Krakow, located in southern Poland on the banks of the Wisla River, is a beautiful and historic city. The city center, referred to as the Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exploring its medieval streets and climbing Wawel Castle Hill—the most famous city landmark—is a thrill, but there’s so much more to see.
The neighborhood of Kazimierz is a trendy and fashionable destination. It features a number of outdoor cafes, restaurants, clubs and art galleries. And the best ice cream in Krakow is sold here, too. Just look for the long line on Starowiślna street.
Historically, Kazimierz was split into two districts, with Christians living in the west and Jews in the east. There’s still plenty of history see, with a number of museums, churches and renovated synagogues open to the public.
Although there aren’t a lot international airlines that fly to Krakow, it’s easy to get there with miles. Award availability is generally good using any of the three major airline alliances, but the Star Alliance and oneworld often have more award flights than SkyTeam.
You’ll fly into John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice. It is a small, but growing airport that is located in the village of Balice, about 16 miles from the city center.
AAdvantage Miles and the oneworld alliance
The following oneworld alliance members fly to Krakow:
- Airberlin via Berlin
- British Airways via London
- Finnair via Helsinki
British Airways adds hefty fuel surcharges to flights between Europe and the U.S. You can minimize those charges by flying on American Airlines to London, and then taking the second leg to Krakow on British Airways.
Round-trip tickets to Krakow purchased with AAdvantage miles cost:
- 40,000 miles off-peak in economy (from October 15 to May 15)
- 60,000 in economy
- 100,000 in business
- 125,000 in first
MileagePlus Miles and the Star Alliance
The following Star Alliance members fly to Krakow:
- Austrian Airlines via Vienna
- Brussels Airlines seasonally from Brussels
- LOT Polish Airlines via Warsaw
- Lufthansa via Frankfurt and Munich
- Swiss International Air Lines via Zürich
Round-trip tickets purchased with MileagePlus miles cost:
- 60,000 miles in economy
- 140,000 in business
- 160,000 in first
SkyMiles and the SkyTeam
The following SkyTeam members fly to Krakow:
- Alitalia via Rome
- KLM via Amsterdam
Round-trip tickets purchased with SkyMiles cost:
- 60,000 miles in economy
- 125,000 in business
First class tickets cannot be purchased with SkyMiles.
Economy award flights cost the same with all three alliances unless you fly off-peak between October 15 and May 15 using AAdvantage miles. You’ll save 20,000 miles on a round-trip ticket, spending only 40,000 instead of the standard 60,000. If you plan to fly in a premium class, the oneworld alliance offers the best rates.