Cracow

Kraków’s location is a definite advantage of its transport infrastructure. Several important transport routes intersect there, providing convenient connections to Silesia, Germany and the eastern part of Poland.

Kraków also has a modern and constantly expanding John Paul II International Airport in Kraków-Balice. It is the second largest airport in the country, providing direct domestic and international connections to many cities around the world.

Another advantage of Kraków’s location is its extensive railway network, which enables fast and comfortable train travel to major Polish cities and European capitals.

Getting around Kraków is easy thanks to 25 tram lines and around 150 bus lines. Kraków also has 31 railway stations spread across 10 lines that criss-cross the city in various directions. There are over 250 km of bicycle paths in Kraków, and the city regularly increases the number of routes.

Karolina Słysz

Associate, Office Department , Cushman & Wakefield

Expert commentary

Kraków in 2025 is a dynamically developing city with modern infrastructure and rich cultural heritage. The public transport system based on trams and buses is constantly modernised, and new tram lines and electric buses improve the comfort of travel. An extensive network of bicycle paths and urban bicycle stations promote environmentally friendly transport. The city is investing in road infrastructure, and thanks to S7 and A4 routs, access to Katowice and Warsaw has been improved. John Paul II Kraków Airport handles domestic and international flights, serving as an important transport hub for the region. The digitisation of municipal services and the development of co-working zones play an increasingly important role. Kraków attracts tourists, students and entrepreneurs, offering them a high quality of life at a moderate cost. The average rating for the city in 2025 is 7.7 – its historical values, accessibility of services and commitment to sustainable development are appreciated.

Karolina Słysz

Associate, Office Department , Cushman & Wakefield

Expert commentary

Kraków maintains its leading position among regional office markets, offering 1,831,400 sq m of modern office space in 2025. Gross demand of 266,700 sq m confirms the high activity of tenants that take advantage of the wide availability of space and attractive lease terms. New supply in 2024 was limited, amounting to 24,100 sq m, with 53,600 sq m still under construction, which shows developers’ caution in the face of a high vacancy rate (19%). Asking rents remain stable at EUR 15–17 per square metre per month. Developers are focusing on improving the standard of buildings and adapting their offer to ESG requirements in order to compete more effectively for tenants in a mature and demanding market.

Julie Archambault

Asset Management & Leasing Director, Globalworth Poland

Expert commentary

At Globalworth, we focus on comprehensive support for our tenants – from the space design and construction stage, through professional ownership management, to flexible solutions within our Ace of Space line of serviced offices. The “office as a service” model, with key features including access to additional services and a wide range of amenities – catering, health, green and recreational, becomes increasingly important today.

We know from experience that tenants are looking for spaces that offer not only high office standards, but also an environment that supports everyday functioning – from services and catering to culture. That is why our projects are naturally evolving towards multifunctional mixed-use hubs that integrate work with urban lifestyle. In the era of hybrid working, it is particularly important to create spaces that attract employees to the office and support the development of organisational culture.

In recent quarters, the IT, BPO/SSC and R&D sectors have been particularly active, increasingly drawing on the support of our internal Workplaces team for projects and fit-outs. This enables optimal use of the space and capabilities of a building to create a comfortable, ergonomic space tailored to the individual needs of its users.

Flexible offices, however, remain an additional, complementary offer, providing tenants with freedom of action and the ability to quickly adapt to changing needs.

Kraków is strengthening its position as a dynamic centre of cooperation between business and public administration, offering entrepreneurs numerous forms of support, including tax reliefs, subsidies and access to preferential premises. The city strongly focuses on effective cooperation between local government, entrepreneurs and the science sector. In 2024, public consultations were held on the draft Programme of Cooperation of the Municipality of Kraków with non-governmental organisations for 2025, aimed at gathering opinions and suggestions regarding the planned cooperation with the third sector. The Małopolska Centre for Entrepreneurship (MCP) plays a key role in supporting local entrepreneurs, offering them training, advice and information on available EU funds. Under the European Funds for Małopolska 2021-2027 programme, entrepreneurs from Kraków can apply for funding for research and development projects, innovation implementation and infrastructure development. Furthermore, the Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Kraków offers attractive loans for investment and non-investment projects. With these initiatives, in 2025, Kraków is becoming a business-friendly city, offering comprehensive support for business development.

