Train to Lublin - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Local transport: buses and trolleybuses ZTM Lublin; a single ticket is a few zlotys

• Best time to go: May-June and September - moderate tourist traffic, daytime is 18-24°C

• How much to go for: a weekend (2 days) is enough to see the Old Town, the castle and the main attractions; 3 days allow to add Majdanek and its surroundings

• Practical tip: main attractions within 2 km of the Krakowska Gate - you get around the centre on foot

The best choice is May-June or September, when the daytime temperature is 18-24°C and there are fewer tourists in the Old Town than in summer.

Spring (March to May)

• In March, temperatures start to rise from 8°C and reach 20°C in May - the castle gardens and Saxon Garden are already fully green.

• In May and June, open-air events and concerts take place in the Old Town

• Low to moderate tourist traffic, accommodation more easily available than in summer

Summer (June-August)

• Daytime temperature is 22-28°C, and evenings are warm - restaurants on Grodzka Street put tables outside

• Carnaval Sztukmistrzów in July is one of the largest street art festivals in Poland - acrobats, jugglers and street theatre in the Old Town

• High tourist traffic, accommodation should be booked in advance

Autumn (September-November)

• September means 18-20°C and smaller crowds - the Old Town in autumn colours with no queues to attractions

• Theatre Confrontations Festival in autumn attracts visitors from all over Poland

• Accommodation prices are lower than in high season

Winter (December-February)

• Temperatures are 0-4°C in December and down to -1°C in January - the Old Town is then decorated with Christmas illuminations

• Low tourist traffic, some attractions operate at limited hours

• In December, stalls with mulled wine, regional products and decorations appear on the Market Square

Lublin Główny railway station is served by PKP Intercity and POLREGIO. Direct trains run from Warsaw, Krakow, Rzeszow, Wroclaw and Bydgoszcz. Instead of standing in traffic jams on the ring roads, you get off in the centre and go straight into town.

From Warsaw to Lublin

• Travel time: approximately 2 hours by direct PKP Intercity train

• The route passes through Otwock, Pilawa, Dęblin, Puławy Miasto and Nałęczów

• Several connections per day

From Rzeszów to Lublin

• Approx. 2.5 hours by direct train PKP Intercity

• On the way Leżajsk, Nisko, Stalowa Wola and Kraśnik

• Several connections per day

From Krakow to Lublin

• A direct PKP Intercity train goes via Jędrzejów, Kielce, Skarżysko-Kamienna, Radom and Puławy City

• You travel approximately 4 hours by one train without changing trains

• On the way, you pass the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and the Vistula River valley

From Bydgoszcz to Lublin

• The PKP Intercity train takes about 5 hours via Toruń Główny, Włocławek, Kutno, Łowicz Główny and Dęblin

• You can also take the same train from Toruń

From Wrocław to Lublin

• You travel by one PKP Intercity train approximately 5.5 hours

• The route goes through Brzeg, Opole Główny, Lubliniec, Częstochowa and Kielce

• No change of trains - get on in Wrocław, get off in Lublin

You can buy tickets on Europodróże without registration - the ticket is sent to your e-mail and SMS. 30 minutes before departure you get an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket, so you don't have to search for it in your inbox. The earlier you buy, the greater the choice of seats and the better the price. At PKP Intercity, you can return your ticket up to 20 minutes before departure and exchange it up to 30 minutes before departure - see our refund and exchange policy page for details. Check current connections on Europodróże - just enter your route.

You can get from Lublin Główny train station to the Old Town by ZTM Lublin bus or trolleybus in a matter of minutes. A single ticket costs a few zlotys - you buy it from the ticket machine at the stop or from the driver.

The Old Town and the main attractions lie within 2 km of the Krakowska Gate. You can get around the centre on foot - the narrow streets and cobbled alleys are not suited to driving. The walk from the Krakowska Gate to Lublin Castle takes just a few minutes.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate at the station - handy in the evening or if you have heavy luggage. The fare from the station to the Old Town is a few dozen zlotys.

The Lublin City Bike scheme operates seasonally - it is useful on the boulevards along the Bystrzyca River and in parks outside the city centre. Docking stations are located at a dozen or so points around the city.

You can reach the State Museum at Majdanek and the Lublin Village Museum by ZTM Lublin bus. For a city break in Lublin, public transport and walking will get you everywhere you need to go.

