Blessed with historical beauty and attractions that encourage over 14 million people to visit the city every year, Kraków is certainly deemed to be a European hotspot. It’s not all about relaxing though, with the many aparthotels in Kraków suggesting that the city is also a place for business.
Staying in a Situ aparthotel in Krakow means residing in accommodation that is equipped and designed especially to allow guests to enjoy a self-catered experience.
Fully equipped kitchens, en-suite bathrooms, spacious living areas, access to Wi-Fi connection, ample area to work freely, and entitlement to a minimum biweekly housekeeping service are just some of the aspects of serviced apartments in Krakow that a corporate guest can expect. This accommodation is best for those who want more from their stay compared to what they would get from an average hotel in Krakow.
The locations of our Krakow apartments are important too. We have properties dotted in great locations across the city, some near the main railway station and others right in the heart of the city centre. With such choice, business travellers can pick which Krakow city apartments suit them and their corporate arrangements.
Kraków is one of the oldest cities in Europe, based in the south of Poland of which it was formerly capital of. Behind the current capital Warsaw, Kraków is also the country’s second-largest city with a population of just over 750,000. The city covers just over 325 square kilometres and is no further than a two-hour drive north of the borders of Slovakia and Czechia.
All the other major Polish cities are north of Kraków, with Poznan being over 450 kilometres away, Warsaw just under 300 kilometres away, Wroclaw 270 kilometres away and Lodz around 260 kilometres away. Of the almost 15 million people who visit Kraków every year, those who travel overseas most likely arrive at the city’s international airport, John Paul II. It’s based on the outskirts of Kraków and serves almost eight million passengers, on average, each year.
Visitors from neighbouring countries such as Germany and Czechia, however, benefit from Kraków’s good road and railway connections. The city’s biggest railway station is Kraków Glowny, a focal point of travel to-and-from further afield Polish and European location, whilst the most notable road is the A4 Autostrada which stretches from the Germany border to the Ukrainian border, right through Kraków. All in all, how you decide to travel to-and-from the city or wherever you need to be based to suit your business travel arrangements, we have many serviced apartments and aparthotels in Krakow for corporates to choose from.
Businesses in Kraków are vital to the overall national economy, representing the focal point of economic activity in southern Poland. IBM, UBS, Google and over 50 global businesses already have headquarters stationed in the city, and it is their notable presence that has encouraged more and more foreign investment.
The success of tech industries has not gone unnoticed either. Kraków has been known as ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’ due to the number of hi-tech companies based here, as well as the ever-growing IT community. Around one in seven working people in the city are employed within the tech industry. Business services are also an important contributor to the local economy. For instance, the city has previously been named, within the business services industry, the top outsourcing destination in Europe, and the ninth-best in the world.
Some things are important to know before becoming one of the many Kraków expats. Only non-EU citizens require a permit to work in the city, to which then they will need to provide evidence of prospective employment. Once expats are living and working in Kraków, they will then be required to pay income tax on their earnings, but, if the expat lives and works in the city for less than 183 days a year, they will only need to pay tax on their Polish income. To learn more about potential corporate Krakow accommodation options, get in touch with a member of the Situ team.
Within minutes of being in Kraków visitors soon realise how culturally unique this city is. Reminders of the city’s past can be seen everywhere mainly throughout the ‘Stare Miasto’ Krakow Old Town and the older historic buildings, but nevertheless, the city and surrounding areas are still lively and full of character. The centrepiece of Kraków tourism is arguably the Medieval Town Market Square. It is the largest medieval town square in Europe and continues to be at an iconic Kraków and Polish attraction, known as ‘Rynek Główny'. Even if you just stroll around the square or decide to eat or drink at one of many nearby restaurants, cafes or bars, it can feel like taking a step back in time to when it was at the centre of Medieval Polish politics and royalty.
Other historic sites include the Wawel Cathedral, the Wawel Royal Castle or the St Mary’s Basilica, all of which are centuries old and reflect a significant moment of Kraków medieval history. Ultimately, living in Kraków feels like living in a big museum at times.
It is not all about history though in Kraków as there are other aspects of the city’s culture to enjoy. There are numerous theatres, such as the UNESCO World Heritage site Juliusz Słowacki, cinemas, art galleries and even very Polish pubs and bars that can be enjoyed as part of a corporate get-together. The outdoorsy types will appreciate how green Kraków is too. The large urban belt in particular that encircles the city is a very popular place to relax and let off some steam. All in all, corporates can only truly appreciate what a life of business is like in the city once they have stayed in centrally located aparthotels in Krakow and have freely been able to live and work as they please.
Based almost seven miles west of the Kraków city centre in the village of Balice, and also named after Pope John Paul II, Kraków Airport represents the primary way to travel directly into the city from international locations.
It is understood that the best way to travel to and from the airport and Krakow city apartments is to book a taxi transfer service. There is also a train that runs from the airport to Kraków Głowny railway station in the heart of the city that runs every half an hour or so.
Trains are not the most commonly used public transport option in the city, but the Kraków Główny station does offer the best way to reach the city centre by train. It has ten platforms, continues to undergo development and is superbly connected with tram and bus lines.
From Kraków Główny travellers can reach stations in the city suburbs to the east, south and west. In the latter direction is Kraków Airport, about an hour-long train journey away. Kraków also has no underground network.
There are over 130 bus routes and 25 different tram lines, which collectively operate and provide transport day and night across Kraków. Both these modes of transport operate between 5 am and 11 pm and are most important for those trying to reach outer suburb areas.
Tickets bought for bus rides can be used on trams, and vice versa. Instead of using single trips or returns, each ticket allows you a certain time on the transport system which essentially means trips that include changes don’t require two different purchases.
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