The fastest way from Kraków Airport (Balice) to the city centre is the Koleje Małopolskie train: the ride to Kraków Główny station takes about 18-20 minutes and a ticket costs PLN 20. Bus 300 or night bus 902 is cheaper but slower, a taxi is more convenient (PLN 109-129 to the Old Town), and if you are staying longer you can collect a rental car straight away.
Kraków Airport in Balice is about 13-15 km from the centre of Kraków. The quickest and most predictable option is the train to Kraków Główny, the main railway station: it takes about 18-20 minutes, runs roughly every 30 minutes during the day, and a standard ticket costs PLN 20. The bus is cheaper (PLN 8 for a 60-minute ticket) but takes 40-60 minutes. A taxi from the official rank usually costs PLN 109 or PLN 129 to the Old Town for the whole car.
Below we compare every option: journey time, price, where to buy a ticket and what to do if you land at night. At the end we explain how to collect a rental car directly at the airport.
Train, bus, taxi or car: a comparison
For one or two people with suitcases the train offers the best balance of time and price. For three or four people going to a specific address, the cost of a taxi per person comes close to the train fare.
| Option | Time to the centre | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SKA1 train to Kraków Główny | about 18-20 min | PLN 20 per person | hotels near the station, the Old Town, connecting trains |
| Bus 300 (daytime) | about 40-60 min | PLN 8 per person (60 min) | a tight budget, light luggage, the western part of the city |
| Night bus 902 | about 40-60 min | metropolitan ticket | arrivals after the last train |
| Kraków Airport Taxi | about 25-40 min | PLN 109-129 per car | families, lots of luggage, late arrivals |
| Ride-hailing app | about 25-40 min | variable | comparing prices across several apps |
| Rental car from the airport | about 25-30 min | PLN 99 delivery + daily rate | stays of several days, trips outside Kraków |
The times assume no major traffic. At rush hour a taxi or bus can take longer, the train does not.
The train from the airport to Kraków Główny (SKA1)
The SKA1 line is operated by Koleje Małopolskie, the regional rail company. It runs from Kraków Lotnisko (the airport station) via Kraków Główny to Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia, so you can also reach the Wieliczka Salt Mine without changing trains.
Kraków Lotnisko station is next to the terminal, behind the multi-storey car park. A covered footbridge leads to it, so you stay dry with your suitcase. During the day trains run roughly every half hour, less often early in the morning and late in the evening. The first trains leave at about 4:00 and the last at about 1:00 at night, but the times change with each timetable, so check them before you fly.
Train tickets from the airport
- Price: PLN 20 for a standard ticket from Kraków Lotnisko to Kraków Główny, PLN 24 to Wieliczka (fares published by the airport).
- Luggage: carried free of charge.
- Where to buy: from the ticket machine on the train (cash or card), at the ticket office on the Kraków Lotnisko platform (open 8:10-19:45), on the Koleje Małopolskie website and in the KOLEO and Jakdojade apps.
The train arrives at Kraków Główny, about 10-15 minutes on foot from the Main Market Square. On the way it stops at Kraków Łobzów, among others, which is handy if you are staying in the Krowodrza or Bronowice districts.
Buses from the airport: lines 300, 209 and night bus 902
Metropolitan lines 209 and 300 and night line 902 leave from the stop by the terminal. For most places in the centre, line 300 is the most convenient.
- 300 is a fast line with a limited number of stops. It runs towards Osiedle Podwawelskie and stops at Jubilat and Muzeum Narodowe, among others, from where you can walk to the Market Square or take a tram.
- 209 is a suburban line that does not enter the city centre proper. For visitors it is usually less convenient.
- 902 is a night bus. It is useful when your plane lands after the last train.
The ride to the centre takes about 40-60 minutes. Current departures are shown on a screen by the information point in the arrivals hall, and the timetable is on the MPK (city transport) website and in Jakdojade.
Which bus ticket do you need?
Metropolitan (agglomeration) tickets are valid at the airport. According to the fares published by the airport, a 60-minute ticket costs PLN 8 (reduced fare PLN 4 for those entitled), a 90-minute ticket PLN 9 and a 24-hour ticket for zones I+II+III PLN 25. You can buy a ticket from the machine on level 0 of the terminal (arrivals hall), from the machine at the stop (cash or card) or by card from the machine on the bus.
Taxi from Kraków Airport: how much is a ride to the centre?
The airport's official operator, Kraków Airport Taxi, uses fixed prices based on distance, regardless of the time of day or traffic. A ride to the Old Town usually falls into the PLN 109 zone (12-14.9 km) or the PLN 129 zone (15-18.9 km).
| Distance from the airport | Price per ride |
|---|---|
| 8-11.9 km | PLN 89 |
| 12-14.9 km | PLN 109 |
| 15-18.9 km | PLN 129 |
| 19-22.9 km | PLN 149 |
| 23-27 km | PLN 169 |
The price is for the whole car, not per person. Rides over 27 km are agreed with the driver, with a cap of PLN 8 per km. You can pay by card or in cash, and the driver will issue an invoice. A ride-hailing app can be cheaper outside rush hour, but the price changes from minute to minute, so compare it before you order.
A rental car collected at the airport
If you are staying in Kraków for a few days and plan trips outside the city, you can collect a car as soon as you land. At ANSCars, delivery of a car to Kraków Airport costs PLN 99, and returning it at the airport also costs PLN 99. You can also return the car free of charge at our office at ul. Opolska 12.
