I;m trying to figure out how to get from Warsaw to Smolensk, Russia. I'd prefer to fly, but am not sure if there are flights into Smolensk from Warsaw.

The train trip lasts 10 hours, with a two hour layover. I may just have to take the train despite the length of the trip.

Anyone have any advice or information for me?

Anyone? Anyone?

Peg, have you checked orbitz for flights? I plugged in random dates for a round trip for April. The only results shown are from Warsaw to Barnaul, which orbitz says is close to Smolensk. Change planes at Sheremetyevo. US$582. But takes 8 hours 20 minutes, so probably not worth it?

Thanks for the attempt, EYWandBTV.

It doesn't look much better than going by train, does it?

I was a little concerned about the condition of the train, which is a bit silly because it couldn't be in any worse shape than when I traveled from Moscow to Helsinki in 1967.

The train was okay then, and this time I won't have those two KGB men hanging around in our carriage.

Are you getting a Russian visa just to visit Smolensk ? Think I'd like KGB guys there to protect against robbers !

No, I already have a Russian visa because I went to St. Petersburg in 2015. It expires in March of 2018, which is why I want to go this fall.

I believe I have to get another document of some sort to go through Balarus, but there's a travel agency (Red Star Travel) in Seattle that I think will give me the information I need about that--if they'll ever answer their telephone.

Oops! That's Belarus.

The trains from Warsaw to Moscow (via Smolensk) have relatively modern Russian sleeping cars, which are in good condition.

You can find some photos here:

http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/RUS/RZD_WLABmz.php

Thanks for the reply, Polrail.

OP is now running two threads in parallel on the same trip. The other one is at http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...t-smolensk.cfm

I began this thread when I wanted info. The other one was a sort of progress report.