Kraków Summarizes 2025

The year 2025 was a time of intensive work for Kraków. In line with Mayor Aleksander Miszalski’s program, the local government shifted its focus from large, often oversized projects to smaller tasks – closer to residents. The common denominator of municipal investments became improving quality of life, increasing resilience to climate change, and ensuring real accessibility of public services.

Before we look at smaller projects, it’s worth mentioning the Kraków metro – the largest municipal investment. For the construction of the underground railway, the past year was groundbreaking. We moved from vision to very concrete decisions. The Mayor of Kraków presented the route of two metro lines with a total length of nearly 29 kilometers and 29 stations. Almost 40% of Kraków’s residents will be within reach, and up to 300,000 passengers will use the metro daily.

The year 2025 marked the beginning of the “Pact for Kraków’s Housing Estates.” New pedestrian crossings, lighting, benches, sidewalks, and small but necessary investments show a departure from thinking solely in terms of large projects. By 2029, the city plans to spend an additional approx. PLN 500 million under this program.

The “It Can Be Done!” program was also launched, under which investments previously considered impossible for various reasons will be implemented. Around PLN 70–80 million will be allocated to this initiative.

One of the most important undertakings was the renovation of the Grunwaldzki Bridge. The works, which began in May, included replacing the road surface and tram tracks and repairing the reinforced concrete deck. The investment cost PLN 15.5 million and aimed to ensure safe use of the bridge for the next several years.

At the same time, tram tracks in the city center were modernized. In the first half of the year, works on Franciszkańska Street were completed, followed by the reconstruction of the Straszewskiego–Piłsudskiego intersection, part of a larger plan to improve public transport in Kraków’s center. These are logistically challenging investments but crucial for the reliability of public transport, used daily by tens of thousands of residents.

A clear sign of change was also Kliny – a district that has been rapidly expanding in recent years. A new road layout, roundabouts on Zawiła Street, the renovated Borkowska Street, and the ongoing construction of 8 Pułku Ułanów Street are intended to relieve other routes and improve transport accessibility in the southern districts of the city. This is an example of investments that do not solve a single problem in isolation but organize an entire functional area.

The largest transport project remains the construction of the Kraków Fast Tram line to Mistrzejowice. In 2025, a key stage was tunneling in the city center – one of the biggest engineering challenges of this investment. Completion is planned for the first half of 2026, but it is already clear that the new line will improve communication in Kraków’s northeast.

The year 2025 was also a breakthrough in the development of Kraków’s public transport. MPK signed contracts for the delivery of 237 new buses and 90 trams worth nearly PLN 2.3 billion. These include hydrogen buses and additional electric vehicles. Thanks to these decisions, the city is consistently implementing its promise to withdraw all high-floor trams from service, making the fleet more modern, quieter, and environmentally friendly.

At the same time, investments were made in technical and energy infrastructure: new charging stations for electric buses, photovoltaic installations at depots, and systematic acquisition of EU funds – in 2025, over PLN 425 million in non-repayable grants. It is worth noting that MPK and Mobilis vehicles traveled nearly 65 million kilometers – as if circling the Earth more than 1,600 times.

The year 2025 was also a time of intensive efforts to organize the city’s spatial order. A key process was work on the general plan, which for the first time in Kraków’s history will comprehensively define the division of the city into planning zones along with municipal urban standards. This document, prepared in parallel with the “Kraków Development Strategy. I Want to Live Here. Kraków 2030–2050,” will set long-term principles for shaping development, investment intensity, and green space protection.

At the same time, the city increased coverage with local plans – nine new local plans were adopted. Masterplans also became an important strategic tool. The document prepared for Wesoła set the direction for transforming this area into a green creative district. Meanwhile, the masterplan for Rybitwy and Płaszów proposes development and serves as a starting point for further discussions with residents, entrepreneurs, and councilors.

At the beginning of 2025, the city adopted “Responsible Construction Standards,” clearly opposing harmful development practices. The document precisely defines actions considered unacceptable. These standards became the basis for administrative refusals and, in extreme cases, even announced court proceedings.

A symbolic closure of efforts to organize the city center was the consultation on a new fountain in the Main Market Square, where residents clearly supported removing the “Crystal” fountain and creating a new object referring to the historical character of the Old Town’s heart. The next step will be an architectural competition.

A strong highlight of 2025 was also greenery in urban space. The appointment of a City Gardener organized green policy. Under the “Green Streets” project, 78 de-paving projects were prepared, along with public consultations and industry agreements. Concepts were developed for, among others, the “Green Parking on Piwna Street,” “Green Mogilski,” de-paving of Wszystkich Świętych Square, and revitalization of the Vistula Boulevards.

New parks appeared on Kraków’s map in 2025: Aleksandry North, Kurczaba, and Łokietka, as well as smaller but locally important green areas – from Ruszcza and Prądnik Biały to pocket parks on Kolista and Tymotkowa Streets. Existing spaces were modernized: Wyspiański Park gained new paths, Radzikowski Park – a sports zone, and Smoczy Skwer on Zachodnia Street was thoroughly rebuilt.

Greenery increasingly goes hand in hand with activity and recreation. Kleparski Park was enriched with a wooden playground, Kraków’s first illuminated skatepark, and renovated paths. Pump tracks, boules courts, parkour spaces, and badminton courts appeared.

