14th European Maya Conference: Cracow, Poland
Travel Information
How to get to Cracow and the hotels and venues by air, train, public transportation and car.
By Air
Kraków Airport
Kraków Airport, also known as The John Paul II International Airport or Kraków-Balice, is situated on the outskirts of the city (in Balice village), just 11 km west from its centre.
Several different means of transport are available to get to the city centre of Cracow from the Kraków-Balice Airport.
By bus
Krakow Airport is served by two regular bus lines: 208 and 292 and one night line: 902. All these buses will take you to the ciyt centre of Krakow (timetable of 208, timetable of 292). Travelling time is about 35-40 minutes. You may purchase a ticket at newspaper stands in the passenger terminal (PLN 2.50/PLN 5.00 at night) or from the driver (with excess fare PLN 0.50). In case your luggage is larger than 60x40x20 cm, you will also need a separate single ticket. The bus stop is located directly at the roundabout, in front of the passenger terminal. If you want to reach the city centre, get off at Plac Inwalidów bus stop or Dworzec Główny Wschód (both 208 and 292). If you get off at ‘Plac Inwalidów’ walk back a few meters and then turn left into Karmelicka Street leading to the Old Town. You can also get off at ‘Dworzec Główny Wschód’ stop, which is located right beside the main bus station in Cracow.
By train
Alternatively, there is a shuttle train service that links the airport (Krakow-Balice Station) with the Kraków Główny – main railway station in the city centre (timetables). Trains run apporximately every 30 min. between 4 a.m. and the midnight. The 15-kilometre journey takes 16 min. The price for a one-way ticket price purchased from the train attendant is 8,00 PLN; if you buy it from a ticket machine it is 7,00 PLN. The Krakow-Balice Station is located app. 200m from the passenger terminal, you can get there either by foot (about 5 min. walk), or you can take a free shuttle bus service which runs to/from the Krakow-Balice Station. This is a 3 minute trip from the terminal building. To reach the Old Town area from the main railway station see section: “Getting to Cracow by train”
By taxi
The easiest way to get to the city centre is to take a taxi. Getting to the centre by taxi should cost PLN 40-60. The taxi stand is located next to the passenger terminal. You may also phone one of Krakow's taxi calling centers, and they will send the nearest taxi that is available.
By rented car
If you wish to rent a car, you will find several car rental agencies at the airport.
Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport
Some of you will fly to Katowice or to Warsaw. Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport is located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) of Cracow. There are buses going from Katowice-Pyrzowice to the central part of Cracow. Bus stop is located just opposite the exit of the Terminal (10 meters). Most buses going to Cracow have WIZZ AIR logo. It will take about 1,5 h to reach Krakow, ticket price is app. PLN 50. Please note that sometimes you have to wait for a larger group of passengers to be formed so that the trip is profitable for the bus company. The bus will take you to the main bus station in Cracow which is located close to the main railway station. You can also book a ticket for a bus from Katowice-Pyrzowice to Cracow on aroundKrakow.pl, webpage which is operated by airport transfer- and tour company. They offer you a very comfortable and high quality trip to Cracow, which however will cost 67 €.
Warsaw Okecie Airport
Warsaw Okecie Airport (Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport) is the biggest and most modern Polish airport, located in the southwestern part of Warsaw, 10 km off the city centre. The easiest way of traveling from Warsaw to Krakow is by train. The fastest connection is the Inter-City (2:50 hours, approx. PLN 100 for a seond-class, PLN 130 for a first-class), and the Express (3 hours, approx. PLN 110 for a second-class, PLN 140 for a first-class). The cheapest is Pospieszny (5:50 hours, approx. PLN 50 for a second-class, PLN 80 for a first-class). For more details and timetables see rozklad-pkp.pl (English, German and French versions available). You can book tickets for the Express and InterCity on-line.
To get to the main railway station (Dworzec Centralny) located in the very centre of Warsaw: Between 4:58 AM and 10:58 PM the bus no. 175 will take you from the Airport to the main railway station (Dworzec Centralny – approx. 40 minutes). The night bus N32 leaves every 30 minutes from the same bus stop between 11:10 PM and 4:40 AM (Dworzec Centralny, end of line – approx. 20 minutes). The fare is PLN 2.8 one-way for all the lines (day and night); you can buy a ticket from a bus driver, although you will have to have the exact amount (drivers do not have change). Alternatively you can buy a ticket at one of the newspaper stands inside the airport. The up-to-date timetables of all the Warsaw buses are available online (English, German and Russian versions available) under the “timetables” tab on the left side menu. You may also take a taxi from the taxi stand in front of the terminal, which costs approx. PLN 35-50, depending on the taxi company (up to PLN 3 /km + the PLN 6 start fare during the day). The fares should be displayed on the side window of the taxi.
By Train
Some of you (especially those flying to Warsaw) will come to Cracow by train. The main railway station (Dworzec Główny) is conveniently situated on the edge of the Old Town. If your hotel is located in the Old Town area and if you do not carry too much luggage we would recommend you to reach your place by walk. In order to get to the Old Town from the railway station please follow the signs Wyjscie do centrum – walk up the ramp then along a roofed walkway till you get to the square. Cross the square and turn to the left to walk through the underpass. You will emerge in Planty – a park surrounding the Old Town. If you need a currency exchange, information desk or public telephones, you will find them in the main railway station building. There is also a left-luggage office, a bar and a restaurant.
By Bus
If you arrive to Cracow by bus you should know that the main bus station is situated on Bosacka Street right behind the main railway station. A cashpoint, money exchange and snack bars are inside the terminal. A taxi rank is directly outside. If you want to get to the Old Town, follow the sign PKP, Centrum to get to the railway station and then follow Wyjscie do centrum or Wyjscie do miasta signs.
