cafe on Bracka street

karol

Tourists should be aware of different things of Krakow; getting around in the city is one of them. There are several ways to move around this city which is visited by more than 7.5 million visitors every year.

There is a reliable road system in Krakow which makes movement easy and quick. The international luxury coach service connects many countries around Poland with Krakow.

There are highway connections with Germany, Ukraine and Austria. There are permanent coaches that move from Krakow to Central Europe. The local transportation system includes buses, mini buses and taxis. As a whole, the road transportation in Krakow is the cost-effective and easy method of travel.

The railway system in Krakow is the main system of transport since there is a central junction of all railway paths throughout Poland. The main railway station is situated at the old historic district, and there are 5 major lines that connect this city.

The major airport is Krakow’s John Paul II International Airport which has connections with major cities of the world, and it also provides domestic flight services. The airport is connected with all the areas of the city by road, and there are shuttle services available.

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The easiest way of getting around Krakow's sights is by foot. Most of the "must-see"s inside the city are within easy strolling distance of each other, especially if you break up your journey by dropping into a bar or restaurant for a break.

Public transport is cheap and efficient; the local operator is MPK (website, in Polish only, is http://www.mpk.krakow.pl) and tickets can be bought from shops and other locations. You can pay on the bus or tram, but it's more expensive - and remember that you must always stamp your ticket the first time you use it, to validate it.

Day and longer period tickets ('Bilety czasowy') are sold; June 2005 prices were PLN10,40 for 24 hours, PLN18,80 for 48 hours and PLN25,00 for 72 hours.

Useful trick for those of you arriving at Krakow's airport and catching the bus into town: if you buy your ticket from the bus driver, you'll get a single journey ticket for yourself  at PLN 2,50 - but you'll have to pay another 2,50 for your suitcase or rucksack! If you go upstairs in the terminal building, you'll find a newsagents kiosk. Buy a 60 minute transfer ticket (PLN 3,10) and that covers both you and your luggage - and it allows you to change buses or trams within the 60 minutes...