How to get from Krakow Airport to City Center?

Here we discuss the transit part of your Krakow journey: How to get to Krakow by air; what to look for in Krakow airport; how to get from Krakow airport to the city center; what is the distance from Krakow airport to the city.

In a digitized global tourism world where any secrets hardly remain, the Polish city of Krakow comes closest to your destination dream about a hidden gem.

It has great architecture, incredible history, colorful festivals, awesome food, and lovely people. Above all, not too many tourists know about it, yet.

If you have already settled on Krakow for your next tour, that’s great. Smart choice. Here’s something that could make you smarter.

If you haven’t decided on visiting Krakow yet, it’s just about time. Do it fast, before the social-media-triggered avalanche erupts.

How many airports are there in Krakow?

The answer is two: Kraków John Paul II International Airport and Katowice International Airport. The nearest one is John Paul II, which is just about 11 km from the city. It is also the bigger of the two. It hosts international flights from most of the major European cities. For instance, you can catch a direct flight from London to Krakow.

Katowice Airport is smaller. It is located approximately 75 km away from Krakow. So, which option is smarter? Choose Kraków John Paul II International Airport if you are travelling from any major European city, as everything else remains the same.

How to get from Krakow Airport to the city center

We assume you are landing at John Paul II International Airport. You have four options from here to reach the city:

By taxi
By bus
By train
By hired cab

All these options are equally good. You will reach the city center in half an hour maximum through any of these transport modes. The choice depends on how much you plan to spend. While catching a train is the most cost-effective, hailing a taxi could be the most convenient.

By taxi

Kraków John Paul II International Airport is one of those airports that run its own taxi service. It is available round the clock, on all 365 days. The rates are fixed, based on distance. For 11 kilometers, the rate is 22 euros (roughly 89 PLN). The waiting charge is 35 PLN per hour. There is no dynamic pricing. That means the rate remains flat throughout the year.

The journey takes 30 minutes or more, depending on the traffic. You know the advantage of the airport taxi, right? You can complete all the formalities from inside the airport itself and get into the taxi right away. What's more, airport taxis can be booked online as well.

There are also private rent-a-car services as well if you want to explore further options. There are as many as 14 rent-a-car service providers, all of whom offer online booking facilities.

By bus

Two series of buses (Line 209 and Line 300) ply between the airport and the city center on a regular basis. There is one dedicated night service as well (Line 902). The charge is based on the duration of travel. You can buy tickets for various time frames: from a minimum of 20 minutes up to seven days maximum.

You can buy the tickets from the ticket machine at the passenger terminal, Arrivals Hall, at level 0. You can also purchase it from the ticket machines at the bus stops (payment in cash or with a credit/debit card). Remember to validate the ticket when getting on the bus.

By train

Kraków Airport Train Station is adjacent to the passenger terminal of the airport, behind the car-parking facility. The ticket charge from Krakow airport to Kraków Main Train Station is 17 PLN. Kraków Main Train Station is historic: it was built in the 1840s. But the trains do have modern amenities: AC compartments, wifi, and a charging facility. The journey takes just about 20 minutes.

Where to buy the ticket:

in the ticket machine in the passenger terminal, level 0 (cash payment or payment with credit/debit card);
ticket machine at the train station (cash payment or payment with credit/debit card);
from the train conductor on board (cash payment or payment with credit/debit card).

By a hired cab

For those who look for larger capacity, private buses, and vans are also available for hire. The rate depends on the number of passengers and the time of the day.

That’s probably all you need for transit from Krakow airport to the city center. You are now ready for Krakow’s charms. Remember: The travel begins when the transit ends.