How to drive around Kraków’s city centre – current rules

The Main Market Square and its nearby streets, as well as Plac Nowy in Kazimierz, are part of a restricted traffic zone, which means that driving a car there is generally not allowed. Below you will find the most important information about getting around Kraków’s historic centre.

Why restrictions are in place

Kraków’s Old Town is a historic area with narrow streets and many pedestrians. To protect this unique space and keep it safe and comfortable, special traffic rules apply.

At the entrances to the restricted zones, you’ll see No entry signs (B-1) – a round sign with a red border. When you see this sign in Kraków (or anywhere else in Poland), do not drive past it, or you may receive a fine.

Who is allowed to enter

To ensure the Old Town can still function smoothly, some vehicles are allowed to enter the restricted zone. These include:

• holders of a valid parking permit for sector A1 of the paid parking zone,
• guests driving to reserved parking spots (for example, hotel guests),
• delivery vehicles – but only during set loading hours and for the time needed to unload goods,
• bicycles and scooters,
• taxis and horse-drawn carriages,
• municipal and emergency services.

According to Polish traffic law, all exceptions must be listed on an information board placed under the B-1 sign – that is why these boards are so large.

Restricted traffic zones – areas and maps

Kraków currently has two restricted traffic zones:

Old Town Zone – covering the area inside the First Ring Road and around Wawel Castle (including Św. Idziego Street, Droga do Zamku, and part of Podzamcze Street).

Kazimierz Zone – covering Nowy Square and the following streets:

• Bartosza,
• Bożego Ciała,
• Ciemna,
• Estery,
• Izaaka,
• Józefa,
• Kupa,
• Lewkowa,
• Meiselsa,
• part of Miodowa,
• Nowa,
• Podbrzezie,
• Szeroka,
• Warszauera,
• and Wąska.

An interactive map of the restricted zones is available on the website of the Kraków Roads Authority (ZDMK).

Floriańska Street – no bicycles allowed

In some cases, extra restrictions are needed for safety reasons. One example is Floriańska Street, where cycling has been banned for several years.