Transportation
Schedules and fares are subject to change.
Airport to City Access
Train, bus, taxi, and other options to the city center
From Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), trains (SKM/KM) and city buses run directly into central Warsaw in around 20–30 minutes. Kraków John Paul II Airport (KRK) also has a train link to the city centre. Buy tickets with an app or at machines before boarding.
- Warsaw (WAW)
- Train (SKM/KM) & buses
- Kraków (KRK)
- Train to centre
- Tickets
- App or machines
- SKM/KM trains reach central Warsaw in about 20–30 min
- Buy tickets via app or machine before boarding
Public Transportation
Metro, bus, tram, and how to use them
Public transport in Poland is good and affordable. Warsaw has a metro (two lines), trams and buses run by ZTM, while Kraków relies on trams and buses. Buy tickets via an app (jakdojade, mobiWAY), at machines or kiosks, and validate them when you board.
- Warsaw
- Metro (2 lines), tram, bus (ZTM)
- Kraków
- Trams and buses
- Tickets
- App, machine or kiosk
- Validate tickets when boarding
- Buy via app such as jakdojade
IC Cards & Travel Passes
Discount passes and rechargeable transit cards
Warsaw has the Warszawska Karta Miejska (WKM) city card, but for visitors ticket apps (jakdojade, mobiWAY) and contactless bank cards are now the easiest way to pay. Transit cards differ by city, so check the local operator; single or timed tickets usually cover trams, buses and the Warsaw metro.
- Warsaw card
- Warszawska Karta Miejska
- Easiest
- App or contactless card
- Note
- Cards differ by city
- Timed tickets cover trams, buses and Warsaw metro
- Check the local operator in each city
Car Rental & Driving
License requirements and traffic rules
Poland drives on the right. An EU licence or International Driving Permit is accepted with your passport. Some motorways (autostrada) are tolled, and headlights must be on at all times. Cities are well served by transit, so a car is often unnecessary; it is most useful for exploring the countryside.
- Drives on
- The right
- Licence
- EU / International permit
- Motorways
- Some tolled (autostrada)
- Headlights must be on at all times
- A car is often unnecessary in cities
Intercity Travel
Long-distance buses, trains, and ferries
PKP Intercity, the national rail operator, links Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław and other cities, with fast trains on the busiest routes such as Warsaw–Kraków. Long-distance buses like FlixBus are a cheaper alternative on many routes. Book ahead for the best fares.
- Rail
- PKP Intercity
- Fast route
- Warsaw–Kraków
- Cheaper
- FlixBus long-distance
- Book ahead for the best train fares
- Buses are cheaper but slower
Domestic Flights
Budget airlines and booking tips
LOT Polish Airlines links major cities such as Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk and Wrocław. However, the rail network is well developed, so for short to medium distances trains are usually more convenient once you count getting to and from the airport. Flying makes most sense for the longest cross-country hops.
- Airline
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Short/medium
- Rail usually better
- Worth flying
- Longest cross-country trips
- Rail is well developed for short/medium distances
- Count airport transfer time when comparing
Transportation Tips
Advice for safe and efficient travel
Buy and validate your ticket before or as you board, as inspectors do check. The jakdojade app makes planning and paying across Polish cities easy. Contactless payment is widely accepted, but keep some cash for small purchases. Allow extra time in winter, when snow can cause delays.
- Tickets
- Validate when boarding
- App
- jakdojade nationwide
- Winter
- Allow for delays
- Inspectors do check tickets
- Keep some cash for small purchases