Getting to the conference center |
The conference site is the Jagiellonian University Institute for Polish Expatriate Studies (in Polish: "Kolegium Polonijne"). It is situated on hills above the Vistula river (in Polish: "Wisla") at the outskirts of Kraków, in the place called Przegorzaly, about 7 km from the town center, 10 km from the railway station and 10 km from the airport Balice. The most easy connection to this place is of course by taxi (around 20-30 zl), but it is possible to reach it from the Kraków center with a local public transport: a tram and a bus.
Public transportation in Kraków is frequent and decent. By a bus or a tram you can get to virtually any place in the town. Alas, there is no underground in Kraków.
We recommend you to use a bus or a tram. Before getting in you should buy a ticket in a stand indicated as Kiosk. You can easily find it around the town -- they sell newspapers. The price is 1 zl for one normal bus/tram ride, or 1.5 zl for the one-hour ticket enabling changing buses and trams. The prices for the fast buses (lines marked by letters: A, B, C...) are 1.5 zl for the one-ride ticket and 2.25 zl for the one-hour ticket. You can buy tickets for 0.5 zl, 1 zl. One-hour tickets are different, and you cannot combine one-ride tickets as one-hour ones. If you carry large luggage with you an additional ticket should be used.
You can also buy a ticket from the bus/tram driver for the price on 0.2 zl (= 20 gr.) larger. A driver may ask you to provide exactly the amount you have to pay. One should stamp the ticket immediately after entering the bus/tram in a special device there.
Another solution is to buy a one-week pass for 12 zl. It allows you unlimited travel on all normal (not fast!) buses and trams. If you have a pass and want to travel by fast bus, you have to stamp additional ticket for 0.5 zl.
The easiest way to get to the conference centre is to take a taxi. A ride from the railway station to Przegorzaly should cost around 20-30 zl. Taxi rank is just above the platforms, on a roof. Follow the stairs to reach the upper level. Ask the driver to take you to Kolegium Polonijne w Przegorzalach. If you feel threatened by Polish pronunciation, you can print, cut and show to the driver the following message:
| KOLEGIUM POLONIJNE UJ w Przegorzalach |
The more economic solution is to go by a tram/bus. When you leave a passage under platforms turn left and walk along the station building. There is a taxi rank in front of the main entrance. Cross it, turn left and then right, downstairs. You will find yourself at the tram stop. Here you can buy a ticket in a news-stand or, even better, in a special stand selling only transportation tickets.
Tram No. 15 will take you to the Cracovia hotel -- depart at 4th stop. Here, you have to change to the bus. When you disembark, cross the lights twice to get to the opposite side of the crossing. The bus stop is in front of the "Kijow" cinema.
Busses Nos. 109, 209, 229, 239, 259 and 269 will bring you to Przegorzaly. The last bus departs at 22:54. You should disembark after approximately 3 km (ask someone to show you the right stop). Then, after leaving the bus you will see the big building of the Institute situated at the top of the nearby hill on the right. Follow the side road, perpendicular to the main street. After some 200 m you will find the open Institute gate on the left. A little bit of climbing along a steep road brings you to the first buildings of the Institute. Continue climbing to the top of the hill 100 m farther to find the Institute's hotel and the conference hall. See map below.
It is not the best choice to use public transport from the airport to reach Przegorzaly. In such a case one have to go by bus to the city centre and follow the above travelling scheme later. Buses No. 152 and D will bring you to the Cracovia hotel directly. If you arrive to Balice airport, we strongly recommend you to take a taxi.