Train to Piwniczna-Zdrój - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Destination station: Piwniczna-Zdrój, Kolejowa Street.

• Nature of the destination: spa town on the Poprad River in the Beskid Sądecki region - patients and mountain hikers come here all year round.

• Best time to go: summer (July-August) for hiking and the full range of spa facilities; winter (December-March) for skiing in nearby Wierchomla and Rytro.

• Local transport: you can get to further points, such as Rytro and Wierchomla, by bus or taxi.

• How much to go for: a weekend (2 days) is enough for a promenade, a water pump room and one trail. It is worth planning 3-4 days for spa treatments and a day trip to the mountains.

• Practical tip: Piwniczna-Zdrój lies on the Nowy Sącz-Krynica-Zdrój railway line - you can combine both spas in one trip.

It is best to choose July or August when the daytime temperature is 18-25°C, the mountain trails are fully accessible and the spa is in operation with a full range of treatments and gastronomy.

Spring (March-May)

• The trails open up after winter - there are fewer tourists than in summer, so it is a good time for walks in the Poprad valley.

• In May, meadows in the Poprad valley and on the slopes of the Beskid Sądecki Mountains are in bloom - a good time for landscape photography.

• Spa treatments are available all year round, and prices for accommodation in guesthouses are lower than in high season.

Summer (June-August)

• This is the high season - a full range of gastronomy is in operation, guesthouses and restaurants are open, and stalls with regional products appear along the promenade.

• The trail to Radziejowa (1262 m) and the route to Rytro are at their best then - the paths are dry and the days are long.

• Accommodation should be booked in advance, especially in July and on August weekends.

Autumn (September-November)

• In autumn, the beech and fir forests of Beskid Sądecki change colour and there are fewer people on the trails than in summer.

• In September, the daytime temperature is 14-19°C, so hiking in the mountains is enjoyable even for several hours.

• Accommodation prices return to off-season levels, and it is easier to find a place in a guesthouse without booking in advance.

Winter (December-February)

• During the winter season, the nearby ski resorts in Wierchomla Wielka and Rytro are in operation - you can get there by bus or taxi.

• Treatments, swimming pools and the pump room are available all year round, regardless of the weather.

• Skiing conditions are sometimes best in February, so you can combine your train journey with a full day on the slopes.

From Krakow and Tarnów you will travel with a change to a substitute bus in Stary Sącz, while from Nowy Sącz and Krynica-Zdrój you go directly.

Train to Piwniczna-Zdrój from Nowy Sącz

• This is the shortest connection on this route - you travel about 40 minutes without changing trains.

• The route goes through Stary Sącz, Barcice and Rytro, all the way along the Poprad valley.

• Connections are operated by POLREGIO and PKP Intercity (TLK).

• If you are travelling from Warsaw or Wrocław, change at Nowy Sącz to a train to Piwniczna-Zdrój.

Train to Piwniczna-Zdrój from Krynica-Zdrój

• From Krynica-Zdrój you travel about an hour without changing trains.

• The route goes through Muszyna, Żegiestów, Wierchomla Wielka and Łomnica-Zdrój.

• Connections are operated by POLREGIO and PKP Intercity (TLK).

• If you are planning to visit both spas in one trip, you can travel directly from Krynica-Zdrój to Piwniczna-Zdrój.

Train to Piwniczna-Zdrój from Tarnów

• From Tarnów you will reach Piwniczna-Zdrój in approximately 2.5 hours via Stróże, Nowy Sącz and Stary Sącz.

• In Stary Sącz you change to a replacement bus waiting at the platform.

• Connections on this route are operated by POLREGIO.

• Tarnów is a major interchange hub if you are travelling from another direction.

Train to Piwniczna-Zdrój from Kraków

• From Kraków the journey takes approximately 3 hours via Bochnia, Tarnów, Stróże and Nowy Sącz.

• There is a replacement bus on the Stary Sącz–Piwniczna-Zdrój section, waiting at the platform.

• Connections on this route are operated by POLREGIO.

• Along the way you will see the Dunajec and Poprad valleys, the Rożnowskie Foothills and the entrance to the Beskid Sądecki.

From Warsaw and Wrocław you can travel with a change in Kraków or by train to Nowy Sącz - total travel time from Warsaw is around 5-6 hours. You can buy tickets for all routes on Europodróże without registration - the ticket is sent to your email and by SMS, and 30 minutes before departure you receive a reminder with a link to your ticket. For PKP Intercity, refunds are possible up to 20 minutes before departure and exchanges up to 30 minutes before departure. See the refund and exchange policy page for details.

On PKP Intercity and POLREGIO, skis and snowboards are treated as hand luggage. Carriage is free of charge if the equipment is stored in a bag.

Once you leave the station, the promenade, guest houses and restaurants are within walking distance. You get around Piwniczna-Zdrój on foot.

