You don’t need to worry too much about transport in Kraków. The Old Town, Wawel, Kazimierz and part of Podgórze can all be easily explored on foot, and you’ll mainly use the tram when travelling to the railway station, Schindler’s Factory or to more distant neighbourhoods.

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Trams and city buses use the same tickets. Day services start early in the morning and run until around midnight; for the rest of the night, they are replaced by night trams and buses.

You’ll need to buy separate tickets for the city trains or purchase a more expensive combined ticket.

What’s the best way to get around Kraków?

If you’re staying in the Old Town or Kazimierz, you can get by without public transport for most of the day. Although Kraków is a large city, its main attractions are relatively close together.

Route or location	Most practical transport
Kraków Główny -> Rynek Główny	10 to 15 minutes’ walk
Rynek Główny -> Wawel	about 15 minutes’ walk
Rynek Główny -> Kazimierz	20 to 25 minutes on foot or by tram
Kazimierz -> Schindler’s Factory	20 to 25 minutes on foot or by tram
City centre -> Nowa Huta	tram
City centre -> Airport	train or bus
city centre -> Wieliczka	SKA1 train
travelling with suitcases or late in the evening	Bolt or Uber

On foot, you can easily combine a visit to Rynek Główny, Wawel and Kazimierz in a single day.

Public transport tickets

A single ticket is valid on trams and city buses, and you can change services as often as you like whilst it is valid.

Short-term tickets valid for 15 to 90 minutes are valid in all three fare zones.

Zone I covers the whole of Kraków, including the Old Town, Kazimierz, Podgórze, Nowe Huty and Schindler’s Factory. For everyday travel around the city, a Zone I ticket is therefore sufficient.

If you’re travelling by city bus beyond the borders of Kraków, for example to the airport or to Wieliczka, you’ll need a ticket for Zones I+II+III.

Short-validity tickets valid for 15 to 90 minutes automatically cover all zones, so you don’t need to worry about where you’re travelling to or from.

Ticket prices

Below are the ticket prices for trams and buses. However, these do not apply to city trains.

We describe tickets for suburban trains below.

Validity	Standard price	Concessionary fare
15 minutes	4 pln	2 pln
30 minutes or 1 uninterrupted journey	6 pln	3 pln
60 minutes	8 pln	4 pln
90 minutes	9 pln	4,50 pln
24 hours, Zone I	20 pln	10 pln
24 hours, Zones I+II+III	25 pln	12,50 pln
48 hours, all zones	40 pln	20 pln
72 hours, all zones	55 pln	27,50 pln
7 days, Zone I	65 pln	32,50 pln
7 days, all zones	80 pln	40 pln

A 30-minute ticket is valid either for unlimited changes within 30 minutes, or for a single uninterrupted journey on the same vehicle to the final stop, even if it takes longer.

A weekend family ticket is also available for 25 pln. It is valid on Saturdays and Sundays in all zones for one adult with up to six children, or two adults with up to five children under 16.

You can find the full price list on the official ZTP Kraków website.

Discounts and free travel

Children aged 7 to 16 and international students up to the age of 26 with a valid personalised ISIC card are entitled to half-price (reduced) fares. You must also present the required proof of eligibility when asked.

The following travel free of charge:

• children up to 30 September of the year in which they turn 7
• passengers aged 70 and over upon presentation of a document with a photograph and date of birth (even outside Poland)

Which ticket should you choose?

If you’re staying in the city centre, don’t automatically buy a day ticket. You’ll probably be able to walk to most places and will only need to pay for one or two single journeys.

• 15 minutes for a few stops without a long wait
• 30 minutes as the safest option for a single standard journey
• 24 hours for 4 or more journeys in a single day
• 72 hours for frequent travel over a long weekend
• A family weekend ticket is almost always good value for families with children

The validity period is calculated from the time of validation, not by calendar day. A 24-hour ticket validated at 15:00, for example, is therefore valid until 15:00 the following day.

Where and how can you buy a ticket?

The most convenient way is via the Jakdojade mobile app. It finds connections, shows the nearest stop and also allows you to buy a ticket.

• Jakdojade for Android and iPhone
• Jakdojade web version

Set up your payment method before your first journey. Once you board, the app will ask for the vehicle number or for you to scan the QR code located inside the tram or bus. Buy your mobile ticket immediately upon boarding, as it becomes valid the moment you purchase it.

Other purchase options:

• tickets machines at major stops
• paper tickets at newsagents and selected shops
• tickets from machines inside trams and buses
• the mPay, SkyCash, moBiLET, iMKA or zbiletem.pl apps

You must insert your paper ticket into the validator after boarding. You only need to validate a multi-day ticket on your first journey.

