Cycling in Krakow

Anyone, who enjoys cycling, knows that riding a bike is one of the most delightful ways of moving around the city. It is a very pleasant way to discover interesting places and get some exercise. Not to mention, it is also much cheaper and ecological than riding a car. Krakow is a city, where cycling is a major highlight of many tourist programs. And because of its low costs, it is also very popular among students.

In recent years, the Krakow infrastructure went through quite rapid development. There are plans for further cycling investments, which include additional 140 kilometers of paths and 150 new bicycle stations, where people of Krakow can rent bicycles all year round.

Krakow has many facilities for cyclists, including:

• Bicycle stands – Krakow is one of those cities, where it’s worth looking closely at the bicycle stands. Some of them are decorated with images inspired by works of Stanislaw Wyspianski.
• There are also several bicycle stands shaped like symbols of Krakow, such as the Wawel Dragon and the Krakow bagels. They were created as part of the „Ambient Parking” action.
• Bicycle rentals – Krakow has more than 77 bicycle rentals for both children and adults. Remember to check the offers of various rentals before taking a bike to make sure you find the option that’s best suited to your needs.
• Bicycle services – most of the time, bicycle services are open between Monday and Friday, but during the full seasonthey are also open on Saturdays. If you get an accident during your trip, you can also make a phone call to a mobile service.

Krakow is an excellent city for cycling enthusiasts. Riding a bicycle is not only good exercise, but it also allows you to see this magnificent city from a different perspective than from a car.

There are plenty of interesting routes for bikers to choose from. Below you can find information about some of them:

Old Town – Kazimierz – Podgorze

This route begins at Matejko’s Square and follows the so-called Royal Route – the historical tract, through which the kings used to get to the Wawel Castle. After riding through the Main Market Square and admiring fascinating monuments, such as st. Mary’s Church, the Cloth Hall and the Town Hall Tower, you ride at the bottom of the of the Wawel Hill and through the Vistula Boulevards.

Later, you arrive at the Kazimierz district of Krakow, where you can ride down the streets of the former Jewish district. After that, you get to Wolinca Square and turn into Bozego Ciala street with the gothic Corpus Christi church, and then you turn into Meisselsa street and arrive at the New Square, also known as the Jewish Square.

After that, you ride through Jozefinska street and Bohaterow Ghetta square, from which you return to the Vistula Boulevards and ride at the other side of the Vistula river, admiring the panorama of Kazimierz and the Old Town.

Nowa Huta

Cycling through Nowa Huta is an interesting way to discover this legendary, communist district of Krakow. Every year it attracts not only new inhabitants, but also tourists from all around the world.

You can begin this cycling trip at the Vistula Boulevards at ride along the Vistula river, and later through the Czyzyny district. Later, you ride through Pokoju and Jana Pawla avenues to the Central Square. From here, you can ride through the Nowa Huta Meadows and the Zalew Nowohucki Park. Some of the major attractions of Nowa Huta that everyone should check out include Austrian forts, old shelters, Wanda’s Mound and the Holy Cross Sanctuary in Mogila.

Zakrzowek and Twardowski Rocks

Zakrzowek and the Twardowski Rocks are an amazing place for a cycling trip in Krakow. Zakrzowek is a former quarry, flooded with crystal clear water. From the top of Zakrzowej you can admire a gorgeous view at the centre of Krakow and its surroundings. During World War II, this was also the working place of Karol Wojtyla, who later became pope John Paul II. While cycling to Zakrzowek, it’s worth passing through Debnicki Park, located at Praska street. Another interesting attraction on this route is Skalki Twardowskiego (Twardowski Rocks) – a charming city park.

The Wolski Forest, the Kosciuszko Mound and the Pilsudski Mound

This route might be a bit challenging for less skilled bikers, but it is still worth checking out. You can get to the Kosciuszko Mound from Salwator through Waszyngton’s avenue. Even though it is a huge challenge, the view from the top will undoubtedly reward all the efforts. The next stage of the trip leads through the Picnic Meadow, where you can make a short stop to relax and admire the views from Beskidy. After that, you ride through Jodlowa street and to the top of the Pilsudski Mound, which also offers magnificent views of Krakow.

Benedictine Abbey Monastery in Tyniec

Tyniec is one of the most popular routes for a cycling trip in Krakow. It leads through some of the most beautiful green areas, which are perfect for active relaxing. While cycling to Tyniec, you will pass through Zakrzowek, which is a great place to visit when the weather is fine. You will also pass by a kayaking route near the Kolna sport centre, which is located not far from the Benedictine Monastery in Tyniec. This monastery is one of the oldest objects of its type in Poland, which attracts crowds of tourists every year.

As you can see, Krakow has plenty of excellent cycling routes to choose from. Each of these routes has interesting attractions that will delight anyone, no matter what they are interested in. These routes also differs in difficulty levels, which can be enjoyed by both beginner and expert cyclists. Anyone who enjoys cycling in Krakow, will surely find their perfect roure.