Poland’s long-awaited spring “majówka” break kicked off last night, and the country’s media are predicting one of the busiest domestic travel weekends since before the pandemic. A 23:30 bulletin from public broadcaster Polskie Radio notes that warm weather, combined with three consecutive public holidays, has triggered a nationwide getaway to mountain and lake regions. The Interior Ministry expects up to three million car journeys over the four-day period—20 percent more than in 2025—and has coordinated extra patrols at motorway toll gates and Schengen internal borders. Border Guard teams at the German frontier report moderate but steady outbound flows, while Kraków and Gdańsk airports have opened temporary security lanes to absorb leisure traffic. Travel analysts say the spike is a litmus test for the Entry/Exit System (EES) that became fully operational on 10 April. So far, biometric gates at key airports are processing non-EU passengers in under 45 seconds, but officials warn that first-time users still slow queues. The Government Centre for Security (RCB) has sent cell-broadcast alerts advising drivers to refuel in advance, carry water and check heavy-truck bans.
![Holiday exodus begins: police and border services brace for record May-day travel]()
For those considering a spontaneous hop across the border during the break, VisaHQ can smooth the process of securing any required visas or travel authorisations. Its Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) provides up-to-date entry rules, digital applications and courier options—making it easier for both tourists and business travellers to fit paperwork into a packed “majówka” itinerary.
For employers the take-away is staffing: many factories and shared-service centres will run skeleton crews until Tuesday. Mobility managers should verify emergency contacts for assignees on short-term projects and remind them that consular services in Ireland, Tanzania and several other countries are closed until 4 May. Tourism operators, meanwhile, are enthusiastic. The Polish Tourism Organisation says hotel bookings in Zakopane and the Masurian Lakes are running at 92 percent capacity, with average room rates up 11 percent year-on-year. Rail operator PKP Intercity has added 35 extra coaches to north-bound services, but warns that bicycle spaces are sold out.
For those considering a spontaneous hop across the border during the break, VisaHQ can smooth the process of securing any required visas or travel authorisations. Its Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) provides up-to-date entry rules, digital applications and courier options—making it easier for both tourists and business travellers to fit paperwork into a packed “majówka” itinerary.
For employers the take-away is staffing: many factories and shared-service centres will run skeleton crews until Tuesday. Mobility managers should verify emergency contacts for assignees on short-term projects and remind them that consular services in Ireland, Tanzania and several other countries are closed until 4 May. Tourism operators, meanwhile, are enthusiastic. The Polish Tourism Organisation says hotel bookings in Zakopane and the Masurian Lakes are running at 92 percent capacity, with average room rates up 11 percent year-on-year. Rail operator PKP Intercity has added 35 extra coaches to north-bound services, but warns that bicycle spaces are sold out.
