Poland Leads Against Other European Nations in the Rail Revolution for New Faster Multi-City Travel in 2026

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It is becoming increasingly easier to visit both Poland and Poland’s main cities like Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk because of improvements being made to the railway networks by PKP Intercity. This includes faster trains, improved routes, and connections. It is now possible for foreign tourists to plan their travel itineraries and visit more than one city without having to keep switching between different airports or use roads for long stretches.

Key Stats

• Warsaw–Kraków fastest journey: Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes
• Warsaw–Gdańsk fastest journey: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
• Operator: PKP Intercity
• Premium service: Express InterCity Premium (EIP)
• Key rail hubs: Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań, and Lublin
• PKP Intercity passengers in 2025: More than 88 million
• 2025 passenger growth: Around 9% year on year
• PKP Intercity 2026 investment plan: More than PLN 1 billion
• Modernisation programme: New trains, refurbished rolling stock, stations and infrastructure

Warsaw To Kraków Is Now A City-Break Shortcut

The Warsaw–Kraków corridor is one of the most useful routes for international visitors. Express InterCity Premium trains can cover the journey in around 2 hours 20 minutes, allowing travellers to combine Poland’s political and cultural capital with the country’s historic royal city within the same holiday.

Warsaw offers reconstructed Old Town streets, museums, contemporary dining and modern architecture, while Kraków brings Wawel Castle, the historic Main Market Square, Kazimierz and a dense concentration of heritage attractions.

The rail journey effectively turns two major destinations into one itinerary rather than two separate holidays.

Gdańsk Brings The Baltic Into The Circuit

The Warsaw–Gdańsk connection adds an entirely different landscape. EIP services can cover the journey in approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, connecting the capital with Poland’s Baltic coast.

Gdańsk offers historic waterfront architecture, the Long Market, European Solidarity Centre and access to beaches and the wider Tri-City area of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia.

For overseas visitors, the route creates an attractive three-stop itinerary: Warsaw for urban culture, Kraków for heritage and Gdańsk for Baltic travel.

PKP Intercity Is Carrying More Travellers

The growing passenger numbers underline how important rail has become to domestic and international mobility. PKP Intercity carried 88.1 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 9% compared with 2024.

The operator has also continued investing in rolling stock and infrastructure. Its 2026 investment programme is expected to exceed PLN 1 billion, supporting new and modernised trains, maintenance facilities and passenger infrastructure.

For tourism, those upgrades matter because more frequent and reliable connections make it easier to sell Poland as a multi-destination holiday rather than a single-city break.

Wrocław And Poznań Expand The Rail Holiday

Travellers do not have to stop at Warsaw, Kraków and Gdańsk. Wrocław provides colourful market-square architecture, riverside islands and cultural attractions, while Poznań offers its historic Old Market Square, museums and culinary scene.

Both cities are connected to Warsaw through long-distance rail services, allowing travellers to create itineraries based on culture, food and architecture without relying on domestic flights.

The rail network also gives visitors more flexibility. A traveller can arrive in Warsaw, continue to Poznań, move towards Wrocław and then travel onward to Kraków, creating a geographically diverse Polish holiday.

Lublin Adds Another Cultural Stop

Lublin is another destination benefiting from improved rail accessibility. The city’s Old Town, castle, museums and multicultural heritage provide a different perspective on eastern Poland.

Its location makes it suitable for travellers wanting to extend a Warsaw itinerary towards eastern Poland. Rail connections allow the journey to be integrated into a broader national route rather than requiring a separate transport arrangement.

Rail Supports Lower-Carbon Tourism

Rail travel also fits the growing demand for lower-emission journeys. Moving between Polish cities by train can reduce the need for short-haul flights and long-distance road transfers.

PKP Intercity has highlighted environmental benefits as part of its investment strategy, including modern rolling stock and greater energy efficiency. The company is also pursuing projects related to electric and hybrid traction.

For travellers building longer holidays, the railway therefore functions as both transportation and the connective tissue between multiple tourism regions.

Travel Details For International Visitors

Warsaw has two major passenger railway stations used by long-distance services, including Warszawa Centralna and Warszawa Zachodnia. Kraków Główny, Gdańsk Główny, Wrocław Główny, Poznań Główny and Lublin are major city terminals.

Poland uses the Polish złoty (PLN). Travellers should book premium services ahead of busy weekends and holiday periods, particularly when using EIP trains.

International visitors can combine rail journeys with public transport, walking routes and local taxis once they reach each city.

FAQ

1. How quickly can travellers travel from Warsaw to Kraków?
The fastest EIP services can complete the journey in approximately 2 hours 20 minutes.

2. How long does the fastest Warsaw–Gdańsk journey take?
Selected EIP services can connect Warsaw and Gdańsk in approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

3. Can travellers use rail for a multi-city Polish holiday?
Yes. Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań and Lublin are connected through Poland’s long-distance rail network.

Timeline And Events

• 2014: PKP Intercity introduced its Pendolino EIP services, significantly reducing journey times on key Polish corridors.
• 2024: PKP Intercity carried more than 77.7 million passengers.
• 2025: The operator carried a record 88.1 million passengers, up 9% year on year.
• 2026: PKP Intercity plans to invest more than PLN 1 billion in its railway operations and passenger infrastructure.

Conclusion

The growing railway network of Poland is facilitating multi-city tourism through swift travel options that connect the cities of Warsaw to Kraków and Gdańsk, while broader connectivity will enable travelers to venture out towards the cities of Wroclaw, Poznań, and Lublin. The continued investments by PKP Intercity in train networks have ensured that travelling via train becomes a more realistic option for foreign tourists.