How many days in advance can you buy an Intercity ticket? | PolishTrains
Wondering how many days in advance you can buy an Intercity ticket? PKP Intercity tickets for domestic connections go on sale 30 days in advance, while tickets for international connections (with certain exceptions) can be purchased much further in advance. Below you will find detailed information on this subject.
At a glance
At a glance
- Domestic PKP Intercity tickets go on sale up to 30 days before departure
- Tickets to Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia are available up to 180 days ahead
- Czech Republic connections have a pre-sale window of up to 90 days
- Ukraine routes have a shorter window, with tickets available up to 20 days in advance
- Promotional fares may be non-refundable, while flexible fares allow changes for a fee
- EIC and EIP trains require a compulsory seat reservation, even on the day of travel
Everything you need to know about buying Intercity tickets in advance
How far in advance can I buy an Intercity ticket? This can be done well in advance: up to 30 days before the scheduled departure of the train. This allows passengers to plan their journey with a great deal of peace of mind and avoid unpleasant surprises.
For international trains, slightly different rules apply. Tickets to Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Lithuania can already be purchased up to 180 days in advance. At the end of October, the pre-sale period for tickets to the Czech Republic is also being extended to 90 days (the target is to start pre-sale up to six months in advance as well). For connections to the Ukraine, tickets can be purchased up to 20 days in advance.
What is worth remembering?
- On PKP Intercity, you can find a list of connections with suspended ticket sales in a given period (e.g. within the next two weeks). The inability to purchase a ticket may result, for example, from a change in the list or from an unconfirmed timetable on a foreign section.
- Stations and departure and arrival times are subject to change. When buying a ticket in advance, it is advisable to check all up-to-date information before travelling.
You can buy advance tickets both at the box office and online, such as on the PolishTrains website.
Planning your journey, both abroad and in Poland, in advance gives you the chance not only to save money but also to choose the most comfortable seats. You already know, as a PKP Intercity passenger aware of your rights, how much earlier you can buy your ticket. But why is it worth it?
Why buy tickets in advance?
Buying Intercity tickets in advance is the easiest way to travel cheaper and with more peace of mind.
PKP Intercity uses a so-called dynamic sales system, in which the ticket price depends on the number of available seats - the earlier you buy, the greater the chance of getting a ticket at a lower price. The cheapest tickets can be up to 30-40% cheaper than those bought just before departure!
Buying your ticket in advance is also a matter of convenience and seat security. During busy periods, especially before long weekends, holidays or bank holidays, Intercity trains can be full to the last seat. By booking your ticket in advance, you can choose a seat in the train (e.g. by a window, in a quiet zone or with an electrical socket) and avoid the stress of having to search for an empty seat on the day of travel.
Advance purchase of a ticket and reimbursement on the day of the planned journey
How many days in advance you can buy an Intercity ticket - you already know that. But what about when life's plans change from moment to moment? In such a situation, PKP Intercity allows you to return your ticket.
- For all domestic and international journeys, tickets can be returned up to 5 minutes before the scheduled train departure.
- In the case of domestic journeys - a fee of 15% of the ticket value will be deducted from the price of the ticket returned up to 5 minutes before departure.
- For international journeys, a charge of 50% of the ticket value will be deducted from the price of the ticket refunded up to 5 minutes before departure; for international journeys, a charge of 10% of the ticket value will be deducted from the price of the ticket refunded up to 24 hours before departure.
Please note: for international tickets purchased under a promotion (e.g. Super Promo), it is not possible to return the ticket!
You can only do this if you have bought your ticket in a so-called flexible offer.
Frequently asked questions
On PolishTrains, domestic PKP Intercity tickets are available up to 30 days before departure. If a connection is not yet on sale, check again closer to the date.
Refund conditions depend on the fare type. Promotional tickets may be non-refundable, while flexible fares carry a fee that varies according to the time remaining before departure and the type of route. Full details are on the PolishTrains help page.
Yes, provided seats are still available. On EIC and EIP trains and on international sections, a seat reservation is compulsory, so always check current availability before travelling.
Yes, the sales window for Ukrainian routes is often shorter than for other international services. Availability can change, so check the latest information before booking.
Yes, if the fare type permits it. The full exchange procedure is described on the PolishTrains help page, where you can also find the applicable terms and conditions.
On PolishTrains, domestic PKP Intercity tickets are available up to 30 days before departure. If a connection is not yet on sale, check again closer to the date.
Refund conditions depend on the fare type. Promotional tickets may be non-refundable, while flexible fares carry a fee that varies according to the time remaining before departure and the type of route. Full details are on the PolishTrains help page.
Yes, provided seats are still available. On EIC and EIP trains and on international sections, a seat reservation is compulsory, so always check current availability before travelling.
Yes, the sales window for Ukrainian routes is often shorter than for other international services. Availability can change, so check the latest information before booking.
Yes, if the fare type permits it. The full exchange procedure is described on the PolishTrains help page, where you can also find the applicable terms and conditions.
