Visitors may be surprised to learn that Krakow has an extensive and reliable public transport system, with a combination of trams, buses and taxis providing a relatively cheap way of navigating the city. The main point of entry for most visitors is John Paul II International Airport, which is conveniently located close to the city.

The majority of visitors to Krakow will arrive via John Paul II International Airport, which is located about eight miles west of the city centre. The airport is the second busiest in Poland, with its single terminal handling up to 1.5 million passengers a year. Passengers will find Krakow Airport well-equipped and conveniently located, with good transport links to the city centre.

The airport’s single terminal handles all domestic and international flights, with the terminal divided into Arrivals and Departures zones. Passengers requiring business services should head to The Executive Lounge; here you will find internet access and phone and fax services as well as complimentary drinks and snacks. If you require any assistance while at the airport, look out for the information desk, situated in the centre of the terminal building.

Facilities at Krakow Airport are excellent, with a wide choice of refreshments and shopping options available both before and after security. The airport has several restaurants and cafés serving everything from light snacks and drinks to traditional Polish meals, while the summer months also see the addition of an open-air bar outside the terminal building.

The airport also offers good shopping facilities, with the usual duty-free goods in abundant supply as well as many smaller shops selling books and magazines, tourist souvenirs and local arts and crafts. The airport also provides an on-site bank and post office in the terminal building as well as several currency exchange offices and ATM machines, which are spread around the airport.

Transport links between the airport and the city are excellent, with trains, buses and taxis all available for the short journey. The most popular choice is to take the train that runs from the Airport Train Station to Krakow-Balice Station in the city. This cheap and convenient service runs roughly every 30 minutes, with a journey time of 15 minutes.

There are also two bus routes that run from the airport to the city. These run from outside the terminal building every 20 minutes, with a journey time of around 35 minutes. Passengers requiring a more direct service can catch a taxi from outside the terminal building for the 20-minute drive into the city.

Although the city of Krakow is reasonably small and easy to navigate on foot, there is still an extensive and economical public transport system available. The city has a system of trams and buses which reach to most parts of the city, with several private companies supplementing these routes with a multitude of minibus routes.

The city’s extensive tram system runs from 05:00 to 23:00 and reaches most parts of the city. There are a wide range of ticket options available, ranging from a single trip ticket, right up to a monthly pass; tickets can be purchased from the driver or at one of the many kiosks along the tram routes. Travelling on the tram system is very inexpensive, although visitors should be aware that extra charges are applied for large bags, rucksacks and other bulky items.

The city also provides a reliable bus service to complement the tram system, with many routes designed to link with trams to form a cheap and efficient city-wide transport system. A good ticket option for visitors is a travel card, which provides unlimited travel on public transport as well as free entry into over 30 of the city’s museums. A travel card can be purchased on arrival at the airport or at news kiosks around the city, with two-day travel cards also available.

Although the city centre is mostly pedestrians-only, taxis are a still a popular way of getting around the wider city area. You will find taxi ranks dotted around the edge of the Old Town area and with over 20 fleets in operation around the city, availability is never much of a problem. Visitors planning to use taxis in the city are advised to only use licensed cars displaying a company name and telephone number to avoid being overcharged.

Visitors planning to hire a car in Krakow should be aware that outside of the city, the Polish roads are notoriously dangerous, with bad driving and poor quality roads making even short journeys difficult. Driving in and around the city is equally troublesome, with a pedestrian-only centre and a lack of parking facilities, making car travel problematic.