I have done a lot of traveling in the world (also part of my job), especially Europe, and I have to say Cracow is in the top two of my favourite places (my home Prato is of course the other one :)). I love Warsaw, it is very dynamic and wonderful (plus, less tourists, it seemed), but Cracow is more a center of history. I know that other Central European cities are getting popular, but I can say that while Prague and Budapest are nice, Cracow is better! As someone said to me, Cracow's castle is older, the piazza is larger and the city is cultured (and clean!) -- not like in the other cities where you have dirty streets and sleazy sex shoppes everywhere. The food is also very delicious. I also very much liked the museums (Leonardo's ``Lady with an ermine'' is here). It is a very beautiful, fairy tale city, and people (when they are not tourists -- especially the British and Germans, which are the worst!) are very nice, like in most of Poland.

I very much recommend it.

Now for practical advice. If you are a student, I recommend getting a private room in a hostel. They are very cheap, clean, comfortable and well furnished, and the staff is very helpful. You can meet people from different countries in them if you want to do that. The hotels are too expensive for students (something like 80$-200$/night), plus, who needs more than a place to sleep when you are gone for most of the day exploring this magical place. Ask the hostel staff for advice where to go.