Due to the full-scale war, civil aviation services within Ukraine are currently unavailable. Therefore, citizens who wish to travel by plane must first head to neighboring countries. Most often, travelers choose Poland for such trips.
This article will be useful for Ukrainian tourists planning to visit international resorts. It explains how to get from Kyiv to one of the Polish cities that has a nearby international airport — Katowice.
Transport options for the trip
You can reach Katowice from Kyiv by several means of transport:
- By bus — many Ukrainian companies provide this service, with FlixBus and Infobus being among the most popular operators offering reliable and reasonably priced trips;
- By train — this option is considered the most convenient and time-efficient by most passengers;
- By private car — travelers choosing this option can leave their vehicle at one of the local parking lots (one of them, suitable for long-term parking, is located just 300 meters from the Katowice Airport terminals).
A train journey takes about 14–15 hours, while a direct bus trip lasts 4–5 hours longer. The duration of a car journey from Kyiv to Katowice depends on the type of vehicle and border traffic conditions.
How to reach Katowice via Przemyśl?
Many travelers get to Katowice through Przemyśl. Trains from numerous Ukrainian regional centers, including Kyiv, run to this Polish border town. Tickets for these routes can easily be purchased online — through the “Ukrzaliznytsia” app or on commercial travel websites.
From Przemyśl to Katowice, there are around ten train connections per day. High-speed trains operate between 4:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., providing flexible travel times throughout the day.
How to get to Katowice Airport?
The airport, which includes the passenger terminal and runway, is located about 30 km from the city, in the village of Pyrzowice.
Reaching the airport from the main train station in Katowice, where trains from Ukraine arrive, is easy at any time of day. The Metropolia ZTM bus operates 24 hours a day — with departures every 30 minutes during the day and every hour at night.
The journey, which includes several stops, takes about 45 minutes. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines and cost 6 PLN (approximately 68 UAH).
Another option is the M11 bus route, which has more stops and takes about 30 minutes longer. Alternatively, travelers can take a FlixBus coach — it runs four times per day, makes minimal stops, and costs between 140 and 170 UAH.