Does anyone have any experience with this card? We bought two as we really like these kinds of cards as they save us from getting our wallet out constantly. But a couple of Krakow sites seem to have pretty long lines and limited entry- like Rynek Underground Museum - and I wonder if our Krakow Card gets us in despite a line.
I've read a few reviews that say yes and a few that say no. Their literature does not address this.
Thanks!
We were in Krakow in early September and didn’t have lines any where.
I'll be there in a few weeks and would also welcome any recent first hand reports.
I emailed the company to ask - I'll post if I hear back.
I don’t know about the cards but I did buy tickets for the Underground Museum on line.
We will be in Kraków July 7. We are trying to decide if purchasing the card will help with skipping the line. It isn't very expensive so we figured we couldn't go wrong. Will look for your response.
I've never used the card but I can tell you that one of the longest ticket lines (and crowds) are for Wawel Castle which doesn't appear to be included in the card. I'm pretty sure if "skip the line" was included, they would emphasize this since it's a a big marketing hit. Since it's not mentioned at all, I would assume not.
There doesn't seem to be any incentive to buy this ahead of time online since you'll have to stand in a line to pick up your card anyway. At that point you can ask and then decide if the card is worth it or not. I'm not super crazy about these kinds of cards (I've bought them in Malta and Croatia) because they exempt some of the best stuff (Wawel Castle) and they rope in some seriously marginal museums/ attractions (and they even list things that are free, or at least I remember being free). Plus, you need time to see enough of these places so make the card pay for itself. Museums are very cheap in Poland in general, so you may find it hard to spend the full value of the card unless you're very motivated to do so. The most expensive museum, Schindler, is only $5.63 (as of today's exchange rate). Probably the best thing about this card is that it makes public transport really easy because you don't need to worry about change/coins, etc.
We booked Wawel Castle on our own...not on the Card - that definitely seems to get lines. I'm not worried about anywhere else - at least I wasn't until two separate people mentioned the entry limits at Rynek. I'll see how we do and report back.
Our family will be heading to Krakow in a few days and I find City Cards to be the best value and offer the most convenience. With young kids (9 and 11) it is great to be able to skip lines, pop in and out of museums and not feel the stress of the entrance fee if you only spend 30 minutes. I researched the Krakow card, and had some back and forth emails with the tourist office, and it is the first card that falls short. First, the major attraction is not included (Wawel Castle area). The salt mine transportation is included, but not the salt mine. It appears almost everything in Krakow is within walking distance, so the public transportation piece will likely be underused. I have not found anything that suggests you could skip lines. Also, kids purchase full cards at full price, but many entrance fees are only a few dollars for kids or free.
At the same time it is only $32 for 3 days for the card with public transportation and $18 for just the museum piece. You will not lose sleep if it doesn't live up to expectations.
You do indeed get to skip lines. Only you can decide if the card is worth it - but if you don't buy it, purchase your tickets for the Schindler Museum in advance before you leave home. The day we arrived there it had long sold out for the day - but we were waived in with our Krakow Cards - right past a man who was at the counter, trying (and failing) to buy tickets.
The day we arrived there it had long sold out for the day - but we were waived in with our Krakow Cards - right past a man who was at the counter, trying (and failing) to buy tickets.
This was my exact experience at the Schindler Museum, too - one week ago today.
Got there early afternoon. The place was mobbed. With mostly disappointed, frustrated people. All were being turned away, as they had sold out for the day (this was around 1 pm). People were pleading their cases at the ticket counter, arguing, trying to talk their way in, getting nowhere. We bypassed that, walked up to the guy taking tickets at the door. He was in a defensive stance, arms crossed across his chest, shaking his head, saying no to everyone who approached. We flashed our Krakow Cards, he changed his stance, nodded at us, held the door open for us, and waved us in.
Cha-ching.
