Train to Krakow - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Character of the city: UNESCO-listed historical centre, Wawel Castle, Kazimierz and Market Square - Krakow is one of the most visited cities in Poland

• How much to go for: for a city break plan a weekend (2 nights), and 3 days will allow you to add the Kościuszko Mound and one of the museums

• Best time to go: May and September - smaller crowds than in July and August, accommodation prices lower than in high season

• Local transport: trams and buses cover the whole city

• Practical tip: you get around Krakow mainly on foot and by public transport

The best choice is April–May or September, when the daytime temperature is 14–18°C, there is less tourist traffic than in summer and accommodation prices are lower than in high season.

Spring (March–May)

• April brings the first warm days, fewer tourists than in summer and lower accommodation prices than in high season

• May means blooming gardens around Wawel Castle and full restaurant terraces on the Market Square and in Kazimierz

• Towards the end of May tourist traffic increases significantly, so for quieter sightseeing it is better to choose the first half of the month

Summer (June–August)

• In June, July and August the daytime temperature is 21–23°C, but the Market Square and Wawel Castle are the most crowded with tourists

• July and August are the time of festivals and outdoor events throughout the city

• Towards the end of August crowds gradually diminish and accommodation prices drop slightly

Autumn (September–October)

• September combines 10–17°C during the day, smaller crowds and lower accommodation prices than in summer

• October brings shorter days and more clouds, but Kazimierz and the Planty have a distinctly autumnal feel

Winter (November–January)

• In December the Main Market Square hosts Christmas markets, an ice rink and seasonal stalls, with the biggest crowds in the second half of the month

• In January and February accommodation prices are the lowest of the year, and museums and restaurants operate normally despite the short days and cold weather

Kraków Główny railway station is served by PKP Intercity, POLREGIO, Koleje Małopolskie and Koleje Śląskie.

From Katowice to Krakow

• About 1 hour by IC train – direct

• By Silesian Railways and POLREGIO you travel approximately 1.5 hours with stops along the way

• Connections run regularly

From Rzeszów to Krakow

• About 1.5 hours by direct IC train

• The route goes through Dębica, Tarnów and Bochnia

• Connections run regularly

From Warsaw to Krakow

• You travel approximately 2.5 hours by EIP train

• IC trains take approximately 3.5–4 hours and stop, among others, in Radom and Kielce

• You board at Warszawa Wschodnia, Warszawa Centralna or Warszawa Zachodnia

From Wrocław to Krakow

• You take a direct IC train for about 3 hours

• The route goes through Opole, Gliwice and Katowice

• Connections run regularly in both directions

From Poznań to Krakow

• You travel approximately 4.5–5 hours by IC train on this route

• The route goes via Wrocław, Opole and Katowice

• Connections run regularly

From Gdańsk to Krakow

• You travel approximately 5.5 hours by EIP train via Warsaw

• IC trains take approximately 6.5–7 hours

• Connections run regularly

There are also direct connections to Krakow from Przemyśl and Gdynia. From Lublin you will travel with one change. You can check current connections and prices on Europodróże – just enter your route.

You can buy tickets without registering – provide your email address and phone number, and the ticket will be sent to your inbox and as an SMS. Before departure you receive an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket, so you do not need to search for it in your emails. The earlier you buy, the better the price and the greater the choice of seats.

PKP Intercity ticket refunds and exchanges: refund up to 20 minutes before departure, exchange up to 30 minutes before departure. See the refunds and exchanges page for detailed rules.

You can walk from Krakow Central Station to the Market Square in a few minutes. The station is connected to Galeria Krakowska and the exit on Pawia Street leads straight to Planty and Market Square.

The public transport network covers the whole city, including Kazimierz, Podgórze and Kopiec Kościuszki. A single ticket costs a few zlotys, while a daily ticket costs a dozen or so. For several journeys a day, a daily ticket will be more convenient.

Uber and Bolt operate 24 hours a day in Krakow. A ride from the railway station to the centre costs several PLN. For longer distances, for example to Kopiec Kościuszki or Nowa Huta, a taxi can be more comfortable than public transport.

Krakow has a city bicycle system with many stations in and around the city centre. On a warm day you can easily explore the Vistula Boulevards and the Kazimierz district by bike. Check the operator's website for details and prices.

Where to stay:

• Old Town (Market Square area) - you have all the main attractions within walking distance, but accommodation prices are higher

• Kazimierz - authentic atmosphere, you can get to the Old Town in a few minutes by tram, and prices are lower than near the Market Square

• Podgórze - an artistic district behind the Vistula River, you can get to the centre in a few minutes by tram, and prices are the lowest of the three options.

You can get around the centre on foot and by public transport - the main attractions are within 2-3 km of the station.

