Polish Railways | How to Ride and Buy Tickets for the National Railways PKP (2025 Edition)

In this article, I will share how to ride and purchase tickets for the Polish railway, PKP Intercity, which is essential for long-distance travel in Poland!

It is convenient not only for traveling between cities in Poland, but also for traveling from Poland to neighboring countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic via intercity trains.

1. Buying Polish Railways Tickets

---

Tickets can be purchased one month before the travel date.

We recommend purchasing tickets through the app or website . The structure is basically the same for both the app and website, although the appearance is slightly different. We recommend using the app as it is easier to present your ticket .

Of course, you can probably buy it at the station, but I've never bought one at the ticket counter at the station.

1.1. Enter the station name to search for tickets

You can change the language of the website to English by clicking the flag icon in the top right corner.

If it's an app, it should be in English when you download it.

Enter the station name, date and time to display the ticket.

Below the route, you will see marks such as "IC," "EIP," or "TLK." These indicate the type of train.

In my experience, I recommend "IC" as it rarely causes delays.

No matter which train you're on, most cars have toilets , charging outlets, and tables .

There is a small trash can at each seat, which is convenient for after eating or drinking on the train.

There seems to be Wi-Fi, but it's almost impossible to connect, so you might as well think it's not there.

1.2.Select your seat class

Choose between first class or second class. I have only ever experienced second class. (laughs)

1.3.Select your seat type

There are two main types of seats: Compartment Wagon and A carriage without compartments .

*Depending on the train, you may not be able to select either option.

*Please note that if you have to transfer, you will need to select a seat on each train.

Compartment Wagon

It's a private room for six people.

Pros:

• It's a private room with a door, so it's quiet . (If other passengers are noisy, it's game over.)

• There is a large table at the window seat.

Cons:

• You will be sharing a room with five other people.

• It's too hot in the summer when air conditioning isn't used. (The sun is too strong.)

  
  

Above the door to your room there are buttons to adjust the temperature and volume of the announcement speaker.

The charging port, which can be used with just a USB cable, is also convenient.

A carriage without compartments

A typical type of seat with two seats on either side.

Pros:

• When traveling as a pair, there is enough space for two people.

Cons:

• It's likely to be noisier than a private room.

Each seat has a desk, just like an airplane seat.

There is an outlet under the seat.

1.4. Add dogs, bicycles, and large luggage as needed.

One advantage of Polish trains compared to Japanese trains is that they are dog-friendly, so traveling with dogs is comfortable.

Our dog is a small breed so we provide a collapsible crate so he can relax.

1.5. Seat reservation

Some trains allow you to reserve a seat.

There is no seat selection fee.

Green means you can select it. Gray means you can't select it.

Payment

Cards and Apple Pay are accepted.

You cannot make payments unless you accept the regulations, so be sure to check.

1.7. How to find your purchased tickets

It's very easy to understand on the app.

On the website, after completing your purchase, you can download your ticket from the "Ticket download" page. It will also be sent to your email address.

The ticket will be inspected by the driver while you are on the train, but if you have it saved on your smartphone so you can show it anytime, there is no problem. I have never printed it out.

2. Take the train

---

When you arrive at the station, first check the electronic bulletin board to see which platform you should board.

The boarding point is numbered "Peron (Platform)".

Find it by comparing it with the train time and number (e.g. IC5422) written on your ticket.

Sometimes the number may be slightly different from the one written on the ticket. For example, if it is IC4423, or if you are unsure, ask someone waiting at the platform.

Don't worry, even if the numbers are slightly different, as long as the destination and departure time are correct, it's fine.

The biggest difference from Japan is that there are no ticket gates . Just head straight to the platform.

Each platform generally has two lanes.

Find your train. Trains often arrive quite late, so it's not uncommon for the previous train to still be displayed on the board even though it's 15 minutes before departure .

When the train arrives, check your car number and board.

*Sorry that the photo is taken from inside the train, but the car number is also displayed large on the outside.

Find your seat number.

3. Toilet

Basically, every car has a toilet, and I've never seen one so dirty that it was unusable, so I think they are all clean.

To check whether a toilet is in use, check the sign above the door of each carriage. If the sign is red, it means the toilet is in use. If it is green, it means the toilet is open.

If you have any other questions, please DM me on X or threads.