General information on arrival
Bus travel is an inexpensive and straightforward way to get to Poland, much favoured by Poles during the holiday seasons and with frequent cigarette breaks not as hard and tiring as you might expect. Travelling by train to Poland can be also an enjoyable way of getting here as there are some convenient international connections to Poznań, Warsaw or Wrocław.
ARRIVAL TO OKĘCIE AIRPORT IN WARSTAW
If you arrive by plane, you will probably land in Warsaw (the capital of Poland), at the Okęcie airport terminals in the city’s south. From there you can take a city bus (175; tickets available from newsagents at the airport) to Warszawa Centralna railway station, from where trains and coaches will get you further north to Toruń. There aren’t many pickpockets in Poland, but watch out on that bus!
You can also get to Warsaw city centre either by taxi (please, take a licensed one, e.g. MPT Radio Taxi +48 22 19191 - with a phone number written on a cab) and it should cost you around 30-40 zl.
TRAIN CONNECTIONS (WARSAW-TORUŃ)
If you arrive in Warsaw by train, it is easier to change trains in Warsaw at the railway station to continue your journey to Toruń. The trip by train lasts somewhat shorter than the coach journey (direct connection about 3 hours) and costs about 50 zł (about 12 EURO). There are several trains to Toruń, but not all of them go directly without a change. In the morning the train leaves around 9.00 a.m. and arrives in Toruń around 12 p.m. In the afternoon it leaves around 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. In the evening you have a train around 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
In order to find out the exact hours and other train connections, check the PKP Routeplanner (in English, German or French) or reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en (in English and German).
In Toruń you should get off at the main station (TORUŃ GŁÓWNY). There are bus and taxi connections to the centre; the bus routes to the centre are 22, 25, 27, 11, and 36, all of which will take you to PLAC RAPACKIEGO. From here, take a bus or tram, following the map.The buses number 11 and 36 go directly to our university campus (Gagarina street).
Types of trains in Poland:
- POCIĄG Regio - a local train that stops in every town. It is the slowest and least comfortable train but the cheapest.
- POCIĄG interREGIO - it is faster than Regio and cheaper than TLK train. Although the coaches of a train may look different and have a different standard (e.g. open space coaches, or 8 or 6 seats in a compartment), there is only one price for all seats (places).
- POCIĄG TLK - a fast train with a distinction between prices of tickets and standard of seats (1st and 2nd class - PIERWSZA and DRUGA KLASA).
- POCIĄG EKSPRESOWY (Ex) - an express train that stops only at major cities. It is more expensive and requires booking beforehand.
- POCIĄG INTER-CITY / EUROPE CITY - the fastest and highest quality train that needs a fix reservation (MIEJSCÓWKA) in advance but is the most expensive one.
At the RAILWAY STATION (DWORZEC PKP) you buy tickets at the counter (KASA BILETOWA) paying in cash or by credit cards (but it is not always possible). First, you mention your destination and then the type of train, e.g. "Toruń, POCIĄG TLK PROSZĘ."
Remember that each type of train has its own ticket with a different price, which means that a ticket bought for interREGIO train (Warsaw-Toruń, cost 37 zloty) is not valid in TLK train (Warsaw-Toruń, cost 45 zloty). Therefore, if you are late fo your InterREGIO train, you should return a ticket to KASA and buy a new one for e.g. TLK.
Moreover, excluding Regio and interREGIO, there are two classes (standards) in most Polish trains.
BUS CONNECTIONS (WARSAW-TORUŃ)
The bus companies you can use travelling from Warsaw to Toruń is Polski Bus or Modlin Bus. For more details you may check their websites with current timetables, price lists and localisation of the bus stops.
The journey takes about four hours thirty minutes. Tickets cost about 30-50 zł (about 7-12 EURO). Once in Toruń, the stop is at the Bus Station on Dąbrowskiego 8, where there are taxi connections to University accommodation (follow the map). You can also make sure if the other bus stops are closer to the Bielany Campus (on Kraszewskiego or Broniewskiego street).
If you are interested in the bus connections from other cities and towns in Poland, please check the website of the Bus Station in Toruń (Dworzec Autobusowy in Toruń).
When in Toruń, you may buy your train, coach or plane tickets at the Travel Agency KOMPAS (ul. Kopernika 5, tel. 56 65 22 901). It is easier since they speak English there.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
- Trams and buses
Toruń has an extensive bus and tram network (see map). All the timetables, bus stops, tram stops and departure times are available on the following web-page .
The same tickets (BILETY in Polish) are valid for both forms of transport and cost 3,40 zł (0,7 EURO) in Toruń. You may buy them either in small news-stands (KIOSK) or on board the buses or trams themselves. Both buses and trams operate from 5.00 a.m. till 11.00 p.m. There are also less regular night buses or trams.
There are no traditional conductors on board but your tickets will be frequently checked. You buy a ticket beforehand or from the driver and punch it when you board. Bus tickets bought in one city cannot be used in another.
The Polish university student ID card authorises the holder (up to 26 years) to discounts on tram, bus, and train tickets (the ticket cost 1,70 zł (0,37 EURO) then). You may also use the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) to get discounts on buses and trams in Toruń.
Despite single tickets you may get so-called KARNET (8 tickets together - 1 cheaper) or monthly tickets. The most popular monthly ticket is SIECIÓWKA that is valid for all buses and trams in Toruń and costs around 44 zł (discount ticket for student) or 88 zł (without discount). If you have 1 photo and your student ID, you can purchase your monthly ticket in a red building of MZK (ul. Sienkiewicza 24/26).
All information about regulations in trams and buses in Torun, as well the explanation about types of tickets can be found here. - Taxis
If you decide to take a taxi (relatively cheap in Toruń), it's better to phone for one (e.g. +48 56 191-92, 191-94, 191-95 or+48 56 3333333 etc.). There is also a taxi company for the disabled tel. 191-96.
Safety tips:
- Always keep your luggage in sight. Be aware that pickpocketing is common in cities all over the world especially in crowds and in areas where tourists gather, such as railway stations.
- Make a photocopy of the information page of your passport showing the number, date and place of issue. Keep it separately with important phone numbers (e.g. your bank and mobile phone operator).