Journey time
2h17
fastest Kraków–Warsaw train (EIP Pendolino)
Compare the trainsKraków Warsaw Train — The royal road, now 2h17 by rail
In 1596 the royal court packed up and moved from Kraków to Warsaw. Today the same trip takes a little over two hours on the fastest Pendolino — pick a date below and see what's running.
Before you book
The Kraków Warsaw Train at a Glance
Kraków to Warsaw is Poland's busiest long-distance rail corridor, and for most travellers the train is the obvious way to do it: centre to centre, no airport transfers, and departures from early morning until late evening.
Distance
~300 km
Kraków Główny to Warszawa Centralna by rail, no changes
KrakówWarszawa
Frequency
29
trains a day on average from Kraków to Warsaw
13Morning
10Afternoon
5Evening
1Night
first ~00:30last ~22:00
Fares from
$30
lowest one-way fare currently shown in our ticket search
2nd classfrom $30
1st classCheck price
The line
Kraków Warsaw Train Route on the CMK
Express trains leave Kraków Główny heading north and, after about half an hour, join the Centralna Magistrala Kolejowa (CMK) — a ruler-straight line built in the 1970s for fast running. It bypasses most towns on purpose, which is why the journey is so quick and why the view is mostly forest, fields and level crossings flashing past.
The Vistula River also links the two cities, but it takes the long way round, looping east past Sandomierz and Puławy. The railway simply cuts across the middle.
- Kraków GłównyDeparture from the city centre, next to the Old Town.
- Włoszczowa Północ / Opoczno PołudnieSome trains stop at one or two of these; the fastest Pendolinos run non-stop.
- Warszawa ZachodniaWarsaw West — handy for the western districts and Chopin Airport connections.
- Warszawa CentralnaThe main stop for central Warsaw, beside the Palace of Culture and Science.
- Warszawa WschodniaWarsaw East, across the river in Praga — many trains end or continue from here.
Express route via the CMKVistula River
Who runs it
Kraków Warsaw Train Operators
The trains you can book here are all run by PKP Intercity, Poland's national long-distance operator — from the fast EIP Pendolino to cheaper IC and TLK trains. The search above shows every one of them side by side.
Race to Warsaw
Typical fastest journey time on each kind of train, Kraków Główny → Warszawa Centralna.
KrakówWarszawa
EIP Pendolino
2h17
IC / TLK
~2h50
Times are typical and vary by departure — the exact duration of every train is shown in the search results.
Most departures
PKP Intercity
2h17fastest time
Mostdepartures
1st / 2ndclasses
200 km/htop speed
Poland's national long-distance operator runs most of the trains on the route. Its EIP Pendolino is the one to pick when time matters; EIC and IC trains are a little slower and often cheaper, and TLK is the budget tier.
- EIP (Pendolino) — Alstom high-speed sets, from 2h17, bar-bistro car
- EIC / IC — usually around 2h30–3h on the CMK
- TLK — the budget tier; a few run via Kielce and take longer
- Seat reservation included in express tickets
Other operators? Leo Express also runs a few through trains between Prague, Kraków and Warsaw, but they aren't included in the ticket search on this site. RegioJet ran Kraków–Warsaw trains from September 2025 until it withdrew from Polish domestic routes on 3 May 2026.
On board
Kraków Warsaw Train Classes and Seats
PKP Intercity trains on this route have two classes. Here's what each one actually gets you on a two-to-three-hour ride — the exact class and price for your train appear in the search.
2+2 seatingSecond class
- 2+2 seating in open coaches, fold-down tables and power sockets
- Plenty of room for a cabin bag overhead and a suitcase at the coach ends
- Where most travellers sit — perfectly comfortable for two and a half hours
2+1 seatingFirst class
- Wider 2+1 seats with more legroom and a quieter coach
- On EIP Pendolino trains, drinks and a snack are usually served at your seat (on selected services)
- Worth it on busy Friday and Sunday evenings, when second class fills up
Food and drinkPendolinos have a bar-bistro car, and most IC trains have a refreshment trolley or bar.
Wi-Fi and powerSockets at most seats; onboard Wi-Fi is available but can drop out in the countryside.
LuggageNo bag fees for normal luggage — just keep it to what you can lift and stow yourself.
Reserved seatsMost tickets on this route come with an allocated coach and seat number.
Getting on and off
Kraków Warsaw Train Stations
Both main stations sit right in the city centre, which is a big part of why the train beats flying on this route.
