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By air
Cracow has its own (small) airport, appropriately named after the Pope, John Paul II, who was born near the city. Almost all the major airlines such as British Airways and Lufthansa fly to Cracow with the budget airlines appearing in greater and greater numbers (Sky Europe, EasyJet, Ryanair, Central Wings and Germanwings to name just to name a few!). A number of routes also land at nearby Katowice, such as the ones offered by Wizzair from London, Paris and Barcelona. If you're flying during the winter, be prepared for frequent delays due to fog or ice, or the occasional impromptu diversion to Katowice. Once you've arrived at Cracow Balice you shouldn't have any trouble continuing your journey. Taxis are still relatively cheap in Poland and you can book one online or grab one from the rank for around 70PLN into town. Alternatively hike 200 metres (or grab the free shuttle bus) to the airport's small train platform and take advantage of the fast and cheap shuttle service to Cracow's central station. Tickets are 8PLN and the service runs about every 35 minutes taking 15 minutes to get there. 
By rail
The main station is in walking distance of the city centre, so you may be tempted to go all Dr. Zhivago and come by rail. However, the romance will soon wear off once the reality of the Polish rail system sets in, and you find yourself travelling at walking pace. Prepare for a five hour journey from Wroclaw, seven hours from Poznan and eleven hours or more from Gdansk. The express between Cracow and Warsaw is the exception with modern intercity trains taking about three hours to complete the 300 kilometres distance. Find precise details by checking out the timetables courtesy of the Polish Rail Network (PKP). Just remember to use the Polish spellings (ie. Krakow for Cracow, Warszawa for Warsaw). Backpackers will be interested to know that there are also overnight trains to and from Prague and Budapest.
By bus
You may not be over-endeared of the thought of 24 hours in a bus from London to Cracow for example, but it is actually not too bad - no smoking is allowed aboard the comfortable buses, and Poles, as ever, are impeccably behaved. Watch the landmass of Europe slip past, as you are treated to Hollywood movies dubbed into Polish. For around £60 (USD 100) return to London, it can't be beaten price-wise. Internal trips, on the other hand, are normally aboard old buses with a distinctly retro feel. Ok in small doses.
By car
Only for the intrepid. Poland has the highest accident rate in Europe, so only travel by car if you know what you are doing. You will need an international certificate of insurance cover, and possibly proof of exhaust emission control on your car. Spot checks on vehicles by grim-faced police are common, and if you plan to stay in central Cracow, remember that much of it is pedestrianised, or has prohibitive parking restrictions. | | | | |
 | | "Yup, easyJet is no longer flying to Warsaw unfortunately" | Anka
Poland
Jun.18.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I heard that some of the Easyjet services to Poland are being cut. Is that correct?" | Seb
United States
May.28.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "The best way I have found from the airport to the city centre is the new railway. Cheap and only 15-18 minutes." | Mike Zawadzki
United Kingdom
May.22.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Got some tips from this website. Usually get cabs from airport into Krakow but we decided to be brave this time. You get the bus ticket from the newsagent upstairs in the airport (above the airport information desk). Come out of airport opposite information desk and walk towards right and bus stop is a little way down the road to the right of the building. Remember to put the ticket in the little machine to get it punched when you get on, there are a couple on there. If you dont you could get fined. We stayed at Hotel Cracovia and bus stopped right outside it (also outside football stadium). " | Andrea Mercer
United Kingdom
Feb.28.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Tracy, the journey is not bad, the bus is big and heated and it drops you off at the main Krakow bus station, which is right in the middle of town." | Ania
Poland
Jan.12.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I booked a flight to Katowice by mistake and have booked a bus to Krakow with wizzair. Is the journey enjoyable, I believe it takes around 2 hours?????" | Tracy
United Kingdom
Nov.23.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "very nice place indeed to visite , friendly and very helpfull ,we was there 8days,would recomend 2 friends and family 2 visit ,we stayed in petrus hotel were the rooms was very comfe and clean ,staff was very polite and very helpfull ,most of the young one's speak very good english if need help ,fag's beer and sum food resturants was cheep ,iv nothing bad at all 2 say about krakow ,we was there from 31st oct till 7th nov,08,do go and visit" | stephen
United Kingdom
Nov.16.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Dressed for chilly winter and had 3 days of glorious summer 21-24th Oct. to add to the wonderful sights and sounds of a safe friendly and atmospheric city - and our pound was fetching 4.7 zloty - another bonus. Old time Hotel - just to the north ( 5 mins walk) of the market sq/St marys is to be thoroughly recommended as are escape2poland.com
" | gordon stove
United Kingdom
Oct.24.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Our first visit to Cracow. Really nice and clean city with helpfull and friendly people. A lot of good restaurants to different prices." | Erik Cronquist
Denmark
Sep.17.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "lovely place but lots of graffiti. went to Austwitch, very memorable." | joe
United Kingdom
Sep.14.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Just been to Krakow for the first time, it will not be my last, we stayed in the Hotel Andels beside the staion which was excellent. Can't wait to return." | P Jordan
United Kingdom
Sep.01.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Myself and my wife have just returned home after 4 glorious days in Krakow. It was our first time to Poland, and what a suprise, the place is beautiful, the people are very friendly, helpful and welcoming.
