Rynek), with its iconic Town Hall at the centre. Remodelled in Renaissance style at the end of the 16th century, Tarnów’s Town Hall (today a museum ) and the decorative Renaissance merchant houses surrounding the market square on all sides have earned the city the moniker ‘ Pearl of the Renaissance .’ Today these buildings host various cultural venues, museums, restaurants and cafes, and in the spring/summer the Rynek comes to life with locals enjoying the numerous outside seating areas that give it a warm and welcoming appeal. With renovations completed in 2020, Tarnów’s market square has never looked better. Of course you can’t have a Polish market square without a glorious cathedral hovering over it and Tarnów also checks that box. The soaring Neo-Gothic red brick Cathedral is one of the most impressive parish churches in Poland , and inside you’ll find the outrageously elaborate tombs of local ‘royal’ families the Tarnowskis and Ostrogskis, as well as a number of extraordinary paintings. You’ll also no doubt note the monument of Pope John Paul II outside the entrance, but don’t miss the wonderfully ornate doors depicting scenes from the life of Mary on the south side of the church. If you love religious art, you’ll find more exemplary examples inside Tarnów’s Diocesan Museum right next door. Perhaps the best aspect of Tarnów’s Old Town is how compact and highly walkable it is. Indeed, this is the main allure of Tarnów - the joy of simply ambling about, taking in the richness of your surroundings. As you do so you’ll be constantly surprised by the truly astonishing number of monuments and sculptures . Hopefully stairs aren’t an issue because Tarnów is full of them. The market square actually sits above the Old Town’s lower loop, between which the city’s medieval defensive walls and towers once stood; keep your eyes peeled for original fragments of these ancient walls between ul. Kapitulna and ul. Wałowa, and make sure you find ul. Basztowa , which features a former bastion and some groovy street art. 

2. Rich Jewish & Romani Heritage

For centuries Tarnów was a multicultural centre where Polish, Hungarian , Jewish and Romani cultural traditions peacefully coexisted and even overlapped. Dating back to the 15th century, Jews made up an increasingly large part of the city’s intellectual and cultural elite for the 500 years leading up to World War II. At the outbreak of the war there were some 25,000 Jews living in Tarnów - accounting for 45% of the city’s total population