You're standing on the platform at Gdańsk Główny, coffee in hand, looking at a map of Poland. It’s a long way down. We’re talking about crossing almost the entire vertical span of the country, from the Baltic salty air to the cobblestone royalty of the south. If you’re looking into the Gdansk to Krakow train, you’ve probably realized that driving is a nightmare of highway tolls and potential traffic jams around Łódź. Flying? By the time you get to the airport and deal with security, the train has already beat you there.
Poland’s rail network, managed mostly by PKP Intercity, has seen a massive glow-up over the last decade. It’s not the clunky, gray experience people remember from the 90s. Now, it’s about the Pendolino. That’s the high-speed silver bullet that makes this trip actually doable in a single morning.
The speed factor and why it actually matters
Let’s be real. Nobody wants to spend nine hours on a train if they can help it. The Gdansk to Krakow train comes in a few different "flavors," but the Express InterCity Premium (EIP) is the king here. It clocks in at about 5 hours and 15 minutes. Some routes might shave off ten minutes, others might add twenty depending on track work near Warsaw.
Compare that to the TLK (Tanie Linie Kolejowe) or IC (InterCity) trains. Those are the budget options. They’re fine. They’re "vintage." But they can take anywhere from seven to nine hours because they stop at every village that has a post office and a church. If you’re a student on a shoestring budget, sure, take the TLK. If you value your sanity and your lower back, you go for the EIP.
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The tracks between Warsaw and Krakow allow for speeds up to 200 km/h. It’s smooth. It’s quiet. You can actually work on a laptop without your mouse jumping across the screen every time the train hits a seam in the rail.
Booking your seat without getting ripped off
Buy early. Seriously.
The pricing for the Gdansk to Krakow train follows a yield management system, sort of like airlines. If you book 30 days in advance, you can snag a seat for about 49 PLN or 100 PLN. If you wait until the day of departure? You might be staring at a 250 PLN bill.
Go to the official PKP Intercity website. Don't use third-party resellers that tack on "service fees" for doing literally nothing. The interface is a bit clunky, and the English translation sometimes misses a word or two, but it’s the source of truth.
One weird quirk about Polish trains: you must have a seat reservation. You can’t just hop on an EIP train and stand in the corridor. If you do, the conductor will hand you a very expensive fine—we’re talking hundreds of zlotys—and might kick you off at the next station. It’s not like the regional trains in Germany or the UK where you just squeeze in.
First class vs. Second class
Is it worth the upgrade? Honestly, maybe.
In second class on the EIP, you get a free bottle of water. That’s it. In first class, you get a meal—usually a choice between something like a chicken salad or a warm pasta dish—plus coffee, tea, and a snack. The seats are wider. There’s more legroom. If the price difference is only 40 or 50 PLN, I usually pull the trigger on first class just for the peace and quiet. Second class can get "family-heavy" during the summer holidays.
The Warsaw layover trap
Most Gdansk to Krakow train routes pass through Warsaw. Usually, the train stops at three stations in the capital: Warszawa Wschodnia (East), Warszawa Centralna (Central), and Warszawa Zachodnia (West).
Do not get off at Wschodnia unless you actually live in the Praga district. You want Warszawa Centralna. It’s the brutalist underground concrete maze in the heart of the city. If your ticket says "direct," stay in your seat. The train will sit there for about 5 to 10 minutes, people will swap out, and then you’ll continue south.
If you accidentally booked a trip with a change, make sure you have at least 20 minutes. Polish trains are generally on time these days, but a "five-minute connection" at Warszawa Centralna is a sprint you don't want to do with a suitcase.
What to expect on board (The WARS experience)
WARS is the legendary Polish dining car brand. On the EIP Gdansk to Krakow train, the dining car is actually pretty decent. They serve real food. Not just soggy sandwiches, but actual scrambled eggs for breakfast and żurek (sour rye soup) for lunch.
- The Coffee: It’s drinkable. It’s not specialty craft coffee, but it beats instant.
- The Vibes: People generally keep to themselves. It’s a quiet atmosphere.
- Wi-Fi: It exists. Is it good? It’s okay for emails. Don't try to stream 4K video or join a heavy Zoom call while passing through the fields of Mazovia. The signal drops out in the woods. Use your phone’s hotspot if you’re desperate, but even that is spotty.
- Power: Every seat has a power outlet. This is a lifesaver.
Luggage and the "Hidden" rules
There are no scales. Nobody is going to weigh your suitcase and charge you 50 Euro because you’re 2kg over. That said, space is limited. There are racks at the end of each carriage and overhead shelves. If you’re bringing a massive trunk, get to the platform early so you’re one of the first people on the train. Once those luggage racks are full, you’re stuck trying to hoist your bag over your head, which is a great way to start a vacation with a pulled muscle.
Bicycles require a specific ticket. Don't just show up with a bike. There are only a few spots per train, and they sell out weeks in advance. Same goes for dogs—you need a ticket for your pup, and they have to be on a leash and muzzled.
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Arriving in Krakow
When the Gdansk to Krakow train finally pulls into Kraków Główny, don't just follow the crowd blindly. The station is connected to a massive shopping mall called Galeria Krakowska. It is incredibly easy to get lost in there and end up wandering past a Zara when you meant to be at a taxi stand.
Follow the signs for "Pawilon Antresola" or "Taxis" that lead away from the shops if you want to get out quickly. If you’re heading to the Main Square (Rynek Główny), it’s about a 10-15 minute walk. Just walk out the front of the old station building and keep heading straight.
Practical steps for your trip
- Check the schedule exactly 30 days out. This is when the cheapest tickets drop. If you’re traveling on a weekend or a holiday like Corpus Christi or Easter, they will vanish within hours.
- Download the KOLEO app. It’s hands-down the best app for checking schedules across all Polish rail operators. You can buy tickets for most regional trains there, too, though for the EIP, the PKP Intercity app is safer.
- Validate your platform. In Poland, they use "Peron" (Platform) and "Tor" (Track). Make sure you’re looking at both. Peron 2, Tor 4 is not the same as Peron 4, Tor 2.
- Bring a sweater. The air conditioning on the Pendolino can be aggressive. Even if it's 30°C in Gdansk, it might feel like 18°C inside the carriage.
- Don't rely on the "Quiet Zone" unless you mean it. The EIP has a designated Quiet Zone (Strefa Ciszy). If you book a seat there, you cannot talk on the phone, and you shouldn't even have loud headphones. The regulars there will shush you faster than a librarian.
Traveling by Gdansk to Krakow train is fundamentally the most civilized way to see the country's geography shift. You go from the flat, maritime North through the industrial heart of the center and into the hilly, historic South. It's a long day, but watching the Polish countryside blur past at 200 clicks with a hot coffee in your hand is a whole lot better than staring at the bumper of a truck on the S7 highway.