Need advice on train travel and using money in Poland.

Hi everyone,

I'll be in Poland the week of march 24 and need some advice. Regarding cash, would you recommend using traveler's check? Also is train traveling safe and is so which rail company should I use? Rail Europe or PKP?

Thanks, can't wait to be there. It will be my first Europeen trip.

See ya!

PkP its cheap im sure about that, Rail Europe have better conection between EU cities i belive, and its safe if u dun sleep alone in the compartment thru the night :P

Use your hole in the wall card. An ATM.

thanks for answering me.

Merged: Lots of Questions: Train travel within Poland

Greetings Forum!

My good friend and I will be visiting Poland in one week!! I am soooo excited!! However, I have a couple of questions about train travel within Poland. I am not sure if it is cheaper to pay per train ride or buy a rail pass. And if I buy a rail pass, what kind? We are both 26, so Interrail's youth discount doesn't work for us anymore.

My itinerary is:
3 nights in Krakow (day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau) --> Night train to Gdansk --> 2 nights in Gdansk (day trip to Malbork Castle) --> 1 night in Torun --> 1 night in Warsaw --> last night in Krakow (fly out of Krakow back to NY)

I have been to website: rozklad-pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en but I get very confused by what I find. I read on another website that the Polish rail has these offers:

PKP Przewozy Regionalne System Pass (Bilet Sieciowy Imienne) [7 day unlimited pass] and PKP InterCity System Pass (Bilet Sieciowy Imienne) [also has a 7 day unlimited; more details below]. What is the difference? They are passes for the different kinds of trains right? And when I search on the website, how do I tell if the pass I get will cover the train I want to ride? The logos do not make sense.

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!! Thank you!
Grace

PKP InterCity System Pass (Bilet Sieciowy Imienne) Cost: One week pass (7 consecutive days): 245 zloty (2nd class)/367.50 zloty (1st class)
One month pass: 725 zloty (2nd class)/1087.50 zloty (1st class)
Description: PKP InterCity system passes can be used on domestic TLK, InterCity, EuroCity and Express services. The ticket holder is entitled to unlimited travel on these servcies for the period of the pass.

The price includes the cost of a seat reservation. You must request seat reservations at a ticket window and present your pass.
Validity: The ticket-holder's name will be written on the ticket at the time of purchase, along with the number of an identification document such as a passport. The identification document must be shown upon request during ticket inspections while travelling.

Where to buy: System passes must be purchased at a PKP InterCity ticket office or other ticket office offering tickets and seat reservations.

PKP Przewozy Regionalne System Pass (Bilet Sieciowy Imienne)
Cost: One week pass (7 consecutive days): 160.00 zloty (2nd class)/240.00 zloty (1st class)
One month pass: 520.00 zloty (2nd class)/780.00 zloty (1st class)
Description: This system pass ticket entitles the holder to travel in first or second class on local (osobowy) and fast (pospieszny) trains operated by "PKP Przewozy Regionalne". The ticket holder is entitled to unlimited travel on these services for the period of the pass.

Validity: The ticket-holder's name will be written on the ticket at the time of purchase, along with the number of an identification document such as a passport. The identification document must be shown upon request during ticket inspections while travelling.

Where to buy: Tickets may be bought only in ticket offices.

rozklad-pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en

In "Products" you may choose a kind of train...

i know it's tough to type "train" into the search bar so, just click on search and enter "train."

arsesta,
I wouldn't bother with any passes. They would only limit you to choosing some adequate trains and it could be not continent. Your longest trip Krakow Gdansk would cost you some 100 -110 pln by express or IC train (which I'd recommend on this route). Gdansk to Malbork only 12 pln (don't bother with EC to get there as it would be a short trip). Gdansk - Torun 40 pln Regular or if you take IC or Express more but time saving time won't be much. Torun - Warszawa another 40 pln REGULAR. And Warszawa Krakow some less then 100 on EC.

Overall you'd spend about 300 pln (some 130 USD) so buying any pass as I said would only limit you in terms of choices and give not much in savings.

To save big, travel on weekend on Regular trains - Friday 18 pm to Monday 6 am on TURYSTYCZNY bilet (covers all Regular trains in this time frame for only 60 pln)