tickets
To learn about ticket validation in a given vehicle, as well as how to check how long your journey will be, head to the vehicle's dedicated article.
There are a number of types of tickets in Cracow, with the main difference between them being validity time and zone validity. There are also reduced-fare tickets, but because of the inconsistency of the information given on
the website with the information given by ticket controllers, we do not recommend buying reduced-fare tickets no matter your status.
It's important that we first underline that all public transport tickets in Cracow are valid on all means of public transport (though this does not include
urban rail and regular
trains - more on that below).
Cracow's zones
Cracow is divided into two public transport zones - the inner zone, called zone 1, includes the entire municipality of Cracow, though excluding the
airport and Wieliczka Salt Mine. Those are included in the second zone, which also includes orbital towns, cities, and villages.
types of tickets
20-minute ticket - zone 1 - 2.8 zł [0.7 EUR]
This type of ticket is great for short inner-city trips, such as to your hotel. In 20 minutes, you can traverse most of the city centre.
40-minute ticket - zone 1 - 3.8 zł [0.9 EUR]
A 40-minute ticket covers most of Cracow, and especially the areas you are likely to visit as a tourist.
single-journey ticket - zone 1 - 3.8 zł [0.9 EUR]
This ticket allows you to travel any one journey or for up to 40 minutes by any public transport. This means that this ticket is only valid in the vehicle you validate it in (or for 40 minutes if you leave the vehicle you validated your ticket in).
single-journey ticket - zones 1 and 2 - 4.0 zł [0.93 EUR]
This ticket allows you to travel any one journey or for up to 40 minutes by any public transport in the entire aglomeration. This, however, means that this ticket is only valid in the vehicle you validate it in (or for 40 minutes if you leave the vehicle you validated your ticket in).
60-minute ticket - zone 1 - 5.0 zł [1.2 EUR]
This ticket covers the entirety of Cracow, and can even be used for two-way travel if you're only going to the store to pick something up.
60-minute ticket - zones 1 and 2 - 5.0 zł [1.2 EUR]
This ticket covers most of the aglomeration, and can even be used for two-way travel if you're only going to the store to pick something up.
90-minute ticket - zone 1 - 6.0 zł [1.4 EUR]
This ticket easily covers the entirety of Cracow, and can easily be used for two-way travel if you're only going to the store to pick something up, or perhaps even to a fast-food restaurant.
90-minute ticket - zones 1 and 2 - 6.0 zł [1.4 EUR]
This ticket covers pretty much the entire aglomeration, and can even be used for two-way travel if you're only going to the store to pick something up, or perhaps even to a fast-food restaurant.
double-journey ticket - zone 1 - 7.2 zł [1.7 EUR]
This ticket allows you to travel any two journeys with Cracow Municipality or for up to 40 minutes per validation by any public transport. This means that this ticket must be validated twice (see instructions on the ticket) and is only valid in the vehicles it has been validated in (or for 40 minutes if you leave the vehicle you validated your ticket in).
double-journey ticket - zones 1 and 2 - 7.6 zł [1.8 EUR]
This ticket allows you to travel any two journeys within Cracow's Aglomeration or for up to 40 minutes per validation by any public transport. This means that this ticket must be validated twice (see instructions on the ticket) and is only valid in the vehicles it has been validated in (or for 40 minutes if you leave the vehicle you validated your ticket in).
24-hour ticket - zone 1 - 15 zł [3.5 EUR]
A great option for tourists; this ticket allows you to travel by public transport freely within Cracow Municipality for 24 hours after validation.
24-hour ticket - zones 1 and 2 - 20 zł [4.6 EUR]
A great option for tourists living outside the Cracow Municipality; this ticket allows you to travel by public transport freely within Cracow Municipality for 24 hours after validation.
72-hour ticket - zone 1 - 36 zł [8.4 EUR]
A great option for tourists staying in Cracow for 3 days; this ticket allows you to travel by public transport freely within Cracow Municipality for 72 hours after validation, allowing you to see all of the attractions.
7-day ticket - zone 1 - 48 zł [11.1 EUR]
A great option for tourists staying in Cracow for a week; this ticket allows you to travel by public transport freely within Cracow Municipality for 72 hours after validation, allowing you to see all of the attractions. The great thing about it is that you only have to buy a ticket once, and won't have to worry about it for the rest of your trip.
