Poland Trip 2025

[AntoniC]

I visited Poland last month (21st - 28th May) and visited Przemsyl, Warsaw and Poznan and travelled by train between all 3.

I flew into Rzesow Airport on 21st May and due to the Ryanair flight being late into Rzesow , I got the shuttle from Rzesow Airport to Rzesow Glowny for a whole 80p !

I paid by debit card and my card was checked on departure by the ticket agent.

Rzesow Glowny to Przemysl Glowny

I arrived at Rzesow Glowny and my train to Przemsyl was delayed by 75 minutes so I went to the local Zabka (mini market) and bought some tea (Gorgeous sandwich , bag of crisps and a cold drink).

An earlier train to Przemysl arrived so I asked if I could get on the train with my AP ticket and was told yes - cost of my First Class Ticket ? - about £14.30 - it was compartmented stock which was noce and comf (and empty !), Journey time approx 80 minutes.

Przemysl to Warsaw East

Travelled First Class from Przemysl to Warsaw East (with a 1 hr break at Lancut to change trains) cost approx £14.00 - journey time approx 6 hours

Boarded the train at a packed Przemysl station but luckily I had the compartment unto myself until Lublin.

The line between Przemysl and Lublin is VERY remote with lots of unloved and unmaintained stations (but lots of open fields and rolling terrain).

When we left Lublin my first class compartment was packed and the closer I got to Warsaw the more packed the train got.

I got off at Warsaw East as my accomodation (which was really good !) was only 400m from the station.

As there was no buffet car on the train I stocked up on food and drink at a local supermarket before travelling.

Warsaw Central to Poznan

Travelled First Class to Poznan and the ticket was approx £14.00, journey time approx 2hrs 20 mins

I shared the compartment with others , but all though the train was air conditioned a fellow passenger in my compartment insisted on wedging open the compartment door therefore negating the air conditioning !.

Nice relaxing journey with lots of nice scenary once I left Warsaw, like the previous trip I stocked up and food and drink before boarding as there was no buffet car.

Overall Polish trains are clean (toilets were immaculate and the carriages clean) but First Class in Poland is not the same as First Class here in the UK, every train I travelled on was compartmented stock not open plan.

But the price of the tickets for the distances travelled are a bargain !!!.

 

[TRXsouth]

Hi,
Did you notice any restrictions on photographing trains during your trip?
There has been a report that signs prohibiting photography will be posted at stations and other railway sites in Poland, so wondering if travellers and rail enthusiasts are experiencing any difficulties?

 

[Polarbear]

Hi,
Did you notice any restrictions on photographing trains during your trip?
There has been a report that signs prohibiting photography will be posted at stations and other railway sites in Poland, so wondering if travellers and rail enthusiasts are experiencing any difficulties?

I was with @AntoniC on this trip. The only "no-photography" sign I noticed was at Przemysl station, specifically outside the rather nice restaurant/buffet at the end of the station building. A very grand affair with gentle piano musc playing! No problems experienced with photograhpy on the platforms.

 

[Robski]

Hi,
Did you notice any restrictions on photographing trains during your trip?
There has been a report that signs prohibiting photography will be posted at stations and other railway sites in Poland, so wondering if travellers and rail enthusiasts are experiencing any difficulties?

PKP S.A. (owning group who manage stations) and PKP PLK (infrastructure manager) have said these signs will not be installed in publicly accessible areas. Some operators have put up the signs at their depots though, and it is known for third party security staff to sometimes get aggressive with those taking pictures.

 

[TRXsouth]

PKP S.A. (owning group who manage stations) and PKP PLK (infrastructure manager) have said these signs will not be installed in publicly accessible areas. Some operators have put up the signs at their depots though, and it is known for third party security staff to sometimes get aggressive with those taking pictures.

Thanks Robski - so photographing trains within stations is currently still permissibl?

