Your ticket
Tell us the city and the service. We tell you which platform, which taxi line.
After midnight the stations partially close — main hall locks at ~ 23:00-00:30.
Station + routing
Where to disembark, and how to leave cleanly.
Disembark at
Wrocław Główny
4 platforms, 1 main hall. EIP Pendolino stops at platforms 3-4 (under the glass canopy). PKP TLK uses platforms 1-2.
Lockout starts ~ 23:30. After that, use the underpass from the south side.
Lockout hours
~ 23:30 main hall
Best taxi app
FreeNow / Uber
Platform layouts and lockout hours are 2026 references. Always re-check the operator's site on the day.
How to read the result
Warsaw's four mainline stations confuse everyone, including locals. Here's the cheat-sheet:
Warszawa Centralna
The flagship. Underground, ~ 30 platforms across two levels. All EIP Pendolino, all EIC, most IC long-distance. 24/7 operation (lockout is between 00:30-04:00, but always at least one entrance open). Taxi rank on the north side. SKM Skylines Central → Centrum / Chopin airport in 8 min.
Warszawa Wschodnia (East)
10 platforms, surface-level. East-bound traffic only: Białystok, Terespol (BY border, currently closed), Lublin via Radom, Kyiv (suspended). Also serves some TLK south-east routes to Rzeszów / Przemysl. The hall locks at 22:00-23:00. Taxi rank in front.
Warszawa Gdańska (south-west)
Don't confuse with Gdańsk Główny. Warszawa Gdańska is in central Warsaw near the Old Town. 4 platforms, surface-level. Serves Regio / Koleje Mazowieckie / SKM regional trains, plus a handful of TLK north-bound trains (Warsaw–Gdańsk via Iława). Lockout 22:00.
Warszawa Zachodnia (West)
Adjacent to the Zachodnia bus terminal. Mostly local and suburban services. Not on any intercity line except some TLK. The hall locks at 22:00. Used by west-suburb commuters and the long-distance bus terminal next door.
Kraków Główny
Underground, 5 platforms, modern (the 2014 rebuild was controversial). All EIP / EIC / IC / TLK stop here. 24/7 operation. Connected to Galeria Krakowska shopping mall (which is the only place to wait after 23:00 if the main hall is locked). Taxi rank south side.
Wrocław Główny
4 platforms, single hall. Modernised in 2024. All EIP / EIC / IC stop. Lockout 23:30 (extended in summer). FreeNow and Uber are reliable. Taxi rank south, near the bus terminal.
Poznań Główny
7 platforms, surface-level, 2021 modernisation. All EIP / EIC / IC / TLK stop. 24/7 operation. The hall doesn't fully lock — you can wait in the main concourse until the first morning train. Taxi rank on the south side.
Gdańsk Główny
5 platforms, surface-level, adjacent to Galeria Bałtycka. All EIP / EIC / IC stop. 24/7 operation. Lockout 23:30 main hall. North exit leads to Centrum via tram 8. Taxi FreeNow / Uber reliable, ~ 25-40 zł to Sopot.
SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska)
Don't confuse with PKP Intercity. SKM is a city-suburban rapid transit (Warsaw / Tricity). Tickets are ~ 4-8 zł depending on distance, bought at the station or via SkyCash app. SKM is faster than the metro for Chopin airport.
Lockout trap
After 22:00, smaller stations (Wschodnia, Gdańska, Zachodnia) lock the main hall. You can still exit the platform via the platform gate (sometimes), but the ticket counters and waiting room are closed. Plan to wait in the connected shopping mall or a 24h McDonald's / kebab nearby.
Best taxi app per city
Warsaw: FreeNow, Uber, Bolt — all 3 apps work. Kraków: FreeNow (largest fleet), Uber (good coverage), Bolt (cheaper but slow). Wrocław: FreeNow, Uber. Gdańsk: FreeNow (dominant), Uber (limited). Poznań: FreeNow, Uber (sometimes Bolt offline).
Airport-rail shortcut
From Chopin Airport to Warszawa Centralna: 8 min via SKM. From Kraków Airport to Kraków Główny: ~ 17 min via SKA2 train. From Gdańsk Airport to Gdańsk Główny: PKM line, ~ 25 min. Wrocław Airport has no direct rail — taxi 30-40 zł to Główny.
Limitations of this calculator
FAQ
Why does Warsaw have so many mainline stations?
Historical accident. PKP planned a central transit hub in the 1970s (the Centralna project), but political changes meant each rail operator kept its own terminus. So Warsaw has four stations for what could be one. Tourists in 2026 still suffer from a 1947 decision.
Can I take SKM with a PKP Intercity ticket?
No. PKP Intercity tickets are valid on PKP trains only. SKM requires its own ticket (~ 4-8 zł depending on distance). Buy at the SKM kiosk or via SkyCash app.
What if I arrive after lockout?
Each station has at least one open exit for ticket-holders. The platform gate is open for in-transit passengers. If you're stranded without a ticket, walk around to the connected shopping mall (Warsaw: Złote Tarasy, Kraków: Galeria Krakowska, Gdańsk: Galeria Bałtycka). Most have 24h doors.
Where is the airport train from Warszawa Centralna?
SKM (S2 line) runs from the underground Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina station (at the airport, not Centralna). Buy a ticket from any SKM / Bilety Kolejowe kiosk. Alternatively, take the SKM to Centrum and transfer — but it's a single-line walk, no transfer.
Related tools
Sources
- PKP Intercity station pages — intercity.pl
- SKM Warsaw network — skm.warszawa.pl