How would one train to Krakow? From what city or cities? Where could one safely leave a rental car at the departure location for 2 days?

This website will give you info about trains to and from Krakow and everywhere else in Europe (but no prices for international fares):

http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en

I dont know the answer to your other question.

You might want to look at Ostrava as a departure point; it's only 3 hours (about five stops) from there to Krakow. It's a big enough town to have a decent website with good English-based info - - http://www.ostravainfo.cz (click on the UK flag icon) - - and nearly 20 three-star hotels.

I think maybe Ben Haines has been to Ostrava; see this post for more info - - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34466024 - - by putting his name in this thread he may chime in and tell you what he knows about the station and the city in general.

Best wishes,

Rex

Goodness me: Rex knows where I was five years or so ago. He is quite right. I liked Ostrava. It has three large squares, linked to each other, and well supplied with statues and I think fountains. When I went it was very short of tourists, and the city tourist office manager was sad both art that and at the weak idea of central European history that they came with. So he was pleased that I knew what the Thirty Years War was, and rewarded me with a private view from the top of the city hall’s tower. I saw a couple of good churches and a baroque monastery now made into a hospital, but for some reason missed the coal mining museum.

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No, Ben - - not stalking you!

When I put together our CR/Poland trip for 2003, I contemplated making the trip via Olomouc to Krakow, and that's why I had seen your post. I only surmised that you knew something about Ostrava when I re-read that post, cited above, when making my earlier reply.