Warsaw has two airports, so getting from Warsaw airport to the city centre depends on where you land. The big one is Warsaw Chopin Airport, Lotnisko Chopina in Polish, and it is only around 8 kilometres from the centre. From here, trains leave from a station beneath the terminal and reach Warszawa Centralna and Warszawa Śródmieście in just over 20 minutes. The small airport, Warsaw Modlin Airport, is just over 40 kilometres north of the city and is used mainly by low-cost airlines such as Ryanair.
If you land at Chopin, the train is the quickest option for the centre, Powiśle and Praga, while bus 175 is best for Nowy Świat and the Old Town. If you land at Modlin, you take the shuttle bus and train on a single ticket or a direct bus to the centre. Here you will find all the options from both airports with prices, journey times and tips on where to get off. I have converted prices at roughly £0.19 to the zloty.
If you’d rather drive yourself from the airport, you can compare prices on rental cars at Booking.com.
Contents
Quick overview
- Chopin: S2, S3 and RL trains: 4.40 zloty (around 84p) for a 75-minute ticket, 22 to 26 minutes to Warszawa Centralna, Śródmieście and Powiśle, and during the day there are usually around four trains an hour.
- Chopin: bus 175: 4.40 zloty (around 84p), roughly 25 minutes to Centrum and 35 minutes to Plac Piłsudskiego without traffic, runs every day about every 15 minutes.
- Chopin: night bus N32: 4.40 zloty (around 84p), just over 20 minutes to Dworzec Centralny and Centrum, runs about every half hour at night.
- Chopin: taxi, Uber and Bolt: around 50 zloty (around £10) by taxi according to the airport, and an UberX is usually slightly cheaper. The journey takes 20 to 30 minutes.
- Modlin: shuttle bus and train: 22.40 zloty (around £4.25) for the Bilet Lotniskowy, about an hour to Warszawa Gdańska, Wschodnia or Centralna, with around two trains an hour during the day.
- Modlin: direct bus: no more than 40 zloty (around £7.60) with Contbus and often less online, about 45 to 50 minutes to the stop by Warszawa Centralna.
- Modlin: taxi and Uber: expect around 120 zloty (around £23) for an UberX, and the journey takes about 40 minutes without traffic.
How to find your transport at the airport
Chopin Airport has one terminal. You come out into the arrivals hall on the lower level, and from here there are signs to the train, the buses and the taxis. Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina station is underground right next to the terminal. The station exit is by the new bus terminal in front of the southern pier, where long-distance coaches to other cities in Poland and abroad stop.
City buses from the airport stop on the arrivals level by the arrivals hall and at the stop behind the bus terminal. On the departures level at the top you can only get off, not on, so don’t go up there looking for the bus. If you want to use Uber, you can book in the app or on the Tap to Ride self-service screens in the baggage hall and the arrivals hall. The airport has maps of the stops and the taxi rank on its public transport page.
Modlin is a small airport with one terminal, and you are out quickly. The Koleje Mazowieckie shuttle bus to Modlin station and the direct buses to Warsaw stop in front of the terminal. Inside the terminal you will find a ticket machine and a Koleje Mazowieckie office, where you can buy your bus and train ticket before you head outside.
1. Train from Chopin Airport to the city centre
Three train lines run from Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina. S2 and S3 are operated by the SKM urban rail service, and RL is operated by Koleje Mazowieckie. All three run first to Warszawa Zachodnia, and then they split. S2 runs through the tunnel under the centre, stopping at Warszawa Ochota, Warszawa Śródmieście, Warszawa Powiśle and Warszawa Stadion, to Warszawa Wschodnia on the east bank. S3 and RL instead run to the main station, Warszawa Centralna, and on to Warszawa Wschodnia, after which S3 continues towards Legionowo and RL all the way to Modlin.
S2 takes about 24 minutes to Warszawa Śródmieście, 26 minutes to Powiśle and about 32 minutes to Wschodnia. S3 reaches Warszawa Centralna in about 22 minutes, and RL takes about 24 minutes, because the train waits a couple of minutes at Zachodnia. S2 runs about every half hour, and S3 and RL usually run once an hour each, so during the day there is generally a train towards the centre every 15 minutes. You can see all the lines on SKM’s route map.