The opening of Poland’s first allotment garden “Under the Stars,” which attracted hundreds of enthusiasts, and the creation of the Podgórze Secret Garden showed the strong social demand for such initiatives. Greenery also appeared in unexpected places, such as the detention center, where a garden became a space for education and integration.

The year 2025 also brought many new plantings. Over 46,000 trees and shrubs planted this year are part of a long-term goal: 200,000 new trees by mid-2029. The launch of a public tree counter and a system for informing about planned tree removals responded to social expectations for transparency and dialogue on environmental issues.

An important, though often less visible, element of the city’s activities were investments in water management and climate resilience, carried out by the Water Infrastructure Authority. In 2025, Kraków consistently strengthened its retention and drainage system – from large reservoirs on Burzowa and Łazowa Streets to stormwater collectors in the Prokocimska area. The City Flood Protection Warehouse was also equipped with six new high-capacity pumping units, purchased with a grant of approximately PLN 2.1 million obtained under the Civil Protection and Civil Defense Program.

In August, the Water Infrastructure Authority completed the construction of five modern rain gardens in strategic locations across Kraków. This important investment, worth €663,000, was implemented as part of the international LIFE PACT project. The newly created rain gardens retain rainwater, purifying and infiltrating it into the ground, which relieves the sewer system and minimizes flooding. They also reduce the urban heat island effect, support biodiversity, and improve the city’s microclimate.

The ending year was one of the most intensive investment periods in Kraków’s education sector. Nearly PLN 160 million was allocated for investments and PLN 51 million for renovations. A total of 138 investment tasks were carried out. A significant part of the work included 475 renovation tasks in 260 facilities, covering modernization of restrooms, electrical installations, roofs, gymnasiums, and school surroundings. The city also provided free transportation for over 600 students in grades I–VIII and more than 900 children with disabilities.

One of the largest construction sites was the School and Kindergarten Complex No. 15 on Grochowa Street. This project sets new standards in terms of scale and functionality: new classrooms, medical facilities, common spaces, a modern sports hall, and sports fields. The investment, scheduled for completion in 2026, shows how the concept of school is evolving – as a place for learning, integration, and activity.

Sports and recreational investments were also a strong highlight. A new sports and entertainment hall at the XXX High School, modernization of school playgrounds, sports fields, and bike towns demonstrated that the city treats physical activity as an integral part of education.

The year 2025 was exceptionally intense in terms of sports. The city consistently pursued actions to develop sports infrastructure and activate residents, combining major investments with a rich calendar of sports events. Initiatives undertaken in 2025 by the Kraków Sports Infrastructure Authority included 42 investments, over 90 sports events, and 150 training sessions for residents. The total value of these investments, spread over several years, exceeds PLN 325 million.

Once again, Kraków hosted events of the Royal Running Triad. The TAURON 22nd Cracovia Marathon, the 18th PKO Three Mounds Run, the 11th PKO Cracovia Royal Half Marathon, and accompanying events brought nearly 35,000 participants to Kraków’s streets, along with crowds of residents and tourists, jointly creating a great sports celebration for the city.

In 2025, the Sports Infrastructure Authority began installing CCTV monitoring systems at school sports facilities that were made available to Kraków residents for recreational purposes. This is part of the pilot program announced by Mayor Aleksander Miszalski to support schools. Fifteen school facilities were equipped with monitoring systems.

The year 2025 confirmed the important role of culture in Kraków’s life. One of the clear trends was the continued development of the network of municipal cultural institutions beyond the strict city center. Today, they operate in over 160 locations – including remote districts and housing estates. Since October, residents have had access to the modern Ruczaj Cultural Center, which after three months enjoys record popularity. At the same time, systematic modernization of infrastructure continues: branches, departments, and historic buildings are being renovated to make culture accessible in modern and friendly conditions.

Among the completed investments were new and renovated branches of the Kraków Library: “Kosmos” in Kliny, inspired by the works of Stanisław Lem, and “Teatralna” in the Teatralne housing estate. Advanced works also continued at the historic Kossak Villa – the future “Kossakówka,” a new branch of the Kraków Museum, which will soon tell the story of one of Poland’s most famous artistic families.

The past year was rich in cultural institution anniversaries, organizational changes, and strengthened dialogue – including the establishment of the Social Council for Culture. Accessibility was a clear trend: 32 institutions co-created the Kraków Cultural Accessibility Network.

It was also a year of active citizen participation. New standards for public consultations, record interest in decision-making processes, dynamic development of the Kraków Contact Center, and increased activity in the Civic Budget show that civic dialogue has become one of the key pillars of the city’s functioning.

Mayor Aleksander Miszalski introduced an innovative form of contact with residents: Dialogue Benches. Fourteen meetings were held this year. Their formula allows for direct conversations with residents, listening to problems and proposals, which is why these events enjoyed great interest among Kraków’s citizens.

The year 2025 shows that Kraków is consistently implementing a strategy of a modern, ecological, and resident-friendly city. Infrastructure investments, transport development, care for greenery and public space, active social dialogue, and support for education and culture create the foundations for a future where life in the city becomes more comfortable, safe, and inspiring.