Main Square

The largest medieval square in Europe is 200 x 200 m. There is a museum of Polish painting upstairs in the Cloth Hall. The Market Square Underground is an underground archaeological tour - there is a fee to enter and the tour takes about 1 hour. Every hour a bugle call is sounded from the tower of St Mary's Church. Plan 2-3 hours for the whole Market Square. Go before 10am or after 6pm to avoid the biggest crowds.

Wawel Royal Castle

Wawel Cathedral with royal tombs - free entry. The halls of the palace with its collection of tapestries - entrance chargeable, worth booking online in advance. Castle gardens overlooking the Vistula River - free and open all year round. Plan 3-4 hours for Wawel Castle. It's less crowded in the morning.

Kazimierz

A historic Jewish quarter with synagogues, art galleries and atmospheric cafes. Plac Nowy is the centre of the district and there is a market here at weekends. A walk around Kazimierz takes 2-3 hours. In the evening, the district lives longer and it's easier to find a more local atmosphere.

St Mary's Church

A Gothic church from the 14th-15th centuries with an altarpiece by Wit Stwosz. The bugle call is played every hour to the four corners of the world, so it's worth arriving before the full hour. A tour of the interior takes 30-45 minutes and there is an entrance fee.

Kościuszko Mound

From here you can see a panorama of the city, the Tatra Mountains in good weather and the Vistula River valley. There is a fee to enter. You can get there from the centre by tram in a dozen or so minutes.

The Czartoryski Museum

This is one of the oldest museums in Poland, founded in 1801, with a collection of European art, including Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine". There is an entrance fee. The tour takes 2-3 hours.

Plan for Day 1

• Morning: Main Market Square, Cloth Hall, Market Underground and St. Mary's Church - 2-3 hours

• Midday: Wawel Castle, cathedral and castle gardens - 2-3 hours

• Afternoon: walk through the Planty park to Kazimierz and coffee at Plac Nowy

• Evening: dinner in Kazimierz or return to Market Square

Plan for the weekend

Day 1: You can arrange the first day in the same way as the plan for day 1.

Day 2: In the morning, visit the Czartoryski Museum or return to Wawel to the palace halls if you missed the first day. In the afternoon, drive to Kościuszko Mound - the view of the city is best seen before sunset. Spend the evening in Kazimierz, where restaurants and bars stay open late.

What to eat

Obwarzanek krakowski - ring-shaped bread sprinkled with poppy seeds, sesame seeds or salt, sold from blue carts in the city centre.

Żurek - a thick sourdough rye soup with eggs and white sausage, often served in a bread loaf.

Oscypek - mountain cheese made from sheep's milk, also sold hot at stands selling highland products.

Maczanka krakowska - a roll with slow-baked pork meat in a sauce, served in establishments in Kazimierz and Grodzka Street.

Pierogi - with meat, ruskie or with spinach, available in dozens of establishments from simple bars to restaurants.

Where to eat:

• Grodzka Street - restaurants with traditional Polish cuisine, average prices, close to the Market Square and Wawel Castle

• Kazimierz (Szeroka Street, Plac Nowy) - cafes, restaurants with Jewish cuisine and zapiekanki on Plac Nowy, and prices are lower than at Market Square

• Milk bars - home-made food, such as soups, pierogi and pancakes, for a dozen or so zloty a meal; several operate in the centre

Souvenirs

• Cloth Hall on the Market Square - traditional crafts, amber jewellery and wooden sculptures

• Grodzka Street shops - a wider selection of souvenirs and ceramics with traditional designs

• Cracovian gingerbread - small packages, popular as a gift

• Oscypek wrapped in paper - to be bought at stands near the Market Square, convenient to take on the way home

||||| |---|---|---|---| | Category | Budget | Mid-range | Comfortable | | Accommodation (1 night) | 120–150 PLN | 200–350 PLN | 400–700 PLN | | Food (3 meals) | 60–90 PLN | 100–130 PLN | 150–200 PLN | | Local transport | 10–20 PLN | 20–30 PLN | 40–60 PLN | | Attractions (entrance fees) | 25–40 PLN | 60–90 PLN | 100–150 PLN | | Total | 215–300 PLN/day | 380–600 PLN/day | 690–1110 PLN/day |

• Budget: hostel, obwarzanki and milk bars, tram, 1–2 museums or free walks

• Mid-range: two- or three-star hotel, tourist restaurants, public transport and 2–3 museums

• Comfortable: four-star hotel or apartment, mid-range and upmarket restaurants, taxi and tram, and all major museums with a guide

Accommodation prices in the low season, November to March, are 20–40% lower than at peak from May to August. December is an exception, as the Christmas markets push prices up.

Train fares depend on the route and date of purchase – the earlier you buy, the better the price and the greater the choice of seats.

PKP Intercity statutory concessions on domestic routes: students 51%, senior citizens 30%, children and young people 37%, people with disabilities.