Krakow Airport

Krakow's Balice Airport, normally the first port of call for visitors

Krakow airport (officially- John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice) is situated in the village of Balice, just 11km west of Krakow city centre itself. Krakow airport transfers are fairly efficient: car hire and taxi pick ups from Krakow airport can be easily arranged on arrival, and trains and buses run regularly to and from Krakow’s central railway and bus station, ‘Dworzec Glowny’ - an ideal place to find your bearings, just a few minutes walk from the main market square, and with good rail links to the rest of Poland and beyond. For the Tatra mountains and skiing in the winter, catch the bus from here to Zakopane. For a map of Krakow airport, click here (Link http://www.krakowairport.eu/foto/mapki_terminal/terminal_www.jpg)

Krakow Airport Transfers: Car Hire, Taxis, Trains and Buses

You may be looking for the freedom that can come with car hire: a barrage of the usual car rental companies greet you in arrivals at Crakow airport – a twenty minut drive will get you to most of Krakow’s hotels, hostels and apartments. For a discount on car hire, you may want to book in advance, or it may be worth booking through your airline: Easyjet works in partnership with Europcar and, and Ryanair with Hertz.

Alternatively, if you don’t fancy braving the Polish traffic yourself, a taxi rank stands just outside the main terminal building: a taxi ride from Krakow airport to the city centre should set you back in the region of 70 PLN (about £15). Again, it may be worthwhile to book in advance to ensure a fixed price, as quotes can escalate depending on integrity of the driver.

The train stop is a five minute walk from the Airport's main entrance or you can catch a bus for the short journey

Public transport from Krakow airport is by far the cheapest option and fairly quick and reliable too: a bus and train service runs directly from Krakow airport to Krakow’s central railway station, ‘Dworec Glowny’ – a five minute walk from Krakow’s ‘Old Town’, the main market square (Rynek Główny) and many of Krakow’s most notable hotels.

For the Krakow airport train service a free shuttle bus, or a 4-5 minute walk, will take you the short distance from just outside the main terminal entrance to the ‘Balice Ekspres’ train stop: the service runs between 4 am and 12 midnight, and every 30 minutes between 7 am and 9 pm, and the journey should take just over 15 minutes. Please note: tickets may be purchased on board the train for 8 PLN (about £2), or beforehand from a ticket machine within the main terminal building for the lesser price of 4 PLN.

By bus: as you leave Krakow airport from the main entrance, there is a bus stop about 50 metres to the right. The 292 also takes you to Krakow’s central railway station ‘Dworec Glowny’. The first bus is at 4:50, and they run about every 30 minutes until just after 11:00 pm, with a journey time of about 35 minutes. Tickets are 2.50 PLN from a vending machine in the main terminal, or 3.00 PLN on board. Note: for anything more then hand luggage, you will be charged an additional fee. The 208 is slightly less regular but will also get you to the central station. After 11 pm there is a night service: the last 902 is at 1:26 am and costs slightly more at 6.00PLN.

A former military airbase, Crakow airport opened its runway to civil aviation in 1964, but it was only in 2003 that budget airlines were given the go ahead, and cheap flights from the UK and many other European cities have been available since. You can now fly to Krakow airport from over 15 cities in the UK and Ireland alone, including, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham. See low cost flights to Krakow for more information.

For a timetable of Krakow airport arrivals and departures see the official Krakow-Balice airport website (Link: http://www.lotnisko-balice.pl/strona_en.html).

Krakow Airport Facilities:

Information Desk: Any questions, head to the heart of the main terminal building.

Ticket Office: Book your next flight, or make last minite alterations.

Post Office: For the postcard that got away, open Mon – Fri, 8:45 am – 2:45 pm.

Travel Agency: If you haven’t already, find out where to stay and what to see.

Cafes and Shops: a good selection as you arrive, and a couple after passport control.

VIP Lounge Luxury: surrounds for all your executive needs, pre-book on +48 (0) 12 639 33 54.

Business Lounge: For 75 PLN, enjoy free internet access, international newspapers, magazines and TV and complimentary drinks and snacks.

Money: the main terminal houses two foreign exchange offices, a bank and an ATM. Tip: for the best rates of exchange, bring cash in sterling and head for Florianska street, adjacent to St Mary’s church.

Car Hire: All the usual suspects await you in arrivals.

Duty Free: A compact but comprehensive affair: all the essentials in a handful of minor shops.

24-hour Parking: can be organised at the information desk