Poland's new krakow

Wroclaw (pronounced Vrotz-waf by the locals) has long been regarded as Poland's hidden gem by those in the know, but fortunately or rather unfortunately depending on how you look at it- the boom of the budget flight has meant this gem has finally been discovered.

Now there are a number of airlines that fly there from Europe, including Ryanair with which I managed to snatch a rock bottom return flight for the price of just £33 including taxes.

We arrived in Wroclaw's Copernicus airport late Friday night- located about 12km from the city, this former German airbase is only tiny with one runway and one passenger terminal. However, there are plans underway to build a new and larger airport adjacent to it, which the city's mayor is hoping to have open and fully operating by the end of next year.

We were lucky enough to be staying at the stunning five star Sofitel Wroclaw Old Town hotel. Nestled in the heart of the city's historic district, the hotel is a stones throw from the bustling Market Square and within walking distance of the key tourist attractions, shopping area and restaurants.

Inside it is a modern glass complex, which also houses a bank, offices and shops. The hotel company's mission statement is Life is Magnifique and it certainly is when you're staying in one of its luxurious rooms or suites. There is also a roof top spa where you can unwind with a jacuzzi, sauna, steam and relaxation room- as well as a restaurant which serves up a wonderful breakfast and an ultra cool bar.

Wroclaw perches on the Odra river and its maze of islands along with 127 bridges that make up the city, have gained it the title of the 'Venice of Poland.'

Within our first day we manged to see all of the city's major sites- Wroclaw may be the capital of Poland's Lower Silesia region and the fourth largest city in Poland, but the centre itself is very small and compact.

Wroclaw's Old Town is the focal point of the city, and it's not only it's historical centre but also it's social and cultural centre. Here you can find the city's most spectacular architecture and also the majority of its restaurants, shops and bars.

The hub of the Old Town is the city's Market Square or 'Rynek.' This beautiful square was painstakingly reconstructed after the Second World War, and it is now home to a picturesque flower market along with the city's defining landmark- the Town Hall. This spectacular piece of 13th century architecture was a miraculous survivor of a devastating siege on the town during the war.

When the square was re-built in the 1950s much attention was given to original details- this is particularly evident in the colourful facades of the narrow houses which line the Market Square.

Another survivor of the Second World War is St Elizabeth's Church- lying adjacent to the square this wonderful 14th Century Gothic building is one of the most city's most famous landmarks and offers splendid views from the top of its tower.

Wroclaw is predominantly a university city, and to the north of the Old Town is its vibrant university quarter. A small but lively district, this area is dominated by the Wroclaw university building itself. Founded by the Jesuits in the 1670, the magnificent Baroque main building of Wroclaw university and the adjacent Church of the Blessed Name of Jesus were built at the same time on the former site of a derelict Piast castle. Today they are open to tourists, who can purchase a ticket which will give them access to two or four of the rooms in the university building, including its grand ceremonial hall called Aula Leopoldina.

It's thanks to the students that Wroclaw has a booming night life, with an exciting array of bars and clubs which stay open through the night. There was plenty of choice when it came to eating and drinking, with a cosmopolitan mix of cuisine ranging from Mexican, Chinese, Indian and Italian.

But if it's good Polish food your after then it's well worth checking out Kurns Chata, an authentic restaurant which serves up hearty local dishes at rock bottom prices, in a homely chalet-like atmosphere. We dined there on our last night, tucking into traditional Polish dumplings, which we washed down with a jug of local beer.

The city may be a bit of a ghost town in the day but at night it comes alive- with throngs of students pouring into the clubs to down cheap vodka shots and young professionals sipping cocktails in sophisticated late bars. One of our favourites was Pod Papugami- a movie themed bar with a cracking cocktail menu.

Along with Pracoffnia- a former medieval prison which is now one of the city's coolest drinking spots. Behind an iron gate lies a courtyard with downstairs steps leading to a dungeon. Inside you'll find a bar along with random pieces of eccentric junk such as old projectors and X-ray machines.

Dubbed 'the meeting place' of Poland, Wroclaw is a city with a fascinating heritage and a wonderful resilient spirit. Despite being flattened during one of the worst sieges in history, the city has been almost entirely re-built to its original splendor, while managing to retain some key pieces of Gothic architecture which date back to the 13th Century.

I've never visited Krakow, but it's not hard to see why Wroclaw has been labelled as one of Europe's up and coming tourist spots and the next big thing in Poland after Krakow. The people were friendly, the food was good and the whole weekend was great value for money. My guess is it won't remain a quiet city for much longer- whether that's a good thing, it's probably best to let the people of Wroclaw decide.