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Rzeszów

Rzeszów ([ˈʒɛʃuf]; Ukrainian: Ряшів, Riashiv) is the capital city of Subcarpathian Voivodship, in south east Poland. It has been a private town of the Lubomirski family for centuries. It has a fine old town, two synagogues and some castles.

Get in

By plane

Jasionka International Airport (RZE IATA) is about 8 km from the city centre.

Four airlines, Poland's national carrier LOT Polish Airlines, Germany's Lufthansa and low-cost Ryanair fly to Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport. Domestic flights operated by LOT connect Rzeszów directly with Warsaw's Frédéric Chopin Airport and other Polish cities with stop-over in Warsaw Airport (Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Kraków, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin and Wrocław). International flights are operated by LOT (with stop-over in Warsaw), Lufthansa (Frankfurt), Ryanair ("Barcelona"-Girona, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, East Midlands, London Luton and London Stansted). Flights operated by Lufthansa may be connected to many cities all over the world with stop-over in Frankfurt.

Transport to and from the airport

By bus: The airport is connected with Rzeszów city centre by public transport (bus from 'MPK' company), special line 'L'. Journey to/from airport takes about 25 min and costs 8 zł (under €2) if you pay in zł, or €3 if you pay in € (tickets are sold by the driver, price includes the carrying of luggage). Buses terminate at railway station and depart from the same stop. Generally, bus timetable is synchronized with flights' arrivals and departures and in the case of delayed flight, bus is waiting for passengers. However, it is strongly advised to check the bus and flight timetable before travel.

Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport - Rzeszów Railway Station timetable

Rzeszów Railway Station - Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport timetable

Be aware of the remarks below the timetable! (kursuje means run / nie kursuje means do not run, others are the days of the week, from Mon-Sun [poniedziałek, wtorek, środa, czwartek, piątek, sobota, niedziela).

By taxi: Taxi-drivers Association Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport (STPL) is the official partner of Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport. Can be caught outside the airport terminal or called +48 697 996 077. Travel takes about 15–20 minutes and costs on average 50 zł. They serve for 24h.

By car: Parking at the airport is free of charge and open 24h. There are several car hire companies.

More flights can be booked from Kraków which is only three hours by train from Rzeszów. Other airports are in Warsaw and Katowice.

By train

The Polish State Railways have train connections with majority of Polish cities, but for long distance there is usually one or more changes. Usually, at least one direct train connection exists between Rzeszów and major Polish cities. There are different categories of trains, but time of the journey is rather similar. There are also direct services to Lviv, Odessa and Kyiv in Ukraine. The connections and price can be checked in the website, but it is possible to buy on-line only tickets for selected trains (operated by PKP InterCity) InterCity and TLK. Tickets can be bought at the railway station. If you want to pay by credit or debit card, first check is it possible and tell about card's payment to the cashier before you buy a ticket! Alternatively, you should find ATM at the railway station on in the close vicinity. If you are foreign student please be aware, that you may buy discount ticket for each route (51%) provided you have valid Polish student ID or ISIC student card (euro26 and student ID card from your university is not valid and you will be fined).

Check the connections and their price at PKP Timetable

For detailed information see Poland:By train

By car

Rzeszów is situated on the European route E40. You can easily get there by car from Kraków, Lublin and Sandomierz or from eastern (E40 - Ukraine) and southern (nr 9 or E371 - Slovakia) border. Rzeszów is served by A4 motorway (from Kraków) and S19 speedway (from Lublin and Slovakia border).

You can also take advantage of car pooling, but the language may be significant barrier. Road distance from Ukrainian and Slovakian border equals only around 90 km. From major Polish cities: Gdańsk (576 km), Kraków (162 km), Łódź (283 km), Warsaw (275 km), Wrocław (402 km).

By bus

Many international and domestic connections (see Poland:By bus).

Hitchhiking

It is quite popular to hitch in Poland. General rules for hitchhiking are the same in whole Poland. Prepare the sign with 'Rzeszów' written on it as it is the biggest city in South-Eastern Poland, so everyone will be sure where are you heading to.

Get around

The Old Town in city centre is small and easily manageable on foot. There are regular bus services from the centre to New Town and suburbs. One-way ticket ('bilet normalny') costs 2.30 PLN. It is valid only for one certain route and for one bus on this route (you can not change buses on the same route). One-hour ticket ('bilet 1-godzinny') costs 4.00 PLN and is valid for all buses. You may also buy day pass ('bilet dobowy') for 9.00 PLN. Big luggage must be paid extra (1.65 PLN). Tickets are sold in small stalls near bus stops (kiosks) and can be also bought from the driver but may cost more. Once you get the bus, you need to validate the ticket in validating machine. If you travel by public bus beyond Rzeszów area you have to buy tickets for 2nd zone, which are more expensive. Rzeszów also has a well developed network of cycle paths, though there is a lack of bicycle parking. It is possible to rent a bicycle from commonly accessible bike stands, however, you have to register on the provider's website before you could use the bike.

