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The map of Krakow
You can download and print the map of Krakow centre with hotels and the conference venue (see Map of the area). You can also get more information about Krakow at the official websites:
http://krakow.zaprasza.net/mapy/
http://www.krakow.pl/en/
http://www.krakow-info.com/index.htm
Arriving at Krakow
By plane to Krakow
John Paul II Krakow-Balice International Airport, located about 15 km from the centre of Krakow, has direct connections to many European cities (Frankfurt, London, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Milan). There are also numerous connections via Warszawa to all European capitals and major cities of the world: http://www.lotnisko-balice.pl/. The centre of Krakow can easily be reached from the airport by bus (no.192 and no. 208) in ca. 35 minutes. The fare: PLN 2.50 (0.6 EURO) by bus no. 192; PLN 2.80 (0.7 EURO) by bus no. 208. You may also take a taxi, to be found in the front of the airport terminal. A cheaper alternative would be to call for a radio taxi: (12) 9669, (12) 9626, (12) 9622.
By plane to Warszawa (320 km north from Krakow)
The most convenient connections between the Warszawa-Okecie airport and the main railway station are provided by the City-Airport yellow bus service. The bus stop is right at the exit from the arrival hall. Get off at the Warszawa Centralna railway station. Alternatively, you can take the regular city bus no. 175 or a taxi (the cheapest would be to call for a radio taxi: (22) 9622, (22) 9624, (22) 919). It takes ca. 2.5 hours to get from Warszawa to Krakow, by one of many express and intercity trains. The train schedule is available on the railways company's (PKP) web page: http://rozklad.pkpik.pl/bin/query.exe/. A train ticket (from Warszawa Centralna to Krakow Glowny) will cost about 70 PLN (17 EURO) in the second class (with seat reservation) and may be purchased at the ORBIS (Polish Travel Agency) office at the airport or at the railway station itself.
By plane to Katowice (80 km west from Krakow)
If you fly to Katowice-Pyrzowice, you may take the yellow Lufthansa (German airlines) minivan from the airport to Krakow city centre; please be sure to make a reservation when buying your plane ticket, since the bus leaves only twice a day. The cost is about 30 PLN (7 EURO).
By train
There are direct international connections to Krakow from Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Budapest, Bucharest, Bratislava and Kiev. The railway station is in the centre of the city, close to the area where most of the hotels and the conference building are situated. In fact, most of the hotels are in a walking distance from the railway station. If you wish to take a taxi, call for a radio-taxi - (12) 9669, (12) 9626, (12) 9622 - or take one from the stand on the rooftop parking above the railway station.
By coach
Many travel agencies offer regular coach connections between Krakow and numerous cities in Europe. The travel costs are reasonably low. International coaches stop in Krakow in the vicinity of the railway station.
By car
You can get to Krakow by car: from the north you can go by the fast road E77, from the south - road E77 (from the country border), from the east - road E40 and from the west - expressway A4. However, we rather discourage you from driving in the city because the Old Town is completely closed to traffic and, in the centre, you pay for every hour of parking time.
Public transportation
The conference venue is situated in the heart of the old city centre. It can be reached by a few-minutes' walk or by tram from each hotel and dorm (disembark at the tram stop at the Plac Wszystkich Świętych, the fare is PLN 2.5 (0.6 EURO)). You can buy the tickets at every news stand. Timetables of buses and trams are available at web pages:
http://www.komunikacja.krakow.pl
http://www.mpk.krakow.pl
Practical information
Currency
The unit of currency in Poland is the Zloty (abbreviated as zl or PLN). 1 PLN is 100 Grosz (Gr). Average exchange rate in April, 2005: 1 EURO = 4.10 PLN, 1 USD = 3.15 PLN.
Money exchange
You can change money in one of countless exchange offices (so called KANTOR) in the city centre, in banks and in hotels.
Some common prices (in zloties - zl - PLN)
A two course dinner: 20-50 zl
Beer: 4-6 zl
Pizza: 7-15 zl
Stamps for postcards and letters to European countries: 2.20 zl
Chip Phone Cards "Telekarta" 25 units: 9 zl
Using internet in an internetcafe for 1 hour: 3-6 zl
Weather
August is a warm month in Krakow, but the weather changes are frequent. Temperatures can vary between 15 and 30o C. Occasional showers and rainfalls are likely. Before packing your suitcase you might check the weather forecast for Krakow at the BBC web page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/
Opening times
Banks: open 10 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday
Shops: usually open 10 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday; 9 am-2 pm, Saturday
Pharmacies: open 8 am-8 pm, Monday-Friday; 10 am-2 pm, Saturday
Main Post Office (Poczta Glowna), ul. Westerplatte 20: open 7.30 am-8.30 pm, Monday-Friday; 8 am-2 pm, Saturday; 9 am-11 am, Sunday
Internet Center, Rynek Glowny 9 (Pasaz Bielaka): all day.
Useful telephone numbers
Polish area code: +48
Krakow area code: 12 (48 12 from abroad)
PKP - Polish Rail: 9436
PKS - Coach Operator: 9316
LOT - Polish Airlines: 0801 300 952
Radio-taxi: (12) 9669, (12) 9626, (12) 9622
Health emergency: 999
Fire Brigade: 998
Police: 997
Municipal Police: 986
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