How to Get from the Airport to Kraków City Center to Old Town

Balice Airport, known as Kraków Airport, is a hub for many airlines flying to and from various parts of Europe. Not all travelers rent a car at Balice Airport, so many people wonder how to get from Balice Airport to Kraków city center Old Town. What are the best ways to travel? What is the easiest way to get from the airport to Kraków? centre How do you get to the city center of Krakow from the Kraków Airport? We’ll guide you on how to travel from Krakow Airport to Kraków city center Old Town.

The airport, commonly referred to as Balice, is officially known as the John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice and also operates under the commercial name Kraków Airport. The only airport in Kraków is, in fact, administratively located in the small town of Balice, just outside Kraków, but similar to Wieliczka, it directly borders the city limits of Kraków.

The terminal is located approximately 10 kilometers in a straight line from Kraków’s Main Market Square, and getting from the airport to the city center is very easy. There are several easy ways to travel to and from Kraków Airport. Train might be the best but Bolt and Uber are also good.

Train from Kraków Airport (Balice) to Kraków Główny

Among people who do not want to spend money on expensive taxis and even more expensive transfers or cheaper Bolt and Uber, and do not have their own car, the simplest way to get from Kraków Airport to the city center or from the city center to the airport is the SKA1 train.

From Kraków Airport to the city center, the Małopolska Railways train runs from the Kraków Lotnisko stop to the Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia station (right next to the famous Salt Mine).

The most important thing is that this train stops at Kraków Główny station, which is located on the edge of the historic center Old Town and right next to the Main Market Square. The way to the train station from the terminal is well-marked with signs and floor markings in the terminal.

The train ride to or from Kraków Airport costs 20 złoty and, according to the schedule, takes 17 minutes. In practice, the journey may take about 20 minutes, including delays. Where does the train from Balice Airport depart from? From Kraków Lotnisko station, and the way to the platforms is clearly marked with appropriate signs. To the centre you need to go to Kraków Główny main station.

The train station at Kraków Airport is opposite the terminal building. You can reach it directly via a walkway from the terminal building. There is no need to book tickets for Kraków Airport Express in advance. During peak hours, the train is the fastest and best way to get to the city center from Kraków Airport.

Here’s what you need to know about the train

• Travel Time: 17-20 minutes.
• Frequency: Trains run every 30-60 minutes.
• Ticket Price: 20 PLN (standard fare). Read the price list.
• Where to Buy Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines at the airport, official website, mobile apps, at the station and on the train.
• Timetable: Check timetable on the official website kolejemalopolskie.com.pl/.
• Location of the Train Station: The train station is located just outside the airport terminal, opposite the building. Go there via an overground walkway from the terminal building

Once you arrive at Kraków Główny station, the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) is just a 10-minute walk away.

Uber, Bolt or taxi to the city center

The most convenient and cost-effective way (if you are traveling with two or more people) to get from Kraków Airport to centre of Krakow is to order a taxi through the Bolt or Uber app. Cars ordered via phone arrive at the terminal and take you to your specified address. Uber and Bolt in Kraków are significantly cheaper than traditional taxis. BTW: in Kraków, we advise against hailing unbooked taxis directly from the street.

The cost of an Uber ride from Kraków Airport to the city center (e.g., near Teatr Bagatela) should be around 40-50 PLN (about 10 EUR, 11 USD, 9 GBP). The cars can accommodate 4 people, so with 3 passengers, Uber and Bolt are cheaper than train tickets.

The downside of Bolt, Uber, or any other taxi service from the airport to Kraków city center is that the cars can get stuck in traffic, making the journey longer than taking the train. However, the advantage is that you are taken directly to your hotel.

Another option for getting from the airport to Kraków city center is shuttle buses, so-called private transfers. These, primarily aimed at tourists with wallets full of foreign currency, are very expensive. The cost of such a ride is an absurd amount of 150 PLN (35 EUR, 37 USD, 30 GBP) or even more, which is why we do not recommend it.

Kraków Airport is very close to the city center, and a price way more than 70 PLN is not proportional to the distance covered—unless you opt for a slightly more expensive transfer in a Rolls Royce, but in that case, you probably aren’t reading articles like this one.

Traveling by bus to and from the airport

The cheapest way to get from Kraków Airport to the city center is by public bus. We have two daytime agglomeration bus lines and one night line to choose from. Which bus goes from Kraków Airport to the city center?

The daytime lines are numbers 209 and 300. Buses are not the best idea for getting from the airport to the city center. Line 209 will take you to Rondo Grunwaldzkie or os. Podwawelskie and runs very infrequently. Line 300 is a better option. It is an express line that stops at Jubilat and Cracovia Błonia, which are slightly closer to the city center. However, this line runs only twice an hour, so in practice, it is also worse than the train connection. The bus stops are farther from the historic center and buses can get stuck in traffic. Check the prices for public transport in Kraków here.

At night, line 902 operates. The bus stop for buses heading to the city center is right in front of the terminal, on the right side of the exit. It’s impossible to miss. Tickets can be purchased at a vending machine, mobile apps or on the bus by paying with a card. Schedules are available on the official website: mpk.krakow.pl.

Summary: How to get from Balice Airport to the city center?

If you don’t have a car and want to use public transportation, the best option to get to the city center is the train that goes directly from the airport to Kraków Główny. The cost of such a train ride is 20 PLN for a standard ticket. The most convenient option is Uber or Bolt, which will take you directly to your specified address for around 50 PLN.

The cheapest way to get from the airport to Kraków city center is to take the express bus line 300 operated by public transport.

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