Getting Started
How to get there
Trains, buses and driving routes — getting to one of Europe’s most remote forests.
Warsaw is the nearest transport hub to Białowieża. From there, you have three options: car, bus and train. The first is by far the most convenient.
But the others are also relatively easy. 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. The advice below is for journeys starting in Warsaw. If travelling from elsewhere then use e-podrżnik for bus times (www.e-podroznik.pl/) or PKP rozkładY for train times (https://rozkald-pkp.pl/).
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 option is usually Warsaw – Brok – Bielsk Podlaski – Hajnowka – Białowieża. This takes you up the S8 expressway till Brok. You then turn on to country roads for the rest of the way to Białowieża.
Without stops, the 200 km journey will take around 3.5 hours.
Bus
The easiest public transport option is the direct bus between Białowieża and Warsaw West Station. Last time I checked, it leaves Białowieża for Warsaw at 4:51am, before travelling the opposite direction at 15:00. The journey takes 4h 20 mins.
Its benefit over the train is the lack of changes. Still, I always found this bus a rather uncomfortable ride. Check the latest bus times at e-podrozpnik (see link above).
Train
This is the more comfortable public transport option. But it 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.
There are 2-3 trains per day from Warsaw East to Hajnówka (with one easy change on the way). Check the train times at PKP rozkładY (see link above).
To get to Białowieża Village, you’ll have to find a bus or taxi to take you the last stretch of the journey. Buses run regularly from Hajnówka to Białowieża and the journey takes around 30 mins. You can find bus timetables at e-podroznik.
Bear in mind that buses don’t leave from the railway station, so check the map on e-podroznik for the exact location of the bus stop. Also, be careful because the last train arrives in Hajnowka at 20:00, while the last bus leaves Hajnowka for Białowieża at 18:00. If buses fail, then hitchhiking from the orthodox cemetery can also work well.
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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