Departure · Kraków
Kraków Główny
What's nearby
The shopping centre sits right on top of the station — handy for food, a pharmacy or last-minute supplies before the train.
Kraków's main station is mostly underground, beneath the Galeria Krakowska shopping centre and right beside the main bus station.
Platforms are reached by escalators from the underground hall; give yourself 10–15 minutes the first time, as signage to the right platform can take a moment to find.
Shopping centre on topBus station next doorAirport trains
Arrival · Warsaw
Warszawa Centralna
What's nearby
The Palace of Culture and Science stands directly opposite the station — you can't miss it.
Warsaw Central is the stop most visitors want: directly opposite the Palace of Culture and Science, with metro line M1, trams and buses outside.
Most trains also call at Warszawa Zachodnia (West) just before, and many continue to Warszawa Wschodnia (East) across the Vistula. If your train ends at Wschodnia, it still stops at Centralna on the way.
Metro line M1TramsCity buses
Then & now
From Royal Capital to Capital City by Train
In 1596 King Sigismund III Vasa moved his court from Wawel Castle in Kraków to Warsaw — and Warsaw has been the centre of Polish government ever since.
Kraków keptCoronations, royal tombs & the medieval Old Town
Warsaw gainedThe Royal Castle, Sigismund's Column & the government
Seeing both is easy today: a morning train gets you from Wawel to Warsaw's Old Town in time for lunch.
Kraków → Warsaw: how long it takes
1596 · the royal courtSeveral daysby horse and carriage on the road north
Today · EIP Pendolino2h17centre to centre, up to 200 km/h
Bars show journey length on the same scale.
- 1596
The court moves north
Sigismund III Vasa makes Warsaw his seat; Kraków keeps the coronations.
- 1977
The CMK opens
The straight Central Rail Line is completed, built for fast running between the south and Warsaw.
- 2014
Pendolino arrives
PKP Intercity's Pendolino trains enter service and cut the trip to around two and a half hours.
- 2027
Under two hours
PKP PLK plans to raise speeds on the CMK to 250 km/h, cutting the fastest trip to about 1h52.
Other ways to go
Kraków Warsaw Train vs Bus vs Plane
There are flights and plenty of buses between the two cities, but once you add up the full door-to-door time, the train comes out ahead for almost everyone.
Sort by
on board getting to/from stations & airports
OptionTime (0–6 h)FareGood to know
Express train (EIP)Pendolino, PKP IntercityBest overall
On board 2h17–2h35Door to door ~2h45
from $30one way
City centre to city centre, frequent departures
Other trainsIC and TLK
On board 2h30–4h10Door to door ~3h–4h30
from $30one way
Cheaper, a little slower, fewer stops than buses
Bus / coachSeveral coach companies
On board 3h30–5hDoor to door ~4h–5h30
$5–$45one way
Cheapest at times, but traffic on the S7 can add delays
FlightKraków Balice → Warsaw Chopin
On board ~55 min in the airDoor to door 3h30–4h
$60–$165one way
Airport transfers and security wipe out the time saving
Train fares are the lowest currently shown in our ticket search; bus and flight prices are converted from Polish złoty at roughly 3.9 PLN to 1 USD (October 2026) and rounded. Actual prices vary by date, train and how far ahead you book.
Tips
Tips for the Kraków to Warsaw Train
Save money
Book a few weeks ahead
Pendolino (EIP) and EIC tickets can go on sale up to 120 days ahead, IC and TLK about 30 days before travel. The cheapest fares sell out first, especially on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings.
Pendolino: up to 120 days ahead
Save time
Pick the train, not just the time
Two departures close together can differ by more than an hour in journey time. Check the duration and train type (EIP, EIC, IC, TLK) in the results before you choose.
2h17 vs up to 4h10
On the day
Check your Warsaw stop
Staying near the Old Town or city centre? Get off at Centralna. Heading to Praga or the east bank, stay on until Wschodnia.
Centralna = city centre
Save time
Day trip? Go early
The first Pendolino leaves Kraków at about 6 am and reaches Warsaw by 8:20, and trains back run into the evening — so a same-day return is easy.
29 trains a day
On the day
Carry your ticket on your phone
E-tickets on your phone are fine — the conductor scans the QR code. Online tickets carry your name, so keep the ID you booked with (a passport for most visitors) handy.
