Practical information

Money:
The Polish currency is called "złoty" (abbreviated zł or PLN). One zloty is divided into 100 groszy (1 zł = 100gr). Banknotes and coins of the following denominations are in use:
banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 zł;
coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 gr and 1, 2, 5 zł. 

The exchange rate fluctuates around 1 EUR ~ 4.35 PLN and 1USD ~  3.75 PLN. Currencies can be exchanged in banks or some hotels, but the rates might be not too favorable. For better rates, visit a currency exchange office (Polish name: kantor). You can also withdraw cash from ATMs (Polish name: bankomat) with the international debit cards (such as Visa or MasterCard). Your withdrawal will be in złoty.

Credit cards:
Most restaurants, hotels, and shops accept Visa and MasterCard. Some accept also American Express, JCB, and Eurocard, although it is always a good idea to keep cash for pocket expenses.

Public transport:
Public transportation in Cracow is safe, fast and relatively cheap. Tickets are the same for trams and buses. The regular fare is 3.80 PLN (40 minutes trip with an unlimited number of changes or direct trip (without changes) with no time limits). Ticket offer is much wider, including 20, 60 and 90 minutes trip tickets (with an unlimited number of changes), 24-, 48- and 72-hour tickets and 7-days tickets (for an unlimited number of trips and changes). For further information check: http://www.mpk.krakow.pl/pl/bilety2/cenniki-biletow-jedno-i-wieloprzejazdowych/ .

Tickets can be bought at kiosks, in ticket machines or using your mobile phone, via moBILET, mPay or Skycash  systems. Ticket machines can be found at many stops and in most vehicles (if there is no ticket machine in a vehicle, the driver should sell you a ticket). Stationary machines accept cash and credit cards. In vehicles, some accept only coins while others only cards. Paper ticket must be validated after boarding the bus or tram. The time tickets should be validated only once, at the beginning of the trip.

The timetables of the buses and trams are available here.  There is also a search engine that will help you get around the city, available here.

Direction from the Kraków Airport:
Please notice that not all possible connections are described below, but only the simplest and direct ones.

• From the airport to the city center.
  From the airport, the Kraków city center can be easily reached by public transportation (train, bus) or taxi. 
  
  A regular train service, departing once or twice an hour between 4 am and midnight, runs to Kraków Główny station (you can find the timetable here - from “Kraków Lotnisko (Airport)" to "Kraków Główny"). A single ticket costs 9 PLN and can be bought from the ticket machines located in the arrivals hall and near the platform - these ticket machines accept credit and debit cards. It is also possible to buy the ticket from a conductor immediately after boarding (only cash is accepted). NOTE: this train typically does not terminate at the Cracow Main Station (Krakow Glowny in Polish) but instead it continues to Wieliczka so please follow the messages from the loudspeaker and display on the train.
  
  Public buses 252 and 208 both run to Kraków’s city. Please take into account that the Airport is located outside the city limits, therefore you need to buy a special ticket for "Strefa I+II" (inner+outer zone).
  
  An official airport taxi between the airport and the city center should cost about 90 PLN and the cars stop just in front of the terminal. Usually, it is a little bit cheaper if you order a taxi by phone (i.e. Icar, MegaTaxi, Wawel  Taxi).
  
  For more information on transport from the airport, see http://www.krakowairport.pl/en/passenger,c70/transport,c313/.
   
• From the airport to the Florianska/Pigoń Guesthouse
  The easiest option is to take a taxi or a train to the Main Railway Station.  See the section: From the Main Station to Floriańska/Pigoń Guesthouse for detailed directions.
   
• From the airport to the Hotel Panorama
  The easiest option is to take a taxi or a train to the Main Railway Station.  See the section: From the Main Station to the Hotel Panorama for detailed directions.
   
• From the airport to the Hotel Ruczaj
  The easiest option is to take a taxi or a train to the Main Railway Station.  See the section: From the Main Station to the Hotel Ruczaj
  for detailed directions.
   
• From the airport to the Hostel Żaczek
  You can take bus no. 252 and get off at the 21st stop named "Cracovia Błonia 1"  (the previous one is "Instytut Reumatologii"). The Hostel Żaczek is the big bright building with small windows you can see on the opposite side of the street, behind the meadow and trees.
  You might also consider taking a train to the Main Railway Station. See the section: From the Main Station to the Hostel Żaczek for detailed directions.

Direction from the Main Railway Station (Dworzec Główny):
Please notice that not all possible connections are described below, but only the simplest and direct ones.

• From the Main Station to the Florianska/Pigoń Guesthouse.
  The railway station is within the walking / short-taxi-ride distance to the Floriańskay Guest House and Stanisław Pigoń Guesthouse (see the map). To get to the Pigoń Guesthouse you might also take a tram (i.e. no. 2, 4, 14, 20, 24) from "Dworzec Główny"  stop and get off at the 2nd stop named "Teatr Bagatela"
   
• From the Main Station to the Hotel Panorama.
  From stop "Dworzec Główny" you can take tram no. 52 ( in the direction of "Czerwone Maki P+R"). Get off at the 10th stop named "Lipińskiego" (the previous one is "Kobierzyńska). For details see the map.
   
• From the Main Station to the Hotel Ruczaj
  From stop "Dworzec Główny" you can take tram no. 52 ( in the direction of "Czerwone Maki P+R"). Get off at the 12th stop named "Norymberska" (the previous one is "Grota-Roweckiego"). For details see the map.
   
• From the Main Station to the Hostel Żaczek
  From stop "Dworzec Główny" you can take tram no. 20. Get off at the 5th stop named "Oleandry 1" (the previous one is "Muzeum Narodowe 1").
  From stop "Dworzec Główny"  you can also take bus no. 124 and get off at the 4th stop named "Muzeum Narodowe 2" or bus no. 152 and get off at the 4th stop named "Cracovia Błonia 2".  For details see the map.
   

How to get to the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science of Jagiellonian University  (the Conference venue, ul. Łojasiewicza 6) from hotels:

• Floriańska Guesthouse
  From stop "Dworzec Główny" by tram no. 52. Get off at the 12th stop named "Norymberska" (the previous one is "Grota-Roweckiego"). Or from stop "Stary Kleparz" by tram no. 18. Get off at the 15th stop named "Norymberska" (the previous one is "Grota-Roweckiego"). For details see the map.
   
• Stanisław Pigoń Guesthouse
  From stop "Teatr Bagatela" by tram no. 18. Get off at the 14th stop named "Norymberska" (the previous one is "Grota-Roweckiego"). For details see the map.
   
• Hotel Panorama
  From stop "Lipińskiego" by tram no. 11, 18, 52 or bus no. 194. Get off at the 2nd stop named "Norymberska". For details see the map.
   
• Hotel Ruczaj
  The Hotel is within the walking distance to the conference venue. For details see the map.
   
• Hostel Żaczek
  From stop "Muzeum Narodowe 2" by bus no. 194.  Get off at the 11th stop named "Norymberska" (the previous one is "Grota-Roweckiego"). For details see the map.