Arrival & Transport
By Plane
Poland has several international airports with excellent connections to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Warsaw Chopin (WAW) — Main Airport
The largest airport in Poland, 10 km south of the city center. Direct flights from Frankfurt (1:40h), Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Vienna, Zurich. LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Wizz Air.
Transfer: S-Bahn SKM to the city center (20 min., 1€), Bus 175/188 (30 min., 1€), Taxi (20–30 PLN / 5–7€, 20 min.).
Krakow-Balice (KRK) — Southern Poland
Second largest airport, 11 km west of Krakow's old town. Many low-cost carriers: Wizz Air, Ryanair, Eurowings. Direct flights from Cologne/Bonn, Dortmund, Frankfurt-Hahn, Vienna.
Transfer: Train to the city center (18 min., 2€), Bus 252/208 (40 min., 1€), Taxi (70–90 PLN / 15–20€).
Gdańsk-Lech-Wałęsa (GDN) — Baltic Coast
Modern airport, 12 km west of Gdańsk. Direct flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Dortmund. Wizz Air, LOT, Lufthansa.
Transfer: SKM train (30 min., 1.50€), Bus 210 (40 min.), Taxi (60–80 PLN / 14–18€).
Wrocław-Nikolaus-Kopernikus (WRO) — Silesia
10 km west of Wrocław. Wizz Air, LOT, Ryanair. Direct flights from Dortmund, Frankfurt-Hahn.
Transfer: Bus 106 to the city center (50 min., 1€), Taxi (50–70 PLN / 12–16€).
Flight Prices (Guidelines from DE)
| Period | Price (round trip) |
|---|---|
| Off-season (Nov–Mar) | 30–100€ (Low-cost carriers!) |
| Shoulder season (Apr–May, Sep–Oct) | 50–150€ |
| High season (Jun–Aug) | 80–250€ |
Tipp
Wizz Air and Ryanair regularly offer flights to Poland from 10–20€ per route! Be flexible with dates and book 6–8 weeks in advance. Pay attention to the hand luggage limit to keep the flight really cheap.
By Train
As a neighboring country, Poland is excellent to reach by train — one of the most sustainable and comfortable travel options.
From Germany to Poland
| Route | Duration | Price (from) | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin → Warsaw (Berlin-Warszawa-Express) | 5:30h | 29€ | DB/PKP |
| Berlin → Wrocław (Breslau) | 4:30h | 19€ | DB/PKP |
| Berlin → Gdańsk (Danzig) | 6h | 29€ | DB/PKP |
| Berlin → Poznań (Posen) | 3h | 19€ | DB/PKP |
| Munich → Warsaw (via Vienna/Prague) | 9–10h | 39€ | DB/ÖBB |
| Dresden → Wrocław | 3:30h | 19€ | DB/PKP |
Within Poland
Poland's rail network is well-developed and the trains are modern and affordable:
- EIP (Express InterCity Premium): Poland's high-speed train. Warsaw–Krakow in 2:20h, Warsaw–Gdańsk in 2:45h. Reservation mandatory. From 49 PLN (11€)!
- IC (InterCity): Fast long-distance trains, slightly slower than EIP but cheaper. From 35 PLN (8€).
- TLK (Tanie Linie Kolejowe): Budget long-distance trains — slower but very cheap. From 25 PLN (6€).
- Regio: Regional trains for shorter distances. Cheap, sometimes outdated.
Book tickets: Online via koleo.pl or intercity.pl (English version available). Early bird prices are significantly cheaper! Also available at the station or in the PKP InterCity app.
Tipp
The Berlin-Warszawa-Express is one of the best train connections in Europe: Comfortable, with Wi-Fi, bistro on board, and power outlets at every seat. Saver fares from 29€ — book 2–4 weeks in advance via bahn.de or intercity.pl for the best prices.
Bus & Rental Car
Long-Distance Buses
FlixBus is the king of long-distance buses to and within Poland. Extremely cheap connections:
| Route | Duration | Price (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin → Warsaw | 6–7h | 15€ |
| Berlin → Krakow | 8–9h | 19€ |
| Berlin → Wrocław | 4–5h | 12€ |
| Munich → Krakow | 9–10h | 25€ |
| Warsaw → Krakow | 4–5h | 8€ |
| Krakow → Zakopane | 2–2.5h | 5€ |
PolskiBus/FlixBus Poland also connects smaller cities. Often the cheapest option within Poland.
Rental Car
For tours off the beaten path, a rental car is ideal — especially for the Masurian Lake District, the Baltic coast, and the Tatra region.
| Category | Price/Day |
|---|---|
| Small car | 15–30€ |
| Compact | 25–45€ |
| SUV | 40–70€ |
Driving Tips
- Speed limit: Urban 50 km/h, Country road 90 km/h, Expressway 120 km/h, Highway 140 km/h
- Toll: On some highway sections (A1, A2, A4). Payment at toll stations with card or cash (PLN!)
- Lights on: Dipped headlights are mandatory year-round — even during the day!
- Alcohol: 0.2 per mille limit — practically zero tolerance. Penalties are severe.
- Fuel: About 1.30–1.50€/liter — cheaper than in Germany
- Parking: Difficult and expensive in old towns. Use Park & Ride or book a hotel with parking.
- Winter tires: Not legally required, but highly recommended from November to March — it gets cold and slippery!
Achtung
Polish drivers are considered "sporty." On country roads, overtaking is often risky. Drive defensively, keep your distance, and expect impatient overtaking maneuvers on rural drives.
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