Pollera's exquisite reception area is an art nouveau masterpiece. Rooms, as is so often the case, do not live up to the grandeur of the reception area, but they have their antique charms.

Occupying a bewitchingly charming corner of Stare Miasto, Hotel Saski carries itself with the sophistication of a faded, grand old hotel. The century-old elevator is a showpiece, and the expansive, empty lobby calls to mind vanquished grandeur.

Sitting on the edge of splurge-worthy EuroCheapo territory, Hotel Wawel is a cut above most Krakow accommodations: Amenities, location, and ambiance all put it ahead of the pack.

Wit Stwosz's 17 rooms are a bit more expensive than those in the average Krakow hotel, but the set-up is welcoming and deeply charming.

Janexim is a funky guesthouse located just west of Stare Miasto. Encompassing 20 rooms (and an additional 10 apartments) Janexim feels more like a pension than a hostel.

Kadetus Hotel is yet another of Krakow's many friendly, slightly down-at-heel hostels. The nine-room Kadetus is located close to the action in a modern, bustling area of Krakow, west of Stare Miasto.

Karmel is one of the most gorgeous small hotels in Krakow. Located up a stairway in an impossibly cute corner of Kazimierz, the 10-room Karmel is a Krakow favorite.

The friendly La Fontaine Bed and Breakfast is one of the few Krakow hotels actually on Rynek Główny (the Main Market Square).

Old Town Studios manages a string of 40 apartments cast throughout Krakow's Stare Miasto. Apartments are fairly anonymous, with particle-board bed units, simple kitchen areas, and en-suite bathrooms.

Orange Hostel matches promotional materials with the hostel's namesake. The hostel offers extremely simple private rooms, with matching duvet covers and pillowcases.

The eight-room Pensjonat Trecius is one of our favorite pensions in all of Krakow. Hidden away in a gorgeous building on Św. Tomasza near the Old Town's Rynek Główny, it's a quiet and special little place.

Business hotels like PTTK Wyspianski may be a bit antiseptic for those chasing charm or authenticity. For the rest of us, sparklingly clean rooms, a bar on the ground floor, and proximity to Krakow's Main Square do the trick.

The RT Regent, one of four RT hotels in the city (three of which are located in central Krakow), is a 39-room property situated on a quaint, crowded Kazimierz street.

One of three RT hotels in our Krakow listings, the 59-room RT Rezydent arguably has the best location of the mini-chain: It's a 30-second walk from Rynek Główny, Krakow's Main Market Square.

The eight-room Sky Hostel is located through a massive courtyard on ul. Dunajewskiego, just northeast of Stare Miasto. Though not one of Krakow's best hostels, Sky benefits from its location and attractive architecture.

Barebones, baby. That's the Trzy Kafki Plus ticket. Encompassing 24 rooms on an anonymous street west of Stare Miasto, Trzy Kafki Plus is an ideal nesting place for backpackers and other budget-minded tourists.