Getting Around Poland
Buses
Travelling by bus around Poland has many advantages - buses will often get you where it would be difficult to get to by plane or train. It’s an opportunity to discover the country, the towns and the villages - at least through the window - and it also allows you to move around with larger luggage.
There are no difficulties of getting to Poland using international coach lines. Large cities (such as Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Gdansk and others) are situated on European routes with many connections.
You can reach Poland by bus either directly or you can choose an interesting option with changes in different cities on your route.
There are local bus services in every town in Poland. Bus stations are usually located in city centres. Coach travel in Poland is operated by national and regional carriers. A coach trip usually takes longer than a train trip. You can buy tickets at ticket offices at train stations or with the driver (on condition that the tickets have not been sold out at the ticket office).
Apart from coaches there are many small private bus services which mostly operate minibuses on certain fixed routes. As a rule their stops are situated in close proximity to train or bus stations.
Some small towns or villages are sometimes only accessible by public transport, in this case, the bus. Tickets are bought from the driver. Some of the private mini bus services also serve the smaller villages more directly. The trips are short and usually cheaper than the ones in a public bus.
Taxis
In every large or middle-sized city, town and village in Poland you will be able to find taxis. As a rule, prices are not high.
Generally, if you decide to take a taxi please remember to choose only those with a logo displayed. Once in the taxi make sure the driver switches on the taximeter. You can also ask about the route the driver is going to choose to reach your destination.
Prices vary depending on the city and the transport company. Differences however, are not big.
Weekend and night fares (10.00 pm-6.00 am) and out-of-town zones have a higher scale of charges. The price of the first kilometre is usually between PLN 4-6, with the following kilometres cheaper, about PLN 2. In the large cities taxis leaving from the vicinity of stations can be more expensive.
Car Hire
You can visit the whole of Poland in a rented car. Explore charming little villages and towns difficult to reach by train or bus. There are now many car hire companies operating in Poland - with varying standards and service levels.
Driving
Driving in Poland is on the right and provides a great opportunity to see aspects of the country at your own pace. The condition of Polish roads is relatively good. In the vicinity of the larger cities road surfaces are improving every month. Secondary roads are generally in a satisfactory condition.
There are not many motorways in Poland. There are two long sections connecting the north with the south and the east with the west. These are from Łódź to Bielsko Biała (through Częstochowa and Katowice) and from the border with Germany to Krakow (through Wrocław and Katowice). Apart from these motorways there are many dual carriageways and single-lane roads. The surface of some of these roads has been deformed by ruts cut into the road surface during the summer by large trucks. In general drivers have to be a little more vigilant in Poland when driving along the minor roads in this country.
All passengers travelling by car are obliged to fasten their seat belts - both passengers sitting in front and at the back. Children up to 12 should travel in a special certified child seat. When driving in Poland in autumn and winter you should remember that your car lights must be on all the time. This is obligatory from 1 October to the last day of February. For the rest of the year drive with the lights on from dusk to dawn, providing weather conditions are favourable during the day.
Trains
The railway network in Poland is well developed. You can reach most places in the country by train. Intercity trains (express) run between the larger cities and you can get to other localities taking the regional or fast trains. Timetables are available at railway stations and on the web. Information on inter-urban railway connections is available at www.rozklad.pkp.pl, whilst Intercity train tickets can be booked at www.intercity.com.pl.
Boats
Travellers wanting to arrive in Poland by sea can take advantage of various promotional and low tariffs when buying tickets. Ferries are luxurious and typically have friendly service, comfortable interiors and a wide choice of on-board attractions. The possibility of purchasing goods at duty-free shops is an additional benefit of crossings by ferry.
The most popular passenger sea routes (voyages) connect Poland with the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The length of the voyage depends not only on the distance but also on the ship-owner. As a rule a sea crossing lasts from one to two days.
Other
Bicycle trips, along with hiking are one of the better ways to explore Poland, experience the sights, sounds and smells...and have fun!
Buses, trams, the underground or a taxi are not the only ways of moving around towns. In big cities, most often in the close proximity of their Old Town centres, as in Warsaw, it is possible to travel around in a different - quite unconventional way.
