Winter holidays 2026 in Poland - schedule | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Winter holidays 2026 run in three regional rounds from 19 January to 1 March
• First round (19 Jan–1 Feb): Mazowieckie, Pomorskie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie
• Pendolino from Warsaw reaches Zakopane in about 4 hours; from Kraków the journey takes around 2 hours
• Szklarska Poręba is reachable directly from Wrocław, Poznań and Warsaw by train
• Wisła is accessible from Katowice in approximately 1.5 hours, with slopes at Cieńków and Soszów
• Skis and snowboards in a cover are treated as hand luggage on PKP Intercity and POLREGIO trains

• 19 January - 1 February: Mazowieckie, Pomorskie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie (including Warsaw, Gdańsk, Białystok, Kielce, Olsztyn)

• 2 - 15 February: dolnośląskie, kujawsko-pomorskie, łódzkie, zachodniopomorskie, małopolskie, opolskie (inter alia Wrocław, Kraków, Łódź, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Opole)

• 16 February - 1 March: podkarpackie, lubelskie, wielkopolskie, lubuskie, śląskie (including Katowice, Poznań, Lublin, Rzeszów, Zielona Góra) On PolishTrains, you can buy domestic tickets up to 30 days before travelling. You can check the timetable for the school holidays in advance in the PolishTrains search engine by entering the departure and destination stations.

You can reach popular mountain resorts by train from Poland’s main cities. You can buy tickets on PolishTrains without creating an account.

Zakopane and Podhale – Tatry

You can travel from Warsaw to Zakopane in about 4 hours, and from Kraków in about 2 hours. Don't have a car or prefer a comfortable journey? You can buy tickets for the Warsaw – Zakopane and Kraków – Zakopane routes on PolishTrains. Good news - many Polish mountain destinations can be reached by train. You can buy tickets for the Wrocław – Szklarska Poręba and Warsaw – Szklarska Poręba routes on PolishTrains. You can plan your route to the Karkonosze region, including Karpacz, in the same PolishTrains search engine by checking connections with changes. This is an environmentally friendly, comfortable and often faster way to start your winter holiday.

Zakopane and Podhale - the Tatras

The Pendolino from Warsaw takes about 4 hours to reach Zakopane, and from Cracow the journey takes about 2 hours. On the way, trains stop in Rabka-Zdrój (Maciejowa slopes, aquapark) and Nowy Targ. In Zakopane, the slopes of Kasprowy Wierch and Gubałówka, Wielka Krokiew and dozens of cross-country skiing trails await.

Szklarska Poręba and Świeradów-Zdrój - Karkonosze and Izera Mountains

You can get there directly from Wrocław, Poznań and Warsaw. In Szklarska Poręba, the slopes of Ski Arena Szrenica are in operation. Karpacz (the Śnieżka Ski slope) can be reached by bus. Świeradów-Zdrój offers, among other things, the modern Jizerky Ski Arena and a scenic viaduct.

Kłodzko Valley - Table Mountains and Sudetes

The Lower Silesian Railway takes you to Kłodzko and Kudowa-Zdrój. From here, it is close to Błędne Skały and Szczeliniec Wielki. Skiers can use the slopes of the Zieleniec Ski Arena - one of the largest complexes in Poland.

Wisła and Ustroń - Silesian Beskid

You can get there from Katowice in about 1.5 hours. You can buy tickets for the Katowice – Wisła route on PolishTrains. In Wisła, the slopes of Cieńków, Soszów and Nowa Osada await, as well as the cross-country trails to Kubalonka. Ustroń is a paradise for families - the gentle slopes of Poniwiec and Palenica plus thermal pools.

Krynica-Zdrój, Muszyna and Piwniczna-Zdrój - Beskid Sądecki

Getting there from Cracow takes around 3.5-4 hours. Krynica-Zdrój offers the slopes of Jaworzyna Krynicka and Słotwin Ski, as well as a historic promenade and pump rooms. Muszyna and Piwniczna-Zdrój offer intimate slopes, thermal pools and peace and quiet away from the crowds.

Zywiec and surroundings - the Zywiec Beskids

Trains from Katowice reach Żywiec, Węgierska Górka (slope of Ski Arena Jurków), Zwardoń (border crossing, trails to Wielka Racza) and Sucha Beskidzka - gateway to Zawoja and Babia Góra. You can buy tickets for the Kraków – Krynica-Zdrój route on PolishTrains. You can buy tickets for the Katowice – Żywiec and Katowice – Sucha Beskidzka routes on PolishTrains. The region is ideal for skiing and hiking.

Bielsko-Biała - the gateway to the Beskids

Bielsko-Biała is an important railway junction with fast connections from all over Poland. The town is home to the Dębowiec and Szczyrk Ski slopes (accessible by bus). You can get here from Kraków and Katowice, and you can buy tickets for the Kraków – Bielsko-Biała and Katowice – Bielsko-Biała routes on PolishTrains. An excellent transfer point for further exploration of the Beskids.

Purchasing does not require account registration – you provide an email address and telephone number, and the ticket is sent by email and SMS within several seconds of payment. 30 minutes before departure, PolishTrains sends an SMS reminder with a link to the ticket. Winter holidays 2026 are the perfect opportunity to discover the Polish mountains without getting behind the wheel. You can reach Zakopane, Szklarska Poręba, Wisła, Krynica-Zdrój and Bielsko-Biała by train from Poland’s main cities, and you can buy domestic tickets on PolishTrains up to 30 days before travelling. You can check the current rules on the PolishTrains ticket refunds and exchanges page. Check the timetable on the PolishTrains website or mobile app and enjoy your winter holiday without stress!

We wish you happy holidays!