Home > Travel > to Poland > Public Transportation

Travel

• General Info

• Airplanes

• Buses

• Cars

• Fuel

• Rent a car

• Taxi

• Trains

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Public Transportation

Local transportation in Polish cities is well developed, so you shouldn't have problems getting from one place to another. The most popular means of transportation is the bus ("autobus"). You will find trams ("tramwaj") in bigger cities and a metro in Warsaw. Public transportation operates from early morning un till 11 pm. You can also find night buses ("autobus nocny") in some cities (Warsaw). If you have luggage, you will need an extra ticket. Tickets can be bought at newspaper stands called "kiosk", but in some cities you can by it from the driver. Ticket prices are quite low, somewhere around 1 zloty. Do not forget to buy some of them after you arrive and settle in since there might be a problem buying them in the evening. Tickets in Warsaw are valid for only one trip, no matter how long the trip is. In other cities the situation may vary. You must punch the ticket when you enter a bus or a tram. In some cities, it is enough to punch the ticket on one side, however, in other cities you are required to stamp the ticket on both sides. It is a good idea to buy a monthly ticket (you will need a photo) for public transportation within the city that you are staying in if you are planning to stay a few weeks. You will save some extra money. 

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General Information

When arriving in Poland by air you will most likely end up at the Warsaw Okecie-Airport (Tel: 606 94 69). The Okecie-Airport is located south-west of Warsaw, 9 km from the center of Warsaw. The Airport is one of the most modern and safest airports in Central and Eastern Europe. The new Terminal 1 (opened in 1992) has two levels (arrival & departure), 26 check-in counters, 10 gates and 8 aircraft ramps. The airport has 54 daily destinations world-wide and is accompanied by 27 international airlines such as: Alitalia, British Airways, Delta, Lufthansa, LOT (Polish Airlines), Swissair, etc. 

Warsaw International Airport offers a range of services such as: rent-a-car, travel agencies, post-office, banks, restaurants, shops, etc. Although the airport new, it is already too small to deal with rising number of travelers.

Besides Warsaw, the following Polish cities have international airports:

• Gdansk (Rebiechowo) - 14 km from the city, Street Slowackiego 200, tel. 41 31 41)
• Krakow (Balice) - 18 km from the city, tel. 11 67 00)
• Poznan (Lawica) - 7 km from the city, tel 48 17 01)
• Wroclaw (Starachowice) - 10 km from the city, tel. 57 47 88, 57 45 19)
• Katowice (Pyrzowice) - 33 km from the city, tel 185 30 41)

Domestic flights served by LOT include Lublin, Gdansk, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw, Szczecin and Rzeszow. 

Addresses of the most important airline offices in Warsaw:

• Polish Airlines LOT
  Street Jerozolimskie 65/79 , tel 952, 953
• Aeroflot
  Street Jerozolimskie 26, tel 628 17 10
• Air Canada
  Street Jerozolimskie 45, tel 625 35 37
• Air France
  Street Krucza 21, tel 628 12 81
• Alitalia
  Street Moliera 8, tel 26 28 01
• American Airlines
  Street Ujazdowskie 20, tel 625 30 02
• Austrian Airlines
  Street Zlota 44/46, tel 26 11 19
• British Airways
  Street Krucza 49, tel. 628 94 31
• CSA
  Street Krakowskie Przedmiescie 13, tel. 26 38 02
• Delta
  Street Krolewska 11, tel 26 02 57
• Finnair
  Street Szpitalna 6, tel 26 87 64
• Royal Dutch Airlines KLM
  Plac Konstytucji 1, tel. 621 70 41
• Deutsche Lufthansa AG
  Street Jerozolimskie 56c, tel. 630 25 25
• Malev
  Street Wierzbowa 11, tel 635 58 41
• SAS
  Nowy Swiat 19, tel 26 12 11
• Swissair
  Street Krolewska 11, tel. 27 50 16 

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General Information

Buses are a comfortable way of traveling short distances. Traveling long distances using luxurious coaches is rising. Buses are definitely cheaper than trains, but slower. The most popular bus operator is PKS. It stops just about anywhere. Train and bus stations are usually located next to each other. Tickets for PKS buses can be bought at bus stations in advance and from the driver when boarding the bus, but seats may not always be available.