7-day ticket - zones 1 and 2 - 62 zł [14.4 EUR]
A great option for tourists staying in Cracow Aglomeration for a week; this ticket allows you to travel by public transport freely within Cracow Municipality for 72 hours after validation, allowing you to see all of the attractions. The great thing about it is that you only have to buy a ticket once, and won't have to worry about it for the rest of your trip.
weekend family ticket - zone 1 - 16 zł [3.7 EUR]
This ticket allows up to 2 parents and their children to travel freely within the Cracow Municipaliy on Saturday and Sunday. This is great if it fits your intinerary.
weekend family ticket - zones 1 and 2 - 16 zł [3.7 EUR]
This ticket costs the same as its 1-zone equivalent and allows up to 2 parents and their children to travel freely within the Cracow Aglomeration on Saturday and Sunday. This is great if it fits your intinerary.
single-journey group ticket - zone 1 - 36 zł [8.4 EUR]
This ticket allows a group of up to 20 persons to travel any one journey or for up to 40 minutes by any public transport within Cracow's Municipality. This means that this ticket is only valid in the vehicle you validate it in (or for 40 minutes if you leave the vehicle you validated your ticket in).
single-journey group ticket - zones 1 and 2 - 46 zł [10.7 EUR]
This ticket allows a group of up to 20 persons to travel any one journey or for up to 40 minutes by any public transport within the entire Aglomeration. This means that this ticket is only valid in the vehicle you validate it in (or for 40 minutes if you leave the vehicle you validated your ticket in).
As you can see, there are a lot of types, but they are well-designed and catered to both tourists and locals. All of the tickets above can be purchased in any location that sells tickets.
buying tickets
In Cracow, the only sensible way to buy public transport tickets is using the ticket machines located all over the city. Whenever you will need to use public transport, you will easily find a machine.
If not, there are also in-vehicle machines in most trams and buses. You can read more about buying and validating tickets in the dedicated
articles of the various means of transport.
tram
To learn about ticket validation, standards in buses in Poland, finding routes, and the types of tram stops, head to our tram article.
Cracow has a medium-sized
tram system for Polish standards, with 27 lines and about 95 kilometers of tracks. Below is a metro-style map of the system.
what are trams in Cracow like?
Most of them are quite modern, especially those on more popular routes, meaning the routes you are more likely to take as a tourist.
Moreover, most Cracovian
trams have
in-tram ticket machines.
Cracow tram outside
Cracow tram seats
bus
There is nothing unique about the bus system in Cracow. For everything you need to know, head to our general city bus article.
Grzegorz recommends:
I hate saying this, but, if you can, take the tram over the bus.
It's not a huge hassle to take the bus, but there's a reason why trams exist in the first place.
bus outside
bus inside
urban rail
To learn about ticket validation, standards of urban rail in Poland, finding routes, and stations, head to our urban rail article.
Cracow's
urban rail system is called Szybka Kolej Aglomeracyjna (SKA for short) and is a rather unique one. It is comprised of 3 lines, out of which 2 are East-West lines and one is a North-South line.
Cracow SKA map
The ticket system in SKA trains is only partially inteegrated with the ticket system of the rest of the public transport network in Cracow.
For journeys on the Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia - Kraków Główny (Cracow Main Station) line, you can either buy an integrated ticket valid for 70 minutes on all public transport
in the Cracow Municipality (for 5.4 zł [1.3 EUR]), or a one-time ticket valid 2 hours after validation for 4 zł [0.8 EUR].
For journeys on the Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia - Kraków Olszanica segment, the same applies to journeys from 1 to 14 kilometers. For journeys up to 20 kilometers, the 2-hour ticket costs 5 zł [1.2 EUR]. For journeys up to 25 kilometers,
it's 7 zł [1.6 EUR].
For journeys to Cracow Airport, you can only buy dedicated tickets for that specific route, which cost between 9 zł [2.1 EUR] and 12.5 zł [2.9 EUR].
For trips between Cracow Main Station and Skawina, there are only one-way tickets for 4.5 zł [1 EUR].
For trips between Cracow Main Station and Tarnów, Nowy Sącz, Krynica, or Jasło, there are only one-way tickets, which cost between 12 zł [2.8 EUR] and 18 zł [4.2 EUR].
An updated price scheme (in Polish, unfortunately) can be found on
the Lesser Poland Railways website.
SKA train
SKA train inside
bike
Cracow's bike sharing system (Wavelo) and bike rental scene is very generic. Everything you need to know can be found in the bike article.
Wavelo rental station
Wavelo locking unit
taxi/Uber
Read all about calling taxis and Ubers, as well as the prices in Poland, in our taxi/Uber article.
Our recommended
taxi company, Taxi Barbakan, is reachable under +48 609 400 400, and costs 7 zł [1.6 EUR] initiation fee and 2.3 zł [0.5 EUR] per kilometer.
good availability in Cracow
taxi waiting area in Cracow