Rail Travel
There are numerous international rail services linking major Polish cities with the major cities in neighboring countries and beyond. There is also an extensive network of national rail services.
Polskie Koleje Panstwowe (PKP)
Web:
www.pkp.pl
PKP is the Polish State Railway that operates services linking all parts of the country. The rail network radiates from Warsaw. There are four types of train, each with two classes of travel: ekspresowy (express), pospieszny (fast), osobowy (slow) and Intercity. Reservations are required for express trains and Intercity Trains. Couchettes and sleeping cars are available on long distance routes. Buffet cars are usually available on express trains, although it is advisable to take some food along on long journeys.
Tickets for express trains are 50% more expensive than tickets for local stopping trains and first-class travel costs 50% more than second-class travel. Tickets are available from railway stations and travel agents. Tickets can be purchased up to one month in advance. Intercity express trains are inexpensive and efficient. Children under four years travel free and children between the ages of 4-10 years pay half fare. Students and senior citizens are also entitled to a 50% discount.
Train departures (odjazdy) are usually listed on a yellow board, while arrivals (przyjazdy) are listed on a white board. Express trains are marked in red, local trains in black. The symbol R in an enclosed box indicates a fully reserved train. The Polish railway system changes to a summer timetable (with extra services) around the beginning of June.
Bus Travel
There are extensive bus and coach services operated by Polish Motor Communications (PKS; Tel: +48 22 823 6394 or 823 9433; Web:
www.pks.pl) connecting most towns and cities in Poland.
There are also other companies offering domestic coach travel:
Polski Express
Web:
www.polskiexpress.pl
International coach travel is offered by:
Eurolines
Web:
www.eurolines.com
Aura
Web:
www.aura.pl
In Warsaw, services can be booked at The Central Booking Office (Ulica Zurawia 4; Tel: +48 22 630 0625 or 0669) or Warszawa Zachodnia, the Central Bus Station (Aleje Jerozolimskie 144; Tel: +48 22 822 4811). Information can be found at tourist information offices.
Sea & River Travel
Pol Ferries operates services between Poland and Denmark, Finland and Sweden
Web:
www.polferries.com.pl
Poland has a long coastline with many rivers and canals; however passenger boat services are limited and tend to operate only in the summer months. There are some ferry and hydrofoil services that operate between ports on the Baltic coast. In some cities (Gdansk, Szczecin, Krakow, Wroclaw) there are excursion boat trips available in summer.
