Originally Posted by Fanjet

I am not aware of a night train from Berlin to Krakow. There is only one direct train between those two cities per day. It leaves Berlin around 9am and arrives in Krakow about 9 or 10 hours later. I take this train often to Breslau, but have never taken it all the way to Krakow. And even that journey seems to take forever at just under 6 hours. I can't imagine being on it until the final station. However, Air Berlin flies 2X daily from TXL to KRK. They sometimes have fare sales for around 49€. To me, that would be a much more tolerable option.

As for the HGI in Krakow. I've stayed there many times. It is along the river with a great view of Wawel Castle. There are bus stops next to the hotel which go to the city center. And there is a major tram (and bus) stop about 3 blocks from the hotel near the Grunwaldski bridge. Even walking by foot from the hotel to the city center is not that far. I do it often when the weather is nice.