Kraków John Paul II International Airport is the second biggest airport in Poland and the gateway to its southern regions, including Kraków and Katowice. It's located roughly 12 kilometers from Kraków and has both domestic and international flights to destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and the USA. It first opened for civil aviation in 1967 and today sees over 10 million passengers per year. The current terminal opened in 2016 and there are already plans to build a new one to increase capacity.
Major airlines at the airport – LOT, Ryanair, Wizz Air
Although Kraków Airport is not considered a hub for any airline, Ryanair has a significant presence serving dozens of destinations in Europe. To a lesser extent, LOT Polish Airlines, Poland's National Carrier also flies to and from this airport, but Warsaw Chopin Airport remains its official hub of operations. The airport offers direct flights throughout Europe and also connects to several long-haul destinations, the farthest being Chicago in the US.
See airlines operating at Kraków John Paul II International Airport
How to check in at KRK
Checking in at Kraków Airport is no different than anywhere else. You can check in online, a handy option offered by most airlines that opens 24-48 hours before departure. You can also check in using one of the self-service kiosks located in the main departure area. At those kiosks, you can also print your bag tags and bring your luggage to a staffed counter or a checked luggage station. Lastly, you may check in at a manned counter depending on which airline you fly with. Beware - some airlines charge extra fees to check in this way!
Baggage check-in opens six hours before the scheduled departure time and closes depending on the airlines' individual policies.
Terminal layout and gates
Kraków Airport has only 1 terminal with a total of 18 gates, serving both domestic and international flights.
Schengen Area and Domestic flights do not require passing through any checks, whereas international flights require clearing passport control.
Level 0 of the airport is for arrivals and Level 1 is for departures. There is an observation deck on Level 2.
Dining options at the airport
Kraków Airport offers several dining options. Some of the most popular venues at the airport are:
American Restaurant: Found in the passenger terminal, departure area for Schengen flights, this is the place to go if you crave a juicy burger the way it's made in America.
Boccone Trattoria: Italian pizza and pasta with guaranteed high quality and original taste. Located in the Schengen departure area.
Coffee Minute: One of the oldest brands in Kraków Airport, famous for its delicious coffee, sandwiches, and light snacks.
Lounges at Kraków International Airport
If you seek some comfort, food, or just a place to relax, the two airport lounges are a suitable option.
The Sky Lounge is accessible to SkyTeam Elite Plus members who travel via non-Schengen countries whereas the Business Lounge is accessible to Schengen and Non-Schengen passengers.
Both lounges offer fast wifi access, plentiful food and snacks, and comfortable seating areas.
Transportation to and from the airport
Kraków International Airport is well-connected to the Kraków Old Town as well as the whole surrounding region by various modes of transportation.
Train: This is the fastest and most convenient travel option. Train Route 1 connects the airport with Wieliczka Marketplace Salt Mine (24 PLN) and Kraków Main Station (20 PLN). Buy a ticket from the machines in the passenger terminal or at the train station, or from the ticket conductor on board.
Public Bus: The Agglomeration Bus Lines run 2 daily bus services (209 and 300) and 1 nightly service (902) to destinations in the region, including the city center. Prices vary depending on distance - from 4 to 8 PLN. Additionally, the bus operator PKS Tarnobrzeg also connects Kraków Airport with Szczyglice, Mydlniki Wapiennik, and Zabierzów Młyn.
Private Bus: Several private bus companies stop at Kraków International Airport. Some of them are Neobus, Flixbus, and Modultrans.
Taxi: Krakow Airport Taxi is the official taxi service with fixed rates depending on distance. The price for a trip to the city center is around 80-120 PLN.
Should you want to rent a car, several of the world's larger car rental companies have a presence at the airport. Find them at level +1 of the passenger terminal.
Parking when traveling from KRK
Both short-term and long-term parking are available at Kraków International Airport.
The Internal Traffic System (Kiss&Fly zone) is free to enter and stay for up to 8 minutes. After that, a fee of 5 PLN applies for each additional 4 minutes.
The multi-story car park (P1) and the two open-air car parks (P2/P3) provide long-term parking. Prices depend on which car park you use and the duration of your stay: around 15 PLN per hour, 140-160 PLN per day, and 20-30 PLN for each additional day.
Hotels close to the airport
There are no hotels inside the airport but a few hotels are close by. The closest hotel is Hilton Garden Inn, mere meters outside of the terminal building. It is a modern hotel with upscale amenities. A lower-budget option is the Hampton by Hilton, about 1.5 km south of Kraków Airport. To see more available hotels near the airport, follow the link below.
Krakow, Poland
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