I had just spent the night at the Hilton Garden Inn Krakow Airport — and as I mentioned in this article in which I recommended staying there, the location of this hotel property is incredibly convenient in terms of being right at the airport; but not so convenient if you want to be near the city center of Kraków itself.
Train From Kraków Airport to the City Center: A Comfortable, Quick and Inexpensive Ride
The train station is conveniently located next to the lobby of the hotel property — which is shown in the above photograph — and underground. If you are not staying as a guest at the Hilton Garden Inn Krakow Airport, the entrance to the train station is located near the passenger terminal at the rear of the multiple-story parking garage.
I went downstairs to the relatively new Kraków Lotnisko train station; and the cost to get from the airport to the city center of Kraków one way is nine złotys — or approximately $2.46 in United States dollars. A return ticket costs 16 złotys — or approximately $4.36 in United States dollars. The cost to have a dog travel with you is three złotys. Purchasing a ticket in advance is not necessary, as automated ticket machines are available in the train station; and they accept payment via credit card or debit card in addition to cash. One of those machines is shown at the right in the above photograph.
I boarded the train — which was rather new — and it was quite empty and clean. The ride from the airport to the city center is approximately 17 minutes. The connection is operated by Koleje Małopolskie, which is a regional railways company operating in the Małopolska Region.
The seats were arguably more comfortable than those found in the economy class cabin of some airlines. Trains are equipped with air conditioning, electrical power outlets, access to Wi-Fi, and ticket machines. All trains operate seven days per week.
You will not be charged extra for bringing luggage aboard the train; and there is plenty of space for baggage in the open overhead rack, through which you can see your belongings if you are seated underneath them. All trains also have designated spaces for disabled passengers and persons with reduced mobility.
As I had my carry-on bag with me because I was between hotel stays — in fact, I was heading back to Warsaw by train later that evening — I did not want to carry it around while exploring central Kraków; so I left it at this luggage room facility on the lower level of Kraków Glówny, which is the central train station. I paid four złotys to store my bag for the day; and I received a claim check in return.
The prices for storing luggage at this facility for the day — from 7:00 in the morning through 10:00 in the evening — are as follows:
- Little luggage — three złotys; or approximately 82 cents in United States dollars
- Middle luggage — four złotys; or approximately $1.09 in United States dollars
- Big luggage — six złotys; or approximately $1.64 in United States dollars
- Clothing — three złotys; or approximately 82 cents in United States dollars
The luggage storage room is located near Platform 5 of the Kraków Glówny train station…
…just head down the stairs shown in the background of this photograph.
Construction was apparently ongoing outside when I emerged from the Kraków Glówny train station, which is connected to a busy shopping mall known as Galeria Krakowska.
Passengers for the Kraków Glówny train station actually enter through the shopping mall — at least, when I visited.
Summary
Riding on the train from the Kraków Lotnisko train station to Kraków Glówny was inexpensive, quiet, efficient and comfortable. I found myself wishing that the experience could be replicated on some train and subway lines elsewhere in the world — as well as aboard some airplanes.
In addition to purchasing your ticket via one of the ticket machines at the train station, you can also purchase your ticket using one of these methods:
- Ticket machine in passenger terminal, level 0 — cash payment or payment with credit card or debit card
- Train conductor aboard the train — cash payment only
- Book your ticket in advance
All photographs ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
