Białowieża Road Train (Białowieski Express)

The Białowieski Express looks like a little train, but it runs on tarmac: a road-going locomotive pulling a covered carriage that takes up to 30 people on a tour of Białowieża village and the edge of the primeval forest. The highlight is the guide, whom the operator describes as an enthusiast and a pupil of Simona Kossak, the legendary biologist who spent her life in the Białowieża Forest. It is a good choice for a family afternoon or for seeing the outer corners of the village without a long walk.

Route 1: Białowieża in an hour

The shorter route takes about an hour. It runs along ul. Stoczek (formerly ul. gen. Waszkiewicza) with its historic buildings and local architecture, past Hotel Białowieski and to the Narewka river valley with views of wild Natura 2000 landscape. The next stop is Białowieża Towarowa, the historic former freight station, now home to the Restauracja Carska ("Tsar's Restaurant"). The tour returns via Podolany I to the starting point.

Route 2: to the edge of the forest

The longer route takes about 2 hours. It starts on ul. Kolejowa by the former "Białowieża Pałac" station, passes through Podolany I and II with their traditional Podlasie houses, heads into the Białowieża Forest to the "Jagiellońskie" Forest Education Centre, and then enters the border zone, about 1 km from the Belarusian border, before returning via the workers' settlement of Grudki. On both routes there are stops where the guide talks about history, nature and architecture.

Did you know?

• Both routes are a reminder that Białowieża once had two railway stations: the passenger station "Białowieża Pałac" and the freight station. The road train does not run on rails, but it visits both.
• The operator also takes guests to bonfire evenings and special events, and arranges custom routes for groups.

Practical information (2026 season)

• Departure: the municipal car park by the PTTK tourist office, ul. Kolejowa 17.
• Schedule: the season starts on 1 May. In May and June individual rides run mainly at weekends; in July and August they are planned daily (long-route departures at 12:30 and 15:00); from 1 September to 31 October weekends only, at 12:30 or 15:00.
• Minimum: the train leaves only with at least 20 passengers, so book by phone: +48 692 558 843.
• Prices for individual visitors: adults PLN 60, children and young people under 18 PLN 40, dogs PLN 10. Groups pay for the whole ride: route 1 PLN 1,150, route 2 PLN 1,300.

Tripto tip

Call the day before and ask whether enough passengers have signed up, especially outside the summer holidays. The carriage is covered, but this is still an open-air ride, so bring a jacket on cool days. The ride combines easily with a walk in the Palace Park and Białowieża National Park, right in the centre of the village.