Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

POLAND 215

ARRIVING BY AIR

International flights from some
50 cities in 30 countries arrive
in Warsaw. The airports at
Gdańsk, Katowice, Szczecin,
Poznań, Wrocław, and
Cracow also have inter-
national flights, linking
Poland with Western Europe
as well as Bucharest, Budapest,
Prague, Sofia and the capitals
of the former Soviet Bloc.
Some 25 airlines, includ ing
British Airways, Air France,
SAS (Scandinavia) and
Lufthansa (Germany), operate
from Warsaw Okęcie Airport,
which also has direct connec-
tions with Canada, the US,
Israel and Thailand. Most
cities including Cracow and
Gdańsk, are served by budget
airlines such as RyanAir,
easyJet and Wizzair.

RAIL TRAVEL

Poland is covered by a dense
network of railway lines.
International train services run
between all major Polish and
European cities. The journeys
by fast train from Warsaw to
Prague and Berlin take just 6
and 9 hours respectively. Most
big cities are connected by
express lines. The Polish Rail
Network (PKP) operates a

range of trains, out of which InterCity, EuroCity and express trains are the fastest and are usually punctual. InterCity trains are the most comfortable and expensive, but also serve snacks on board. Both EuroCity and InterCity trains have special compartments for women with children and the disabled. Ordi nary trains, such as Osobowy and Tanie Linie Kolejowe, are reason able. Express trains and sleeping cars are expensive. Tickets can be booked through InterCity’s website. The offi cial website Rozklad offers info rmation on timetables and fares. Suburban routes are served by electric trains, some of which are open-plan, double- decker carriages. Tickets can be booked at railway stations. The main station in the capital is Warsaw Central.

TRAVELLING BY BUS

Polish Motor Transport, Polska Komunikacja Samo chodowa (PKS), serves most of Poland's long-distance routes. Local buses are sometimes the only means of getting to smaller towns and villages. These services are generally efficient, although before 8am and in the afternoon, they may

be crowded. Tickets are usually bought in advance from the bus station's kasa (ticket offices).

TRAVELLING BY CAR

There are very few motorways, and those that exist are generally in poor condition. An exception is the Cracow– Katowice Highway. When driving, always carry your pass port, car insurance, Green Card, licence and, if applicable, rental contract. If using a foreign car, the international symbol of its country of origin must be dis played. Seat belts need to be fastened at all times; use of mobile phones while driving is illegal. Follow speed limits and switch on headlights even during the day. All the major international car rental companies, including Avis and Hertz, operate out of Warsaw and Cracow.

ARRIVING BY FERRY

Poland’s main port is the Gdańsk Ferry Terminal and ships from Scandinavian countries dock here. There are ferries between Gdynia's port and Kaelskrona, Sweden. Information can be found through the agency Orbis.

Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

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