Short guide to Warsaw

1. General information

Warsaw is the biggest city in Poland, with a population about 1700 000 people. It’s business center of country. It’s capitol since XVI century. Warsaw has some important landmarks, museums and other sites, which may be interesting for tourists. It also has good transport system. On the other hand, it’s noisy and often jammed by the traffic.

All in all – Warsaw is one of the must-to-see cities in Poland, even if one, after all, don’t like it much.

2. Travelling

There is various ways of move around in Warsaw. First – and obvious – is by feet. Be careful, because distances in Warsaw are quite long. You can also use the public transport – bus, tramways and one-lined-metro. Also, you can also call/take taxi cab, which is quite cheap (if your are in group of 3 or 4) and comfortable.

2.1 Public transport

To use the public transport you need the tickets. There is a lot of different tariffs, however for you only three kinds will be interesting. First one is normal, one-travel ticket. You can use it to travel once by bus or tramway or metro. It costs 2,80 zł (0,70 Euro). You can buy in almost all shops and newsstands. To ask for it you can say:

‘Poproszę (jeden) bilet normalny’, what means ‘Give me (one) normal ticket, please.’ Pronounce it more-less like that: (poproshe (ye-den) bee-let normalny).

If you need more tickets, you can say: ‘Poproszę (dwa/trzy/cztery) bilety normalne’, what means ‘Give me (two/three/four) normal tickets, please’. Pronounce it more-less like that: (poproshe (dva/tshy/chtery) bee-lety normalne). Don’t be surprised, if someone ask you to repeat, what you said. It’s hard to pronounce it 100% correct for foreigners.

If you are going to switch the mean of transport during your travel (i.e. you want to switch from bus of one number to another) it’s better to buy time-valid tickets. There are 20-, 40-, 60- and 90-minutes versions. I think 40 minutes ticket should be enough. It costs also 2,80 zł (0,70 Euro). You can find, how long takes to get from one stop to another from timetable (on this site).

To ask for it you can say:

‘Poproszę (jeden/dwa/trzy/cztery) bilety normalne, czasowe czterdziestominutowe’, what means ‘Give me (one/two/three/four) bilets normal, periodical, fourty minutes, please’ and pronounce it like that: ‘poproshe (ye-den, dva/tshy/chtery) bee-lety normalne tchasove tchter-gesto-mean-ootove’.

Lastly, if you are going to stay longer in Warsaw, you can buy ticket, which is valid for 24 hours. It’s shamelessly cheap, compared to the others – only 9 zł (2,30 Euro). It lasts for 24 hours and is valid to all means of transport, mentioned above. If you want to buy it, say:

‘Poproszę (jeden/dwa/trzy/cztery) bilety normalne, dobowe’, what means: ‘Give me (one/two/three/four) bilets normal, 24 hours, please’. Pronounciation: ‘poproshe (ye-den, dva/tshy/chtery) bee-lety normalne dobove’.

Note: if you have ISIC (International Student Identification Card) you have 50% discount on the tickets. Then, when you asking for the tickets, ask for ‘ulgowe’ (oolgove) instead of ‘normalne’.

Note #2: all periodical tickets are valid a given amount of time, which is counted from validating them in bus, tramway or metro.

Note #3: if you use night line (i.e. N1, N2, N3 etc.) and you go on normal, one-time tickets, then you should validate 2 of them, instead of one.

All information – including stops, lines etc., you can find on website: http://www.ztm.waw.pl/ (English version available).

2.2 Taxis

They are two possibilities to catch the taxi. You can call for them or take just from the streets. I really strongly suggest to avoid taking taxis from the streets. They are cars, which are similar to taxis but they costs like 10 time more then ordinary cabs. The costs of the taxi consist of starting payment and payment for kilometers. Starting payment is about 6 zł (1,50 Euro) and payment for kilometers varies (mostly: 1,20-2,00 zł/km = 0,30-0,50 Euro/km).

