There are two football teams in Krakow, Wisła and Cracovia. They are more than rivals.

If you want to go to a game- you may be able to purchase tickets online- but registration on each website is required and an id number is necessary. When i made my account just now, I used my pesel which is a polish identification number. Years prior, I used my passport number- but had to go in person to register and couldn’t do it online. So while you can try to register and buy tickets online- if you aren’t successful just go to the ticket office of the stadium you want to attend a game at and they can get you registered with the id number you do have. 

For all upcoming schedules check the Cracovia or Wisła websites.  Or just search their schedules in Google:   Cracovia     Wisła

Not only are these teams’ stadiums directly next to each other, Stadion Miejski im, Henrzka Rezmana belonging to wisła; and Marshal Józef Piłsudski Stadium belonging to Cracovia- there is  just a thin part of the Blonia separating them, but they are also in direct competition. You see, everyone in Krakow has a team, and they hold their team closer to their heart than their own Babcia. And they defend it as though it is a family member. If you see graffiti in Krakow it’s probably football related, as each teams’ fans constantly paint over one another’s tags. The rivalry is so heated that you can’t really wear any football fan gear outside the stadium. If you’re on the tram to the game, your scarf is hidden. If you go out to the bar after the game, your scarf is hidden. If you’re walking on the street, your scarf is hidden. It’s no joke- if you forget to put your scarf away, people will tell you to hide it. Krakow is an extremely safe city, especially considering its size and popularity- but the combination of sport and alcohol can bring out the worst in both the locals and tourists- so it’s just better to avoid any conflict if you can. And remember, there are different sections in each stadium for a reason. Don’t blindly buy a ticket without knowing which section you are in. If you want to be in the “hooligan” or “super fan” section- have fun! But if you’d rather be in the family section that is okay too. One of the most interesting things about these games to me, is that the fans don’t mix. So where an NFL or NBA game might have a few away team fans in sprinkled throughout each section- that’s not how it works here, but we’ll get more into those little fun facts later…

 Now if you ask me, Cracovia is a way better team than Wisla, but I do prefer Wisła’s scarfs (they’re just cuter- what can I say!) but I will keep my opinion out of this, and just present some facts about the teams and their stadium experiences. Either way, they are both teams that present a fun time and experience so if you’re in town and have some free time definitely try to catch a game.

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Keep reading for our list of the  “10 Most Interesting Facts about Krakow’s Football Teams”

To get to the stadiums you can take several different buses or trams. I suggest using JakdoJade and planning your route that way. You can buy tickets directly on the app- and if you’ve never used it before, learn how to here. There are several stops around the stadiums to get off at, so play around with this specific app to find the best one based on where you are coming from. The closest stop to the Cracovia stadium is (suprise) “Cracovia Stadion”, but the stop “Cracowia Blonia” is around the corner, and “Muzeum Narodowe” is almost as close.  So try using your current location and the Cracovia stadium as a location (not as a stop) and go from there. .

The Wisła and Cracovia stadiums are so close together you could use these same stops for Wisla, but you could also go straight to the stadium by taking a tram or bus that goes to the stop “Reymana”. The stop “Park Jordana” is also very close-so you could try that if it’s easier for you.

There’s a chance you’re close enough to actually walk. One thing about Krakow, is that all the important stuff is actually inside the city, closer than you would expect- so first, check Google Maps to make sure you aren’t close enough to walk, and then use JakdoJade for your route planning if you need to take a bus or tram. 

Now to the important stuff! Here are some fun facts about the experience at both stadiums (I have personally gone to both for games but these facts are from 2016 so we’ll go again this year to make sure they are still correct– the above info about trams is up to date though)….

10 Interesting Facts about Krakow’s Football Teams

1. Your first time at a Cracovia game your ticket is only 1zl- even if it is a high-risk, super competitive match.  (This is no longer true).

2. If you are a woman, there is a special section at the Cracovia Stadium you can buy tickets for only 1zl, whether it’s your first game or your 100th.  (Men can sit there too,  but they pay normal ticket price). (We’re not sure about this one either).

3. You must register to buy tickets to enter either stadium. This means bring your passport or ID with you. And remember you won’t be allowed to bring in any outside beverages. The registration process can take some time, so I suggest going during the day before the game or even a few days before to get the registration process over with and buy your tickets. Essentially, you will have to wait in a line to register and get tickets, and then wait in another line to actually enter the stadium. If you register and buy tickets beforehand, you’ll only have to wait in the line to enter.

4. Food is available at both stadiums. Wisla’s is basic and not very good- think bagged cold popcorn, poor-quality meat. Cracovia, however, has awesome sausages grilled over a fire and fresh popped popped corn.

5. Both stadiums sell beer, and it’s super cheap! BUT if the game is considered high-risk (for example Cracovia v. Legia Warsaw) they will not allow alcohol in the stadium and also will not serve any.

6. Souvenirs are also available- think scarves, jerseys, mugs etc.. Buy a scarf and wave it around during the game, then tuck it away until you are far away from Krakow and can actually wear it about without any trouble. [Side note: there really isn’t crime in the city center- especially when you compare it to other popular European destinations– so these warnings are serious, but you shouldn’t be scared by any means.]

7. Games can get rowdy, but there are different sections that separate the singing and screaming”hooligans” from the more mild fans. The cashiers selling tickets can tell you which section is which. One is for women usually, one is for families, one is for hooligans, etc…

8. The visiting team always has its own section, fans are not allowed to mix.

9. The section with the so-called hooligans can be really fun! There is so much energy and there are people that volunteer to play drums and lead the chants and songs in these sections. Sometimes they even have flags that cover the entire section!

10.  If you want the true Polish experience, stop by a store (Zabka is our favorite) on your way and buy a Małpka or two of flavored vodka- these are the really little flask-shaped alcohol behind the counter. It’s about 4 shots and costs around 10 zł–sneak some shots on your walk to the stadium and get ready for some fun!!! [This is illegal so do so at your own risk].

For the upcoming schedules check the Cracovia or Wisła websites.  Or just search their schedules in Google:   Cracovia     Wisła

These photos were taken at the Cracovia vs. Legia Warsaw Game where we only paid 1zl to be there! And as always feel free to email me at emilysguidetokrakow@gmail.com with any questions, comments, or concerns!