Polski Express is a new line of buses which have recently starting operating in major cities. You will find Polski Express at the Warsaw Airport and near The Warsaw Central Railway Station. You will have to pay extra using PKS buses if you have luggage, while in Polski Express you are able to carry-on one piece of luggage free of charge. It is recommended taking trains for longer journeys and buses for local connections. In some areas of Eastern and South-Eastern Poland you will have no choice but to take a bus. Buses travel to and from capitals within Europe except for Lisbon or Dublin. In Warsaw, tickets can be bought to travel around Europe either at The Central Bus Station or in many travel offices. 

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General Information

In addition to personal documents, travelers arriving in Poland by car need:

• Automobile registration documents
• Valid driver's license
• Green Card accident insurance.

If your insurance is not valid for Poland, you have to obtain an additional policy at the border.

24-hour opened border crossing points:

• German Border: Gubin, Kolbaskowo, Kostrzyn, Lubieszyn, Olszyna, Sieniawka, Slubice, Swiecko and Zgorzelec
• Czech Border: Chalupki, Cieszyn, Jakuszyce, Kudowa-Slone, Lubawka, Pietrowice and Zawidow
• Slovak Border: Barwinek, Chyzne, Lysa Polana, and Piwniczna
• Ukraine Border: Dorohusk, Hrebenne, and Medyka
• Byelorussian Border: Terespol
• Lithuanian Border: Ogrodniki

Polish roads near large cities are very crowded especially on the weekends. Be careful and pay utmost attention for uneven roads caused by heavy trucks (especially in the right lanes) and deep potholes after the winter time. 

Traffic regulations

• November - March, headlights must be turned on for the entire day.
• Everyone in the automobile must wear seat belts if available, however, this excludes pregnant women and persons holding an appropriate medical certificate .
• Drivers must give the right of way to pedestrians.
• It is forbidden for children under the age of 10 to ride in front seat of the car.
• A solid white line along the edge of a road means that stopping is prohibited. A broken line along the edge of a road means that stopping is prohibited on the roadway only.
• Parking on sidewalks is generally allowed. You may park your car on sidewalks leaving at least 1.5 meters in width for pedestrians.

• Don't park your car on sidewalks if you see the following "no parking-sign":
  

Speed limits

• 60 km/h in built-up areas
• 90 km/h on open roads
• 110 km/h oh highways

Signs

Generally all traffic signs correspond to European standards. Thus there are a few signs need explanations:

• deep ruts on the road - caused by heavy trucks
• detour
• speed control - watch out for police!
• specifies that a well popularized town is approaching
• specifies that a little town is approaching
   

And please remember... DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!
 

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General Information

There have been many fuel stations built along main roads in Poland in recent years (approximately every 5km to 30 km). It is recommended that you to store an additional 10 liters of fuel in a fuel container before leaving a major city. Depending on the station, the quality of fuel may vary. If you want to be sure that you are getting good quality fuel, it is recommended to go to well-known fuel stations like: Aral, Mobil, Neste, Shell, Stat oil, and CPN, which is one of the major Polish fuel station chains in Poland. Also, many fuel stations have small stores and/or bars.

Below are fuel prices (per liter) that are generally found in Poland. Prices may vary from city to city:

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General Information

Many foreign companies have already established their offices in major Polish cities (we present only their addresses in Warsaw). Age limits are 21-23 years and usually your drivers license must be valid for at least 1 year. Remember that you have to add 22% VAT to rental prices.

Companies

• Europcar Inter Rent
  Street Moliera 4/6, ph: 26 33 44
  Street Zwirki i Wigury 1, ph: 650 44 54
  Street Jana Pawla II 22, ph: 24 85 66

Age limits are 21 and 23. Since they have offices in major Polish cities, one way rentals are possible and sometimes free of charge. Drivers licenses should be valid for a minimum of 1 year.
Daily rental: 180 DM plus 25 DM theft insurance and 7 DM accidence insurance.

