Among the more than 500 conference venues in Małopolska are both historic spaces adapted for different needs and modern, multifunctional facilities, all meeting the highest service standards for business partners. The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) sector has been one of the pillars of tourism in Kraków for years. Kraków has hosted such prestigious international events as the 48th World Congress of Surgery (WCS), the 15th Congress of the Organisation of World Heritage Cities OWHC and the 4th Kraków Congress of Medical Tourism. Every year, the city also welcomes participants of the Open Eyes Economy Summit (OEES) –a forum for meetings of culture, science, politics and business initiated by Professor Jerzy Hausner.
The ICE Kraków Congress Centre is Kraków's landmark business and conference facility. It is a modern building located in the very centre of the city, opposite Wawel Castle, and is equipped with three main halls: the Krzysztof Penderecki Auditorium Hall for 1,900 people, the Theatre Hall for 600 people, the bipartite Chamber Hall for 400 people and a complex of conference rooms for 500 people. The facility has been recognised five times by independent experts in the Meetings Star Award competition, ranking among the best European convention centres. The operation of the ICE Congress Centre Kraków has also been appreciated by the MICE industry in the MP Power Awards competition, including for the Centre's ability to adjust to ever-changing pandemic restrictions.
Other venues for large-scale events in Kraków include the TAURON Arena Kraków, capable of seating 15,000 people in the stands, and the nearby International Exhibition and Convention Centre EXPO Kraków, known for its record-breaking International Book Fair. The 9,000 sq. m. area of EXPO Kraków is suitable for congresses and symposia of up to 4,000 participants or events such as... a banquet for 6,000 guests!
Unique conference rooms are on offer in historic buildings in Kraków’s Kazimierz District or by the spaces of Kraków's museums, including the Museum of Engineering and Technology, the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology or the Museum of Polish Aviation. The venue for a business meeting can also be aboard one of the famous barges moored on the Vistula River or one of the hotels in the city centre equipped with viewing terraces. The halls of Kraków's universities are also available to event organisers, e.g., the modern Auditorium Maximum complex of the Jagiellonian University or the representative halls of the AGH University of Science and Technology and the University of Economics. In recent years, there has also been a worldwide trend towards adapting post-industrial spaces, which in Kraków include the former brewery at Lubicz Street, the former tram depot at Wawrzyniec Street or the complex at Fabryczna Street.
Kraków and Małopolska are linked to the world by the airport in Balice, Poland's second-largest, conveniently connected to the city centre by rail. Convenient facilities for the organisation of business events are also provided by Krakow's extensive and varied accommodation base.
An excellent idea for a unique integration trip or an in-depth business meeting away from the hustle and bustle of the city is a trip to one of Małopolska's towns and cities. Among others, the historic underground chambers of the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Bochnia Salt Mine are suitable for conference use. Located 125 metres underground, the Warsaw Chamber in Wieliczka can accommodate company meetings and receptions for up to 700 people!
A business trip can be enriched with a spa by organising a meeting or conference in one of the Małopolska's resorts located within a 2-hour drive from Kraków, such as Rabka-Zdrój or Szczawnica, or Krynica-Zdrój, located a little further away but mainly focused on the development of business tourism.
The Tatra towns, such as Bukowina Tatrzańska or Białka Tatrzańska, offer a unique opportunity to combine a meeting or conference with a stay at thermal pools. There is also no shortage of facilities that meet the highest congress standards in Zakopane, in which there are over 70 hotels with an extensive business offer, including places capable of accommodating meetings for several hundred people.
When planning a business meeting in the Małopolska region, it is worth using the services of one of the local event agencies. Kraków alone is home to several specialised agencies, distinguished by their high professionalism, knowledge of local partners and many years of experience in cooperation with venue operators.
The konferencje.pl portal provides an extensive database of conference venues replete with descriptions. Kraków has a specialised unit at City Hall – the Kraków Convention Bureau, offering advice and assistance in selecting a venue for conferences and business meetings.
We invite you to meet us in the Małopolska region!