The Pump Room, the parish church, the main restaurants and souvenir shops are all within a few hundred metres of the station. Even guesthouses on the outskirts of the centre are within walking distance.

For trips outside of Piwniczna-Zdroj, local buses are useful. They connect Piwniczna-Zdrój with Rytro, Stary Sącz and Muszyna, so they are suitable for day trips. Outside the summer season, buses run less frequently, so it is worth checking the timetable before going to Wierchomla Wielka or Łomnica-Zdrój.

Taxis can be found at the railway station and in the centre. They are useful for larger luggage, getting to guesthouses outside the centre or fast transport to the ski slope in Wierchomla.

Where to stay overnight:

• The centre by the promenade - closest to the pump house, restaurants and main attractions; ideal for a short weekend away

• Guesthouses on the outskirts - quieter surroundings, often with a view of the mountains; it is worth having your own transport or reckoning with a several-minute walk

Mineral water pump room

The heart of the spa. There is an entrance fee. Inside you can taste local mineral waters from the spa springs, each with a different composition and flavour. The tour with tasting takes 20-30 minutes. It is worth coming in the morning, before groups of visitors arrive.

Promenade along the Poprad River

A walk along the river, free of charge. The route is about 2 km one way and offers views of the slopes of the Beskid Sądecki Mountains. Along the promenade you will find benches, stalls with regional products and entrances to the spa park. The walk in both directions takes about an hour.

Trail to Radziejowa (1262 m)

The highest peak in Beskid Sądecki. This is an all-day trip - the ascent and descent take a total of 6-7 hours. From the summit you will see a panorama of the Tatra Mountains, the Pieniny Mountains and the Beskid Niski. The trail is marked, but requires good fitness and appropriate footwear.

Trail to Rytro

A shorter alternative, about 2 hours one way. The trail runs through the Poprad valley over gentle terrain, making it suitable for a family outing or an afternoon walk. From Rytro you can return by train to Piwniczna-Zdrój.

Parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A historic church in the centre of the village. Entrance is free of charge. Inside you will see wooden altars and polychrome paintings. The visit takes 15-20 minutes.

Ski resorts: Wierchomla Wielka and Rytro

A few minutes by bus or taxi from Piwniczna-Zdrój. Ski lifts are paid. Wierchomla offers over a dozen slopes of varying difficulty, while Rytro is smaller and more intimate. Both resorts operate in winter when snow conditions permit.

Plan for 1 day

Morning: mineral water pump room and a walk along the promenade on the Poprad River - this will take a total of 1.5-2 hours.

Midday: the trail to Rytro or a shorter walk on the surrounding trails in the Poprad valley.

Evening: dinner at a restaurant by the promenade - regional dumplings with buckwheat groats or highland-style żurek soup.

Plan for a weekend

Day 1: you can arrange the first day the same way as the 1-day plan - pump room, promenade, trail to Rytro and dinner in the centre.

Day 2: a full-day trip to Radziejowa or a train to Krynica-Zdrój - about an hour's journey leaving you half a day to explore the second spa. In the evening return to Piwniczna-Zdrój or travel directly home.

What to eat

Oscypek - regional smoked sheep's cheese, available in restaurants and at stalls along the promenade all year round.

Żurek po góralsku - a thick, sour rye sourdough soup served with egg and sausage; a classic of Beskidian cuisine.

Pierogi with buckwheat groats - a regional version of pierogi, popular in restaurants along the promenade.

Bryndza - soft sheep's cheese with a distinctive flavour, often served as a side dish or spread on bread.

You can find regional Beskid Sądecki cuisine in restaurants and bars along the promenade - most establishments operate all year round, with a full range available in summer and winter. Dinner in a restaurant costs several dozen zlotys per person. Cafés and snack bars are cheaper.

Souvenirs

• Oscypek and sheep's cheeses - from local producers, available by the promenade and in regional shops

• Honey from Beskidian apiaries - a popular souvenir and gift

• Herbal tinctures - regional liqueurs available in souvenir shops

• Piwniczna mineral waters - bottled waters from spa springs, easy to pack in your luggage

• Ceramics and wood products - available in souvenir shops along the promenade

• Woollen socks, hats and gloves - with highland patterns, regional textiles

Figures are for a weekend stay (2 days, 1 night) per person. Prices are indicative and depend on the season and the standard of the chosen accommodation.

In the budget option, you stay overnight in a hostel or guest room, eat in bars and take your own provisions on the trail. Free attractions include the promenade, walking trails and the spa park.

In the mid-range option, you choose a guesthouse, eat in restaurants and buy a ticket to the pump room. You can also add a bus to Rytro or Wierchomla.

In the comfort option, you stay in a sanatorium or spa hotel with treatments included. This budget also covers restaurants, cafés and paid spa treatments.

Rail travel is a separate cost. Check current ticket prices on Europodróże.