Cheap flights to Poland

Poland Travel Guide

Poland has grown into a successful country swathed in history and culture, and is a true testament to the people of Poland and all they have accomplished. Poland was a central hub for Nazi forces during World War II, but when you book a flight to Poland today, you’ll see a place moving forward as one of Europe’s more modern countries. Today’s Poland is friendly, safe and welcoming to tourists. It’s no doubt that travelers booking cheap flights to Poland will be captivated by the country’s rich history.

Its endless scenery, national parks and nature reserves keep tourists booking flights to Poland each year. Poland’s location on the Baltic Coast gives travelers a foray into the great outdoors, while other visitors choose to explore the country’s old cities and cobblestone streets. Many travelers booking Poland flights take a day of remembrance and pay their respects at nearby concentration camps before moving on to explore the cultural lifestyle including music, theater and literature that keeps Poland moving ahead. Whether your trip takes you to the old city of Krakow or present-day Warsaw, booking flights to Poland will leave travelers wanting more from this fascinating country.

What’s the weather like in Poland?

Summers in Poland average temperatures of 66 degrees and get hotter the farther inland you go. Winters can be extremely cold, especially inland from the Baltic coast, where temperatures average 23 degrees in Warsaw. It rains throughout the year, especially in the southern mountains.

When is the best time to fly to Poland?

Peak season:
The climate in Poland is a tourist’s dream: warm summers, blue-skied autumns and snowy winters. May to September and July and August are the busiest travel months and when most foreign travelers book flights to Poland. Most people might think of Poland and imagine very cold, snowy weather. If you book your flights to Poland for the winter then that is true, however, spring and summer offer very sunny days with high temperatures. May through September sees the most tourists, with July and August the busiest. You’ll struggle to find cheap flights to Poland around these months so make sure to secure your flight tickets in advance to avoid losing out.

Off season:

The winter months are usually off-season, unless you are a skier. Szklarska Poreba, in the western part of the Karkonosze Mountains, Szczyrk and Zakopane, in the foothills of the Tatras, south of Krakow, are the best-known resorts. Elsewhere, the winter months can be very dreary and very cold but cheap flights to Poland and discount accommodations can be found. Secure your flight tickets early if you want to ski or try to avoid the winter altogether if you don’t. Spring and fall are wonderful months to visit and you’ll find cheap flights to Poland too. Reduced costs on flight tickets, fewer tourists and better hotel rates make the warm spring and fall great ‘off seasons’ to book your flights to Poland.

 When is the best time to book a flight to Poland?

You’ll find the cheapest flights to Poland throughout the winter, however, it can be a harsh and cruel visit if you don’t ski or take part in winter sports. Secure your flight tickets 3 to 4 months in advance. If you want to take advantage of the hot weather, the summer months offer as cheap flights to Poland are difficult to come by. If you can be flexible on your dates and where destination within Poland, then you’ll find it a lot easier to grab deals on cheap flights to Poland. If you book your flights to Warsaw then sit on either side of the plane for views of the capital as you approach.

How long is the flight to Poland?

Most travelers fly in to Poland’s capital at Warsaw Chopin Airport. Expect it to take just over 10 hours if you’re flying from New York, a little over 11 hours from Chicago and almost 14 hours from Los Angeles.

Which airlines fly to Poland?

LOT Polish Airlines is the only carrier that offers direct flights from the United States to Poland, but you can find flights with connections through American Airlines, Delta and United. If you’re visiting Poland from somewhere international, see what flights are available through Air Berlin and Singapore Airlines.

What should you pack for a flight to Poland?

While Poland warms up in the summer, that cool Arctic air is around most of the year and temperatures always drop in the evenings, so make sure you bring at least one sweater and jacket. Wool clothes are great for staying warm if you visit in the winter. Don’t forget an umbrella, as it can rain at any time of the year. With all the walking you’re going to do, bring a pair of comfortable shoes.

Getting to and around Poland

Warsaw:

Chopin Airport, which is most likely the one you’ll fly into if you book your flights to Poland for Warsaw, is around 6 miles from the city center. There are a few different options you can consider with one of the cheapest ones being the bus service. Bus number 175 goes to the center of the city and to the old town too, making it an ideal route if your hotel is located around there. If you arrive at night then you’ll want to catch bus number N32 which goes to the center. If you don’t like the idea of getting a bus then you can opt for a taxi. You’ll find them outside of the airport but make sure you agree on a price before setting off. Traveling with a friend will make a taxi journey more worthwhile as you can split the fare.