Trains run from early morning until late in the evening. If you land after 11pm, check the departures before you go down to the platform, as the night bus may be the only thing running. The train suits you best if you are staying in Śródmieście by the Palace of Culture and Science, in Powiśle or in Praga. The pitfall is the station names: only S3 and RL stop at Warszawa Centralna, while S2 stops at Warszawa Śródmieście, which is right next door underground. Both stations are by the Palace of Culture and Science, so it rarely matters much which one you end up at.
Prices and tickets
The airport is in zone 1, and ZTM’s standard tickets for buses, trams and the metro are also valid on SKM trains. On the stretch between Lotnisko Chopina and Warszawa Płudy, all ZTM tickets are also valid on Koleje Mazowieckie’s RL trains, so you don’t need a special train ticket. This is set out in the rules for the shared ticket on the city’s information site.
A 20-minute ticket at 3.40 zloty (around 65p) is too short, as the journey to the centre takes more than 20 minutes. So buy a 75-minute ticket for 4.40 zloty (around 84p). It is valid on all buses, trams, the metro and trains in zone 1 for 75 minutes, so you can change to the metro or a tram on the same ticket.
If you will be getting around the city a lot, a 24-hour ticket for zone 1 costs 15 zloty (around £2.85), and a 72-hour ticket costs 36 zloty (around £6.85). A weekend ticket at 24 zloty (around £4.55) is valid from 7pm on Friday to 8am on Monday. All prices are listed in ZTM’s overview of short-term tickets.
Where to buy your ticket
You can buy your ticket from the ticket machines at the airport, and buses and trams also have a machine on board where you pay by card. A paper ticket must be validated in one of the validators as soon as you board the train or bus. If you forget, you are travelling without a valid ticket, even though you have paid.
The easiest option is an app. ZTM tickets are sold in apps including jakdojade, moBilet, SkyCash, mPay and the city’s own app, mobiWAWA. The ticket is not active when you buy it. You activate it by scanning the QR code on the sticker by the doors straight after boarding, or before you go through the metro gates. See more about tickets in apps.
Where should you get off?
Warszawa Śródmieście (S2): The station lies beneath Aleje Jerozolimskie by the Palace of Culture and Science and Centrum metro station, so you are right in the middle of the modern part of the city. If you want to stay close to the stations, you can see hotels in Śródmieście here.
Warszawa Centralna (S3 and RL): The main station is next to Śródmieście. Long-distance trains to Krakow and Gdansk leave from here, so the station is a good choice if you are only spending a single night in Warsaw.
Warszawa Powiśle (S2): The station is in the Powiśle district down towards the Vistula, close to the Copernicus Science Centre and Centrum Nauki Kopernik metro station. The area has plenty of cafés, and you can see hotels in Powiśle here. If you are unsure about the districts, read my guide to where to stay in Warsaw.
Warszawa Wschodnia (S2, S3 and RL): The station on the east bank is the one for Praga. From here it is about 700 metres to Ząbkowska street, where many of the area’s bars and restaurants are.
2. Bus 175 from Chopin Airport to the city centre and Old Town
Bus 175 is the classic airport bus and the only city bus that runs directly from the airport right through the centre. It starts at the Lotnisko Chopina Przyloty stop by the arrivals hall and runs past the bus terminal and via Plac Zawiszy and Aleje Jerozolimskie, past Dworzec Centralny and Centrum. From there it continues along Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmieście to the final stop, Plac Piłsudskiego.
Without traffic, the journey takes about 25 minutes to Centrum and about 35 minutes to Plac Piłsudskiego, but allow more time in the rush hour. The bus runs every day, about every 15 minutes during the day. It suits you if you are staying on Nowy Świat, Krakowskie Przedmieście or in the Old Town, where the train doesn’t go. The pitfall is the traffic, as in the rush hour the bus can get stuck and be packed with suitcases.