Krakow itself is a lovely place with lots to see and do, the historical Wewel(castle),the river, the brilliant, vibrant market square,and the hundreds of resteraunts and bars in and around the old town, the place is outstanding. The whole city has a lovely feel to it, and although very its very busy there was not an ounce of trouble or loutish behaviour, i just hope it can manage to stay that way. Exellent. Cant wait to go back. " | mike t
United Kingdom
Aug.02.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "KRAKOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! wonderful place easy to get around people fantastic already planning another visit" | john
United Kingdom
Jun.03.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "http://www.rda.krakow.pl/pl/odjazdy.php?t=1&d=1207825200
tu mozna sprawdzic odjazdy autobusow
wiem ze o 12.30 odjerzdza z zdworca autobus do Krynicy:)" | kasia
Poland
Apr.10.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Prosze o pomoc w znalezieniu polaczenia z Krakowa do Krynicy najlepiej autobusowego. Nigdzie nie znalazlam linku do stacji autobusowej PKS i rozkladu jazdy.
Dziekuje za pomoc" | Danuta Mazurkiewicz
United States
Apr.04.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Graeme, there is an overnight train that goes from Krakow to Vienna (also to Prague), it takes about 8 hours and I would recommend buying a ticket for it as soon as you get into town." | Cracow Life Team
Poland
Apr.04.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I am heading to Krakow in October and want to know how easy is to get south to vienna from krakow on rail system ie times and cost if I book in advance or can I just get a ticket while I am there. Thanks" | Graeme
United Kingdom
Apr.03.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Nice people, good food. Do not need international certificate " | Petter
Norway
Mar.11.2008
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "Krakow is a really nice place to visit.
As an American Jew whose great grand parents immigrated to America during WWII, It's very interesting for me to go back and see the places my ancestors have lived in.
Not only that, Krakow also has many historical buildings which have to be seen in order to appreciate there magnificence. Some places one might want to visit are: The barbakon, Issac's temple, Wawal Castle and if you can, take a boat ride on the river Wisla.
Finally, Krakow has some VERY cool shopping and food. In the Galleria Krakow, be sure to indulge in that Italian Ice Cream shop... The ice cream is BIG! The shopping in this mall is also cool however, it isn't cheap and it's very similar to most malls in the US.
For a unique shopping experience, you have to spend a whole day (maybe two or three) walking around Rynek Growna. This is the main square of Krakow and contains not only fascinating shopping but also various street entertainers, bars, restaurants etc. This square is a MUST go when you visit Krakow. Missing it would be CRIMINAL!!
