What's the best way to get to Krakow?
By air
The rise of Krakow as a tourist hotspot has been accompanied by a marked increase in direct flights to the city’s airport, Balice (www.lotnisko-balice.pl/eng) Travelers are now spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing the cheapest and most convenient flights. Many European national carriers, including British Airways (www.ba.com) and LOT (www.lot.com), offer regular direct flights to Krakow from a range of European destinations.
In addition, low-cost airlines have embraced Krakow in the past year. Currently, the following low-cost airlines offer direct flights to Krakow:
- www.EasyJet.com – from London Luton, Berlin Schoenefeld and Dortmund.
- www.SkyEurope.com – from London Stanstead, Dublin, Manchester (Terminal 1), Barcelona, Milan, Amsterdam Schipol, Paris Orly Sud and Rome Fiumicino.
- www.Ryanair.com – from London Stanstead and Glasgow Prestwick (routes start on 30/10/2005).
- www.CentralWings.com – from London Gatwick and Rome Ciampino.
- www.GermanWings.com – from Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg and Stuttgart.
Several discount airlines also offer flights to Katowice airport (www.gtl.com.pl/eng/index.html), approximately an hour and a half via mini-bus from Krakow, among them www.WizzAir.com, which has services from a range of European destinations. Many other regional Polish cities are also being added to low-cost flight schedules.
From the airport to the town centre: Balice airport is only 11km from the city centre. A taxi-ride should take no longer than 30 minutes and cost no more than 40 PLN (approximately €10), though calling a taxi from the airport or arranging a price before travel is advised, as some taxi drivers can be unscrupulous. Two public buses (numbers 194, 208) service the Krakow city centre from Balice Airport. Tickets cost 2.50 PLN and you will need to buy larger bags/suitcases a ticket as well. Bus drivers will probably not accept large banknotes. A private bus service run by the company Radtur, costing 7 PLN one-way, has also recently commenced operations between Balice and Bosacka Street in the city centre.
By rail
Krakow is well-served by European rail connections. Warsaw is two and a half hours away via an express train. Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin are all approximately eight hours away via rail. The main train station (Dworzec Glowny) is a short walk from the main market square, but is currently undergoing major renovations as part of the ‘Krakow Communications Centre’ development, which will provide a new train station, the 3rd largest shopping centre in Europe, namely Galeria Krakowska, and extensive car parking. Completion is expected in Autumn 2006.
By bus
Extensive regional, national and international bus networks operate through Krakow. From 18/08/2005, the bus station has been relocated to Cystersow Street, near Rondo Mogilskie, to make way for the construction of the Krakow Communications Centre.
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