How to Travel to Lublin, Poland

For anyone interested in a trip to Poland, consider stopping in the ancient city of Lublin--at the very crossroads of East and West. Once a favorite target of foreign invaders, and once, briefly, the capital city of Poland, Lublin today boasts a fantastic array of historical, cultural, intellectual, and recreational attractions, and is a day-trip away from several more. But how to get there? Read on!

Instructions

1. Arrive in Warsaw, Poland. Round-trip, economy flights from New York to Warsaw typically cost between $650 and $950 (most of which is fees and taxes!).

2. Catch a cab (cost: a few dollars) to Warsaw's central train station (Warszawa Centralna, located on 54 Jerozolimskie Street). There are two other major train stations in the city, an eastern station and a western station, but the central station is the best place to find a train to any other city in the country--including Lublin.

3. Proceed to the main ticket line and purchase a ticket for Lublin. There are several options available, from the slow, local trains to the faster, more expensive express trains. Though they cost more, the latter is by far the most practical option, since it will get you to Lublin in a matter of hours.

4. Board the train and enjoy the ride. Polish trains are generally well-maintained, clean and comfortable, and the Polish countryside is beautiful, especially in the spring and summer.

5. Arrive in the city of Lublin and enjoy the town. Don't miss out on Old Town, perched on a hill overlooking the countryside all around. Other attractions include several notable universities that draw students from all over the world, the grand and forbidding Lublin Castle, and, of course, one of the most well-preserved of Hitler's death camps still standing--the infamous Majdanek.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid the "hooligani"--groups of young men dressed in soccer garb and apt to act violently.