Zakopane is a popular ski resort located in southern Poland. Every year, in the high season, hundreds of thousands of tourists come here - lovers of mountaineering, mountain hiking and winter sports. In winter, this small town turns into a real sports capital of the state, so the question of how to get to Zakopane from Moscow interests many Russians. Therefore, we will consider in more detail the possible ways of travel, recommended routes and ticket prices.
Ways to get to Zakopane
Due to the fact that there is no own airport, as well as international railway and bus stations in Zakopane, you need to get here with transfers in large cities. Most often, you have to change trains in Krakow or Warsaw, since there are regular transport links between these cities and Zakopane:
| Way | Cost, EUR | Travel time | Notes (edit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent a Car | 160 fuel + 180 rent + 110 deductible | 22-24 hours | You will have to leave a deposit for the car in the amount of 650-1000 euros and return the car to the rental office after the end of the trip. |
| Airplane | 70-150 ticket + 5 to the airport | 2.5-4.5 hours + 30 minutes to the airport + 3 hours for registration | The price for a ticket that includes a two-hour connection will be 50% lower than the price for a direct flight. |
| Train | 100-550 ticket + 4 to the station | 10 hours to Warsaw + 2 hours to wait + 5 hours to Zakopane | The larger the group of travelers, the greater the discounts. |
| Bus | 58-65 ticket + 4 to the bus station | 23 hours to Warsaw + 1 hour waiting + 9 hours to Zakopane | Children under 12 years old can only travel with transfers if accompanied by an adult. |
Traveling to Zakopane by train
The trip will take place with a change in Warsaw. On the official website of Russian Railways, you should choose one of the available flights. For example, the seasonal train No. 9 "Polonez" Moscow - Warsaw Zakhodnya departs for Poland, which runs from the first days of June to the end of September.
Also on the route Moscow - Warsaw there are trains No. 17, 21 and 23, which go to Paris, Prague and Nice, respectively. A detailed timetable is presented on the official website of the carrier.
"Polonez" is an express train that can reach speeds of up to 200 km / h.
Trains 17 and 23 offer luxury (business) and I and II class compartments; trains №№ 21 and 9 - only compartments of I and II class.
Suites and coupes of the 1st class are double, in the 2nd class there are 4 berths available.
The amount of luggage on any flight is limited: 100 kg for a suite, 35 kg for classes I and II per passenger.
About ticket prices
A full ticket for an adult passenger on trains No. 23 and 17 will cost 553 euros for one seat in the suite, 229 euros for the first class and 153 euros for the second class. Ordering an entire luxury compartment will cost 710 euros per trip and 286 euros for a first class compartment.
When a married couple pays for two tickets at the same time, the cost of the suite is reduced from 553 to 387 euros. The ticket prices for the 21st train are the same, but there are no luxury compartments in it. On the train No. 9 going to Warsaw, the cost of a first class ticket is 154 euros, and a second class ticket is 109 euros.
All categories of trains are subject to promotional offers.
Children under 12 years old receive a 50% discount on the ticket price. Teenagers and young people from 12 to 25 years old, as well as citizens over 60 years old, receive a discount on the purchase of tickets in the amount of 30% of their cost.
Children and adult groups of 6 or more are entitled to a 40% discount on the total ticket price. Mini-groups from 2 to 5 people get tickets for 80% of the full price, and those who hit the road on their birthday and newlyweds get a 35% discount.
How to get from Warsaw to Zakopane
Polish Railways offers two routes Warszawa - Zakopane: day and night. The day train leaves the Warsaw station at 07.45 and arrives in Zakopane at 13.18, being on the way for 5 hours 33 minutes.
The night train departs at 22.01 from Warsaw Central and arrives in Zakopane the next morning at 06.34, being on the way for 8 hours 33 minutes.
The cost of class I tickets for a daytime flight is 30 euros, for II class tickets - 23 euros. If you plan to travel by night train, you will have to pay 21 and 12 euros, respectively.
Children under 4 years old inclusive travel free of charge in the arms of their parents. For citizens over 60 years old, a 30% discount is provided, people with disabilities and young people under 25 receive a 37% discount.
Students and war veterans with appropriate credentials are eligible to purchase a ticket for 50% of the cost. The cost of carrying one piece of hand luggage is already included in the ticket price.
How to get to the train station
Since all railway stations are major transport hubs, getting to them is not difficult. Thus, you can get to the Belorussky railway station in Moscow (Tverskaya Zastava square, 7) using the Zamoskvoretskaya metro line to the Belorusskaya radialnaya or Koltsevaya station.
To get to Varshavsky West Station (Yerusalimskaya Alley, 54), take bus no. 128 or no. 175 and get off at stop Al. Jerozolimskie or take the blue M1 metro line and get off at the station of the same name.
As for the station in Zakopane (st. Kosciuszko, 23), then you need to either walk to it, as the town is small, or use the services of a local taxi.
