Poland’s capital city is easy to reach from Kraków and makes a good weekend destination. Much of Warsaw was built after 1945. Even the pretty Old Town is mostly reconstruction. But there are excellent museums and places to eat. It’s also one of Europe’s great cities to go out drinking!
The monumental Palace of Culture and Science dominates the skyline in the heart of Warsaw, located just steps away from the central train and bus stations.
Our sister site WarsawVisit.com offers a complete introduction to this excellent city with a list of recommended hotels, a rundown of the best places to eat and an overview of essential attractions in Warsaw. You’ll also find a One-Day Warsaw Itinerary, Two-Day Warsaw Itinerary and Three-Day Warsaw Itinerary to help you get the most out of your stay, as well as our Things To Do In Warsaw guide, and much more!
Kraków To Warsaw Travel Options
There are good arguments for every form of transport, as all are frequent, reasonably fast, and competitively priced. However, the train is the most compelling in terms of convenience and comfort.
| Mode | Typical time (door-to-door) | Typical price (one-way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Speed Train | Direct ~2h 25m (≈2h 45m total) | 49zł-169zł (€11-€39) | Speed / comfort / city-centre to city-centre |
| Flight | ~55m flight (≈3h 45m total) | 230zł-650zł (€55-€150) | Shortest transport time |
| Coach | ~3hr 30m journey (≈4h 15m total) | 20zł-170zł (€5-€40) | Budget travellers |
Kraków To Warsaw Tickets
- Train: For English-speakers, KOLEO is the best place to book a Kraków To Warsaw train. The site charges a nominal fee but is highly competitive and easy to use. They also have an app, so you can manage tickets on your phone.
- Flights You can book Kraków To Warsaw flights via 12Go. You will pay much less if you book well in advance.
- Coach: You can also book advance Kraków To Warsaw bus tickets with 12Go. Services run from 6.00am until 8.00pm.
| Flight Balice - Warsaw Airport € 68.15–87.80 50m – 1h | |
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| Bus Krakow - Warsaw € 5.49–10.49 3h 40m – 4h 45m | |
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| Taxi Krakow - Warsaw € 257.64–651.20 3h 24m – 3h 57m | |
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| Train Krakow - Warsaw € 9.20–18.60 2h 49m – 2h 58m | |
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| Bus Krakow - Warsaw Airport € 12.98 3h 45m – 4h 20m | |
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How To Get From Kraków To Warsaw By Train
The train is the best option for most travellers. It’s the fastest, most comfortable, and remains competitively priced. There are hourly departures from Kraków Główny, right in the centre of the city, which arrives at Warszawa Centralna, right around the corner from the Palace of Culture and Science. You really couldn’t ask for a more direct route. Trains run from very early in the morning until late evening, and (at time of writing) cost roughly 49zł-169zł (€11-€39) per person each way. Trains are comfortable and modern. The whole journey takes 2.5-3 hours.
Get tickets at the train station or in advance using KOLEO, a user-friendly platform that avoids the glitches of the official site. It provides a comprehensive timetable with clear details on platforms and departures. Simply search for Kraków Główny to Warszawa Centralna on your chosen date and time, then look for an EIP train from the timetable. Once you’ve chosen a route, you can complete the purchase directly within the app or site with no redirection or printing required.
How To Fly To Warsaw From Kraków
There are several flights daily from both John Paul II and Katowice airports. Whilst a plane might seem the fastest option, you have to add the time it takes between the airport and city centre at each end, and it could end up being the most expensive option.
Polish airline LOT offers up to seven direct flights a day from John Paul II International to Warsaw Chopin International, and three from Katowice Airport. One-way flights are roughly 230zł-650zł (€55-€150) at time of writing, depending on when you book, and take about an hour each way, but you have to factor in travel to the airport and waiting times, possibly 4 hours in total.
Check 12go for times of flights and prices.
It takes about 30 minutes from Warsaw Chopin International to Warsaw city centre by public transport, but it is always worth considering a private transfer to get you to the airport in Kraków and also when you arrive in Warsaw.
How To Get From Kraków To Warsaw By Coach
The coach is the cheapest method and also quite convenient. These leave twice an hour from the Dworzec Autobusowy in Kraków, just next to the train station. You can get off at a number of stops once you reach Warsaw. Prices vary considerably and are typically less than 32zł (9€) each way. Coaches are modern and comfortable. The downside is that the journey time is roughly 4.5 hours, compared to almost half that for the train. Check with a service like 12go for bus timetables and prices.
Kraków City Centre To Warsaw Map
This map shows the distance and route by road between Kraków city centre and Warsaw. Click any pin on the map for more details about each place. Click on the icon in the top left corner for an index of every location, sorted by category. You can zoom in and scroll around, just as you would on any Google Map.
Kraków To Warsaw Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to travel from Kraków to Warsaw?
For most travellers, the train is the most compelling option in terms of convenience and comfort. It is the fastest method, with high-speed trains taking approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes to travel directly from city centre to city centre.
Is it faster to fly or take the train?
Although the actual flight time is only about 55 minutes, the total door-to-door journey for flying takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours when factoring in airport transfers and waiting times. In comparison, the high-speed train takes roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes door-to-door, making the train the faster overall option.
Where do the trains depart and arrive?
Trains depart from Kraków Główny, which is located right in the city centre. They arrive at Warszawa Centralna, which is situated right around the corner from the iconic Palace of Culture and Science.
What is the cheapest mode of transport?
The coach is the cheapest method, with tickets typically costing less than 32zł (9€) each way. However, the journey time is longer, taking roughly 4.5 hours compared to 2.5 hours on the train.
Where is the best place to book tickets online?