Bus timetable and information at [1] and [2]

Maps can be downloaded from [3]. Interactive map is available on [4] and you may make virtual walk on city's streets here [5].

Driving and parking in Rzeszów is a nightmare, like in most cities, but in ul. Krakowski, less than ten minutes' walk from the centre, there is a little complex with three free car parks (a McDonalds, a supermarket, and a residents' area).

If you want to visit other towns near Rzeszów, you need to take either above-mentioned bus (if it serves chosen connection) or coach. Coaches depart from Bus Station ('Dworzec Autobusowy') (several carriers, PKS Rzeszów, Veolia Podkarpacie, others), Suburban Bus Station ('Dworzec Podmiejski') or other stops.

Talk

Polish is the only official language in Poland and all signs are in Polish as well. Poles learn other languages in school and now English is the main foreign language, although German, French, Spanish and Russian are also taught. Generally, Poles do not speak fluently foreign languages, but young generation usually can speak and understand English. Older people know rather German or Russian, since both were almost only languages taught in schools some years ago. You should not have major difficulties with communication with Polish people, always you will find someone who can speak English and will be able to help you (even if does not know your language).

See

Landmarks

  • The Lubomirskis Castle, is situated on the edge of the edge of the old town and dates from the 16th century. In 18th century it was expanded and encircled with stone walls and bastions. It now serves as the law courts and so the interior is generally closed to the public. However, it's well worth walking around the impressive walls.
  • Lubomirskis Summer Palace which contains Rzeszów University IT Department.
  • Town Hall from 16th century, rebuilt several times.
  • Sts. Stanislaw and Adalbert Parish Church.
  • Old Convent of Piarist Friars from 17th century now consists of St. Cross Church, District Museum, and Lyceum No. 1.
  • Two Synagogues: Old Town (or Small) from the beginning of 17th cent. which now houses State Archives and New Town (or Big) from the end of 18th cent., destroyed by Nazis and restored between 1954-63 is now the Office for Art Exhibitions (BWA).
  • Bernardine Complex Convent
  • Public Library (1890)
  • Old Cemetery (18th century)
  • Jewish Cemetery (1849)
  • Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre opened in 1944 first professional dramatical theatre in th city.
  • Revolutionary Act Monument from 1974 commemorating the fights for freedom that took place around the area. It's more often called the Huge Pussy though.

Museums and Galleries

Many of Rzeszów's state museums have free admission on Sunday and are closed on Monday and Saturday.

Do

Buy

The main shopping areas are on the pedestrianized Grunwaldzka and 3'ego Maja streets. There are several small shopping centres in the city centre. Millenium Hall, a massive shopping centre in the New Town, is one of the largest malls in southern Poland, and is located 1 km south of the Old Town. There are many also large hypermarkets in the suburbs, most of which incorporate a small pasaż (shopping arcade).

Eat

For the budget conscious, there are plenty of take aways near the train station, where you can fill up with Polish or international fast food for around 4 PLN.

A better quality but still inexpensive option is the train station Bistro, open till 21:00, which does proper Polish meals with an extensive menu for around 12 zł for two courses and a drink (June 2012).

Drink

The places worth to be visited are e.g.: Irish Pub Galway (pub with Irish beers and whiskeys) or Jazz Club Gramofon (music club, restaurant, cocktail bar, coffee bar) which are situated on 3'ego Maja Street.

Sleep

  • Va Bank, Rynek 5. 11 places in single and double bedrooms. Double 160 zł.

Stay safe

Rzeszów is rather safe place for travellers. You should be aware of pickpocketing like in other typical city. Do not look for an argument especially with young, bald men dressed in sweatshirts. Try to not presenting your liking to football or speedway clubs, since there is eternal struggle between hooligans sympathizing with competing teams. Do not buy 'occasional bargains' from guys wandering around parking places (they sell shoddy stuff, like binoculars).

Go next

Łańcut is practically a suburb and well worth a visit. It is located 17 km from Rzeszów and is easy accessible by coaches or trains. Further afield are Jarosław and the city of Przemyśl (both are also accessible by train and coaches).

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