• Five Rent a Car
  Street Zlota 44/46, ph:/Fax: 625 40 94

Age limit is 21, international rentals and one way rentals after special arrangements are possible.
Daily rental: 230 PLN (insurance included)

• Hertz Polska
  Street Nowogrodzka 27, ph: 621 13 60 
  Warsaw Okecie Airport, ph: 650 28 96
  Hotel Victoria, ul. Krolewska 11, ph: 27 41 85

Age limit is 25, international rentals are possible excluding the East. One way rentals in Poland are free of additional charges. Drivers licenses should be valid for a minimum of 1 year.
Daily rental: 225 DM plus 31 DM insurance.

• Jupol-Car
  pl. Powstancow Warszawy 2, ph: 625 08 5
  
• Yossa
  Street Zlota 61, ph:/Fax: 620 71 63
  
• Budget Rent a Car
  Street 17 Stycznia 32, ph:/Fax: 46 59 86
  Marriott Hotel, ph:. 630 72 80
  Warsaw Okecie Airport, ph: 650 40 62
  
• Avis Rent a Car
  pl. Powstancow Warszawy, ph: 625 08 55, Fax: 625 02 32
  Marriott Hotel, ph:/Fax: 630 73 16
  Warsaw Okecie Airport, ph: 650 48 72, Fax: 650 48 71

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General Information

Be aware! Taxi drivers tend to overprice their services, sometimes many times over the usual price. You can end up loosing half of your money after a trip from the airport to downtown. If you are foreigner and do not speak Polish, you are especially endangered. The most dangerous places to pick up a taxi include: Warsaw Okecie-Airport and The Warsaw Central Railway Station. Stopping a taxi on the street is not the best way to save money.

How to avoid being cheated:

• try not to use taxis
• do not take a taxi from places mentioned above
• always settle the price first or ask what the maximum price might be (ask for a rough idea)
• use taxis offered by your hotel (some fine Warsaw hotels provide their clients with this service)
• order a taxi by telephone, some reputable taxi corporations are listed below
• do not take a taxi if its number on its door or a sticker with maximum price per km is posted on the window

To help foreigners (and Poles) avoid surprises, Warsaw authorities established maximum prices that taxi driver can charge. Today, common prices are 1.5 zloty per one km (night fare is 50% higher). When you feel cheated, always demand a bill ("rachunek" -
pronounced as raahooneck ) with driven distance and a taxi number on it (which should be the same one as the one on the taxi door). Go to the police if you feel that you were ripped off.  They try to help tourists any way they can. 

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General Information

Trains seem to be the most convenient means of transportation in Poland. They are cheap, reliable, fast and reach many destinations in Polish including towns and villages. International destinations from Poland are available:

Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Hanover, Leipzig, Prague, Vienna, Bucharest, Bratislava, Lvow, Kiev, Moscow, Vilnius.

There are 4 types of trains in Poland:

• Express - these trains reach only the larger cities and often make only 2-3 stops before reaching its final destination. Although these are quite expensive, especially 1st class ("pierwsza klasa"), the price is worth its quality. You can reach Krakow from Warsaw within 3 hours.
• Intercity - these trains are similar to Express trains, however, the only difference is that they require prior reservations. They usually include a small meal (cake and something to drink) in the price of a ticket.
• Fast train - these trains stop in bigger towns and are not as fast as express trains. They may be a good alternative for a traveler keeping a tight budget, but since no seat reservations are required, you may end up standing the entire trip, especially during the summer, winter and holidays when thousands of young people are traveling.
• Local - these trains stop at every station. If you are in a hurry, this may not be the best choice. However, if you decide to travel short distances, this is may be the way to go. Seats are quite uncomfortable, however, tickets are very cheap.

Remember that tickets are checked either before loading Polish trains or soon after trains depart. Useful words are:

• odjazdy (pronounced "odyazdi") - departures. They are generally listed on yellow boards.

• przyjazdy (pronounced "pshiyazdi") - arrivals. They are generally listed on white boards.

Note: Watch this sign , it means that the train is fully reserved.