Have fun." | Neil
United States
Mar.04.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i entrasted by study in u r univresty" | Naresh Kumar
India
Dec.13.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "stayed in krakow 5th-8th nov 07. what a fantastic place! so much too see. I found polish people to be very friendly and polite. If you plan on visiting auschwitz then id recommend going early as it takes all day to see it properly. We made our own way there and found it to be alot cheaper than organising a trip. cant wait to go back to this wonderful place. Our trip cost only £178 for two thats thanks to easyjet and krakows ample cheap accomodation." | kate
United Kingdom
Nov.15.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Krakow was awesome! Great Piwo (beer) food was super, especially the zapikanka and kabobs! Wonderful atmosphere in the Rynek and took a trip to Bochnia in the suburbs! People were very nice and never had trouble communicating, or trying my Polish. I was fascinated to be able to pick out someone speaking in a bar with my accent, and asked if they were also from Chicago. They answered yes, and we drank more Piwo (Lech) than I could probably handle. Two thumbs up! I'm coming back this spring" | Ronin2Cold
United States
Nov.03.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "when i went to krakow i really enjoyed it. it was good. well wworth a visit only because you can go on a trip to auschwitz which was really goo." | chunk
United Kingdom
Oct.11.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Been to Krakow several times, and always had a great time. Place, people and pivo great. Any ideas though how to get from Katowice to Krakow at approx 0200hrs on a Wed morning? Does the Wizzair shuttle bus run at this time and if so, where do we get it. Would be beter to organise a taxi and if so, what could we expect to pay? " | Mary
United Kingdom
Sep.17.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Good news, well for me at least as a frequent visitor from Scotland to Krakow.
Just announced today by Easyjet:-
NEW ROUTE:- EDINBURGH - KRAKOW
Commencing 29th October
Four time weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, sat)
Bookings being taken now
Good flight times:-
Dep Edin 07:50
arr. Krakow 11:30
Dep Krakow 20:30
Arr Edin 22:10
FARES: ONE WAY INCLUDING TAXES & CHARGES = GBP £ 21.99
(Also new route , Bournemouth - Krakow)
This is fantastic news. Until today, Ryanair was the only direct route from Scotland (Prestwick) to Krakow. This wasn't ideal as the baggage limit was a measly 15kg. Easyjet are flying from Edinburgh and allow a more reasonable 20kg, and fly 4 days a week !! This more than makes up for the previous Sky Europe flight from Edinburgh to Krakow which stopped operating last December.
" | McGoo
United Kingdom
Jul.21.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "My husband and I along with my sister and her husband spent from 11th June till 16th June in Krakow. All over the city there are leaflets and billboards advertising trips to The Salt Mines, Auchwitz etc and when calculated back into GBP it worked out really expensive. There is a cheaper way, there are local buses which travel regularly to both of these places. To the Salt Mines it cost 2.50 zl on the bus one-way and 45 zl entrance fee, so altogether 50 zl per person instead of 130 zl on the organsied trip. As far as Auchwitz is concerned, I couldn't believe that it only cost 7 zl each on the bus one-way and admission to the museum is free, whereas the organised trips were being charged again at 130 zl per person, also there wouldn't be enough time to see everything (it takes the whole day - honestly) if you went on a guided tour, obviously because they are kept to a tight schedule - Auchwitz is worth a visit - not something to be rushed, so same your money and get there under your own steam - 14 zl return instead of 130 zl - no brainer me thinks!!!" | Suzanne Ruczynska
United Kingdom
Jun.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "My husband and I along with my sister and her husband spent from 11th June till 16th June in Krakow - what a fabulous city. The people are really friendly and there is so much to see.
My only complaint is how differently the tourists are charged from locals or other Polish people. When I enquired about a trip around the city for 4 people I was told it would cost 50 zl one way or 100 zl for a return trip, and when my husband asked the same question but talking to the same guy in Polish he was quoted ½ the price - although 50 zl was only about £10 / £20 round-trip it certainly makes a difference to your holiday spends if the tourists are getting charged double!! Come on guys, don't put people off visiting your beautiful city by overcharging them coz they will find out and some won't be as nice as me in their reviews." | Suzanne Ruczynska
United Kingdom
Jun.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "the polish food is really bad." | henry
Italy
Jun.19.2007
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "The only criticism i have is to do with taxis.
If they know you are a tourist they will overcharge you.
Get a price guide from someone for your destination and agree a price before setting off--I was nearly had but survived.
Railway station to city--approx 400 krunas
" | Indokarasan
United Kingdom
Apr.16.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Una página de internet muy interesante!
Saludos de Hamburgo, Susana." | Bolko
United States
Mar.01.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
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