Getting Around Koszalin
Koszalin is a compact city in northwestern Poland, and getting around it is straightforward for a visitor. The city sits on the main highway and railroad between the Tricity and Szczecin, which makes it well connected to the wider region even though it is not a major transport hub in its own right. Within the city, your practical options are city buses, taxis, and your own two feet.
Rail Connections
Koszalin's train station is served by the Polish national railway company PKP, which provides connections from numerous destinations in Poland. There are several trains each day to Szczecin and Gdańsk, and a direct connection to Poznań also exists. Travel times are substantial rather than quick: the train ride from Szczecin takes a little more than two hours, and from Poznań you should allow at least four and a half hours. There are also direct connections from the seaside resort of Kołobrzeg, and from the nearby city of Słupsk the train journey is short.
One practical point to note: the Koszalin train station is located on the other side of the river from the main part of the city, and there is no bridge yet connecting the two parts. Plan for a transfer or a taxi when you arrive or depart by rail.
Buses and Public Transport
Koszalin has a good network of city-owned buses that will bring you everywhere in the city. This is the main way visitors get around without a car. Tickets are inexpensive: a normal single ticket costs around 2.90 zł, and a 24-hour ticket costs 8 zł. Buying a 24-hour ticket is a sensible choice if you plan to make several trips in a day.
The Koszalin bus station is located close to the train station, which makes switching between the two modes convenient. Long-distance bus services, including PKS, operate from here.
Metro and Trams
Koszalin does not have a metro or tram network. The city's public transport is built around its bus system, so there is no need to look for tram or metro lines when planning your movements.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
In practice, taxis are a useful fallback for the specific gap in the network: the train station sits across the river from the rest of the city with no bridge link, so a taxi is a reasonable way to cover that leg, especially with luggage.
Walkability
Koszalin is a compact city, and its central sights and amenities are within reach on foot. The main caveat for walkers is the same one that affects rail passengers: the train station is on the opposite bank of the river from the city center, and there is no bridge yet connecting the two parts. If your plans involve the station, expect to use a bus or taxi rather than walking directly across.
Getting to the Beach at Mielno and Unieście
Koszalin sits inland, so reaching the Baltic coast requires a short trip. To get to Mielno and Unieście, where the beach is, you can either take bus No. 1, which leaves from in front of the station, or one of the private vans that also wait in front of the station. In the summer, a train also operates to that coastal town. This is the most practical day-trip option for a visitor wanting sand and sea.
Getting There from the Airport
There is no airport really near Koszalin. The two closest options are Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport, roughly 120 km to the southwest, and Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, roughly 185 km to the east. Because neither airport is close, you should plan the onward leg of your journey in advance rather than expecting a quick local transfer.
The most natural way to connect from either airport is by rail. Both Szczecin and Gdańsk have direct train connections to Koszalin, with several trains running each day. From Szczecin the train ride takes a little more than two hours; from Gdańsk you are coming from further east along the same coastal corridor. Allow a generous amount of time for the combined airport-to-city journey, and check schedules ahead since services are not frequent enough to simply turn up and expect a departure within minutes.