Warsaw has an extensive bus and tram system criss-crossing the city. Over 1,900 buses operate in and around the city, and most run from between 05:00 and 23:00. After that night buses run on most routes twice every hour. All night buses display the letter N, followed by a two digit number.
‘Fast buses’ (marked with red digits) skip the smaller stops. Some buses or trams will only stop on request, so save yourself the hassle of figuring out which ones those are, and just press the stop button when yours is next!
We could do a rundown of all the bus and tram lines here but it would take up tons of text -- that's how many options there are! We recommend simply using Google maps to figure out which bus and tram are best for where you need to go. As long as you're in the city proper, you'll probably find it takes around 20 minutes to get to your destination.
Tickets (all valid for use on metro, bus and tram) can be bought from a series of ticket machines with instructions in English dotted around the city, at all metro stations, and some bus and tram stops, with English translations printed on tickets. Tickets can also be purchased from machines on buses and trams, where you can pay by card, or using exact change only.
Watch out: if you're buying on the tram or bus, buy as many tickets as you need for that ride only. They validate then and there. So you can't use them the next day or even a few hours after you buy them.
A standard public transport single ticket costs 4.40zł for a 75 min ticket or 3.40zł for a 20 min ticket. If you're just bopping around Warsaw sites (Old Town, Praga, Wola, Centrum, etc.), you can probably get away with a 20 min ticket. It's unlikely you'll need anything more. If your time runs out, you can always buy another ticket on the tram or bus.
Conversely, if you still have time left on your ticket when you get off the bus, you can use the same ticket on another bus. Basically you can ride as many buses or trams as you want until your time runs out!
These are all the big, important things to know.
Now, cracking our knuckles, let's get into the super details:
If you’re travelling to the further reaches of Warsaw you’ll be needing a ticket that covers both zones 1 and 2 – these are priced at 7zł. Note that the airport is in Zone 1. Still with us? Good. Tickets valid for 24hrs are priced at 15zł, or 26zł if travelling through both zones. They have also introduced a new weekend ticket (available from 19:00 on Friday till 08:00 on Monday) which costs 24 zł (also a weekend group ticket is available for up to 5 people and costs 40 zł). A 3-day ticket costs 36zł for zone 1 only and 57zł for zones 1 & 2.
Those over 70 ride for free, as do children up until the end of September of the year they turn 7, but you must have photo ID with you (in such cases, to enter the metro, use a 'wejściówka', which is a ticket that allows you to enter the electronic gates - they can be found from wall dispensers next to the gates and used multiple times (hang on to it)). Everyone else pays full fare unless in possession of an ISIC card (in which case you must be 26 and under). This entitles you to buy a reduced ticket (ulgowy) which costs approximately 50% of the full fare.
Once you’ve got a ticket you will need to validate it in one of the box-style kasowniks, thus activating the magnetic strip on the back. It is no longer necessary to buy an extra ticket for animals or large pieces of luggage. Plain clothes ticket inspectors regularly stalk the lines, dishing out 270.40zł (266zł plus a normal ticket price of 4.40zł) for those without valid tickets (we understand quick payment results in the fine being lessened). They often don't look very official and you are within your rights to request identification. They are not lenient and will not let you off the hook for being a tourist.
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Comments
Editor IYP
Warsaw
17. 10. 2025
Hi Renia. Unfortunately you have to be over 70 years old to ride for free, so one of you would still need to buy a normal fare ticket. The 72-year-old can use their passport to prove their age if there is a ticket inspection. If you are travelling on the Metro (underground subway) the 72-year-old needs a free paper ticket to enter the underground; see the comment below.