We go to Zakopane by bus
You will also have to change trains to get to Poland by bus. Use the services of the Ecolines carrier to find a suitable flight from Moscow to Warsaw.
Every day, one flight to Poland departs from the Warsaw and Tushinsky bus stations in Moscow. The first bus with a daily change in Riga departs at 20.45 and arrives in the Polish capital the next day at 23.20, being on the way for 27 hours and 35 minutes.
The second bus leaves Moscow at 21.30, follows directly and arrives in Warsaw at the Western Bus Station at 19.00. The journey takes 22 hours and 30 minutes.
The cost of tickets for both flights is the same. In 2021, a full adult ticket costs approximately € 50, while a ticket for children aged 0-12 costs € 23. Teenagers from 13 to 18 years old will pay 44 euros for a ticket, as well as citizens over 60 years old.
The cost of one piece of baggage is included in the ticket price. Baggage weight must not exceed 35 kg and total dimensions 200 cm.
Bus routes within Poland
Flixbus is responsible for passenger traffic on the Warszawa-Zakopane route. His buses leave from the capital of Poland every half hour from 7 am to 12 noon and every three hours from 14.30 to 21.20. The last flights depart at 22.40, 23.25 and 23.45.
Average travel time is 9-10 hours. There are also high-speed flights that reach Zakopane in just 7 hours; they depart from Warsaw at 07.00, 10.00, 14.30 and 23.45.
The cost of tickets depends on the duration of the trip and can range from 7 to 15 euros. Discounts on tickets for children, people with disabilities and other preferential categories are not available.
The ticket price includes the cost of one piece of hand luggage and one large baggage up to 200 cm in size.
How to get to the bus station
To get to the Varshavskiy bus station in Moscow (Kashirskiy proezd, 19), use the Kakhovskaya metro line to the Varshavskaya station.
Buses # 631, 640, 540, 568 and route taxis # 120, 568, 498, 541 go to the Tushinsky railway station (9 Stratonavtov passage). Krasnopresnenskaya line.
You can get to the Western Bus Station in Warsaw (Yerusalimskaya Alley, 144) by buses No. 127, 154, 172, 184, 517 or by taking the metro to the Rondo Daszyńskiego station.
The bus station in Zakopane (54 Khramcovka street) is located near the city center, so you can walk or take a taxi to it.
How to get from Moscow by plane
There is no airport in Zakopane, so you need to get there with a transfer in Warsaw. Regular direct flights from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Warsaw Chopin Airport are operated by Aeroflot and LOT airlines. You can get detailed information about them on the carrier's website - aeroflot.ru. The approximate cost of an adult ticket is 140 euros, the travel time is 2 hours 45 minutes.
In addition, low-cost airlines such as Belavia, which fly through Minsk, offer their services. The cost of the flight in this case is from 60 to 70 euros (for adult passengers), however, you will have to spend 4.5 hours on the road.
Buses and trains run regularly from Warsaw to Zakopane, as mentioned above. To get to Sheremetyevo, take the Aeroexpress train departing from the Belorusskiy Vokzal metro station, or bus number 851, which departs from the river station.
To get to Fryderyk Chopin Airport, take buses 148, 188, 175 or night N32 to the Chopin Airport stop. These buses run from Politechnika and Lotnisko Chopina-Odloty stations.
We leave for Zakopane by car
You can go on a trip either in your own or in a rented car. The distance from Moscow to Zakopane is 1600 km, that is, about a day on the road, excluding possible stops.
Fuel consumption for a passenger car will be about 120 liters, the cost of this amount of gasoline ranges from 160 euros (in Russia and Belarus - 0.67 euros / l, in Poland - 1.37 euros / l). There are no toll roads on this route, so no additional costs are expected.
When planning your trip to Zakopane by car, start plotting a route through Smolensk and Minsk on the M1 highway. Then follow to Brest (E30), and after crossing the border, move to Rajin and Kielce along S7. At Krakow, turn south and drive through Rabka towards Zakopane.
Keep in mind that it is prohibited to carry more than 10 liters of fuel per vehicle across the Polish border due to possible smuggling. Make sure that the car is in good condition - Polish border guards pay great attention to the inspection of wheel rims and windshield.
If you do not have your own car and you are going to travel with a rented car, contact rentalcars.com.
The cost of renting a car for a week is approximately 180 euros - the final figure depends on the car model and its mileage. If you want to save on travel, you can take your fellow travelers with you.
The amount of the deposit for the car is 650-1000 euros - it is blocked on your bank card until the car is returned to the rental office. If you do not want to lose this amount in the event of a possible accident, rent a car with a deductible. The deductible is about € 110 and will be your travel insurance.
Finally
There are many options for how to get from Moscow to the Polish ski resort of Zakopane. You can save time and go to Poland by plane, or you can invest in a car trip and see the cities along the route.
Whichever option you choose, plan your trip carefully.