There are luggage lockers at Lublin Główny train station - useful if you arrive in the morning and the hotel does not accept guests until the afternoon, or if you want to explore the city before your evening departure.

Where to stay:

• Old Town and around the Krakowska Gate - the best location for a city break, close to all the main attractions, with a wide choice of boutique hotels and apartments

• City centre near the station - convenient for those arriving by train, with good public transport links to the centre

Old Town with Krakow Gate and Market Square

The tour takes 1.5-2 hours. Brama Krakowska is a 14th-century gate tower with views of the city - there is a fee to enter the tower. The square is surrounded by Renaissance townhouses with underground tourist routes. The Underground Route under the Market Square leads through former merchant's cellars - a guided tour takes about 45 minutes.

Lublin Castle with the Chapel of the Holy Trinity

The tour takes 1.5-2 hours and there is an entrance fee. The Chapel of the Holy Trinity is unique in Europe: Gothic architecture covered with Ruthenian-Byzantine frescoes from the 15th century. The castle also houses a branch of the Lublin Museum with historical and artistic exhibitions.

Jewish Quarter in Podzamcze

The historic centre of Jewish Lublin, once known as the 'Jewish Oxford'. A walk around Podzamcze with information boards takes about an hour. Admission is free.

State Museum at Majdanek

Former German concentration camp, 4 km from the centre. You can get there by bus from ZTM Lublin. The visit takes 2-3 hours. Admission is free. The place requires focus and time - don't plan it between other attractions in a hurry.

Saski Garden

A park in the city centre, free of charge, with fountains and alleys. Good for relaxing between attractions, especially on hot days.

Lublin Village Museum (open-air museum)

4 km from the centre, accessible by bus. The tour takes 2-3 hours, entrance fee. Relocated wooden cottages, churches and homesteads from the Lublin region - worth seeing if you are interested in folk architecture.

Plan for Day 1

In the morning: the Krakow Gate with tower climb, a walk around the Market Square and the Underground Route. Before noon: Lublin Castle with the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. Afternoon: walk in Podzamcze (Jewish quarter) and Saski Garden. Evening: dinner at a restaurant on Grodzka Street.

Plan for the weekend (2 days)

Day 1: Cracow Gate with tower entrance, walk in the Market Square and the Underground Route, Lublin Castle with the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, walk in Podzamcze and Saski Garden, dinner at Grodzka Street.

Day 2: In the morning the State Museum at Majdanek (2-3 hours). In the afternoon: the Lublin Village Museum or a walk along the boulevards on the Bystrzyca River. Evening: dinner in the Old Town and a final walk through the illuminated Market Square.

What to eat

Cebularz Lubelski - a flat pancake with onions and poppy seeds, listed as an EU Protected Geographical Indication. You can find it in bakeries all over the city and at stalls around the Market Square. It costs a few zlotys - perfect for a quick snack between attractions.

Pierogi with buckwheat groats and cottage cheese - a local variation served by many restaurants on Grodzka Street and around the Market Square. A portion in a restaurant costs a dozen-something zlotys, depending on the establishment.

Where to eat:

• Grodzka Street and around the Market Square - the main cluster of restaurants and cafes in historic townhouses; prices moderate, dinner with a drink costs 30-60 zloty; in the evening, tables are put outdoors and the street acts as a promenade

• Market Hall on Ruska Street - local vegetables, cheese, cured meats and regional products from the Lublin region; open in the morning, the best selection is in the first half of the day

Souvenirs

• Ceramics with Lublin motifs - local designs available in shops at Brama Krakowska and in the Market Square

• Cebularz in decorative wrapping - a popular gift from Lublin

• Regional products - meads, liqueurs and preserves from the Lublin region

• Galeria Olimp and Lublin Plaza - if you need chain shops, both are close to the centre

Lublin is one of the cheaper large cities in Poland - prices for accommodation and food are significantly lower than in Warsaw or Kraków. Amounts are per person per night.

In the budget variant, you enjoy free attractions such as Majdanek, Podzamcze and the Saxon Garden, and eat in milk bars - there are still several establishments in Lublin with prices under 20 zł for lunch. The mid-range option allows you to choose a hotel in the centre and dinner on Grodzka Street. The comfort option includes a boutique hotel in the Old Town and restaurants serving creative Lublin cuisine.