The paper analyzes selected social and economic indicators that affect the development of the Krakow Metropolitan Area. The city of Krakow is becoming increasingly more linked to other cities around the world and may become Poland’s second global city – after Warsaw. The city’s global connections have made it a point of interest in global economic analyses, which makes it even more metropolitan in nature. Krakow’s suburbs are expanding in most directions from the city proper. Residents leaving the city are moving not only to the first ring of townships around the city but also to the second ring. In addition to distance, easy road access plays a key role in the development of Krakow suburbs. Major arteries leading out of the city as well as motorway exits serve as hubs of suburban development. Finally, townships located in the distant corners of the Krakow Metropolitan Area are becoming increasingly more affluent and are starting to resemble townships directly adjacent to the city of Krakow.
