Krakow Transportation Tips by breughel Top 5 Page for this destination

The horse-carriages.

They are rather large carriages well decorated, often white, with two horses and two cabman or cabwoman. The horses are strong and their harness is decorated. I must say that the couples in the white carriages made me think of the recent royal prince marriage in London.

Usually there are several standing on the north side of the Rynek Glowny market place. We found remarkable that at their standing place there was no bad smell of horse's urine. The clients at the terraces would not like that when drinking or eating. We remembered the smell of the fiacre horses in Vienna at the St-Stephansdom! At Rynek Glowny it's clean. I wonder how they do.

The price (2011) for a half hour promenade is 100 Pln = 26 € (the 60 Zloty mentioned here are from 2004). It appears that you can discuss somewhat the prices and that you may choose the carriage you want. You don't have to take the first in line. Just for comparison in Vienna it costs 40 € for 20 minutes!

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Taxis Taxi, taxi Review

1° Transfer from airport.
Already in 2010 I had used City Taxi as recommended by the organizers of the VT meet and ordered by internet the transfers Airport - Hotel in Krakow centre and vice versa.
A week before this new trip to Krakow I asked price for the transfers as well as a visit by taxi to Auschwitz and Birkenau and gave my instructions for days and times.
E-mail to the manager of City Taxi who understands English: prezes@citytaxi.krakow.pl

The transfer from Airport to our hotel in the centre was quoted at 75 Pln on a Sunday.
Return from hotel to airport on a week day was at 65 Pln. The driver was each time perfectly on time.
The trip from airport Balice, at 20 Km, takes about 30 minutes depending upon traffic. Paying about 17 - 19 € is not expensive comparing with prices in Western Europe.

2° Taxis in Krakow.
We went from Krakow centre to Kazimierz (plac Wolnica) and back. We paid 15 and 17 Pln.

3° Taxi from Krakow to Birkenau and Auschwitz.
We booked a trip with City Taxi starting at 12.15 h from our hotel to visit first KL Birkenau and after 15 h KL Auschwitz I for an individual visit. We got back at our hotel at 18.30 h.
The price for this 140 Km drive plus waiting, a total time of 6 hours, was 380 PLN = about 100 €.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Car/Motor Home

Krakow Balice airport. Airplane Review

The airport is small. The advantage is that on arrival you have not to wait a long time to get your luggage and no formalities for Schengen passengers.

The disadvantage is at the departure of the T1 terminal international flights.
First when looking at the departures board you will find your flight and the gate but not necessarily your check-in desk nr. You might have to wait and there are nearly no seats. There are check-in desks on the left nr. 1 - 19 but also straight forward nr. 20 - 33 (Brussels Airlines is usually in that area).

After that passengers flying to Schengen countries pass through the safety control on the 1st floor. This is managed by armed military and is in direct contact with the departure lounge at Gates No. 6-8.

If you expect to find here a restaurant forget it. There is just a bar with coffee and beer and few sandwiches, when any left, and 3 small standing tables. Furthermore there are two shops with alcohols, cigarettes and perfumes.
Outside, on the street, there is a bar-restaurant with tables so that next time I will first check in, get out again to that bar-restaurant, and after eating enter again the airport to pass through safety control and join my gate.

By taxi it takes about 30 minutes to reach the centre of Krakow when there are no road works or traffic jams. Price about 75 Pln.

Mode: TO

Type: Airplane