Cheap travel between Polish cities: FlixBus, PKP, BlaBlaCar — price comparison and where to buy tickets

Poland is compact, but getting from Warsaw to Krakow or Wroclaw to Gdansk without a car still requires some know-how. The good news: intercity transport in Poland is well-developed, and if you know the rules, you can travel very cheaply. The bad news: most articles online are already out of date.

Key update for 2026: RegioJet stopped all domestic train services in Poland on 3 May 2026. The Krakow–Warsaw and Poznan–Warsaw routes no longer exist. Only international services remain — such as the Przemysl–Prague route, popular with Ukrainians.

Carrier comparison: who, how much, when

FlixBus — when price is the priority

FlixBus remains the cheapest option on long routes. Coaches are comfortable, with Wi-Fi and charging points. Journey times are usually 30–60% longer than by train — factor that in when planning.

• Krakow–Warsaw: from 49–65 PLN, 3.5–4 hrs.

• Warsaw–Gdansk: from 39 PLN, 4 hrs.

• Wroclaw–Warsaw: from 45 PLN, 4 hrs.

• Warsaw–Poznan: from 35 PLN, 3 hrs.

How to save on FlixBus: book 2–4 weeks ahead — the cheapest seats go first and prices can be 2–3x higher closer to departure. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically cheaper than Fridays and Sundays. Install the app — it carries promotions not available on the website.

PKP Intercity — fast and reliable

PKP Intercity is the national rail operator connecting all major Polish cities. Express Intercity (EIC) and Express Intercity Premium (EIP) trains are the fastest option. Prices are higher than FlixBus, but the time saving is significant.

• Krakow–Warsaw: from 49–89 PLN, 2 hrs 20 min (EIP).

• Warsaw–Gdansk: from 59 PLN, 3 hrs.

• Warsaw–Wroclaw: from 49 PLN, 2 hrs 40 min.

Where to buy: the Koleo app or intercity.pl. The cheapest “Promo” tickets appear 30 days before departure — they sell out quickly.

Discounts: students with a Polish legitymacja studencka get 51% off. Children under 4 travel free, under 16 get 37% off.

PKP Regionalne — for short hops

Regional trains connect smaller towns and suburban areas. The cheapest option for distances up to 100–150 km. Search through e-podroznik.pl — an aggregator that shows all Polish trains including connections and prices.

BlaBlaCar — flexible and often convenient

BlaBlaCar is a ride-sharing service: a driver heading in your direction picks up passengers. Prices typically sit between FlixBus and PKP, and it works well for routes with infrequent or inconvenient scheduled services.

Pros: flexible routes, you can agree on a convenient pick-up point, often faster than a bus. Cons: requires registration, needs to be booked in advance, cancellations do happen.

RegioJet — international routes only

Where to compare and buy

• e-podroznik.pl — the best aggregator: shows all Polish trains, regional and Intercity, including connections and prices.

• omio.com — compares buses, trains and flights on one screen. Available in multiple languages.

• Busfor.pl — convenient aggregator for bus tickets (FlixBus, Sindbad, Neobus, etc.).

• koleo.pl / Koleo app — official PKP ticket sales plus regional trains.