To call the taxi, try one of those numbers:

Atu Taxi: +48 22 744 44 44, 1,20 zł (0,30 Euro/km)

EKOCABTAXI: +48 22 644 22 22, 1,40 zł/km (0,35 Euro/km)

Volfra Taxi: +48 22 196 25, 1,60 zł (0,40 Euro/km)

Partner Taxi: +48 22 196 69, 1,90 zł/km (0,47 Euro/km)

Super Taxi: +48 22 196 22, 2,00 zł (0,50 Euro/km)

Please note, that if you are traveling in larger group (i.e. in 6 person) it’s often possible to ask for the mini-bus rather than two cars. It may be a little bit more expensive (but i.e. Super Taxi don’t take any additional money for that), but together you will pay less.

Also, they may be a special tariff for rides from and on airport. Just ask, before you start the ride. What is more, on airport Super Taxi is monopolist, so when you leave the arrival hall you will surely meet the guy from Super Taxi, asking you if you need taxi. You can agree or not (depending if you want to use taxi or bus).

Please note, that there are 4 different tariffs for taxis: 1 (first) is used during the day (6:00-22:00). Second tariff (2) is used during the night (22:00-6:00) and is 50% more expensive per kilometer. Third (3) and fourth (4) tariff should not be applicable for you – are used outside the city borders. You can see the tariff on the tax-o-meter, just next to the amount you should pay. If you notice it’s too high (i.e. second instead of first) – mention it. If taxi driver refuses to change it – at the end of the ride ask for bill and pay it. Also, write down the number of the taxi (there will be on doors, outside). Then call the valid corporation and tell them the story. They should sorry you and you will give your money back, if you are right, of course. Never – never! – refuse to pay directly in taxi as the taxi driver will call the police immediately and you can be in really troubles, especially if the driver is right.

Please keep in mind that if you ask the taxi to wait for you, (and you go i.e. to ATM) you will have to pay about 30 zł (7,5 Euro) per hour.

Lastly, please be aware that for the cheapest taxis sometimes you need to wait even an hour, so try to plan your travel ahead. It is possible to call sooner and ask for the taxi on the given hour. In emergency cases – try more expensive ones but – again – avoid to get to the taxi straight on the street. Especially, avoid cars standing near hotels and when drivers ask you to ride.

2.3 Some important bus/tramway stops

1. Port Lotniczy im. Chopina (Airport)

Bus lines: 148, 175, 188, 306, 575, N32

The most important line here is nr 175. It connects Airport with Raliway Station. Also, note that if you want to reach Aiport in night (or very early morning), you can use N32. Buses going to the city are departing from the underground, near the exit from arrivals’ hall.

2. Dworzec Centralny (Central Railway Station)

Bus lines: a lot of, as well as tramways.

The most important lines here are 127 and 175. The first one is going on Bus Station – Warsaw West (Warszawa Zachodnia). The second one is going to Airport.

Pay attention that there is a lot of stops called “Dworzec Centralny”. They are all around the square, where the Railway Station is. If you check the timetable, you will notice that bus is arriving/departing on i.e. Dworzec Centralny 06. It means you must look for stop with the number 06. Both lines: 127 and 175 are departing from Dworzec Centralny 02, which is placed not directly next to Station, you need to look on the main streets (or ask somebody).

3. Centrum (Center)

Bus lines: a lot of, as well as tramways and metro.

Very important stop. You can switch the lines easily here, as many routes crosses at this stop. It’s only one stop away from Dworzec Centralny, so you can also reach it by feet. It is also good choice if you want to go somewhere by metro.

4. Stare Miasto (Old Town)

Bus lines: 160, 190, 527, tramways: 4, 20, 23, 26

Most important bus line here is 160, which go from Dworzec Centralny straight to Stare Miasto. Also, important is tramway 4, because it goes along the whole Old Town.

