Arriving by plane

Krakow-Balice airport, also known as John Paul II International Airport is located to the west of Kraków, at a distance of 11 km from the city centre. It is a small airport with one international and one domestic terminal and its size is jokingly compared with the size of a bathroom at Chicago O'Hare. After all, it has some advantages - you simply can't get lost.

Apart from a Polish carrier LOT, Balice airport is served by many budget airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, SkyEurope, Wizz Air, Centralwings, Germanwings, operating to various destinations in Europe.

City	Average flight time
Budapest	50 m
Chicago	10 h 40 m
Cologne/Bonn	1 h 45 m
Copenhagen	1 h 55 m
London	2 h 35 m
Munich	1 h 30 m
New York (JFK)	10 h 15 m
New York (EWR)	10 h 15 m
Paris	2 h 10 m
Prague	1 h 20 m
Rome	2 h 05 m
Tel Aviv	3 h 35 m
Warsaw	45 m
Vienna	1 h 10 m
Zurich	2 h

Balice has direct connection with the following cities: Budapest (Hungary), Chicago (USA), Copenhagen (Denmark), Frankfurt upon Main (Germany), London Gatwick (England), Munich (Germany), New York JFK and EWR (USA), Paris CDG (France), Prague (Czech Republic), Rome (Italy), Tel Aviv (Isreal), Vienna (Austria), Zurich (Switzerland), and from 26 June Cologne/Bonn (Germany).

Most of the directions are operated be the Polish carrier LOT. LOT's hub is in Warsaw, so some flights require changing a plane in the capital city. There are around 6 flights from Krakow to Warsaw on a daily basis. LOT is a member of Star Alliance.

The airport has also connections with New York, Chicago and Tel Aviv. For a detailed timetable, please visit the airport's website:

Arrivals: http://lotnisko-balice.pl/timetable_arrivals.html
Departures: http://lotnisko-balice.pl/timetable_departures.html

From the airport to the city centre

By taxi

- Book an airport transfer here -

By train
The railway station is located just 200 m. from the terminal. You can either walk there (when you exit the terminal, walk towards a bus stop, which is to the right of the building and then follow a pedestrian walkway) or take a free shuttle bus – the stop is located directly outside the terminal.
You can buy a ticket from the conductor (costs 4 PLN or 1 Euro). It takes 15 min. to get to the main railway station (Dworzec Glowny), located in close proximity to the Old Town. The train leaves every half an hour from 04.25 till 00.10. (the last train on Wedn, Fri and Sun 01.30).

By bus
The bus stop is located at a roundabout to the right of the terminal. You can take a bus no. 192 or 208. It takes about 35-40 min. to get to the centre.
You can buy a ticket from a newspaper kiosk in the terminal (2.50 PLN) or from a bus driver (3 PLN). You do not need to pay extra for your luggage. Get off at ‘Plac Inwalidow’ bus stop (both 192 and 208) or ‘Dworzec Glowny Wschód’ (only 192). If you get off at ‘Plac Inwalidow’ walk back a few meters and then turn left into ul. Karmelicka leading to the Old Town. If you travel by bus no. 192 you can also get off at ‘Dworzec Glowny Wschod’ stop, which is located right beside the bus station.

By car
If you wish to rent a car you can find Hertz car rental at the airport.

Arriving by bus

The 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 tax 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.
If you're heading to Zakopane, getting a bus is the best option. You will find buses departing every 10-20 min., with journey time around 2.5 hour. You can buy a ticket from a bus driver.

Arriving by train

The main railway station (Dworzec Glowny) is conveniently situated on the edge of the Old Town. If you want to get to town, 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.

more about Arriving by train and the main railway station in Krakow...

Arriving by car

If you travel by car on the A4 motorway (a part of the European route E40, running from the western border to Krakow, except for a missing section of about 50 km between Zgorzelec and Boleslawiec) you must pay twice 6.50 PLN toll.

Driving in Krakow can be tiresome, because of traffic congestion in the centre. You are also likely to have difficulties with parking the car in the centre. Since the Old Town is very compact and you can get to most historical places on foot, it’s better to park the car further away from the centre and take a walk.