Sanok is a historic town located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship of southeastern Poland, serving as the capital of Sanok County. Situated on the bank of the San River at the foot of Castle Hill, it lies within the wooded, hilly area of the Pogórze Bukowskie part of Doły. The city rests directly by the Carpathian Mountains, with an average elevation of 300 meters above sea level, and is bordered by Slovakia to the south.

The town's history extends back over a thousand years to its inclusion in a medieval trade route. First mentioned in 981, it was part of Red Ruthenia before returning to Poland multiple times through shifting borders with Rus'. It received Magdeburg law in 1339 and became a royal city under Casimir III of Poland in 1366. Later annexed by Austria in 1772, it regained Polish control in 1918 and was part of the Lwów Voivodeship during the interwar period.

Sanok features a refurbished castle built in the 14th century on a hill with steep slopes, which now houses artwork by Zdzisław Beksiński. The town includes an Orthodox Church and traces of Jewish history, such as former synagogues. Historically inhabited by Poles, Jews, Ukrainians, Lemkos, and Boykos, the area reflects diverse ethnic influences. The region was also a center for the Ukrainian movement in Galicia and cultural heritage of the Rusyn people.

The town offers recreational opportunities near the Bieszczady Mountains and numerous parks, including a 70-kilometer trail for hikers and cyclists. Key attractions include the Open Air Village Museum, known as a skansen in the Biała Góra district, which displays 200 buildings depicting daily life from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can explore the Old Town, visit traditional restaurants serving regional cuisine, and watch ice hockey matches by the local team STS Sanok.

Sanok had a population of 35,546 as of 2021. The town is accessible via PKP intercity trains and regional buses from cities like Rzeszów and Kraków, with the main railway station located on Dworcowa Street. It possesses a temperate climate typical of the inland area between the Wisłok, Osława, and San Rivers. The local economy benefits from tourism, trade, and its role as a member of the Carpathian Euroregion.