Getting around · Warsaw · Poland
Getting around Warsaw
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Warsaw is a large city, but the main sights are linked by two metro lines, a dense tram network and the walkable Royal Route. One ticket system covers metro, trams, buses and city trains, including to Chopin Airport. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- WAW, WMI
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- 24-hour and 72-hour tickets
Ways to get around
Metro
Line M1 runs north–south through the centre and line M2 east–west across the river to Praga; they cross at Świętokrzyska. Trains are frequent and clean.
Tram
Trams cover most of the city and are the easiest way to reach the Royal Route, Łazienki's edges and Praga. Tickets are time-based and valid across modes.
Validate paper tickets on boarding; mobile tickets bought in apps are activated in the app.
Bus
Buses fill gaps in the network, including routes to Wilanów and the airport, and night buses run after the metro closes.
Train
SKM and regional trains link Chopin Airport and the suburbs with the centre on city tickets, while intercity trains from Warszawa Centralna reach Kraków in about 2.5 hours and Gdańsk in about 3.
Walking
The Old Town, Royal Route and Powiśle are best on foot; walking from Castle Square to the Palace of Culture takes about 25 minutes.
Cycling
The Veturilo bike-share system and a growing network of cycle paths, including along the Vistula, make cycling practical in the warmer months.
Ride-hailing
Bolt, Uber and FreeNow are widely used and inexpensive; use them instead of hailing unmarked cars.
Tickets and passes
24-hour and 72-hour tickets
Unlimited travel on metro, trams, buses and city trains in zone 1, which includes Chopin Airport.
Weekend ticket
Unlimited travel from Friday evening to early Monday morning across the city.
From the airport
Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) is about 10 km south of the centre; SKM and regional trains reach Warszawa Śródmieście and Centralna in about 20–25 minutes on a standard city ticket, and buses and taxis take about 20–40 minutes. Warsaw Modlin Airport (WMI), used by low-cost airlines, is about 40 km north; a shuttle bus and train or a direct coach takes about 1 hour.
Do you need a car?
No. Public transport covers the city well and traffic can be heavy. A car is only useful for rural trips such as Kampinos or Kazimierz Dolny.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Żelazowa Wola | About 1 hour by car or bus | Car, regional bus or tour |
| Kampinos National Park | About 45 minutes by car or bus | Car or suburban bus |
| Łódź | About 1 hour 15 minutes by train | Train from Warszawa Centralna to Łódź Fabryczna |
| Kazimierz Dolny | About 2–2.5 hours by car or bus | Car or bus |
| Toruń | About 2.5–3 hours by train | Train from Warszawa Centralna |
| Malbork Castle | About 2.5–3 hours by train | Express train to Malbork |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Warsaw?
No. Public transport covers the city well and traffic can be heavy. A car is only useful for rural trips such as Kampinos or Kazimierz Dolny.
+How do you get from the airport to Warsaw?
Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) is about 10 km south of the centre; SKM and regional trains reach Warszawa Śródmieście and Centralna in about 20–25 minutes on a standard city ticket, and buses and taxis take about 20–40 minutes. Warsaw Modlin Airport (WMI), used by low-cost airlines, is about 40 km north; a shuttle bus and train or a direct coach takes about 1 hour.
+What is the best way to get around Warsaw?
Metro: Line M1 runs north–south through the centre and line M2 east–west across the river to Praga; they cross at Świętokrzyska. Trains are frequent and clean.