Prices and tickets
The same ZTM tickets are valid on the bus as on the train. The airport recommends at least a 75-minute ticket at 4.40 zloty (around 84p), as the journey to Centrum takes longer than the 20 minutes a 20-minute ticket covers. If you haven’t bought a ticket at the airport or in an app, you can buy one from the machine on the bus by card, and validate the paper ticket straight away.
Where should you get off the bus?
Dw. Centralny and Centrum: These two stops are by Warszawa Centralna and Centrum metro station near the Palace of Culture and Science. Get off here if you are staying in Śródmieście.
Foksal: This stop is on Nowy Świat, the city’s charming main street lined with restaurants and cafés.
Uniwersytet: This stop is by the university on Krakowskie Przedmieście. From here you walk along the old Royal Route towards Castle Square and the Old Town. If you want to stay in the historic streets, you can see hotels in the Old Town here.
Pl. Piłsudskiego: The final stop is on the large square by the Saxon Garden. From here it is also a short walk to the Old Town.
3. Night bus N32 and the other bus routes
Once the daytime buses and trains have stopped, night bus N32 runs between the airport and Centrum via Dworzec Centralny. It runs about every half hour at night, and because there isn’t much traffic, the journey takes just over 20 minutes. The tickets are the same as during the day, so a 75-minute ticket at 4.40 zloty (around 84p) is enough. The night bus is the cheapest option if your flight lands late, but if you are going further out than Centrum, a taxi is often easier.
Bus 188 also runs from the airport, travelling via Trasa Łazienkowska past Politechnika metro station to Praga-Południe and Gocławek, as does bus 148, which runs through Mokotów and Ursynów past Imielin metro station. Bus 331 only runs on weekdays during the rush hour to Wilanowska metro station. They are rarely relevant for tourists, but the 188 can be handy if you are heading to the southern part of the centre around Politechnika. All the routes are listed on the city’s page about transport to the airport.
4. Taxi, Uber and Bolt from Chopin Airport
According to the airport, a taxi from the airport to the centre costs around 50 zloty (around £10), and the journey usually takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Only use licensed taxis with the fares displayed on a sticker in the window, and say no thanks to people offering rides inside the arrivals hall. The airport mentions the company iTaxi, which you can call on 737 737 737 or book in the app.
Uber and Bolt also operate from the airport, and the app shows the price before you book. According to Uber’s own figures, an UberX from the city to the airport has cost an average of 41 zloty (around £8) and an UberXL 67 zloty (around £13), and an average trip takes about 20 minutes. Prices go up when demand is high, for example when lots of flights land at the same time. See more at Uber.
Private transfer
If you are landing late with children, or there are several of you with lots of luggage, you can book a private transfer from Chopin Airport to your hotel here. The price is agreed in advance, and you don’t have to find a taxi or wait for a car in the app after a long journey.
5. From Modlin Airport by shuttle bus and train
No trains run from the terminal itself at Modlin. Instead, Koleje Mazowieckie runs a shuttle bus from the airport to Modlin station, and the journey takes about 10 minutes. The bus timetable is timed to match the trains, so you usually only have a short wait at the station. The shuttle bus runs two to three times an hour during the day from early morning until late evening, and there are also a few departures at night that connect with night trains.
Two types of train run from Modlin station towards Warsaw. RL runs about once an hour to Warszawa Wschodnia and Warszawa Centralna and on to Chopin Airport. R9 and R90 run via Warszawa Gdańska to Warszawa Zachodnia. During the day there are therefore usually around two trains an hour. From the station, RL takes about 35 minutes to Wschodnia and about 46 minutes to Centralna, and the R90 trains reach Warszawa Gdańska after about 37 minutes.
Including the bus and waiting time, allow about an hour from the terminal to the centre. The timetables for both bus and train change several times a year, and you can find them in Koleje Mazowieckie’s airport timetable. The shuttle bus and train suit you if you are staying in Praga, near Centralna or along metro line M1, and want a fixed, cheap fare.
