Getting Around - Warsaw

Considering that the centre of Warsaw is flat and only 2 kilometres wide, it is an easily walkable city. However, it does have an extensive transport system comprising buses, trams and a metro.

Buses operate usually from 05.00 to 23.00, but you should always check the schedule. The intervals between buses can be anything from as little as 5 minutes (crowded routes during peak hours) to nearly 2 hours (certain suburban routes), but usually you will wait 20 minutes at most.

Twenty-odd tramlines run across the city with additional lines opened on special occasions (such as All-Saints Day). The route descriptions on the tram stops are easy to follow (although bus stop notices are more complex) and the tickets are cheap.

The metro opened in 1995 and is one of the newest underground railway systems in Europe. It runs daily from early morning until midnight at 3-10 minute intervals. It is clean and neat, well-signed but does not go to many tourist destinations, although some stations, especially the northern ones, are still worth visiting if you admire modern architecture.

Although there are many carrier companies, tickets are issued and controlled by the single Warsaw Transport Authority (ZTM) and they are valid for all means of transport mentioned above. A single ticket costs 2.40 zł. Tickets can be bought in kiosks and other places displaying stickers marked “Sprzedaż biletów ZTM”. Remember to validate your ticket immediately after boarding the bus or tram. A daily travel card, which is valid for 24 hours from activation, costs 7.20 zł. A travel card for three consecutive days (valid until 23:59 on the 3rd day) costs 12.00 zł. A weekly travel card costs 24.00 zł. Travel cards however only need to be activated on your first journey, except in the underground where touching in and touching out (or inserting a ticket) is required to open the gate.