Overview
Warsaw's public transport network is well developed and easy for a visitor to use. It combines an underground metro, an extensive bus network, trams, and suburban rail services, all coordinated by the city's transport authority, Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego w Warszawie (ZTM). Services generally run daily from around 05:00 until roughly midnight, and an extensive night bus network covers the city overnight.
Riding the system end to end is straightforward. Fares are time-based rather than purely zone-based: you buy a ticket that is valid for a set period, validate it at the start of your journey, and then travel freely across all modes within that time window. Typical city travel, including trips to and from the airport, uses Zone 1 tickets. Zone 2 covers areas outside the city limits and is rarely needed by tourists. Once your ticket's time expires, it becomes invalid and you need a new one.
Ticket machines are available at all metro stations, most major tram stops, and selected bus stops, and many buses and trams also have onboard ticket machines. Tickets are generally not sold by drivers. Validate your ticket before entering the metro platform, and immediately after boarding buses or trams.
The network
Warsaw's network is made up of several distinct systems, each with its own character and coverage.
- Metro (subway): The Warsaw Metro (Polish: Metro Warszawskie) is a rapid transit underground system serving the capital. It currently consists of two lines: the north–south M1 line, which links central Warsaw with its densely populated northern and southern districts, and the east–west M2 line. The M1 line has 21 stations over a route distance of about 22.7 km (14.1 mi). The initial segment of M2 opened on 8 March 2015 with seven stations, one of which, Świętokrzyska, provides a transfer between the two lines; further extensions have been opening since 2019, and the line is expected to be completed in 2026 with 21 stations. Three more lines (M3, M4, and M5) are planned. The system is operated by Metro Warszawskie and managed by the Public Transport Authority in Warsaw. As of 2026, it is the only metro system in Poland.
- Suburban rail: SKM trains (Szybka Kolej Miejska, "Urban Rapid Rail") form the fast urban rail layer of the network. SKM line S3 connects Warsaw Central Railway Station to Chopin Airport in a little over 20 minutes. Suburban services mostly run through Warszawa Śródmieście, beneath the main Centralna station.
- Trams (light rail): The city has around 30 tram lines. Tram 22 is a scenic option that passes the Palace of Culture and Science, the Vistula river area, and central districts, and a regular Zone 1 ticket is valid with no surcharge.
- Buses: The bus network is the city's most extensive transport mode, with some 200 routes, including the overnight night bus network.
- Ferries: The source material for this guide does not describe a ferry service, so no ferry lines are named here.
Tickets & fares
Warsaw uses a time-based fare system. A ticket is valid across all transport modes within its time limit once validated, and validity begins at validation. Most tickets are valid in zones 1 and 2, though the 75-minute ticket (individual and group) is valid only in Zone 1, except when you are travelling to the last stop or station on a route. Time tickets are valid on all trams, buses, SKM trains, and the metro. Time tickets do not include parking at ZTM park-and-ride facilities, but short-term tickets do.
Prices below are approximate, are stated as of early 2026, and can change.
- Single ride tickets (Zone 1): 20-minute short-term ticket — 3.40 zł (about €0.80 / $0.90); 75-minute standard ticket — 4.40 zł (about €1.00 / $1.20); 90-minute extended ticket — 7.00 zł (about €1.60 / $1.80). A group 75-minute ticket costs 22 zł and covers up to 10 people in Zone 1. Note that an SKM trip from Warszawa Śródmieście to Chopin Airport can exceed 20 minutes, so a 75-minute ticket is advised.
- Day and period tickets (Zone 1): 24-hour ticket — 15.00 zł (about €3.50 / $4.00); 72-hour ticket — 36.00 zł (about €8.50 / $9.00). For zones 1+2, a 24-hour ticket costs 26 zł and a 72-hour ticket costs 57 zł.
- Weekend tickets: A weekend ticket costs 24 zł and is valid from 19:00 Friday to 08:00 Monday in zones 1+2. A weekend group ticket costs 40 zł and covers up to 5 people over the same window.
- Concessions and free travel: Children under 7 travel free. Children and young people up to 16 pay reduced fares with valid ID. Passengers aged 70 and over travel free with proof of age. Free travel applies in both zones on buses, trams, the metro, SKM, Mazowieckie Railways, and the Warsaw Commuter Railway (WKD) on the Warszawa Śródmieście WKD–Opacz section.
You can buy tickets from machines at all metro stations, most major tram stops, and selected bus stops, and from onboard machines on many buses and trams. Tickets are generally not sold by drivers. Short-term tickets are also usable under the ZTM-KM-WKD integrated ticket offer, which lets holders of short-term ZTM tickets travel on suburban trains in Warsaw and neighbouring communes. Ticket prices had been unchanged since 2013 at the time of the source's writing, though the mayor has discussed possible small increases applying only to single and time tickets.
From the airport
Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) is the main airport, about 8–10 km south of the city centre in the Okęcie area of the Włochy district. A standard Zone 1 ticket is sufficient to reach the centre, with no airport surcharge, and the journey takes roughly 25–35 minutes depending on traffic.
- Commuter trains: SKM lines S2 and S3 connect the airport area with central Warsaw. The S3 links Warsaw Central Railway Station to Chopin Airport in a little over 20 minutes, and Warszawa Służewiec rail station is one stop from the airport.
- Buses: Bus 175 and bus 188 serve the airport, and night bus N32 covers the route overnight.
Warsaw's second airport, Modlin (WMI), lies about 40 km north of the city and is used by low-cost carriers. To reach the centre from Modlin, you can take a yellow shuttle bus to Modlin town railway station, about 4.5 km east of the airport, and then a regional train to Warsaw. A combined airport ticket (Bilet Lotniskowy) costs 22.40 zł online and also lets you use public transport in Warsaw's Zone 1 for 75 minutes; the same ticket can be bought through the Jakdojade app. Total travel time is up to 90 minutes. Alternatively, Contibus runs from the airport to the city centre for 40 zł, with tickets available at arrivals or on the bus by cash or card, taking around 60 minutes.
Etiquette & customs
Local riding customs are similar to those in other European cities, and a few habits will help you fit in.
- Queuing: Board in an orderly way and let passengers off before you get on. At metro platform doors, stand to the side so alighting passengers have a clear path.
- Escalators: Stand on the right and leave the left side free for people walking past.
- Priority seating: Seats marked for the elderly, pregnant passengers, and people with reduced mobility should be given up when needed. Keep noise down in quiet areas.
- Eating and drinking: The source material for this guide does not specify eating and drinking rules, so check signage at stations and on vehicles and follow local instructions.
- Rush hour: Expect crowded vehicles at peak times. Move into the carriage rather than blocking doors, keep your bag close, and have your ticket ready for inspection.
Official links
Survival terms
- subway/metro — metro (MEH-troh) — the underground rapid transit system
- ticket — bilet (BEE-let) — a fare ticket
- line — linia (LEE-nya) — a numbered route, as in metro or tram line
- entrance — wejście (VEY-shcheh) — an entry point to a station
- exit — wyjście (VIY-shcheh) — a way out of a station
- transfer — przesiadka (psheh-SHYAD-ka) — changing between lines or modes
- single fare — bilet jednorazowy (BEE-let yed-no-ra-ZO-vih) — a one-off ticket
- day pass — bilet dzienny (BEE-let JEN-nih) — a ticket valid for a full day
Buy your ticket before you travel and validate it the moment you enter the metro platform or board a bus or tram, because inspectors can check at any time and an unvalidated ticket counts as no ticket at all.