E-tickets accepted
Save money
Rail passes rarely pay off here
If you're covering a lot of Europe a pass may be worth pricing out; for a single Kraków–Warsaw ride, an ordinary ticket from the search above is usually simpler and cheaper.
Tickets from $30Ready to put the tips to work?Compare today's trains →
Questions
Kraków Warsaw Train FAQ
Quick answers to the questions travellers ask most about the train from Kraków to Warsaw.
Journey time, fares and tickets
How long is the train from Kraków to Warsaw?
The fastest Pendolino (EIP) trains take about 2 hours 17 minutes, and most express trains take between 2 hours 20 minutes and 2 hours 35 minutes. Slower InterCity and TLK trains usually take 2.5 to 4 hours.
What is the fastest train from Kraków to Warsaw?
The fastest train from Kraków to Warsaw is PKP Intercity's Express InterCity Premium (EIP), better known as the Pendolino. The quickest services cover the route in about 2 hours 17 minutes, running at up to 200 km/h on the Central Rail Line (CMK).
How much does the Kraków to Warsaw train cost?
Train tickets from Kraków to Warsaw start at about $30 one way in our ticket search. Prices vary by train, date and how early you book, and first-class fares change often, so check the search for your travel date.
What is the cheapest way to get from Kraków to Warsaw?
The bus is usually the cheapest option and can cost under $10 if booked early. Train tickets start at around $30, but the train is much faster: from about 2 hours 17 minutes, compared with 3.5 to 5 hours by bus.
How far in advance should I book Kraków to Warsaw train tickets?
Pendolino (EIP) and EIC tickets can go on sale up to 120 days before travel, while IC and TLK tickets usually open about 30 days ahead. Booking one to three weeks ahead gets you the best fares, and booking early matters most for Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings and public holidays, when trains often sell out.
Route, stations and operators
Is there a direct train from Kraków to Warsaw?
Yes. Every train between Kraków and Warsaw runs direct, with no change needed. Express trains run non-stop or with one or two stops, mostly on the Central Rail Line (CMK).
How many trains run between Kraków and Warsaw each day?
There are about 29 trains a day from Kraków to Warsaw on average: around 13 in the morning, 10 in the afternoon, 5 in the evening and 1 at night. The first leaves just after midnight and the last at around 10 pm.
Which companies run trains between Kraków and Warsaw?
PKP Intercity runs almost all trains between Kraków and Warsaw — EIP Pendolino, EIC, IC and TLK — and these are the trains you can book in the search on this site. Leo Express also runs a few through trains from Prague, and RegioJet served the route from September 2025 until it withdrew on 3 May 2026.
How far is Kraków from Warsaw by train?
Kraków is roughly 300 km from Warsaw by rail, and about 250 km in a straight line. Most of the rail journey uses the Central Rail Line (CMK), a fast, straight line where trains run at up to 200 km/h.
Which station do trains to Warsaw leave from in Kraków?
Trains to Warsaw leave from Kraków Główny, the main station in the city centre, about a 10-minute walk from the Main Market Square.
Which Warsaw station should I get off at?
For central Warsaw and the Old Town, get off at Warszawa Centralna, opposite the Palace of Culture and Science. Many trains also stop at Warszawa Zachodnia before Centralna and continue to Warszawa Wschodnia on the east bank of the Vistula.
On board and trip planning
Is the train faster than flying from Kraków to Warsaw?
Yes, for almost every traveller. The flight itself is under an hour, but with airport transfers, security and boarding the trip takes 3.5 to 4 hours door to door, compared with about 2 hours 45 minutes by express train.
Do I need to reserve a seat on the Kraków Warsaw train?
On express trains a seat reservation is included in the ticket, so you get an assigned coach and seat when you book. Booking ahead is a good idea on Fridays, Sundays and around holidays, when trains often sell out.
Is there Wi-Fi and food on the Kraków to Warsaw train?
Yes, on most trains. Pendolino trains have a bar-bistro car and power sockets at most seats, and most IC trains have a refreshment trolley or bar. Onboard Wi-Fi is offered on the express trains but can be patchy in rural stretches.
Can I do a day trip from Kraków to Warsaw by train?
Yes. The first Pendolino leaves Kraków at about 6 am and reaches Warsaw by around 8:20, and trains back to Kraków run into the evening, so you can spend most of the day in Warsaw — enough for the Old Town, the Royal Castle and the Palace of Culture and Science.
Ready for the Kraków Warsaw Train?
Compare Pendolino, InterCity and TLK departures in one search and book your seat in a few minutes.