In the 2024/2025 academic year, Kraków remains one of the most important academic centres in Poland, combining a rich scientific tradition with a modern approach to education and cooperation with the business sector. The city’s universities play a key role in the development of innovative technologies, supporting entrepreneurship and implementing research and development projects in partnership with both domestic and international companies and institutions. The Jagiellonian University carries out research and development projects aimed at developing new technologies and innovative solutions for commercial use.

Cooperation with the business environment is effected, among others, by the Centre for Innovation, Technology Transfer and University Development (CITTRU), which supports technology transfer and the commercialisation of scientific research results.

The AGH University of Science and Technology is a leader in cooperation with industry, signing around 100 contracts, letters of intent and agreements with enterprises and business environment institutions each year. The university also executes about 1,000 research and development agreements annually, more than half of which are commissioned by the industrial sector. This cooperation includes the development of advanced solutions in the fields of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and new technologies.

The Kraków University of Economics is actively involved in projects aimed at strengthening cooperation with business, offering internship programmes, training courses and joint research projects. The university collaborates with numerous companies and institutions, which allows its curricula to be aligned with current labour market needs.

Kraków’s universities consistently strive to integrate science with business practice by offering internship programmes, workshops and joint research projects with enterprises. This approach not only raises the quality of education but also strengthens Kraków’s position as a dynamic centre of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Edyta Markiewicz

RPO Service Manager, Antal SSC/BPO

Expert commentary

Kraków is one of the most important educational centres in Poland, known for its rich academic tradition and a wide range of universities, such as the Jagiellonian University, AGH University and the University of Economics. The city stands out for its modern curricula that meet the needs of the labour market, especially in the areas of technology, management and foreign languages. Kraków universities actively cooperate with businesses, offering internships, research projects and mentoring programmes, which fosters the development of innovation and increases the employability of graduates. A well-developed educational infrastructure, modern laboratories and support for foreign students make Kraków an attractive place to study and invest, while preparing qualified staff for the dynamically developing labour market.

Kraków is a city where innovators and entrepreneurs collaborate with the scientific and academic sector to develop technologies and introduce modernisation. It is one of the most important IT industry centres in Poland. Experts in fields such as AI, IoT, machine learning, blockchain and cybersecurity are constantly in demand. Kraków is also one of the country’s main economic centres, with a well-developed sector of modern business services (BPO/SSC/IT) and strong new technologies, finance and life sciences industries. Employers are keen to hire specialists and managers fluent in foreign languages, due to the international nature of the city’s business environment.

Karolina Giza

Team Leader, Antal IT Services

Expert commentary

As one of the largest and fastest growing cities in Poland, Kraków has significant employment potential due to its favourable educational, economic and investment conditions.

One of the key factors contributing to the development of the local labour market is the presence of numerous universities that educate highly qualified graduates every year. Partnership programmes, internships and research and development initiatives enable students to develop and, in many cases, also guarantee employment immediately after completing their education.

In recent quarters, we have been observing a shift from the candidate market to the employer market. This phenomenon is the result of both the global geopolitical situation and the economic slowdown. Job cuts in industries such as construction, production and transport are resulting in increased availability of candidates, which translates into a broader pool of talent for employers.

The situation in the IT sector is similar. Although the industry is experiencing a correction after a period of dynamic growth, the number of specialists open to changing jobs is growing, which increases companies’ chances of attracting well-suited candidates. Moreover, Kraków saw an approximately 10 percent increase in employment in the IT industry compared to the previous year.

After a period of stagnation, we are also observing a revival in the shared services sector (SSC/BPO). The city is regaining its position as one of the most important business service hubs not only in Poland, but also in the entire CEE region.

Another advantage of the Kraków labour market is the city’s active cooperation with international chambers of commerce. Such partnerships, including those with the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Polish-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, support the inflow of foreign investment and the creation of new jobs, strengthening the city’s position on the international stage.

Despite its strong foundation, the Kraków labour market also faces some challenges. The most important ones include rising salary expectations among candidates and a shortage of specialists in niche areas, which prolongs the recruitment process and increases competition for talent.

In this year’s FDI ranking, Kraków ranked third in the large cities category and took first place in two key categories – human capital and lifestyle, and business friendliness.

