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ARRIVING IN CRACOW
By plane
Krakow
has an international airport: Balice-John Paul II International
Airport. There are direct flights to Chicago, Frankfurt, Vienna,
London, Paris, Tel Aviv and Rome and connections via Warsaw to most
other major international destinations (New York, Toronto, Amsterdam,
etc) At the airport luggage trolleys can be procured for free. If
you need to use a pay-phone you'll need to go upstairs to buy a phone
card (karta telefoniczna) from the newspaper kiosk. You can
get money at an ATM in the arrivals hall. There is also a currency
exchange desk that is open from 7:45 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Sun 7:45 a.m.
- 7:00 p.m.. Be aware: they charge a 5% commission. Getting to town
from the airport: a taxi to the centre of town costs 30 - 60 zł depending
on the exact address and time of day (taxi rates are higher during
evenings, Sundays and holidays). If you do not have too much luggage
or are on a tighter budget, you can take a municipal transit busl:
Number 192 goes from the airport to the old town and to the train
station. It takes approximately 35 min. You can buy the ticket from
the driver (2.50 zł). You'll see the bus stop on your right as you
exit the airport. If your luggage is bigger than 60 x 40 x 20, you'll
need a ticket for your bags.
By car
The
major highway leading into Krakow via Katowice is the A4. The highway
is new and a 5 zł toll is paid when you enter and exit. Foreigners
can use a driving license from their home country or an international
driving license for up to six months after entering Poland. The
speed limit is 90 km/hr outside of urban areas, 110 km/hr on dual
carriageways and 130 km/hr on motorways. From November until the
end of March you must have headlights on at all times. Seatbelts
must be worn by both front and back seat passengers and it is prohibited
to use a hand-held mobile while driving. It is compulsory for cars
to be equipped with a fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, and hazard-warning
reflective triangle. It is advisable, to bring the international
insurance card ("green card" for the car). For Road Assistance SOS
call 981 (Polski Związek Motorowy) or 9631.
By bus,
The bus terminal is located directly opposite the train station,
at ul. Worcella. It is near the city center. To get to town, follow
the instructions below.
By train
From
the main station (Dworzec Główny) follow the signs to town (wyjście
do centrum). Take the left on to the road running parallel to the
train trucks. Follow it until you see the early 19th-century train
station building on your left in front of which is a taxi stand.
Turn right at the post office and you'll be at the tram/bus stop.
You can walk to town by continuing past the tram/bus stop and through
the underpass, emerging in the Planty park, that surrounds the old
town. If you need a taxi from the station, walk up the stairs from
the platform to find reliable 919 taxis on the rooftop parking lot.
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