Growing up in southeastern Europe, I never realized how easy it is to travel across borders without flying—or even passing through border control—when living in Central Europe. So, we didn’t waste any time. During our first month in Warsaw, a group of us decided to visit Berlin. Anton, who is half Berliner, was more than happy to show us around the German capital. But this blog isn’t about what to see or do in Berlin—it’s about how easy and accessible international travel can be while volunteering in Poland.
Our journey began at Warszawa Centralna, where there are daily trains to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, as well as other major cities like Prague. Booking tickets was simple and affordable, especially if done a few weeks in advance through PKP (Polish Railways) or DB (Deutsche Bahn). The train ride took about five hours, but the time flew by—we chatted in the corridors and grabbed pierogi in the dining car. The route passed through several smaller towns and stopped midway in Poznań, offering lovely countryside views along the way.
Anton experiencing pierogi on the train.
We arrived in Berlin around 22:30 and headed straight to our hostel. Since we were a big group, we booked an entire room just for ourselves, giving us the comfort of a hotel on a budget. A good tip: always try to stay near a tram or metro stop. In our case, we were lucky, our hostel was just 100 meters from the Berlin Wall!
Borja and his pillowcase at the hostel room.
We spent three days exploring the city—diving into its famous clubbing scene, visiting museums, and hitting all the must-see sights. Interestingly, while we were in Berlin, our friend Emanuele took a solo trip to Vilnius, Lithuania—an equally easy destination to reach from Warsaw, often via Flixbus or even by train. The Baltics are definitely worth considering for a short getaway.
Trying the local food (Doner).
Our return trip to Poland on Sunday evening was smooth and stress-free. One surprising detail, especially for someone from a country without international train routes, was the double ticket check when crossing borders—so it’s important to keep your ticket handy for the entire journey.
To sum up, living in Poland—especially Warsaw—opens up countless opportunities to explore neighboring countries to the north, south, and west. And these experiences are even better when shared with friends and fellow volunteers.
Safe travels!
Worth visiting.
Disclaimer:
While this blog reflects a personal experience of traveling freely within the Schengen Area, it’s worth noting that freedom of movement is not equally accessible to everyone. Legal status, passport origin, and political changes can significantly impact travel rights.
Additionally, as of July 2025, Poland has introduced border control checks with Germany and Lithuania. This may affect travel conditions for some routes mentioned in the post. Always check updated border policies before planning international travel.
Kostia