Renia Kh
17. 10. 2025
We are 2 passangers, 72 and 63. Not from EU. Can we show our passports to get free across Warsaw? We'll be arriving on Thursday morning to Chopin international
Warsaw IYP Editor
17. 10. 2025
Hi Carel, Travel for anyone over 70 is free in Warsaw's public transport system. All you need to do is show your photo ID on buses, trams, metro and trains, if asked to do so by a ticket inspector. To enter the metro, next to all the electronic gates (and sometimes next to the ticket machines), there are dispensers from which you can take a type of ticket called a 'wejściówka' - this is a ticket you take, and keep with you at all times, to enter the metro's electronic gates without needing to pay for a normal ticket. Again, if a ticket inspector asks you for your ticket, you just show your ID. Here is a link showing what the dispensers look like: https://www.ztm.waw.pl/informacje.php?i=934&c=98&l=1
Carel
Netherlands
17. 10. 2025
I am 71 years old. Can I really travel for free on the metro and on the train from the airport to the city. How can I enter the metro withouten a ticket?
Jannah
Qatar
17. 10. 2025
Hi. I’m planning to go to Berlin from Warsaw and the only time that is okay with my itinerary is departing at 11pm in Mlociny. I checked the location and I can see that it is way out of the centrum. Is there a train or bus that will directly take me to Mlocinyfrom centrum? If there is please instruct me. Because im alone and it’s gonna be night time so I wanna make sure that there’s an efficient transfer going to the station before I book my ticket. :) Hoping for your promt reply. Thanks!
17. 10. 2025
Hello Andrew, I will be leaving in two weeks time and the map you have provided is a Godsend. It is perfect. Thank you VERY much! The best, Franz-Erik
Warsaw Editor
17. 10. 2025
Hi Franz-Erik, I hope you made your train! This is the only map I could find, however, I'm not sure it would have been to helpful at the time: http://www.rozklad.pkp.pl/files/files/741/originals/warszawa_centralna_mapka_01_2014.pdf
Franz-Erik
Malmö, Sweden
17. 10. 2025
Thank you again, Andrew. Yes, being “of age” is very nice, something that ought to be introduced in my own country ….. or at least a reduction in price. Anyway, as long as the S3 runs straight to Centralna I will be pleased. I assume you mean that a missed train will require one to purchase a new “seat reservation” and not a full ticket. Is there a (how is it called?) a plan/map of the railway station on the Internet? If I know exactly where platform II/1 is located I won’t be spinning round wasting precious seconds. Regards, Franz-Erik
Warsaw Editor
Warsaw
17. 10. 2025
Hi Franz-Erik, You are correct, as you are over 70 public transportation within the cities is free and you will not need to buy a ticket for the S3 train, just have your ID ready to show the ticket conductor on the train. Only the S2 train doesn't stop at Centralna itself, the S3 train leaving the airport at 15:24 definitely does, which is ideal for you. As for your onward journey: In Poland, unfortunately, train tickets are not valid for specific routes for the whole day, meaning you are assigned a specific journey time/seat (in your case 16:05). If you miss your train, you will therefore be required to buy a new ticket for the 18:10 - although public transport in the cities is free, it is not for the national PKP train service, although you will still receive a 30% discount for being over 60. I hope you catch your train!
Warsaw Editor
Warsaw
17. 10. 2025
Hi Franz-Erik, The easiest and quickest way to get to Central Station from the airport is by using the direct train link, found in the lower level of the airport. Based on your arrival time, I have checked train times for you, and in theory, you could make it, but it may be a bit of a mad dash! If all goes smoothly, you can take the S3 train at 15:24 (arriving at Warszawa Centralna Train Station at 15:45). If your flight arrives ahead of schedule, you may be able to catch the S2 train at 15:05 (arriving at Warszawa Śródmieście Train Station at 15:28 - this station is across from Centralna, a mere 3 minute walk). Unfortunately, if you do not make the 15:24, the next train is at 15:50 RL train (arriving at WC 16:10). If you miss your train at 16:05, you must buy a ticket at the booths prior to getting on your train. The next scheduled train to Biała Podlaska is at 18:10. I hope this helps! Andrew