The best way to see Podlasie by car from Warsaw is a 3-day loop: Tykocin and Białystok on day one, Supraśl and the mosque in Kruszyniany on day two, and Białowieża and the Land of Open Shutters on day three. The loop is about 637 km, and Tykocin is roughly 2 hours from central Warsaw. Below you will find the route with distances, a day-by-day plan and what to book in advance. If you do not have your own car, you can set off in a rental car from Warsaw.
The Podlasie route at a glance
Distances and times assume no traffic and no stops. The fastest way to Podlasie is the S8 expressway, where the limit is 120 km/h. Other limits are listed in our article on speed limits in Poland.
| Day | Leg | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Warszawa → Tykocin | 178 km | approx. 2 h 04 min |
| Day 1 | Tykocin → Białystok | 38 km | approx. 35 min |
| Day 2 | Białystok → Supraśl | 16 km | approx. 21 min |
| Day 2 | Supraśl → Kruszyniany | 42 km | approx. 54 min |
| Day 2 | Kruszyniany → Białowieża | 90 km | approx. 2 h 03 min |
| Day 3 | Białowieża → Soce | 41 km | approx. 45 min |
| Day 3 | Soce → Warszawa | 232 km | approx. 2 h 59 min |
| Total | 637 km |
Day 1: Tykocin and Białystok
Tykocin is 178 km from central Warsaw, about 2 hours' drive. Its main sight is the Great Synagogue from 1642 with preserved wall paintings, home to the Tykocin Museum, a branch of the Podlasie Museum in Białystok. The small town is easy to explore on foot around the market square, with the car left near the centre.
If you have more time, Osowiec-Twierdza, the headquarters of Biebrza National Park, is about 40 minutes from Tykocin. The Tsar's Road (Carska Droga) starts there: a 34 km stretch across the Biebrza marshes to Strękowa Góra with a 50 km/h limit. Park trails require an entry ticket, and Biebrza National Park tickets (in Polish) can be bought online.
Stay the night in Białystok, 38 km from Tykocin. The Branicki Palace, known as the Polish Versailles, belongs to the Medical University of Białystok, and guided tours are booked by phone.
Day 2: Supraśl, Kruszyniany and the drive to Białowieża
Supraśl is 16 km from Białystok. Next to the Monastery of the Annunciation is the Museum of Icons, a branch of the Podlasie Museum, open Tuesday to Sunday.
From Supraśl to Kruszyniany is 42 km. The village has a wooden Tatar mosque, one of the symbols of multicultural Podlasie, and it is a good place for a lunch of Tatar food.
From Kruszyniany to Białowieża is 90 km, about 2 hours on local roads through the forest. Try to arrive before dark, as animals often cross the road there.
Day 3: Białowieża Forest and the Land of Open Shutters
The most valuable part of Białowieża National Park, the former Strict Reserve, can be visited only with a guide licensed by the park director, on the route to the Jagiełło Oak, in groups of up to 10. Other trails, such as Wilczy Szlak and Tropem Żubra, are open without a guide. The park publishes the current Białowieża National Park visiting rules (in Polish).
You can see European bison at the Bison Show Reserve on the Hajnówka-Białowieża road, about 3 km before Białowieża. From 16 April to 15 October it is open daily 9:00-17:00, and from 16 October to 15 April Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-16:00.
On the way back, 41 km from Białowieża, is the Land of Open Shutters: the villages of Soce, Trześcianka and Puchły with wooden houses, colourful shutters and Orthodox churches. From Soce to Warsaw is 232 km, about 3 hours' drive.
How far you will drive and which car to choose
The whole loop is about 637 km. The Base tariff has a 250 km daily limit, so a 3-day rental gives you 750 km and the route fits within it. If you want to add Biebrza or the Suwałki region, choose the Prime tariff with unlimited mileage.
Prefer a one-day trip? Tykocin and Białystok are about 430 km there and back.
Frequently asked questions
What can I see in Podlasie in one day?
From Warsaw, go to Tykocin and Białystok. Driving there and back takes about 4.5 hours, which leaves most of the day for sightseeing.
How long is the drive from Warsaw to Białowieża?
About 276 km and 3 hours 45 minutes without stops.
Do I need a guide in Białowieża Forest?
Only for the former Strict Reserve, on the route to the Jagiełło Oak. The other trails of Białowieża National Park are open without a guide.
Is there an entry fee for Biebrza National Park?
Yes, an entry fee applies to the park trails. Children under 7 and Large Family Card holders, among others, enter free.