Prices and tickets
The right ticket is called the Bilet Lotniskowy and costs 22.40 zloty (around £4.25). It covers the shuttle bus, the train from Modlin to any station in Warsaw and 75 minutes of travel on buses, trams, the metro and SKM trains in zone 1, so you can travel all the way to your hotel on the same ticket. No discounts are available on this ticket.
If you already have a train ticket, a ticket for the shuttle bus alone costs 7.10 zloty (around £1.35), but you need to buy it in advance, as the driver doesn’t sell tickets. The city’s ZTM tickets aren’t valid as far north as Modlin, so you need a Koleje Mazowieckie ticket. Prices and rules are on Koleje Mazowieckie’s page about the airport ticket.
Where to buy your ticket
Buy your ticket before you go out to the bus. You can buy it from the ticket machine and from Koleje Mazowieckie in the terminal, on the company’s website and in its app, or in apps such as SkyCash, jakdojade, mPay and Koleo. You can also buy it from the train staff, but that won’t help you on the shuttle bus.
If you have a paper ticket, you need to write the start time of the 75 minutes of city transport clearly on the ticket yourself before you board a bus or tram. The ticket won’t open the metro gates, so take the lift down to the platform, or pick up a free access card at the gate or at a customer service point.
Where should you get off?
Warszawa Gdańska (R9 and R90): The station is by Dworzec Gdański metro station on line M1, a few stops from Centrum. It is a good choice if you are staying along the metro line or in the northern part of the centre.
Warszawa Wschodnia (RL): This is the station for Praga on the east bank. The area is cheaper than the centre, and you can see hotels in Praga here.
Warszawa Centralna (RL): The main station by the Palace of Culture and Science is the right stop for Śródmieście, and from here you can change to the metro at Centrum or to bus 175 towards Nowy Świat and the Old Town.
6. Direct bus from Modlin Airport to the city centre
The airport lists two bus companies with direct buses to Warsaw: Contbus and FlixBus. Contbus runs from the stop right in front of the terminal to the stop on the corner of Nowogrodzka and Tytusa Chałubińskiego by the former Marriott hotel, about 300 metres from Warszawa Centralna. The journey usually takes 45 to 50 minutes without traffic, and the bus runs many times a day, including late in the evening.
The standard Contbus fare is 40 zloty (around £7.60), but the company offers discounts depending on when you buy and how many seats are left, so the ticket is often cheaper online. You can buy it on the company’s website or from the driver. The price list is on the Contbus website.
FlixBus also runs between Modlin and Warsaw, with stops including Warszawa Zachodnia bus station, Młociny metro station and Chopin Airport. The price depends on when you book, and the ticket includes one piece of hand luggage and one suitcase of up to 20 kg. See the buses on the airport’s bus page. The bus is the right choice if you are staying close to Centralna and want to avoid changing.
7. Taxi, Uber and transfer from Modlin Airport
The airport recommends Taxi Modlin, which charges fixed fares by zone and has a fixed fare to Warsaw. You can pay by card, and you can book in advance by phone on +48 600 105 105. According to the airport, the journey to Warsaw takes about 35 to 40 minutes, but allow more in the rush hour and for the centre. The company doesn’t publish its prices online, so ask before you set off. Read more on the airport’s taxi page.
Uber and Bolt also operate from Modlin. According to Uber’s own figures, an UberX from Warsaw to Modlin has cost an average of 121 zloty (around £23) and an UberXL 200 zloty (around £38), so expect roughly the same in the other direction. If there are four of you, four airport tickets cost 89.60 zloty (around £17), so a car to the door isn’t much more expensive than the bus and train.
If you want the car booked before you leave home, you can book a private transfer from Modlin Airport here. The price is agreed in advance, and you avoid changing between bus and train with your luggage.
Onward travel around Poland straight from the airport
From the bus terminal in front of Chopin Airport, long-distance coaches from a wide range of companies, including FlixBus, run to cities all over Poland and abroad. This is handy if you want to travel on without going into the centre first. The airport has a list of the companies on its public transport page.
