Business contacts
Mobile phone hire Get your phone at Era (ul. Zwierzyniecka 9, tel: 423 0647).

Car hire For Avis car rentals in Poland, visit www.avis.pl

Secretarial services Most upmarket hotels can organize such services, just ask the concierge.

Weather and climate
Polish weather is notoriously unpredictable and you never quite know when it’s going to bucket-down with rain. However, one thing you can pretty much always count on is that winter will be horrendously cold – minus 14C is nothing out of the ordinary here.

So warm clothing – and several layers of it – is essential during the winter months. By contrast, summers can be delightfully warm and sunny, and autumn can be bright and temperate. The distinct colours of the seasons are an enchanting part of life here: Cracow under a blanket of snow is magical, as are the Planty gardens in spring.

Local press
Karnet, a monthly guide to cultural events, covers a good range of material in both English and Polish. Miesiac w Krakowie (The Month in Cracow) is another option,