Venue and Travel

Welcome to Kraków!

Venue

Welcome to Novotel Krakow City West, your venue for The Academy 2024!

Why here :

Seamless Travel Connections: With the Przybyszewskiego bus stop just 150 meters away, and excellent links to the airport, main train station, and bus station, you’ll be well-connected throughout your stay.
All-in-one: The Academy’s plenary and meeting rooms are located within the same building, so you can focus on your sessions without any travel hassle.
All necessary amenities: Start your day with a rich breakfast, stay fueled with lunch and dinner provided on-site, and enjoy the full comfort of this well-equipped venue.
Convenient Location: Enjoy easy access to Krakow’s main attractions and significant landmarks

07.08.2018 Gdansk , wyspa sobieszewska zlot . portret . fot. Weronika Małachowska / ZHP

How to get there

Get there with a Plane

Kraków’s main airport, John Paul II Kraków-Balice International Airport (KRK), is located about 11 km (7 miles) west of the city center.

Sustainable Travel Tips for Flying:

Carbon Offset Programs: Many airlines offer carbon offset programs that allow you to offset the emissions from your flight.
Choose Direct Flights: Direct flights have a smaller carbon footprint compared to connecting flights.
Fly with Airlines with Eco Initiatives: Some airlines implement more sustainable practices, such as reducing plastic use or using more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Getting from the Airport to the City Center:

Kraków Airport is well-connected to the city by public transport:

Train (Fastest and Greenest Option): The Kraków Airport train station (Kraków Lotnisko) is located near Terminal 1. Trains run every 30 minutes to Kraków Główny (the main train station in the city center) and take approximately 17 minutes. Using electric trains is a more sustainable choice, as they are powered by renewable energy in Poland.
Bus (More Flexible, but Slower): Two public buses, 208 and 252, connect the airport to the city center. Additionally, bus 902 runs at night. The buses are operated by MPK Kraków (the city’s public transport company), and they run on eco-friendly standards, using hybrid or electric vehicles on certain routes. The ride to the city center takes about 35-40 minutes.
Tram (Indirect): While the tram system does not connect directly to the airport, you can take a bus to the nearest tram stop (for example, Kraków Business Park) and continue to the city via tram. Trams are an eco-friendly option as they run on electricity.

Get there with a train

The main train station, Kraków Główny, is centrally located next to the Galeria Krakowska shopping center, just a short walk from the Old Town. This station is a hub for domestic and international rail services, including high-speed trains.

Sustainable Travel Tips for Trains:

Travel by High-Speed Rail: High-speed trains (e.g., the PKP Intercity Pendolino) are more energy-efficient and eco-friendly compared to planes, especially over shorter distances.
Use Electric Trains: Poland’s rail network increasingly uses electric-powered trains, which have a much lower carbon footprint compared to diesel alternatives.

Getting to Kraków Główny by Train:

Domestic Connections: Kraków is well connected to other Polish cities like Warsaw, Wrocław, and Gdańsk via PKP Intercity trains. The EIP (Pendolino) and IC (Intercity) trains are the most sustainable options.
International Connections: There are direct trains from several European cities, such as Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Berlin. International trains generally arrive at Kraków Główny, allowing for an eco-friendly way to travel across borders.

Getting from the Train Station to the City:

Trams and Buses: The Kraków Główny station is a major hub for trams and buses. The Dworzec Główny tram stop right outside the station connects you to the city’s extensive tram network, which runs on electricity. Tram lines such as 3, 4, 14, 24, and 52 stop here and can take you to different districts in the city.
Walking: The main attractions, including the Old Town and the Wawel Castle, are within walking distance (about 15-20 minutes) from the train station, offering an eco-friendly and healthy alternative.

Get there with a bus

The MDA Bus Station (Małopolski Dworzec Autobusowy) is located right next to the Kraków Główny train station. It serves as the primary hub for both domestic and international bus services. Many buses from European countries, as well as cities across Poland, arrive at this station.

Sustainable Travel Tips for Buses:

Choose Modern, Eco-Friendly Buses: Many long-distance bus companies (like FlixBus and PolskiBus, now part of FlixBus) are starting to invest in low-emission or hybrid buses.
Carpooling Buses: Some bus companies offer shared transport options that reduce the environmental impact of individual travel.

Getting to Kraków by Bus:

Domestic Connections: Kraków MDA is well-connected to cities like Warsaw, Wrocław, Katowice, and Zakopane via companies like FlixBus and PKS Polonus.
International Connections: International buses from cities such as Berlin, Prague, and Vienna also arrive at this station. These buses are often affordable and environmentally friendly, especially compared to air travel for short distances.

Getting from the Bus Station to the City:

Tram and Bus Access: The MDA Bus Station is adjacent to Kraków Główny and shares access to the same public transportation network. Trams and buses from the Dworzec Główny stop can easily take you to any part of the city.
Walking: Like the train station, the bus station is within walking distance of the Old Town, making it easy to explore the city sustainably on foot.

Getting around Kraków:

Kraków has a well-developed public transport system, primarily consisting of trams and buses operated by MPK Kraków. The city has invested in eco-friendly transportation, including electric buses and hybrid vehicles, to minimize the environmental impact of urban mobility.

