I have been reading recent posts and hope this isn't a topic that was already covered...We are interested to go to Wroclaw and Krakow while in Poland. We live in Los Angeles and will be traveling to Helsinki at the end of August. Maybe we would fly Helsinki to Gdansk, spend the night and then by train to Krakow. Or should we just fly to Krakow? We would spend 2 or 3 nights in Krakow. I do not see train service from Krakow to Wroclaw, and I don't see train service from Wroclaw to Prague. Am I doing something wrong on the Polrail site? Or should we look at a bus?
We will spend 4-5 nights in Prague, make our way south to Český Krumlov, and hopefully find a beautiful way to get to our flight home from Budapest. Along the Danube? Or maybe just the train. Most likely avoiding Vienna, spent lots of time there already. Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated as we plan this trip of a lifetime. We will have plenty of time!
Posted by
Washington DC
28053 posts
One night is not enough time in Gdansk, and 2 nights are not enough time in Krakow unless you plan to skip both Auschwitz and The Schindler Factory.
I think you may need to get a train from Krakow to Warsaw and another from Warsaw to Wroclaw. But I believe you'd do better with fewer stops in Poland so you don't spend so much time changing hotels and sitting on trains.
Posted by
Main Line PA, USA
108 posts
My wife and I used trains extensively last year in Poland. Take a look at this link which I found very helpful when booking our tickets online: http://polandtravelplanner.com/transport/train.html
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7158 posts
Maybe it's too early to see those trains for the end of August. Have you tried just looking for the next week or so to see them. You can assume that they will likely be the same in August.
Posted by
Colbert, WA, USA
142 posts
We took the train from Krakow to Wroclaw when we were in Poland a two years ago. Bought the tickets at the Krakow Glowny train station. I think you are looking too far in advance.
Posted by
near San Francisco
5362 posts
There are trains from Wrocław to Prague. The train options in my travel timeframe last fall required 2 changes. I took Flixbus, which was a beautiful journey through the Polish countryside. One caution... our bus did not have a restroom and neither could we find one at our mid-way stop.
Posted by
Westerville
242 posts
I would look for an inexpensive airline to go between Gdansk and Krakow for between $25 and $80 but I would fly directly to Krakow and enjoy that lovely city. I've been to both and Krakow has a week's worth of adventure available. Check out Norwegian Airlines.
I've flown on them several times.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
3 posts
So many great ideas and websites. Making my head spin, but it's in a happy spin as we plan this trip! We have decided it might be best to fly directly from Helsinki to Krakow. Now we are looking at spending Mon-Sat in Krakow, and then spending 2 nights in Olomouc, Czechia and then onto Prague. Foregoing Wraclow and Gdansk until another time. Thank you ALL for the great idea!
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4180 posts
How will you be getting from Krakow to Olomouc?
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
3 posts
There seems to be a LEO Express train from Krakow to Olomouc. But I know I am looking at some of this stuff way too early.
We are still counting out the days and seeing how we will be able to spend enough time in Krakow and Prague, and maybe STILL make it to Wroclaw for a couple of nights and forget about Olomouc. It was recommended and I would like to see it too.
We are "spoiled travelers" and try to only fly direct, not change trains, and not have a train ride of more than 4-5 hours.
And I want to start looking at our itinerary for the next portion...maybe the Wachau region of Austria and some time at a lake in Hungary. Our flight home is from Budapest.
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4180 posts
I was going to say that there is a PKP Intercity high-speed train that goes from Krakow to Wroclaw in around 3:30 hrs. You could then spend a few days in Wroclaw and after take a 4 hr FlixBus to Prague. That could be another option if you want to include Wroclaw ;-)
PS Wroclaw is my favourite city in Poland!