Getting around · Kraków · Poland
Getting around Kraków
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jorge Lascar, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Kraków's Old Town and Kazimierz are best on foot, and an extensive tram network run by MPK covers the rest of the city. Trains link the main station with the airport and Wieliczka, and ride-hailing apps are inexpensive. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- KRK, KTW
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- MPK time tickets
Ways to get around
Walking
The Main Square to Wawel is about 10 minutes on foot along Grodzka Street, and Kazimierz is about 15–20 minutes. The Old Town core is largely closed to traffic.
Tram
Frequent trams circle the Old Town and run to Kazimierz, Podgórze, Salwator and Nowa Huta. Tickets are time-based and must be validated on boarding.
Buy tickets from the machines on board or at stops with a contactless card, or use a ticketing app.
Bus
MPK buses use the same tickets as trams and serve the suburbs and the airport, with night buses after trams stop.
Train
Fast agglomeration trains link Kraków Główny with the airport and with Wieliczka, and intercity trains run to Warsaw in about 2.5 hours.
Ride-hailing
Bolt, Uber and FreeNow operate in Kraków and are inexpensive; they are safer than hailing unmarked cars on the street.
Cycling
Cycle paths run along the Vistula and through the Planty edges, and bike rentals are available in the centre; the riverside route to Tyniec makes a good half-day ride.
Tickets and passes
MPK time tickets
24-, 48- and 72-hour and weekly tickets cover unlimited tram and bus travel; available from ticket machines and apps.
KrakowCard
A tourist card with entry to many museums and, in some versions, public transport for a set number of days.
From the airport
Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK) is in Balice, about 11 km west of the centre. Trains run from the terminal station to Kraków Główny in about 20 minutes; buses and taxis take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic. Katowice Airport (KTW), about 100 km away, is linked by shuttle buses taking about 1.5–2 hours.
Do you need a car?
No. The centre is walkable and served by trams, and day trips to Auschwitz, Wieliczka and Zakopane are easy by bus, train or tour. A car only helps for exploring rural Lesser Poland.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial | About 1.5 hours by bus or car | Bus from the main bus station, train to Oświęcim, or a guided tour |
| Wieliczka Salt Mine | About 25 minutes by train | Agglomeration train from Kraków Główny to Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia |
| Zakopane and the Tatras | About 2–2.5 hours by bus or train | Bus or train from Kraków |
| Ojców National Park | About 40 minutes by car or bus | Car or regional bus |
| Tyniec Abbey | About 30–40 minutes by bus, or an hour by bike | City bus, bike along the Vistula, or a river cruise in summer |
| Wadowice | About 1–1.5 hours by bus or train | Bus or train from Kraków |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Kraków?
No. The centre is walkable and served by trams, and day trips to Auschwitz, Wieliczka and Zakopane are easy by bus, train or tour. A car only helps for exploring rural Lesser Poland.
+How do you get from the airport to Kraków?
Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK) is in Balice, about 11 km west of the centre. Trains run from the terminal station to Kraków Główny in about 20 minutes; buses and taxis take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic. Katowice Airport (KTW), about 100 km away, is linked by shuttle buses taking about 1.5–2 hours.
+What is the best way to get around Kraków?
Walking: The Main Square to Wawel is about 10 minutes on foot along Grodzka Street, and Kazimierz is about 15–20 minutes. The Old Town core is largely closed to traffic.