 

[shredder1]

I like Przemysl, spent a day there once, but still cant pronounce it properly, I entered Ukraine from there before things got serious, its the gateway to Lviv, an amazing Ukraine city.

 

[AntoniC]

I like Przemysl, spent a day there once, but still cant pronounce it properly, I entered Ukraine from there before things got serious, its the gateway to Lviv, an amazing Ukraine city

To pronounce it.
Ignore the Pr at the front abd start with the z
Then ignore the e and pronounce the m
Then at the end pronounce the sl as sh so its pronounced as zmysh

 

[Robski]

Thanks Robski - so photographing trains within stations is currently still permissibl?

Yes, so long as it isn't a military train.

 

[shredder1]

To pronounce it.
Ignore the Pr at the front abd start with the z
Then ignore the e and pronounce the m
Then at the end pronounce the sl as sh so its pronounced as zmysh

Ah thanks for that, yes zmysh is what I was hearing,

 

[AntoniC]

Ah thanks for that, yes zmysh is what I was hearing,

Your welcome !
In the Polish lanaguage the letter V does not exist , the closest letters is W which is pronounced as a hard V hence Krakow should be pronounced as Krakov NOT Krakow , pronouncing it as Krakow shows your a tourist

 

[Segedunum]

Your welcome !
In the Polish lanaguage the letter V does not exist , the closest letters is W which is pronounced as a hard V hence Krakow should be pronounced as Krakov NOT Krakow , pronouncing it as Krakow shows your a tourist

Although it's Kraków, pronounced as Krakuf, thanks to that accented 'ó'.

Having dated a Polish girl for a while and continued to learn the language on and off - I can concur that it is however quite something to wrap your head around

I have been meaning to get east of Kraków towards Przemyśl as you have, then take the "road less travelled" so to speak up through Lublin. Maybe next year!

 

[Terry Tibbs]

The open First Class coaches tend to be on the Intercity units such as the Pendolinos and Stadler units. There are some open Firsts on the more conventional coaching stock but not that many. When we book tickets, unless an offer is on, we book fairly late on the Intercity app. You can see the free seats available in the compartments so can usually tell if it will be a busy compartment or not. If a WARS restaurant is on the train (the full size coach as opposed to the small cafe type ones) I’d recommend buying a second class seat and when boarding going straight to the restaurant. It beats a First Class seat any day. Have a nice 3 course meal and maybe a couple of beers if your journey time permits you. The TLK trains are quite good if you want an old fashioned type journey. Most of them still have full size windows which open half way down.

 

[shredder1]

Your welcome !
In the Polish lanaguage the letter V does not exist , the closest letters is W which is pronounced as a hard V hence Krakow should be pronounced as Krakov NOT Krakow , pronouncing it as Krakow shows your a tourist

Thanks very much, Im not too bad with a lot of the pronunciations, Ive traveled most of the lines in Poland now over about 15 visits, mainly interrailing, it really is an amazing country and the people are so friendly

 

[AntoniC]

Thanks very much, Im not too bad with a lot of the pronunciations, Ive traveled most of the lines in Poland now over about 15 visits, mainly interrailing, it really is an amazing country and the people are so friendly

It is a lovely country although I could be biased as my Dad is Polish !.
I stayed for 4 nights in Przemysl last September with my dad, as my dad wants to get his Polish citizenship back and needed to get a copy of his birth certificate from the Town Hall in Przemysl.

Przemysl is definitely not a tourist magnet BUT its a lovely place to stay and there are things to do and visit .

 

[Terry Tibbs]

My Polish wife reckons it’s more like ‘Psh-shem-ish-l’ but maybe that is down to regional accents.

 

[oldman]

My Polish wife reckons it’s more like ‘Psh-shem-ish-l’ but maybe that is down to regional accents.

Not sure about having two sh's but that would be the orthodox pronunciation.

 

[shredder1]

It took me a while to get my head around Wroclaw, I now pronounce it "Raslav" and people seem to know were I mean, Lods is another one, wooj?