Trams: Kraków’s tram system is extensive and runs on electricity, making it one of the most sustainable ways to get around the city. It operates day and night, with routes connecting the city center to the suburbs.
Buses: The bus fleet in Kraków includes several electric and hybrid buses, further promoting green travel. They cover areas not served by trams.
Bike-sharing: Kraków offers Wavelo, a public bike-sharing system, ideal for eco-conscious travelers who prefer cycling.

Traveling sustainably across Europe to Kraków

It is possible through a combination of low-impact transportation options.
Here’s a breakdown of the most environmentally-friendly ways to reach Kraków:

1. By Train

Trains are one of the most sustainable forms of transportation, with low carbon emissions per passenger. Many major European cities are connected to Kraków by an efficient rail network. You can travel overland by train, minimizing your carbon footprint. Here are some examples of train routes:

From Germany (Berlin): Direct trains run from Berlin to Kraków. You can take an InterCity or EuroCity train via the German and Polish railway networks. The journey takes about 7-9 hours.

From France (Paris): A train from Paris to Kraków would involve multiple transfers (e.g., via Berlin or Vienna). The Paris-Berlin leg can be done with a night train to save time and emissions. From Berlin, continue to Kraków.

From Austria (Vienna): Direct trains run between Vienna and Kraków in approximately 6.5 hours. ÖBB offers services with climate-friendly options.

From Czech Republic (Prague): Direct trains from Prague to Kraków run frequently, with a travel time of about 7 hours.

From Slovakia (Bratislava): Travel time from Bratislava to Kraków is about 6 hours by train, with one or two changes.

From the UK (London): Take the Eurostar to Paris or Brussels, and then continue to Kraków via Berlin or another central hub.

From Italy (Milan): You can travel from Milan to Kraków by train via Vienna, typically requiring one or two transfers. This option takes about 17-20 hours.
Train routes often combine high-speed trains with scenic journeys, making them a sustainable and pleasant option, especially across Western and Central Europe.

2. Helpful Websites for Train Travel

Trainline
Covers most European train operators, including Deutsche Bahn (Germany), SNCF (France), ÖBB (Austria), PKP Intercity (Poland), and others.
You can compare and book tickets, including international journeys to Kraków.
Offers mobile tickets and eco-conscious travel suggestions.
Deutsche Bahn
Germany’s national railway, offering connections from Germany and across Europe to Kraków.
Includes high-speed and cross-border trains like EuroCity (EC) and InterCity (IC).
ÖBB
Austrian Federal Railways, useful for routes from Vienna or Western Europe via Austria to Kraków.
NightJet trains are a great sustainable option.
Polish Railways (PKP Intercity)
Poland’s national railway operator, with information on domestic trains within Poland and cross-border services from neighboring countries.
Timetables and ticket booking options.
SNCF
France’s national rail company, for connections from France to Kraków via cities like Berlin or Vienna.
SNCF’s TGV trains connect well with German and Austrian rail systems.
European Sleeper
A night train operator that runs across Europe. Ideal if you want an overnight train from Western Europe to destinations closer to Kraków.

3. By Bus

For budget-conscious and sustainable travel, buses are another low-carbon option, although they may be slower. European bus networks such as FlixBus and Eurolines operate routes to Kraków from most major cities.

From Berlin: FlixBus offers direct routes from Berlin to Kraków, with an estimated travel time of 8-9 hours.

From Prague: FlixBus operates several buses daily, taking about 6-7 hours.

From Vienna: Buses from Vienna to Kraków take about 7 hours.
Longer distances, such as from Paris, will require overnight buses or multiple stops. However, buses generally consume less energy per passenger than cars or airplanes.

4. Helpful Websites for Bus Travel

FlixBus
One of Europe’s largest bus networks with connections to Kraków from most major European cities, including Berlin, Prague, and Vienna.
Offers an eco-friendly mode of travel, and their site provides ticket booking, schedules, and discounts.
Eurolines
A European bus network offering long-distance international routes across Europe, including connections to Kraków.
Timetables, ticket booking, and route information available.
RegioJet
A Central European bus and train operator, serving routes from countries like the Czech Republic and Slovakia to Poland.
Affordable and sustainable options for bus travel to Kraków.

3. By Air (Only as a Last Resort)

https://krakowairport.pl/en/homepage/

Train from airport to the city centre:

https://www.krakowairport.pl/en/train-en

By planning your journey using sustainable transport, you’ll help minimize the environmental impact of your travel to Kraków.

Skyscanner
While flying is not the most sustainable option, if needed, Skyscanner helps you find the most direct and eco-friendly flights. Use their “Greener Choices” filter to find flights with lower CO₂ emissions.

6.General Trip Planning Tools

Rome2Rio
Offers detailed comparisons of travel modes (train, bus, car, flight) across Europe. You can see the environmental impact and travel time for each option to Kraków.
EcoPassenger
Allows you to compare the environmental impact (CO₂ emissions, energy consumption) of different modes of transport, like trains, buses, and cars, for your journey to Kraków.
Omio
Travel that moves you. Book train, bus, flight and ferry tickets
These platforms will help you find the most sustainable and efficient travel options for your trip to Kraków, combining comfort, affordability, and low environmental impact.