While getting around Krakow’s city centre you do not need public transport or a car, as the Old Town is very compact and you can get to most tourist sites on foot. Another good option would be taking a bike. There are a few bike rentals in the city centre and quite a few cycling paths across the Old Town and along the Vistula embankments.

Driving a car in the city centre is difficult, because apart from high traffic congestion, there are also zones of restricted traffic and parking.

The speed limit is 50km/h in cities, 90km/h outside urban areas, 110km/h on dual carriageways and 130km/h on motorways. All year round vehicles have to have their lights switched on at all times.

A EU citizen permanently residing in Poland will not be obliged to replace his driver's license for a Polish driver's license - though he/she will have the option of doing so. Should the document become lost or its validity expire - it will not be necessary to pass a driving test again. While driving a vehicle on the territory of the Republic of Poland, the driver is obliged to have with them a driver's license and civil liability insurance.

Parking in Krakow

Parking fees can be paid with parking cards or a parking permit. Parking cards can be bought in kiosks, ticket machines at the bus stops, post offices and from traffic wardens in yellow vests. You can also get them at the Parking Zone Office at Retoryka 1, where parking permits are also available. Parking fee for 1h – 3 PLN.

Car parks in the city centre

Over the main railway station platforms (access from Rakowicka street)

Squares:

pl. Biskupi
pl. sw. Ducha
pl. Wszystkich Swietych 5

Streets:

Szpitalna
Powisle
Kaluzy (by the stadium KS Cracovia)
Lubicz
Karmelicka (at Rajska street)
Starowislna (at Palac Pugetow, Pegetow Palace)
Kopernika
Zyblikiewicza (at Dom Turysty PTTK)
Straszewskiego
3 Maja (at the National Museum – Muzeum Narodowe)

Car rentals are available at the Balice airport or through various car rental offices in town centre. The minimum age is 21. Charges are usually based on a daily rate plus a kilometre charge.

Petrol stations are opened 24 hours and have small grocery stores inside. The cost of 1 litre of petroleum is about 1.4 Euro

Krakow 's municipal transport consists of trams, city buses and suburban buses. Buses and trams are the safest and the cheapest means of transport in the city. You can use most of the lines between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. on working days.

The bus and tram tickets can be bought in kiosks, ticket machines located at stops or you can buy them directly from drivers. In Krakow the ticket fare is PLN 2.5 (EUR 0.7). There is a possibility of buying 1 hour ticket – 3.10 PLN, 24h ticket - 10.40 PLN, 48h ticket – 18.80 PLN or 72h ticket – 25 PLN.

The two or three day card entitles the holder to free travel on city buses and trams and to free entry in up to 30 Krakow museums. The Card is valid on city buses and trams day and night. Krakow has a rich and varied array of museums. Some of them have unique collections of art and are located in some of the city's most architecturally valued buildings. Cardholders can also make use of the various discounts on offer in selected restaurants and shops as well as local trips and excursions. The Krakow Tourist Card saves you money and time. Price of the two day card - 50 PLN, three day card - 65 PLN.

You can get the card in the Tourist Information Office at Rynek Glowny 1/3 (the Main Square), as well as in other tourist information centres at: ul. sw. Jana 2, ul. Szpitalna 25, ul. Jozefa 7, ul. Pawia 8 (Jordan) and at the Town Hall.

Apart from buses no 208, 209, 292 and 902, you can get to the Balice airport by a shuttle train, which leaves from the Main Railway Station every half an hour. The ticket costs 6 PLN. The trip takes between 15-20 minutes.