Venue: Qubus hotel, Cracow (Kraków)
Qubus Hotel Krakow |
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Cracow (Kraków)
About Cracow
Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading scientific, cultural and artistic centers of the country, the former residence of the Polish kings, and a national capital, considered by many to remain the spiritual heart of Poland due to its history of more than a thousand years. Nowadays, Kraków attracts numerous tourists from all over the world who are eager to see the ancient capital of Poland and its magnificent art treasures. This artistic abundance was recognized by the UNESCO, which in 1978 entered the city on the World List of Cultural Heritage, and thus emphasized its high position in world culture.
How to get to Krakow
Flights
After Warsaw Airport Okęcie, the second busiest airport is Krakow Airport Balice, also known as the John Paul II International Airport (http://www.lotnisko-balice.pl/strona_en.html) situated on the outskirts of the city, just 11 km west from its centre. It offers direct flights to: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bonn/Cologne, Brussels, Budapest, Copenhagen, Chicago, Dortmund, Dublin, Edingburh, Frankfurt, Glasgow, London, Liverpool, Milan, Munich, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Rome, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Tel Aviv, Warsaw, Vienna, Zurich.
- Direct between the airport and the city centre run three municipal bus lines: 192, 208 and the night bus 602 (the timetables available at www.mpk.krakow.pl). Travelling time is about 35-40 minutes.
- Alternatively, shuttle train service links the airport with the Krakow Glowny – main rail station in the city centre (the timetables available at www.pkp.pl). On average, trains run every 30 min. between 4 a.m. and midnight. The 15-kilometre journey takes about 15 min. A single ticket costs PLN 3.80, you can purchase it on board. The Krakow-Balice Station is located app. 200 m from the passenger terminal, you can get there by foot (about 5 min. walk) or take a free shuttle bus service which operates to and from Krakow-Balice Station, this is a 3 minute trip from the airport terminal building.
- Getting to the centre by taxi should cost PLN 40-60, depending on the distance. Taxi stand is situated by the passenger terminal. You may also phone one of Krakow's taxi calling centers and they will send the nearest cab available.
- You can also easily get the airport by car. It is 20-30 minutes' drive from the city centre; the airport possesses as well its own exit ramp from the A4 motorway. Opposite the passenger terminal there is a parking lot, which can accommodate above 750 vehicles.
Flights to Cracow are operated by various airlines, i.e. from Chicago and New York by LOT, from London by British Aiways, from Paris by LOT, from Munich and Frankfurt by LOT and Lufthansa, from Madrit by Iberia. Cheap flights (easyJet, Ryanair, Centralwings, Norwegian) are also available. Once new flights schedule will be announced (october/november 2008), recommended flights to Cracow will be published at this webpage.
It is also possible to take a flight to Warsaw (Okęcie Airport) and get to Cracow by train (aprox. 3 hours) or to Katowice (Pyrzowice Airport) and then by shuttle bus (aprox. 1,5 hour).
Taxi Services
Many taxi services are available in Krakow, for example: Taxi Barbakan (tel. +48 12 9661), Radio Taxi (tel. +48 12 919).
Railway
The city is easily and comfortably accessible by train from all larger cities in Poland, e.g. the journey by InterCity train from Warsaw takes only 2.5 hours. Apart from local transport systems, Krakow also has direct railway links with many European capitals. The timetables available at www.pkp.pl.
Attractions
Krakow is still the magical city located on the banks of the Wisła River, with one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe. City life focuses around the Market Square which bustles with a multitude of shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes making the extraordinary atmosphere.
The renaissance Royal Castle on Wawel Hill, the gothic St Mary's Basilica and the historical trade pavilions of the Cloth Hall in the Main Market Square, the 14th century Jagiellonian University, the former separate Jewish city of Kazimierz, and even the Nowa Huta district, absorbed by Krakow together with its socialist-realist, industrial architecture, are all places which make a visit to Krakow extremely worthwhile.
