The Balice airport sees more and more arrivals each year, especially from abroad. The airport is situated west of the city and there is not much accommodation available on the spot, so most tourists will have to reach Kraków once they arrive. Let’s see how to get around to organising a convenient transfer from Balice to Kraków without spending a fortune on this.
How to get to Kraków from Balice
When planning the logistics of your transfer from the airport, it’s good to review all the options. You can use public transport: a bus or a train. You can choose one of the two available bus lines: one will take you to the railway station in Kraków (208), while the other one (252) runs to Osiedle Podwawelskie. 208 runs once an hour, whereas 252 departs from the airport every half an hour. Both operate during the day, from 5 AM to 11 PM. If you arrive at night, you will have to take the night line 902, which takes you straight to the railway station in Kraków. Alternatively, you can choose a train from the airport, which runs to the main railway station in the centre of Kraków, and sometimes even further on, to Wieliczka, which means you can reach the southernmost parts of the city on the way. The major advantage of this option is the price. On the other hand, you have to remember that neither a bus or a train will take you straight to the doorstep of your hotel, unless it’s exactly on the route and near the stop.
While looking at the ways to get out of the airport, you can also consider a taxi. Near the terminal you will find Airport Taxi cars, but you can also choose a taxi from another company or go for Uber/Bolt. This will cost you more than public transport, depending on the time and day of the week. Taxis follow their specific tariffs, and you have to remember that travelling by night or on Sunday will be much more expensive than a regular journey on a weekday.
You can also choose a minibus to take you to Kraków from the Balice airport. This service is offered by a licensed provider and the journey on one of these buses is a comfortable and pleasant experience. You can book the transfer from Balice to Kraków, schedule the exact departure time and indicate your destination. This means the minibus will be waiting for you when you arrive and take you straight to the doorstep of the hotel you have chosen. The major advantage of this solution is the fact that you know the price in advance, which is much more convenient than travelling by taxi, and just as comfortable.
How to book a transfer to Kraków from Balice?
Many tourists like to book their journey in advance to be sure that they will reach their final destination swiftly and smoothly, right after the plane touches down. No wonder that airport transfers are so popular, because you can book them online before you start your journey. This is impossible with public transport: in this case, you have to adjust to the fixed timetable. When choosing a taxi, it is sometimes possible, but even if a company offers the option of early booking, it will not be able to predict the exact cost of the transfer. It seems that the best solution is to book a minibus to take you from Balice to Kraków. You can plan the transfer in advance and calculate the cost well ahead of your journey.
Once you decide to go for the minibus transfer, you go to the website of the service provider and enter the exact time and date of your arrival. Remember to include the number of people and the destination you want to reach. Once you confirm these parameters, you will receive the information about the price. The more people travel on the same route, the cheaper the rate per person will be. It’s a great solution when you’re travelling in a group of more than 4 people. A taxi will hardly ever accommodate a larger group and you often have to book two taxis, which may be rather expensive.
