Even you were in Krakow you may have a problem how to get to Zakopane. What is the best solution?
First you can choose passenger train. I think this is the worst choice. Travel time between Krakow and Zakopane is about 3-4 hours. What's more costs are higher and there is no guarantee you will have seating. You can buy a special ticket called "miejscówka" which means you will have a seating, but not in all trains there is such possibility, only in Intercity. Intercity is one of the most expensive train. Notice: there is possibility to get on the wrong train. You may have a financial problem if you travel by another carrier train. Finally the train path is not optimal. Train goes by cities such as Sucha Beskidzka (change of locomotive), which is to the west of Krakow, than it goes back to Rabka Zdrój and Chabówka (once again change of locomotive), which are to the south of Krakow, than it goes to Zakopane. You can find timetables at pkp.pl
Second possibility - bus. There are buses from station buses. Different carriers have different prices. If it is "Szwagropol" or "Trans Frei" the price is about 15-20 zł. Bus goes speedyway. Travel time between Krakow and Zakopane is about 2 hours 15 minutes. There are also buses from PKS. The most of them goes via Myślenice. This is the one of reason for longer travel (about 15-30 minutes longer). Second reason: high traffic and road works. This is the most frustrating situation. Travel time of traffic jams is about 30-120 minutes, so in the worst case travel will take about 3-4 hours. Timetables are here: szwagropol.eu, trans-frej.com.pl, www.rda.krakow.pl, pks.zakopane.pl.
The same or less time can be achieved if you go by car or rent a bus. I recommend use Google to find a bus, for example "Zakopane transfers". |
