Page 230 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow

228  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Buses, Trams and Taxis

Krakow is covered by an extensive public transport network.
Trams and buses are frequent on weekdays, with rush hours
between 7 and 8am and 2 and 5pm, but less so at weekends
and on public holidays. A few trams and buses operate at
night. Tickets, valid for both buses and trams, are inexpensive,
especially if you opt for a 24- or 48-hour travel pass. A number
of private firms operate minibus services, which will stop on Ticket machine
request within the inner and outer city. Taxi ranks are located Travelling by Bus
around the Old Town, and their prices are reasonable.
Krakow is well served by buses
that take passengers to all
ticket for up to 20 people parts of the city. Bus routes
costs 36zł. If you are travelling numbered from 100 to 194
to zone 2, a single ticket is operate in the city centre and
priced at 4zł and a ticket for those numbered 201 to 297
two journeys is 7.60zł. Children link the city with outer
under 4 and senior citizens suburbs and villages. Express
over 70 travel for free. buses, which do not go to
After boarding, passengers every stop, begin with a 3
must validate each ticket (even or a 5 and are three digits
those purchased on board) long. The frequency of buses
by inserting it in one of the varies from every few minutes
orange machines. Weekly tickets to approximately every
require the holder to carry 20 minutes Monday–Friday,
identification. but they are less regular
Tourists planning a route at a Krakow at weekends and on
tram stop public holidays.
Ticket Inspectors Bus stops are marked by a
Tickets and fares
Tickets are subject to regular blue sign with a picture of a
One type of ticket is used for checks on Krakow’s trams and bus on it. When boarding the
both trams and buses. Tickets buses. Ticket inspectors operate bus remember to validate your
can be purchased from kiosks in plain clothes but carry ID ticket. Approaching stops are
on the street, from ticket bearing an MPK symbol and read out by a pre-recorded
machines at some stops and on a photograph. A passenger voice and – in the newer
most trams and buses. There are without a valid, punched vehicles – displayed on an
two zones: zone 1 covers the ticket is liable to pay a fine, electronic sign. To request
city of Krakow and includes all which is up to 250zł. Fines a stop, push one of the red
tram and bus routes numbered may be paid on the spot or buttons near the doors.
100 to 194. Zone 2 covers the at a post office with a penalty Some of the more modern
outer suburbs, outlying villages ticket. Foreign visitors, however, buses have low floors, which
and John Paul II Airport. must pay on the spot. allow easier wheelchair, pram
Several types of ticket are Machines for checking and pushchair access.
available: in zone 1, a ticket the validity of your ticket are Bus routes beginning with a
for a single journey by tram located throughout the city. 6 or a 9 are night buses. These
or bus is 3.80zł, a ticket for
two journeys by bus or tram
costs 7.20zł. Tickets valid for
unlimited travel within a
specific time period include
the 20-minute ticket, which
costs 2.80zł (useful if you’re
only travelling a few stops),
as well as a 40-minute (3.80zł),
60-minute (5zł), 90-minute
(6zł), 24-hour (15zł), 48-hour
(24zł) and 72-hour (36zł) ticket.
A weekly ticket is also available,
which costs 48zł. Family tickets,
allowing for unlimited travel for
two adults and two children at
weekends, cost 16zł. A group Interior of main bus station in Krakow