Getting Started
How to Get to Białowieża Forest
By car, train or a combination of both — getting to Europe’s last primeval forest from Warsaw.
Warsaw is the nearest transport hub to Białowieża. From there, you have two main options: car or train. The first is by far the most convenient, but the train is also perfectly doable.
Either way, take time to admire the view once you cross the border into Podlaskie Province. You’ll see none of the megafarms of western Europe. It’s all small-scale here — a mosaic of scenic forest-agriculture landscapes, with ample room for nature.
By Car
Most car journeys to Białowieża begin in Warsaw. GPS devices generally give the option of three routes. Any of these will be fine, but the quickest is usually Warsaw – Brok – Bielsk Podlaski – Hajnówka – Białowieża. This takes you up the S8 expressway till Brok, then onto country roads for the rest of the way. Without stops, the 200 km journey takes around 3.5 hours.
By Train
The train won’t take you straight to Białowieża Village. The closest a train will get you is Hajnówka, the biggest town on the outskirts of the forest. From there you’ll need to find onward transport for the last 20 km (see below).
Warsaw – Hajnówka direct
There are now two direct trains per day in each direction between Warsaw West (Warszawa Zachodnia) and Hajnówka. These are run by PKP Intercity. The journey takes around 4–5 hours.
Booking direct trains: Search times on PKP Rozkłady (rozklad-pkp.pl) and buy tickets through the PKP Intercity app or website (intercity.pl). You can also buy tickets at the station.
Via Białystok (regional trains)
If the direct trains don’t suit your schedule, you can also get to Hajnówka via Białystok. There are frequent trains from Warsaw to Białystok, and then a regional connection from Białystok to Hajnówka. This route gives you more flexibility with departure times, though it requires a change.
The Warsaw–Białystok leg is usually operated by PKP Intercity (book as above) or Koleje Mazowieckie. The Białystok–Hajnówka leg is typically a PolRegio regional train.
Buying regional train tickets: Koleje Mazowieckie tickets can be bought via their app (KM — Koleje Mazowieckie) or at ticket machines in Warsaw stations. PolRegio tickets can be bought via the PolRegio app, online at polregio.pl, or from the conductor on the train (though a small surcharge may apply).
Getting from Hajnówka to Białowieża Village
This is the trickiest part. The direct bus between Warsaw and Białowieża has been discontinued, and bus connections from Hajnówka to Białowieża are infrequent and unreliable. You have a few options:
Local buses — Buses do run from Hajnówka to Białowieża, but not often. Check current timetables on e-podrożnik.pl. Be careful: the last train may arrive in Hajnówka after the last bus to Białowieża has left. Also note that buses don’t leave from the railway station — check e-podrożnik for the exact bus stop location.
Taxi — A taxi from Hajnówka to Białowieża takes around 25 minutes and is the most reliable option. Ask at the station or book in advance.
Hitchhiking — It can work well. Head to the main road out of town towards Białowieża and stick your thumb out. Locals are generally friendly and used to picking up tourists.
Tip: If you’re arriving by train, it’s worth arranging your accommodation in advance and asking your host if they can pick you up from Hajnówka. Many guesthouses will do this for a small fee.
From Other Cities
If travelling from elsewhere in Poland or abroad, use PKP Rozkłady (rozklad-pkp.pl) to search train connections. For buses from other cities, check e-podrożnik.pl.
How do you get to Białowieża from Warsaw?
The best option is a direct train from Warsaw Wschodni (Dworzec Wschodni) to Haj́nówka, around 20 km from Białowieża village — journey time roughly 3 hours. From Haj́nówka, local buses run to Białowieża several times daily, or a taxi takes around 20 minutes. Driving takes about 3 hours from Warsaw.
Is there a train to Białowieża?
There is no train to Białowieża village itself, but there is a direct service from Warsaw Wschodni to Haj́nówka, 20 km away, which is the most convenient public transport option. From Haj́nówka, local buses and taxis connect to Białowieża village.
Is Białowieża worth the journey from Warsaw?
Yes — Białowieża Forest is a genuinely unique destination and one of Europe’s outstanding natural areas. The combination of primeval forest, European bison, wolves, and exceptional biodiversity makes it unlike anywhere else on the continent. Most visitors find a minimum of two nights is needed to do it justice.
Go deeper
Explore the forest with an expert
Five days tracking wolves, finding bison and walking ancient old-growth — guided by a PhD ecologist.
Once you arrive, one of the best ways to experience the forest is on our 5-day old-growth seminar, we handle the airport pick-up, accommodation and transport so you can focus on the forest.
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