In 2024, the main source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kraków was investors from Western Europe, accounting for 83% of the total investment capital. Kraków also plays an important role as a shared services centre (SSC). In 2024, Heineken announced the expansion of its SSC in the city and plans to hire 400 new specialists in finance, management and IT. In recent years, the city has consistently developed its outsourcing offer. Kraków ranked 72nd in the Global Destination Sustainability Index 2024, which demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development and social responsibility. In the TOP 100 Super Cities ranking conducted by the Tholons Global Innovation Index 2021, it ranked 20th, so its role as a centre of innovation and business services is growing.

Anna Szewczyk

Director of Engineering and Head of Honeywell Research and Development Centre in Kraków

Expert commentary

Poland is strengthening its position on the technological map of Europe as a country where innovations are created and then exported to global markets. With its strong engineering expertise and centuries-old academic tradition, Kraków plays an important role in European security operations and technology efficiency.

Honeywell, a Fortune 500 technology leader, has tapped into this potential by opening a European R&D centre in the capital city of Lesser Poland. The hub is the pillar of our regional aerospace engineering activities. We provide solutions focused on safety and efficiency for both the aviation industry and, in the future, the defence industry. These include modern communication, navigation and flight control systems.

Our team of over 50 engineers specialising in software development, systems engineering and cybersecurity already provides solutions for avionics and flight control systems. We manage projects comprehensively – from concept to certification and serial production. Over the next few years, we plan to increase our staff to several hundred specialists.

Kraków’s strategic location in the heart of Europe, supported by EU and regional funding, is accelerating our work on hydrogen-powered aircraft technologies, autonomous solutions, and European defence and space systems.

We perceive Kraków as Honeywell’s global centre of excellence for aviation safety and efficiency, reinforcing the city’s position as a leading innovation hub.

Przemysław Sławiński

SCE Board Member, Head of Procurement Operations, PMI Operations, PMI Service Center Europe

Expert commentary

For years, Kraków has been one of the key business centres in Central and Eastern Europe, combining a unique academic heritage with a dynamically developing entrepreneurial ecosystem. This city effectively attracts investors with its qualified workforce – in Lesser Poland alone, the number of graduates exceeds 36,000 per year, most of whom are from Kraków universities. This means that every year, as many as 30,000 young talents enter the local labour market. Kraków has a strong business services and IT sector, but areas such as research and development, new technologies, and green innovation are also gaining importance. High quality of life, rich cultural offer and good transport links make Kraków an attractive location not only for corporations, but also for start-ups and specialists from around the world. All this makes the city a stable and future-proof investment destination which – thanks to sustainable development – has the potential to maintain its competitive advantages in the long term.

Wiktor Doktór

CEO, Pro Progressio

Expert commentary

The capital city of Lesser Poland continues to maintain its leading position in terms of investment in the modern business services sector in Poland – both as regards the number of investment projects and the employment opportunities offered by this sector. This is thanks to the direct and indirect environment of the industry, including the academic base, office real estate and logistics.

However, BPO and GBS are only some of the industries that have their home in Kraków. As recent months and years have shown, R&D becomes increasingly prominent in the capital city of Lesser Poland. This is a very positive sign, as global trends show that research and development become increasingly important, and with specific implementations already in place, Kraków demonstrates that it is keeping pace with global trends.

Over the last two years, the percentage of available office space in Kraków has increased (mainly due to the transition to remote and hybrid working models), which is good news in terms of new investment.

It is worth noting that serviced offices are doing very well in Kraków; they provide new investors with the perfect opportunity to take their first steps in this city.

Undoubtedly, Kraków is the cradle of culture and science. The cultural offer includes numerous festivals and events in music, theatre, film, fine arts and literature. Events worth mentioning include the Jewish Culture Festival, the “Music in Old Kraków” International Festival, the Street Theatre Festival and the “Divine Comedy” International Theatre Festival. Kraków is one of the cities in Central Europe with the richest museum collections, including Tadeusz Kantor Museum, the Polish Song Museum/Library, and Podgórze Museum. Kraków’s Old Town with its Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Basilica, the street layout and Wawel Hill, as well as Kazimierz and Stradom districts, have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1978. With its abundance of green spaces and the Vistula River flowing through it, Kraków is a very attractive city for spending free time outdoors.

The city in figures*

• over 14.5 million tourists, of which over 2 million foreign tourists.
• over 300 accommodation facilities.
• over 150 hotels.
• over 90 museums and art galleries.
• over 700 parks, squares and communal gardens.