3. Your first steps in Warsaw.

If you flight by plane you will arrive to Warsaw Airport. First, you need to obtain some Polish money (złoty). The worst choice is to make an exchange on airport. If you must do that – exchange as low as needed only to buy tickets (1 per person, if possible). A lot better choice is to use the ATM on airport. It will cash you out złotys, and – depending on your bank – you will pay no commission for that. Then find the news stand and buy 3 bus tickets (probably normal, one-way tickets will be ok). Then leave the airport, find the bus 175 in the direction to ‘Pilsudskiego’. Don’t forget to validate the tickets! Exit on stop “Dw. Centralny”. Enter the hall of the Station and go to level –1. Then find some luggage boxes and leave your bags there. However, it will cost you about 9 zl (2,25 Euro) – possibly per hour (I couldn’t find proper info in the Net). Then – depending how much time you have – you will probably want to leave the Station by main exit and go to the huge shopping mall opposite (called Golden Terraces – ‘Zlote Tarasy’. A lot of shops, boutiques, restaurants, fast food… If you are not into shopping and you have enough time, you can catch the bus to Old Town. If you are short on time, go and take a look for Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki). It’s really close to Railway Station. If you are lucky, it will be open and you will have a chance (for money :() to get to the top of Palace to see the view on the whole Warsaw.

Note: you can exchange money on Central Railway Station. There should be a couple of money exchanges. If they are not there (there were changes recently), you can find money exchange in Marriot Hotel (big, black skyscraper on the opposite side of the street). The fair price starts at about 3,85 zł per 1 Euro.

4. What is worth seeing?

There is a lot of places to see in Warsaw. Of course, it depends what you like, but some are must-be-seen. Here are some of them:

1. Stare Miasto – Old Town with King’s Castle (with doesn’t look like a castle, though) and a lot of old buildings (many of them were rebuild after II WW);
2. Łazienki  (King’s Bath) – beautiful park with a lot of landmarks, characteristic for XVII and XVIII century; the most stunning view is Palace on Water;
3. Krakowskie Przedmieście (Cracow’s Suburbs); one of the main street of Warsaw; there is a lot of old buildings (4 churches, 6 palaces and others); there is also st. Anna Church, where you can go on bell tower and look for great panorama (the Net say it costs only 2 zl = 0,50 Euro);
4. Muzeum Narodowe (National Museum) – a lot of paintings, from Medieval until XX century; including one of the most famous (and biggest) painting ‘Bitwa pod Grunwaldem’ (‘Battle for Grunwald’); tickets: 12 zł (3 Euro); on Tuesday it’s free of charge;
5. Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego (Warsaw Uprising Museum) – the most modern museum in Poland, opened this year; it is dedicated for the uprising in Warsaw against the Nazi forces during IIWW; 200 000 people were killed, as well as 80% of the town was raised after uprising falls; tickets: 10 zł (2,50 Euro); closed on Tuesdays;
6. Centrum Sztuki Współczesnej w Pałacu Ujazdowskim (Modern Art Center in Ujazdowski Palace) – if you are interested in Modern Art, then this place is for you; located in Palace building from XVII century; tickets: 12 zł (3 Euro); on Wednesday it’s free;
7. Warsaw ZOO – if you like ZOOs, Warsaw also have something for you; there are a lot of animals from all around the world; tickets: 12 zł (3 Euro); it can be easily reach by tramway 4;
8. Pałac Kultury i Nauki (Palace of Culture and Science) – one of the most famous and ugliest buildings in Poland; it is the highest building in Poland (187m height) and it is possible to get to the top floor to see the view on the whole city; there is also Muzeum Techniki (Technical Museum); the building is considered as a gift from Josef Stalin and there are frequent voices to raise it;

That’s it – Warsaw in pill. It is shortcut of what you can choose in that city, depending what are you looking for.

Thank you for reading. If you need more info – mention it in comments.