A two-week loop from Warsaw: Kraków with the Wieliczka salt mine and the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial, the Tatras at Zakopane, then Wrocław, Poznań and Toruń up to Gdańsk and the fortress of Malbork. Almost the whole way is on motorways and expressways, mostly toll-free: only two concession sections on the route charge tolls.
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
May to September, for the Tatra trails and the Baltic; in July and August, book the Morskie Oko car park and your Auschwitz visit early. In winter, Zakopane is under snow, winter tyres are not compulsory but recommended, and last entries at Auschwitz are as early as 14:00 in December.
🚗 299 km · 3h35 of driving from Warsaw
The S7 expressway the whole way, toll-free. Short detour to Chęciny Castle, south of Kielce.
🚗 106 km · 1h45 of driving from Kraków
The S7 then the DK47, the "Zakopianka", the only direct road, often busy at weekends.
🚗 369 km · 4h10 of driving from Zakopane
Back via Kraków, then the A4: tolls at Balice and Mysłowice as far as Katowice, then toll-free to Wrocław.
🚗 183 km · 2h15 of driving from Wrocław
The S5 expressway, toll-free, dual carriageway all the way.
🚗 197 km · 2h55 of driving from Poznań
The S5 via Gniezno, a detour to Biskupin near Żnin, then the S10 from Bydgoszcz. No tolls.
🚗 217 km · 2h40 of driving from Toruń
The A1 toll motorway (AmberOne) to Stanisławie, the DK22 to Malbork, then back on the A1 to Gdańsk.
🚗 339 km · 3h55 of driving from Gdańsk
Start from Kraków airport: Kraków (3 nights) with Wieliczka and Auschwitz, Zakopane (2), Wrocław (1), then back on the A4. Warsaw, Toruń and Gdańsk need a second week.
| Hire, July (most expensive month) | ≈ €25 a day |
|---|---|
| Hire, November | ≈ €14 a day |
| Small car, on average | ≈ €17 a day (Kayak, Sept 2026) |
| Vehicle | City car or compact: motorways and expressways on almost the whole route. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | Warsaw Chopin Airport. It's a loop, so no one-way fee. |
| Deposit | 1,500 to 3,000 zł blocked on a credit card for a compact. |
| Age and licence | Usually 21 and one year's driving experience; more for premium models. |
| Leaving the country | Ukraine and Belarus refused by most rental firms; elsewhere, prior agreement from the rental firm. |
⚠️ Debit cards: accepted by some Polish rental firms only with premium insurance or a larger cash deposit.
Valid like any European Union licence, with no International Driving Permit. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.
As in mainland Europe. Seat belts in all seats, hand-held phones banned (500 zł).
50 in town day and night, 90 on ordinary roads, 100 or 120 on expressways, 140 on motorways.
For all drivers, barely one glass. Above 0.5 g/l, a criminal offence.
Dipped headlights or daytime running lights compulsory all year round, in all weathers.
More than 50 km/h over the limit: in town, and since 3 March 2026 on two-way roads.
Compulsory on board. Hi-vis vest recommended.
Since January 2026. Foreign-registered cars: register online before entering Kraków.
But recommended: without them, your insurer may claim gross negligence. Studded tyres banned.
≈ €1.82 a litre of petrol (7.99 zł), €2.05 for diesel (8.99 zł)
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.
⛽ 1,710 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €220 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
e-petrol.pl averages for 23 September 2026, €1 = 4.38 zł (ECB). Plenty of filling stations along the expressways.
| e-TOLL | Only for vehicles over 3.5 t: nothing to do in a car |
|---|---|
| State motorways (A2 Konin-Stryków, A4 Wrocław-Gliwice) | Free for cars since 1 July 2023 |
| A4 Katowice-Kraków (Stalexport) | 18 zł at Balice and 18 zł at Mysłowice, so 36 zł (since 1 April 2026) |
| A1 Gdańsk-Toruń (AmberOne) | 29.90 zł for the whole section; cash, card or AmberGO app |
| S7, S5, S10 expressways | Free |
| Palenica Białczańska car park (Morskie Oko) | 36 to 75 zł a day, booking on tpn.gov.pl |
| Tatra National Park | 11 zł a day, 55 zł for 7 days |
| Wieliczka mine | From 131 zł |
| Malbork Castle | 80 zł with audio guide; on Mondays, outdoor route free |
| Auschwitz I without a guide | Only late in the day: from 17:00 from April to September |
|---|---|
| Palenica Białczańska car park | Open from dawn to dusk, from 1 March to 30 November |
| Kasprowy Wierch cable car | Technical maintenance in spring and November |
| Malbork Castle | Main route closed on Mondays |
| Tatra roads in winter | Chains compulsory where signs require them |
Allow 10 to 14 days for this loop of 7 stages and 13 nights from Warsaw, about 1,900 km including excursions. With 7 days, stick to the south, starting from Kraków: Wieliczka, Auschwitz, Zakopane and Wrocław. The north, from Toruń to Gdańsk and Malbork, needs another week.
Car only, in July: about €325 of hire over 13 days (€25 a day, Kayak average), 66 zł in tolls (about €15) and about €240 of petrol at September 2026 prices (€1.82 a litre). Add 36 to 75 zł for parking at Morskie Oko. In November, hire drops to around €14 a day.
No: since 1 July 2023, state motorways have been free for vehicles under 3.5 t, and e-TOLL only applies to heavier vehicles. Three concession sections with barriers still charge tolls: A4 Katowice-Kraków (36 zł), A1 Gdańsk-Toruń (29.90 zł) and A2 Nowy Tomyśl-Konin, which is off this route. Expressways are free.
Yes: no entry cards are issued on site, so book one on visit.auschwitz.org. Entry is free, but from April to September unguided visits only start at 17:00; earlier, you need a paid guided tour of about 3 hours 30 minutes. Arrive 30 minutes early, with a bag no larger than 35 x 25 x 15 cm.
Yes, with a recent car. Since 1 January 2026, Kraków has had a low-emission zone (petrol Euro 4 or 2005, diesel Euro 6 or 2014) and every foreign-registered car must be registered online before entering. Warsaw excludes petrol cars older than Euro 3 and diesels older than Euro 5.
Not with an EU licence, which is valid on its own like any European Union licence. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required. Rental firms usually ask for drivers aged 21, one year's driving experience and a credit card for the deposit, from 1,500 to 3,000 zł for a compact. Carry your licence, ID, vehicle registration certificate and proof of insurance.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/poland · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026
