How to get to the Bieszczady by train? Complete guide | PolishTrains

At a glance

• The IC 30112 BIESZCZADY train runs daily from Kraków Główny to Zagórz in around 4 hours
• From Warsaw, the journey to Zagórz takes approximately 7–8 hours with one change in Kraków
• Zagórz is considered the gateway to the Bieszczady and the main transfer point for mountain buses
• A 2nd class ticket on the BIESZCZADY train between Kraków and Zagórz starts from around 40 PLN
• Ustrzyki Dolne station lies closest to the trails of the Bieszczady National Park
• Polregio operates direct regional trains between Rzeszów and Sanok for onward connections

You can get to the Bieszczady Mountains from many major cities in Poland, either directly or with minimal changes. All you need to do is look for long-distance trains to Rzeszów or Przemyśl, and then regional connections to one of the smaller towns such as Zagórz, Sanok or Ustrzyki Dolne located near the Bieszczady themselves.

A popular train to the Bieszczady Mountains is IC 30112 BIESZCZADY, which runs every morning from Cracow Główny station to Zagórz - a town considered to be the gateway to the Bieszczady Mountains. Importantly, many trains from Gdańsk, Warsaw or Wrocław reach Cracow, so the capital of the Lesser Poland Region can also be your transfer point on the way to the picturesque Bieszczady Mountains.

For example, a normal ticket in the second class on the BIESZCZADY train between Cracow Glowny and Zagórz you can buy from 40 PLN. This price may be available if you buy your ticket in advance, however, it is not the rule, PKP Intercity ticket prices change dynamically and are dependent on the current demand for a given connection.

On the other hand, if you choose the POLREGIO train between Rzeszów Główny and Sanok, you can buy a normal ticket for approximately PLN 30.

If you are travelling from further regions of Poland, you will still need to add a ticket from your location to Kraków, Rzeszów or Przemyśl to the travel costs. You can check exact ticket prices and the best connections on the PolishTrains website.

Want to buy a ticket without going to the railway station? Book your journey online! Step-by-step instructions can be found at: https://www.polishtrains.eu/aktualnosci/jak-kupic-bilet-na-pociag-poradnik-krok-po-kroku.

Direct connections to Bieszczady by PKP Intercity:

• IC 30112 BIESZCZADY from Kraków Główny to Zagórz

• IC 30110 WETLINA from Kraków Główny to Zagórz

Polregio offers direct trains to the Bieszczady on the following routes:

• Medzilaborce (Slovakia) - Rzeszów Główny (the train stops in Sanok and Zagórz)

• Rzeszów Główny - Ustrzyki Dolne

Sample connections with a transfer from major Polish cities:

Route: Warsaw - Zagórz

• Travel time: 7 hours 28 minutes

• Departure from Warsaw Central Station: 5:39

• Arrival in Zagórz: 13:07

There are two trains to be used on this route:

• First: IC 13100 MALINOWSKI from Warsaw East to Zakopane

• Change place - Kraków Główny station (arrival at approx. 8:24)

• Second: IC 30112 BIESZCZADY from Kraków Główny - Zagórz (departure from Kraków at 9:09)

• Waiting time for the change in Kraków Główny approx. 45 minutes

Route: Wrocław - Ustrzyki Dolne

• Travel time: 9 hrs 3 mins

• Departure from Wrocław Główny: 5:02

• Arrival in Ustrzyki Dolne: 14:05

There are three trains to be used on this route:

• First: IC 63172 ROZEWIE from Wrocław Główny to Przemyśl Główny

• Transfer point - Kraków Główny station (arrival at approx. 8:32)

• Waiting time for interchange in Kraków Główny ca. 37 minutes

• Second: IC 30112 BIESZCZADY from Kraków Główny - Zagórz (departure from Kraków at 9:09)

• Transfer point - Zagórz station (arrival approx. 13:07)

• Waiting time for change in Zagórz approx. 5 minutes

• Third: PR 30311 Sanok - Ustrzyki Dolne (departure from Zagórz 13:12)

Route: Gdańsk - Sanok

• Journey time: 9 hours 59 minutes

• Departure from Gdańsk Główny: 12:52

• Arrival in Sanok: 22:51

There are two trains to be used on this route:

• First: EIP 5306 relation Gdynia Główna - Kraków Główny

• Transfer point - Kraków Główny station (arrival at approx. 18:13)

• Second: IC 30110 WETLINA Kraków Główny - Sanok (departure from Kraków 18:46)

• Waiting time for interchange in Cracow Glowny approx. 33 minutes

Before travelling by train to the Bieszczady Mountains, be sure to check the route and the train timetable carefully. If you are travelling for several hours , it is worth taking snacks, water and something to read with you. If you want to make the journey more enjoyable, pay attention to whether the train has:

• WARS restaurant carriage - this is where you will have a hot meal during the journey,

• a family compartment - this is the most comfortable option when travelling with a small child,

• power sockets and available WiFi - you can comfortably charge your laptop or smartphone and watch your favourite series on a streaming platform during the journey.

Remember also to buy your tickets in advance- during high season and at weekends, seats on PKP Intercity trains sell out much faster.

During your stay in the Bieszczady Mountains, be sure to take a ride on the popular Bieszczady Forest Railway. One of the biggest tourist attractions, the ride takes place on a historic train that runs in the beautiful San valley.

The railway operates from May to October on the routes:

• Majdan - Balnica - Majdan travel time approx. 2 hrs.

• Majdan - Solinka - Majdan journey time of 1 hr 15 min**(courses with a steam locomotive** available from May to September).

Travel times depend on the month, ranging from once a day at the beginning and end of the season to as many as 5 times a day in high season.

You already know how to get to the Bieszczady by train, all that remains is to buy a ticket on the PolishTrains website and plan your trip around this picturesque area!

Looking for other interesting destinations? Take a train to Karpacz, Zakopane or the seaside. Check out travel routes and attractions in these regions on polishtrains.eu.

**What is the best train station to start visiting the Bieszczady Mountains from?**When planning a trip to the Bieszczady Mountains, it is best to get off at Zagórz, Sanok or Ustrzyki Dolne train stations. These towns are the easiest to reach from Cracow or Rzeszów.

**How much does a train ticket to the Bieszczady cost?**The price of tickets depends on the route. For example, a regular PKP Intercity ticket on the route Kraków - Zagórz can be purchased from about 40 PLN. On the other hand, on the POLREGIO route between Rzeszów and Sanok, a normal ticket costs about 30 PLN.

**3. Are there direct PKP Intercity trains to the Bieszczady?**Yes. There are IC BIESZCZADY and IC WETLINA trains on the route from Kraków to Zagórz.

**4. are there direct connections to the Bieszczady from POLREGIO?**POLREGIO offers rides on the route Rzeszów - Ustrzyki Dolne or Medzilaborce (Slovakia) - Zagórz.