Krakow:

The airport in Krakow benefits from two regular buses as well as a night bus. 208 and 292 will take your during the day and 902 is the night bus. You can buy your ticket either at the arrivals Terminal or at the ticket machine at the bus stop. The fastest way to get into the city is via a train. You can get the train nearby to the passenger terminal, at the rear of the multi-story car park. Trains run 7 days a week and they provide WiFi just in case you need to confirm your hotel booking or let people know you have landed safely. Taxis are another option but the price will be a lot steeper than the train or bus alternatives. Agree on the price beforehand to avoid being ripped off and for extra peace of mind ask for a receipt.

LOT, the national carrier, flies domestically to other cities in Poland (Gdansk, Bydgoszcz, Szczecin, Poznan, Zielona Gora, Wroclaw, Lodz, Katowice, Krakow and Rzeszow).

All the major car-rental companies are represented here: Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar – but road quality varies somewhat.

PKP, the Polish State Railways, offers service on three types of trains: intercity, eurocity and expresses. The country is well connected with good services from Warsaw.

PKS, the Polish Car Transport Company, offers intercity bus services. There are also lots of private bus companies that offer services throughout the country.

Warsaw has a good underground train system. Trams operate in several cities including Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz, Poznan, Wroclaw, Szczecin, Katowice.

What are some things to do in Poland?

Poland offers a mix of the city life and the wilderness, so you can spend a couple days exploring one of its urban areas and then head out to relax among its breathtaking mountains and lakes. The nation is known for its high-tech museums, and you can get a taste of those right after you fly in to Warsaw at the Warsaw Rising Museum and the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The former focuses on how the city resisted the Germans during World War II, while the latter is a look at the entire history of Poland’s Jewish population.

Most of Poland is flat, but on the southern border of the country lie the Carpathian Mountains. This mountain range has something for everyone. If you’re an avid hiker, pay a visit to the Bieszczady range, where you may not see another person for your entire hike. Make sure you bring your camera, as this range is home to quite a few lynx. The Zakopane resort is perfect for hitting the slopes during the day, and then relaxing after a shot of vodka in the evenings. Those who enjoy mountain biking can rent a bike and hit the Karkonosze range.

Spend more time among nature at Bia?owie?a National Park, which is the largest area of old growth forest in all of Europe. It’s a peaceful place that is also a reserve for the European bison.

For a taste of the middle ages, stop by Krakow, site of the Rynek G?owny. This medieval town square still looks like it did hundreds of years ago, making you feel like you’ve strolled into the past. While you’re there, stop by one of the many restaurants for a traditional Polish meal. The country has quite a few unique food combinations, such as herring with apples and onions.

Tips for your stay in Poland

• Zamosc, in southeastern Poland, is a beautiful Renaissance town dating back to the late 1600s. It was built by a wealthy landowner, Jan Zamoyski, who set up, essentially, a country within a country to escape paying royal taxes. Zamoyski employed an Italian architect (Bernando Morando) to design this ideal town often called Paduaof the North. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Several of Poland’s Old Towns are on the UNESCO list including Krakow(see the Royal Castle and Cathedral on Wawel Hill as well as the medieval Old Town); Warsaw, painstakingly and beautifully reconstructed after the Second World War; Wroclaw, another Old Town that was reconstructed after 1945. Gdansk has a postcard-perfect Old Town and is also home of the Solidarity movement. The town of Torun, about 125 miles from Warsaw, is the birthplace of Nicholaus Copernicus, Poland’s most famous scientist. After Krakow, it is the city with the largest number of Gothic monuments and architecture in Northern Europe. Toru? is also famous for its gingerbread, and for its leaning tower, which has a vertical deviation of 4.5 feet.
• Sun and ski. Bathe and bask on the Baltic coast. Poland has several popular beach resorts including Sopot, which has Europe’s longest pier (1640ft). Off-season, between November and May, it is still possible to pick up amber on the beaches in the Gulf of Gdansk.
• Zakopane, in the alpine-like Tatras Mountains, is Poland’s winter capital. The most popular areas are KasprowyWierchand Gubalowka. Snow lasts until May and after that, it is a popular spot for hiking.
• Natural Poland can be enjoyed in the Bialowieska Forestand Miedzyzdroje, where the bison and deer roam free. The Slowinski National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, has moving sand dunes. The wind pushes dunes from 6 to 31 feet each year. The Masurian Lakes Plateau has more than 4,000 lakes and is one of Central Europe’s largest forested areas.
• Poland hotels are available for any budget, and easily accessible from main tourist points. Stay in Krakow hotelsfor inner-city travels; Warsaw hotels for travel throughout various regions of Poland, including the concentration camps, and consider Danzig hotels for remote travels or for budget travelers.

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