Krakow John Paul II International Airport (KRK) — formally Kraków-Balice, universally called Balice — is 15 km west of the city centre. It is a compact, manageable airport. Getting in is straightforward and cheap whichever option you choose. The train is the best one.

A dedicated rail link connects the airport terminal directly to Krakow Glowny (the main station) in 17 minutes. Trains run every 30 minutes throughout the day, from around 5 AM to 11 PM. The platform is inside the terminal building — arrivals, short walk, train. No navigation required.

Ticket price: approximately 9 PLN single. Buy at the machine in the terminal or via the Koleo app. Validate the ticket before boarding.

Krakow Glowny puts you at the edge of the Old Town, a five-minute walk from the Main Market Square. This is the start and end point for most Krakow visits, so the train deposits you exactly where you want to be.

One thing to note: the train terminates at Glowny and also calls at Krakow Lobzow (closer to some accommodation in the western districts). Most visitors want Glowny.

Bus: Slower but Serviceable

Bus 208 runs from the airport to the city centre on a surface route, taking 40–60 minutes depending on traffic. Useful if you're staying somewhere the train doesn't serve well, or arriving late when the train schedule is reduced. Standard city ticket price (around 6 PLN for a timed ticket). Bus stop is outside the terminal.

Taxi and Rideshare

Bolt and Uber both operate from Krakow Airport. A metered taxi or rideshare to the city centre costs approximately 40–60 PLN and takes 20–40 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis from the official rank (outside arrivals) are metered and reliable. Avoid anyone approaching you in the arrivals hall offering a flat rate — these are almost always overpriced.

Useful if you have a lot of luggage, are travelling in a group of three or four (splitting the cost), or arriving outside rail hours.

Our Take

Train every time for solo travellers and couples. It is fast, cheap, and arrives at the right place. Taxi for groups with luggage or late-night arrivals. Ignore the bus unless the train is out of service.