Is contactless payment available in Kraków?

Yes, but not yet on all trams and buses.

Furthermore, it doesn’t work in the same way as in other cities with contactless payment, where you simply tap your card and that’s it.

If the tram or bus is fitted with a contactless ticket machine, you must first select the type of ticket you wish to purchase on the machine and only then tap your card, mobile phone or smartwatch.

If your ticket is checked at random by a ticket inspector, you must show them the payment card you used to pay for the ticket.

Does the Google Maps route finder work in Kraków?

Yes, using Google Maps to find public transport routes in Kraków is reliable.

The maps cover all bus, train and tram routes and also show any long-term service disruptions.

Trams in Kraków

The tram is the clearest and most practical means of transport for visitors. The main routes circle the historic centre and continue on to Kazimierz, Podgórze, Nowa Huta and other more distant districts.

Trams do not run directly through Rynek Główny. You’ll always need to alight at one of the stops around the pedestrianised centre and walk the last few minutes.

On busy sections, several routes overlap, so you usually won’t have to wait long during the day. You can board via any of the doors, and on some trams you can open the doors by pressing a button.

• Tram and bus timetables
• Tram and bus map

Buses and night transport

You’ll mainly use buses in neighbourhoods not served by trams, when travelling to the airport, or if your accommodation is further from the city centre.

The same tickets are valid on buses as on trams, and you can board through any door.

Stops marked with the words ‘ „na żądanie“ ’ are request stops. Whilst waiting, clearly signal to the driver that you wish to board, and press the button in good time before alighting.

After midnight, a network of night buses and a few trams operate in Kraków. The main night services usually run at intervals of 30 to 60 minutes. Use Jakdojade to find the quickest connection.

SKA city trains

Koleje Małopolskie trains aren’t particularly useful for everyday travel around the historic centre, but they’re ideal for getting to the airport or the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

You’ll find the SKA1 line most useful, as it connects the airport, Kraków Główny main station and Wieliczka.

• Kraków Główny -> airport: approx. 17 minutes, ticket 20 pln
• Kraków Główny -> Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia approx. 25 minutes, ticket 7 pln
• Trains to the airport and Wieliczka usually run every 30 minutes

Standard tram and bus tickets are not valid on trains.

The exception is the combined KMK+KMŁ ticket, valid for 70 minutes, 10 pln, which you can use on trains around Kraków and as far as Wieliczka, but not to the airport.

The combined ticket is worth buying, for example, if you first take a tram to Kraków Główny and then continue by train to Wieliczka.

You can buy tickets from ticket machines at the station, on the train or via the iMKA app. Timetables and fares can be found on the Koleje Małopolskie website.

We describe the detailed connections between the airport and the city in our Kraków Airport guide.

Taxis, Uber and Bolt

You usually won’t need a taxi for short journeys around the city centre. It starts to make sense late in the evening, when travelling with luggage, or with three or four people, when a short journey can work out similarly to the cost of several individual public transport tickets.

Uber and Bolt work well in Kraków. The price is displayed before you book, and a short journey between the city centre, Kazimierz or Podgórze usually costs around 12 pln to 25 pln.

• Bolt for Android and iPhone
• Uber for Android and iPhone

With a traditional taxi, check the estimated fare before getting in and insist that the meter is switched on.

Fixed-price offers from drivers waiting at tourist spots are usually more expensive than booking via an app.

Getting around Kraków by car

A car won’t be much help when exploring the city. The historic centre is largely pedestrianised, parking is subject to a charge, and you’ll get between the main sights more quickly on foot or by tram. If you arrive in your own car, it’s best to leave it at your hotel or in a car park for the duration of your stay.

Krakow has a low-emission zone covering a large part of the city. Petrol cars must meet at least the Euro 4 standard or have been manufactured from 2005 onwards; diesel cars weighing up to 3.5 tonnes must meet at least the Euro 6 standard or have been manufactured from 2014 onwards.

Vehicles registered outside Poland must be registered before entering the city for the first time, even if they meet the emission standards.

• Vehicle verification and registration
• Official rules for the low-emission zone

We describe detailed parking options, car parks and free alternatives in the chapter ‘How to get to Kraków’.

Where to stay for transport convenience?

If you stay in the Old Town or Kazimierz, you’ll only use public transport on rare occasions. The area around Kraków Główny is more practical if you’re leaving early, travelling to the airport or taking frequent train journeys.

Podgórze tends to be quieter and cheaper, but it’s worth staying within walking distance of a tram stop. You’ll find a more detailed comparison of the neighbourhoods in the ‘Accommodation in Kraków’ section.

• Find accommodation in the centre of Kraków