City Overview:

WELCOME TO KRAKOW, a city wrapped in legend, where time flows differently, and where every moment becomes a moment of history. For centuries Krakow was the capital of Poland, the seat of kings, drawing great scholars and artists from the whole world. It is their talents and imagination we must thank for the city's rich legacy of unique historical relics, which reflect the most important trends in European culture.

The renaissance Royal Castle at Wawel, the gothic St Mary's Basilica, the historical trade pavilions of the Cloth Hall, the former separate Jewish city of Kazimierz, and even the Nowa Huta district, absorbed by Krakow together with its socialist-realist, industrial architecture, are all places which make a visit to Krakow extremely worthwhile.

Although the city no longer plays such an important administrative role, for many people, thanks to its rich history, Krakow nevertheless represents a synthesis of all things Polish, connecting tradition with modernity. In the special atmosphere of the beautiful and mysterious streets of the Old Town and Kazimierz you will find everything you need to allow you to escape from everyday life. Galleries full of exhibitions, cafes, pubs and restaurants: all of this is an integral part of any visit to Krakow. And all this is merely a modest part of what we can offer travellers seeking exciting destinations on the world map.

Hotel Information:

Petrus Hotel 3* BB

This pleasant hotel is located in a magnificent and peaceful part of Krakow, approximately 200 m from the park \"\"Shakti Twardowskiemo\"\". The city centre and the historical Old Town are situated approximately 1,5 km (30 minutes on foot) away. Bars, pubs and nightclubs are all in the area surrounding the hotel. Krakow Balice airport is approximately 20 minutes away on public transport.

The hotel was built in 2002 and consists of a total of 27 rooms, of which 7 are singles, 17 are doubles and 3 are three-bed rooms. There is a 24-hour reception with a hotel safe, a currency exchange desk, a café and a kiosk. Additional facilities include a TV room and an air-conditioned à la carte restaurant with a non-smoking area. Further facilities include a conference room, Internet access, a room and laundry service as well as car parking facilities and a garage. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and VISA are all accepted by the hotel.

How to get to the city centre from the airport?

Krakow airport actually lies 11km west of the city but getting to the centre and to the haven of your Krakow hotel or Krakow apartment is pretty straightforward. Outside of hiring a car and driving yourself, you've got three options:

BUS MKS provides a frequent bus service from the airport to the city centre. The bus stop is just to the right on exiting the airport and tickets are available either from the ticket machine (2.50 PLN) next to the information point in the passenger terminal or on board (3 PLN). Be aware that if you have any baggage larger than a rucksack, you'll be expected to purchase an additional ticket for this. Stamp tickets immediately after boarding to avoid fines.

The 192 service runs approximately every 20 minutes from 4:45am to just after 11pm. Alight at the main station,­ Dworec Glowny, where you'll find maps, info points, public transport connections and you'll be a mere 5 minutes walk from the main square. An alternative 208 service runs slightly less frequently though this is for those staying near to the Nowy Kleparz district. For both services, it's worth remembering that these services are not exclusive airport services and are normally pretty packed by about the halfway point of the journey. Journey time 25-35 minutes. Check out the MPK website for exact times and routes.

TAXI taxis will be on hand immediately upon leaving departures. A trip to the centre shouldn't cost more than 60-70 PLN (£12-15, 20 Euros, $25) Any more and they've seen you coming...

TRAIN Bit of a locomotive enthusiast? A recently opened service connecting the main rail station, Dworec Glowny, with Krakow airport runs approximately every half hour from 4am until midnight. Tickets are available on board for 8 PLN (£1.40, 2 Euros) or from a machine in the main terminal building near the information desk for 4.00 PLN (70p, 1 Euro). The platform is approximately 200 metres from the passenger terminal though a free shuttle bus is on hand for the weary. Journey time is approx. 15 minutes.

Top Attractions:

1. Wawel Royal Castle
2. Basilica of the Virgin Mary's
3. Town Hall Tower
4. City Walls
5. Skalka Sanctuary
6. Tyniec Abbey
7. Kanonicza Street
8. Jewish Quarter
9. Krakow Synagogues
10. Collegium Maius

Optional Excursions:

1. Krakow Sightseeing Tour €39 pp
2. Auschwitz-Birkenau €39 pp
3. Wieliczka Salt Mine €39 pp