If you are going to Krakow, the train from Warszawa Centralna is usually the best option, and the fastest trains take just over two hours. Take the S3 or RL from the airport to Centralna, and you will be at the right station. Read my guides to where to stay in Krakow and things to see in Krakow before you set off.
Getting back to the airport
For Chopin, take the S2 from Warszawa Śródmieście, Powiśle or Wschodnia, or the S3 and RL from Warszawa Centralna and Wschodnia. Trains towards the airport terminate at Lotnisko Chopina, so you can’t go too far. A 75-minute ticket at 4.40 zloty (around 84p) is enough. Bus 175 runs from Plac Piłsudskiego, Nowy Świat and Centrum towards the airport and drops you on the departures level.
If someone is driving you, the first 7 minutes in the Kiss&Fly zone in front of the terminal are free. From 7 to 15 minutes it costs 30 zloty (around £5.70), and then 1 zloty for every extra minute, so keep your goodbyes short. According to Uber’s own figures, an UberX from the city to the airport has cost an average of 41 zloty (around £8).
For Modlin, take the RL from Warszawa Centralna or Wschodnia or the R90 from Warszawa Gdańska to Modlin station and change to the shuttle bus. Buy the Bilet Lotniskowy for 22.40 zloty (around £4.25) before you board, and allow just over an hour from the centre to the terminal. Contbus runs from the stop on Tytusa Chałubińskiego near Centralna from early morning until the evening. If you want the car booked before you leave home, you can book a private transfer to Chopin or Modlin here.
Which option should you choose?
Here is my recommendation based on where you land and where you are staying:
Śródmieście and Centralna: Take the S3 or RL to Warszawa Centralna or the S2 to Warszawa Śródmieście, whichever leaves first. You will be there in just over 20 minutes for 4.40 zloty (around 84p).
Powiśle: Take the S2 to Warszawa Powiśle, which stops in the middle of the district.
Nowy Świat, Krakowskie Przedmieście and the Old Town: Take bus 175 to Foksal, Uniwersytet or Plac Piłsudskiego. With lots of luggage, I would take a taxi or an Uber.
Praga: Take one of the trains to Warszawa Wschodnia. All three lines from Chopin stop here.
If you land at Chopin at night: Night bus N32 runs about every half hour to Centrum. If it doesn’t suit you, a taxi costs around 50 zloty (around £10).
If you land at Modlin: Take the shuttle bus and train on the Bilet Lotniskowy if you are staying in Praga or along the metro. If you are staying near Centralna, Contbus is the easiest, as you don’t need to change.
If there are three or four of you: From Chopin, four train tickets cost 17.60 zloty (around £3.35), so the train is cheapest, but an Uber or taxi at 40 to 50 zloty (around £8 to £10) takes you to the door and doesn’t cost much more per person. From Modlin, a car costs around 120 zloty (around £23) and is quicker than the bus and train.
Practical tips for getting from Warsaw airport to the city centre
Check which airport you are landing at. Tickets to Warsaw can go to either Chopin or Modlin. Modlin is just over 40 kilometres outside the city, so the transfer takes more than twice as long and costs more.
Buy a 75-minute ticket from Chopin. The 20-minute ticket at 3.40 zloty (around 65p) runs out before you arrive. The 4.40 zloty (around 84p) ticket covers the whole journey and a change to the metro or a tram.
Activate your ticket straight away. Validate paper tickets once you have boarded, and activate app tickets by scanning the QR code by the door. A ticket that has been bought but not activated doesn’t count at an inspection.
Write the time on your airport ticket from Modlin. If you want to use the 75 minutes of city transport on the Bilet Lotniskowy, the start time must be on the ticket before you board a bus or tram.
Check for service changes. Tracks and stations in Warsaw are regularly rebuilt, and trains may then run to an altered timetable or be replaced by buses. Check for changes with SKM and Koleje Mazowieckie before you travel.
Choose your hotel based on the connection. The train from Chopin runs directly to Śródmieście, Powiśle and Praga, while bus 175 is best for Nowy Świat and the Old Town. If you are unsure which area suits you, read my guide to where to stay in Warsaw.
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