For English speakers, KOLEO is recommended for booking train tickets as it is user-friendly and avoids official site glitches. For flights and coaches, you can check timetables and book tickets via 12Go.
About Warsaw
At roughly 300km away, Poland’s capital city is easy to reach from Kraków and makes a good weekend destination. Much of Warsaw (“Warszawa” in Polish, pronounced “vahr-shah-vah”) was built after 1945, having been largely destroyed during the Second World War. Even the pretty Old Town is mostly reconstruction. The result is a patchwork of different districts and monuments. Mostly Modernist and modern, Warsaw has little of the overwhelming beauty of Kraków, it is true, but there are excellent museums and places to eat, and it is changing all the time. It’s also one of Europe’s great cities to go out drinking!
You can find a full list of events and things to do in Warsaw at Get Your Guide and our Visit Warsaw site gives an idea of how to plan for your visit.
WarsawVisit.com
See our dedicated site for Warsaw travel, WarsawVisit.com, for a Google map of Warsaw’s essential attractions and further information about the city.
How To Get To Other Polish Cities From Kraków
For a complete breakdown of travel logistics and other city insights, see our dedicated guide How To Travel From Kraków To Other Polish Cities. It has details on navigating Poland’s rail, air, and bus networks, including the specific departure points within Kraków for each mode of transport.
Kraków To Białystok
Situated in the northeast, Białystok is often called the “Versailles of the North” due to the stunning Branicki Palace and its gardens. It serves as the primary gateway to nature, specifically the primeval forests of Białowieża where Europe’s last wild bison roam.
Kraków To Gdańsk
A city shaped by maritime history and the amber trade, Gdańsk offers a distinct atmosphere from the rest of Poland. Visitors flock to the Long Market to admire the reconstructed facades and the historic crane over the Motława River, which symbolizes the city’s trading power.
Kraków To Gdynia
While often visited for its beaches, Gdynia is a haven for architecture lovers, boasting excellent examples of 1920s modernism. It is also home to the fascinating Emigration Museum, located in the historic maritime station, which tells the story of the Polish diaspora.
Kraków To Katowice
Once defined purely by coal, Katowice has reinvented itself as a UNESCO City of Music. The Culture Zone is a highlight, featuring the iconic Spodek arena and the subterranean Silesian Museum, which cleverly repurposes the site of a former mine.
Kraków To Łódź
Frequently compared to Manchester for its red-brick textile history, Łódź is now the cinematic capital of Poland, home to the famous film school. The revitalized Manufaktura complex – a massive shopping and arts centre inside a 19th-century factory – is a must-see.
Kraków To Lublin
This city moves at a relaxed pace, offering a genuine slice of eastern Poland. The majestic Lublin Castle features the Holy Trinity Chapel, which houses unique Byzantine-Ruthenian frescoes, and the Old Town is a maze of authentic, winding lanes free from heavy crowds.
Kraków To Olsztyn
As the capital of the Warmia-Masuria region, Olsztyn is the perfect base for exploring the “Land of a Thousand Lakes”. History buffs will appreciate the gothic castle where Nicolaus Copernicus once lived and worked as an administrator during the 16th century.
Kraków To Poznań
Located halfway to Berlin, Poznań is famous for the Renaissance Town Hall where mechanical billy goats butt heads every day at noon. The city is also a foodie destination, renowned for its St. Martin’s Croissants, a protected regional delicacy you have to try.
Kraków To Sopot
This resort town is famous for the “Monciak”, a pedestrian street lined with cafes that leads down to Europe’s longest wooden pier. It is also home to the “Crooked House” (Krzywy Domek), a surreal piece of architecture that looks like a fairytale illustration come to life.
Kraków To Szczecin
Distinct for its star-shaped plazas and wide avenues reminiscent of Paris, Szczecin is a green city centered around the Oder River. The wały Chrobrego embankment offers impressive views, while the award-winning architecture of the Philharmonic Hall draws design enthusiasts.
Kraków To Toruń
Famous as the birthplace of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, this medieval gem is equally renowned for its gingerbread. Visitors can explore the Living Museum of Gingerbread to learn a baking tradition that has existed here since the Middle Ages.
Kraków To Wrocław
Beyond its stunning architecture, Wrocław is loved for its whimsy – specifically the hundreds of bronze dwarf statues hidden throughout the city. It is also home to the Centennial Hall, a UNESCO-listed feat of engineering and concrete that hosts major events.
Kraków To Zakopane
While famous for its peaks, the town is also the center of “Zakopane Style” architecture—beautiful wooden villas designed by Stanisław Witkiewicz. A walk down Krupówki Street offers a mix of highlander culture, smoked sheep cheese (oscypek), and vibrant local markets.
Things To Do In Krakow
Start Planning Your Kraków Trip Now!
:: Find available Kraków hotels on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too.
:: Wondering where to stay in Krakow before you book your hotel? See our comprehensive guide to the city's most convenient areas for visitors.
:: Find the cheapest flight to Kraków with 12go - one search will show you the prices and times from scores of airlines for your trip. A real timesaver.
:: Book an airport transfer to take you hassle-free direct from the airport to your hotel with the driver meeting you in Arrivals.
:: Find out how to get your phone set up with a SIM card in Kraków.
:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials with our comprehensive Packing List For Kraków.
:: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
:: Get a KrakowCard 1-, 2- or 3-day pass that gives entry to almost 40 of the Kraków's fantastic attractions and unlimited use of the city's bus and tram network.
:: Need inspiration? Check our Kraków Itineraries for two-day, three-day, and four-day trips, as well as our Things To Do In Kraków guide for ideas of where to do and what to do.
