World City Guide

Getting There By Air

Krakow-Balice (John Paul II) International Airport (KRK)
Tel: (012) 639 3000.
Website: www.lotnisko-balice.pl

Cracow’s small airport is 11km (7 miles) west of the city centre (journey time – 20 minutes) and has been upgraded to accommodate the larger transatlantic planes. Although it is Poland’s second largest international airport, most international flights go to Warsaw, which is the largest.

Major airlines: LOT Polish Airlines (tel: (012) 285 5070 or (0800) 300 952/3; website: www.lot.com) is the national carrier, with services to some 40 countries and domestic flights to other Polish cities. Other airlines include Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, BMI, British Airways, easyjet, Lufthansa, SAS, Sky Europe and Swiss.

Approximate flight times to Cracow: From London is 2 hours 35 minutes; from New York is 8 hours 40 minutes; from Los Angeles is 13 hours (plus transfer); from Toronto is 8 hours 25 minutes and from Sydney is 25 hours (plus stopover and transfer).

Airport facilities: These include a bar, a restaurant and cafe, bureaux de change, banks, ATMs, 24-hour first aid and duty-free shops, a post office and an information desk. Car hire is available from Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz.

Business facilities: There is a executive lounge for business-class passengers and traveller-club members.

Transport to the city: The MPK (website: www.mpk.krakow.pl) buses 192 and 208 go to the Main Railway Station (regular departures; journey time – 25 minutes). Taxis are available too (journey time – 15-20 minutes).