Handovers take place during office hours: Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, Saturday 9:00-13:00. If you arrive outside these hours, a handover can be arranged in advance for an extra PLN 60. At pick-up we complete an electronic handover report with photos of the car, and you receive the link by text message. The main rules for pick-up and return are summarised on our rental terms page.
Example: cost for 3 days
A class B car, for example a Toyota Yaris Hybrid or similar, costs PLN 119 per day on a 1-3 day rental. Three days cost PLN 357, or PLN 555 with delivery and return at the airport. If you return the car to the office on ul. Opolska, you pay PLN 456. The price includes insurance (OC, AC, NNW), assistance and 400 km for each day, which is 1,200 km for the whole rental.
For comparison: two taxi rides airport - centre - airport cost about PLN 218-258, with no way of getting to Wieliczka, Zakopane or Ojców. All rates are in our price list, and the rules for airport pick-up are on the Kraków Airport car rental page. Which documents to bring as a foreign driver is explained in our guide to renting a car in Poland as a foreigner.
Before you drive into the centre, it helps to know two local rules: paid parking applies Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 22:00 (in sub-zone A on Sundays too), and the whole area within the fourth ring road is a Clean Transport Zone. We cover them in our articles on parking in Kraków (in Polish) and on the Kraków Clean Transport Zone.
Picking someone up by car: the terminal and Kiss&Fly
If someone collects you from the airport, they can stop free of charge in the Kiss&Fly zone for up to 8 minutes, including entry and exit. Free entry is allowed once a day.
The zone is on the main access road, by the entrance to the arrivals hall. After 8 minutes you pay for every started 4 minutes, and each further entry on the same day costs PLN 5 for every started 4 minutes. The driver may not leave the car. For longer stays there are car parks: the multi-storey P1 and the open-air P2 and P3. You take a ticket at the entrance and pay at the automatic pay stations.
The way back: how much time to allow for the trip to the airport?
From the centre to the airport, allow at least 45 minutes by train and about 60 minutes by taxi or car at rush hour. On top of that, add the check-in time required by your airline.
The train itself takes about 18-20 minutes, but you need to add the walk to Kraków Główny, waiting for the train (up to 30 minutes during the day) and the walk across the footbridge to the terminal. Bus 300 and taxis sit in the same traffic as other cars, especially on weekday mornings and afternoons.
If you are returning a rental car at the airport, book the return time with a margin and fill up beforehand, because ANSCars uses a like-for-like fuel policy. Missing fuel at return costs PLN 200 plus the cost of the fuel, and a return more than 59 minutes late without consent means an extra charge. The rules on late returns are in our rental terms.
Which option to choose? Three typical situations
The best choice depends on your arrival time, the number of people and what you plan to do once you arrive.
- A weekend in Kraków, staying in the Old Town, one or two people: the train to Kraków Główny. PLN 40 for two people, with a predictable journey time.
- A family with children and four suitcases, landing at 23:30: a taxi to the hotel. PLN 109-129 for the whole car, with no changes.
- A week in the Małopolska region with trips to the mountains: a car collected at the airport. Seven days in class C, for example a Kia Ceed SW or similar, cost PLN 945 (PLN 135 per day) plus PLN 99 for delivery, with 2,800 km included.
If you are flying in from abroad and do not have a Polish driving licence, check the rules in our article on renting a car as a foreigner. You can request a car with airport pick-up through the booking form.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the train from Kraków Airport to Kraków Główny?
A standard Koleje Małopolskie ticket from Kraków Lotnisko to Kraków Główny costs PLN 20, and to Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia PLN 24. Luggage travels free. You can buy the ticket from the machine on the train, at the ticket office on the platform, on the operator's website or in the KOLEO and Jakdojade apps. Fares can change, so check them before you travel.
How do I get from the airport to the centre at night?
After the last train, which usually leaves at about 1:00, you are left with night bus 902 and a taxi. The bus is cheap but slower and runs infrequently. Kraków Airport Taxi has fixed prices regardless of the time of day, so a night ride to the Old Town costs the same as a daytime one, usually PLN 109 or PLN 129.
How far is Kraków Airport from the Main Market Square?
The airport is in Balice, about 13-15 km by road from the Main Market Square. By car with no traffic it takes about 25-30 minutes, and by train to Kraków Główny about 18-20 minutes. From the station to the Market Square is a 10-15 minute walk through the Galeria Krakowska shopping centre or along Floriańska Street.
Where can I buy a bus ticket at Kraków Airport?
You can buy a metropolitan ticket from the machine in the arrivals hall (level 0 of the terminal), from the machine at the MPK bus stop, which takes cash and cards, or by card from the machine on the bus. A 60-minute ticket costs PLN 8, or PLN 4 for those entitled to a reduced fare. Buying the ticket in an app before you leave the terminal is also convenient.
Can I collect a rental car at the airport and return it to the office?
Yes. At ANSCars, delivery to Kraków Airport costs PLN 99, and you can return the car free of charge at our office at ul. Opolska 12. Returning it at the airport also costs PLN 99. We agree the handover time when you book, and a handover outside office hours costs an extra PLN 60.
How long can I stop for free outside the terminal to pick someone up?
In the Kiss&Fly zone you can stop free of charge for up to 8 minutes, including entry and exit, once a day. After that you pay for every started 4 minutes, and further entries on the same day cost PLN 5 for every started 4 minutes. For a longer wait, use car park P1, P2 or P3.
Check availability and the price in a few seconds. Pick-up at ul. Opolska 12 or at Kraków Airport.