Best method of transport to get from Warsaw to Kaunas?

sobieskiThreads: 82 Posts: 1,143 Joined: Jun 1, 08 ♂	Mar 5, 09, 10:57 #1
What would you recommend as the best way of travelling from Warsaw to Kaunas... I know by train it takes ages. What about the bus? How long does that take? Another option is by car... what are the roads like near the Polish/LT border and what about traffic jams on the way? How many hours should I count either by bus or by car ?

♂

Edited by: SeanBM Mar 5, 09, 11:07 #2

Yes there is a train but it takes about 7 hours, it has to change tracks because Western and "old Russian" Lithuania track sizes are different.
The coach is probably your best bet, many people hitch-hike.

I am in Vilnius now, I often drive from Krakow-Warsaw-Kaunas-Vilnius, depending on traffic.
The road from Krakow to Warsaw is good and getting boarder, the road from Warsaw to the Pol/Lith Boarder is very bad and under huge amount of construction (thank goodness).
Best time to drive is in summer on Sunday, most Trucks are not allowed to drive then.
Leave early in the morning, it should take about 6 hours.
I have never taken the bus.

Remember Lithuania is one hour ahead of Poland.

If you have anymore questions, just ask.

Best of luck.

JucheThreads: 13 Posts: 356 Joined: Feb 17, 09 ♂	Mar 5, 09, 11:33 #3
There used to be an overnight train with sleeping cars that stopped in Kaunas on the way to Vilnius, but it was discountinued a while ago and replaced with a coach, which sucks because trains are usually the most comfortable option. Check with PKP, they may have reinstated the service, otherwise book a coach tkt with EUROLINES coaches...

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Mar 6, 09, 12:45 #4
Just a quick note, petrol is now cheaper in Poland than in Lithuania for the first time in at least three years. Lithuanian government put an extra tax on petrol.

shafqatThreads: - Posts: 1 Joined: Jul 23, 09 ♂	Jul 23, 09, 18:22 #5
I have schengeni visa , do i require visa to enter Poland?

dnzThreads: 25 Posts: 804 Joined: Dec 2, 07 ♂	Jul 23, 09, 18:24 #6
Go by car, the car is still by far the best way of getting around,

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended]	Jul 23, 09, 18:43 #7
shafqat: I have schengeni visa , do i require visa to enter Poland? Schengen visa for a short term stay, no. If it's a long term Lithuanian one, then yes.

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Jul 23, 09, 20:59 #8

Sean -

We are returning from Vilnius on August 31 or September 1 (after spending time in Tallinn and Riga). Any suggestions on the best method of returning to Kraków?

As of now, we are planning to take a train or bus to Białystok, stay overnight, and take the train to Kraków the next day. However, the bus and train schedules out of Lithuania seem spotty - any input would be greatly appreciated.

Also - any suggestions for our brief time in Vilnius would be gladly accepted...

felix	Jul 11, 10, 19:45 #9
hello, my name is felix - im arriving in warsaw jul 29 and i have to go to kalipeda can i buy the ticket at the airport in warsaw the morning i arrive? you think is very expensive???

choichuntong	Apr 6, 11, 17:24 #10
Hello, Can anyone update me on the transport from Warsar to Kaunas ? Also, would anyone can advise whether I can rent a car in Poland then go to Kaunas, Lithium, and then Tallin and drop the car at Tallin ? Thanks so much for your valuable feedback !!!

warszawskiThreads: 60 Posts: 2,389 Joined: May 21, 10 ♂	Apr 6, 11, 19:58 #11
SeanBM: The road from Krakow to Warsaw is good and getting boarder, the road from Warsaw to the Pol/Lith Boarder is very bad and under huge amount of construction (thank goodness). SeanBM, have you looked into Wizzair or Airbaltic for cheap flights to Vilinius?

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Apr 6, 11, 20:31 #12
warszawski: SeanBM, have you looked into Wizzair or Airbaltic for cheap flights to Vilinius? No direct flights from Krakow, stop over at Warsaw and crappy times. I will have to go up to Vilnius again shortly, I'll take a look if they have changed their timetables.

♂

Apr 6, 11, 20:38 #13

SeanBM:

I will have to go up to Vilnius again shortly, I'll take a look if they have changed their timetables.

I had a trip to Vilinus about 5 years ago from Warsaw, put the deatails into route organizer and came up with a detour through part of Bialarus so I followed the route got to the border and was allowed through the Polish controls and was turned back in B.R because I did not have a visa. Got to say the best thing I did was not get a Visa.

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Edited by: SeanBM Apr 6, 11, 20:47 #14

warszawski:

was turned back in B.R because I did not have a visa.

I was travelling around Lithuania the first time 12 years ago and thought it'd be nice to pop into BR while I was in the neighbourhood.
Well that just isn't the way things work round that neck of the woods :x

Visa, invitation, etc.... the unfriendly scary looking military guys at the Embassy wanted an incredible amount of USDs.

It is too tedious to make such a big thing about going to a country.

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