Krakow - Advices for Travellers
First we should answer simply question: Does using public transportation is safe and easy for not Polish speaking visitors.
Well, all is up to personal point of view and experiences but in my opinion it's quite fine and foreign travellers should not worry about it very much.
Obviously, keeping an eyes on the luggage, pockets and trying to figured out which bus stop you should get out is not so easy but with a bit will it should be safe and trouble-free.
Crime rate in Poland is not so high in comparison to another European countries so being robbed it's usually an effect of total carelessness and naivety.
There are few things however you should remember.
If you're travelling with your own or rental car, do not leave any objects inside of it.
Even old jacket or some plastic bag might be sufficient target for some burglar who usually smash window panes, especially if car is parked at the area without CCTV.
It's recommended to hide everything in the boot especially items such as laptops, cameras, sat-nav's etc.
Also if you're having a lunch in restaurant or another public place, keep an eye on your handbag, mobile phones or another things you're putting on the table.
Another thing that is worth to notice are dishonest exchange offices that ripping off dozens of tourists everyday.
They usually have bright orange banners with huge advertisement like 'no commission' and so on to attract the biggest number of people.
Moreover their operating hours are much longer than normal honest kantor's (polish name of exchange office) and very often they also works on Sundays.
Generally if outside of the office you can see only one rate do not go inside.
In Poland good offices presents rates on the boards where you can see and compare buy and sale rates.
If you want to spend your money on something better than making reach cheaters avoid it.
Coming back to transportation which usually causes the biggest number or troubles to everyone.
When I should use a bus or train and when is better to take a taxi or private transport? To be honest all is up to you and how what is more important for you? More convenience and reliability or few quids saved by using public transport.
Generally there are some public transport connections in Krakow that are really attractive for travellers.
I'm talking about train line between main railway station and Krakow Airport.
Nowadays one way ticket costs 8 PLN, and there is no cheaper and better option to get to the city centre than this.
Things look different if your hotel is out of centre of Krakow or/and you're travelling in bigger party and having more luggage.
In that case using public transportation might become a nightmare and in the worst possible scenario you will waste few hours, tonnes of nerves and who knows how much money too! That why I recommend you go Google maps and find out where your hotel or apartment is exactly located to make a right choice of way to get there.
Don't also trust very much hotel's descriptions and ensures that you can tackle a distance of 6 kilometers in 15 minutes walk.
Most of the people who visit Krakow for more than 2 days planning a tour to Auschwitz (in Polish Oswiecim) to see former Death Camps established by Nazis during the WW2.
Auschwitz is located about 40 miles driving from Krakow and professional drivers usually can get there in 1 hour.
Many people do not realize about existence of the second Camp - Birkenau, that has been built about 2 miles from first one.
This, however is not a problem as Auschwitz Museum provides free shuttle bus that leaves Auschwitz to Birkenau every 30 minutes.
The problem with Auschwitz and public transport is, the Auschwitz - Oswiecim is not only tourist destination but a normal town and most of public buses and trains will not drop you off just at the entrance to it but somewhere in the city centre which is at least 2 miles from the Camp.
Also there is some common rule for not English speaking countries - the further from big cities you go, the less people know English.
The same story is in Poland.
In Krakow you shouldn't have any troubles with communication in English.
Of course I can't guarantee that any taxi driver or shop assistance will know something more than 'please' or 'pay more' but it's much more possible you will face situation like this out of the city.
For those who are hoping to learn some Polish during their short holidays in Krakow I have no good news.
Polish language is regarded as one of the hardest to spell from European languages and its grammar is also much more complicated than for instance English, Italian or French.
To give you an example, just try to spell the name of one of the Polish National Hero 'Tadeusz Kociuszko'.
Good luck.
Well, all is up to personal point of view and experiences but in my opinion it's quite fine and foreign travellers should not worry about it very much.
Obviously, keeping an eyes on the luggage, pockets and trying to figured out which bus stop you should get out is not so easy but with a bit will it should be safe and trouble-free.
Crime rate in Poland is not so high in comparison to another European countries so being robbed it's usually an effect of total carelessness and naivety.
There are few things however you should remember.
If you're travelling with your own or rental car, do not leave any objects inside of it.
Even old jacket or some plastic bag might be sufficient target for some burglar who usually smash window panes, especially if car is parked at the area without CCTV.
It's recommended to hide everything in the boot especially items such as laptops, cameras, sat-nav's etc.
Also if you're having a lunch in restaurant or another public place, keep an eye on your handbag, mobile phones or another things you're putting on the table.
Another thing that is worth to notice are dishonest exchange offices that ripping off dozens of tourists everyday.
They usually have bright orange banners with huge advertisement like 'no commission' and so on to attract the biggest number of people.
Moreover their operating hours are much longer than normal honest kantor's (polish name of exchange office) and very often they also works on Sundays.
Generally if outside of the office you can see only one rate do not go inside.
In Poland good offices presents rates on the boards where you can see and compare buy and sale rates.
If you want to spend your money on something better than making reach cheaters avoid it.
Coming back to transportation which usually causes the biggest number or troubles to everyone.
When I should use a bus or train and when is better to take a taxi or private transport? To be honest all is up to you and how what is more important for you? More convenience and reliability or few quids saved by using public transport.
Generally there are some public transport connections in Krakow that are really attractive for travellers.
I'm talking about train line between main railway station and Krakow Airport.
Nowadays one way ticket costs 8 PLN, and there is no cheaper and better option to get to the city centre than this.
Things look different if your hotel is out of centre of Krakow or/and you're travelling in bigger party and having more luggage.
In that case using public transportation might become a nightmare and in the worst possible scenario you will waste few hours, tonnes of nerves and who knows how much money too! That why I recommend you go Google maps and find out where your hotel or apartment is exactly located to make a right choice of way to get there.
Don't also trust very much hotel's descriptions and ensures that you can tackle a distance of 6 kilometers in 15 minutes walk.
Most of the people who visit Krakow for more than 2 days planning a tour to Auschwitz (in Polish Oswiecim) to see former Death Camps established by Nazis during the WW2.
Auschwitz is located about 40 miles driving from Krakow and professional drivers usually can get there in 1 hour.
Many people do not realize about existence of the second Camp - Birkenau, that has been built about 2 miles from first one.
This, however is not a problem as Auschwitz Museum provides free shuttle bus that leaves Auschwitz to Birkenau every 30 minutes.
The problem with Auschwitz and public transport is, the Auschwitz - Oswiecim is not only tourist destination but a normal town and most of public buses and trains will not drop you off just at the entrance to it but somewhere in the city centre which is at least 2 miles from the Camp.
Also there is some common rule for not English speaking countries - the further from big cities you go, the less people know English.
The same story is in Poland.
In Krakow you shouldn't have any troubles with communication in English.
Of course I can't guarantee that any taxi driver or shop assistance will know something more than 'please' or 'pay more' but it's much more possible you will face situation like this out of the city.
For those who are hoping to learn some Polish during their short holidays in Krakow I have no good news.
Polish language is regarded as one of the hardest to spell from European languages and its grammar is also much more complicated than for instance English, Italian or French.
To give you an example, just try to spell the name of one of the Polish National Hero 'Tadeusz Kociuszko'.
Good luck.
Source...