Guide · Warsaw
First time in Warsaw: how public transport works, which ticket to buy and how to reach the Old Town
Correct as of , checked
In short
- One ZTM ticket works on trams, buses, the metro and SKM trains within the city.
- A single ride needs a 75-minute ticket for 4.40 PLN; a day of sightseeing, a 24-hour pass for 15 PLN; three days, a 3-day pass for 36 PLN.
- Validate your ticket as soon as you board, including one bought in an app (scan the QR code by the door).
- For the Old Town, take a tram to the Stare Miasto stop or a bus to Pl. Zamkowy.
- Riding without a ticket costs 266 PLN, and inspectors work evenings and weekends too.
Warsaw's public transport looks complicated on the map and is simple in practice. Trams, buses, the metro and SKM trains inside the city share one ZTM ticket, and almost everything a visitor wants to see is in fare zone 1. Remember three things: buy the ticket before you ride, validate it the moment you board, and keep it until you get off.
Prices and rules below are correct as of 17 October 2026.
Which ticket for your stay
| How much you ride | Ticket | Full fare | Reduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| one journey, changes included | 75-minute, zone 1 | 4.40 PLN | 2.20 PLN |
| a few stops | 20-minute, zones 1 and 2 | 3.40 PLN | 1.70 PLN |
| a full day of sightseeing | 24-hour, zone 1 | 15 PLN | 7.50 PLN |
| a weekend visit | weekend, zones 1 and 2 | 24 PLN | 12 PLN |
| three days | 3-day, zone 1 | 36 PLN | 18 PLN |
The 24-hour pass pays off from the fourth ride in a day: four 75-minute tickets cost 17.60 PLN. The weekend ticket runs from 19:00 on Friday to 8:00 on Monday. Reduced fares need a document that entitles you to them; the fare finder on the WTP prices page tells you whether yours counts, and a reduced ticket without it ends in a 196 PLN fee. Full price list: Warsaw public transport tickets.
Where to buy and how to validate
The easiest way is an app: mPay, SkyCash, moBilet, zBiletem, jakdojade.pl or GoPay. A ticket bought in an app is not active yet. Once on board, scan the QR code on the sticker by the door; in the metro, scan the code at the gates or lifts. Only then does the ticket start.
A paper ticket goes into the validator straight after you board. Validating it when you spot an inspector does not count.
Old Town, Royal Castle, Łazienki, Palace of Culture
| Where to | Stop | How |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town and Royal Castle | Stare Miasto | trams 4, 13, 20, 23, 26 |
| Castle Square via Krakowskie Przedmieście | Pl. Zamkowy | buses 116, 128, 175, 178, 180, 503 |
| Łazienki Park | Łazienki Królewskie | buses 116, 166, 180 |
| Palace of Culture and Science | Centrum | metro M1, trams and buses by the Rotunda |
| Warsaw Rising Museum | Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego | trams 1, 9, 22, 24 |
| National Museum | Muzeum Narodowe | trams 7, 9, 22, 24, 25 |
Buses 116 and 180 follow the Royal Route through Krakowskie Przedmieście, Nowy Świat and Aleje Ujazdowskie, so one ride links Castle Square with Łazienki and shows you half of historic Warsaw on the way. A 75-minute ticket covers it.
Lines and stops come from the ZTM timetable of 16 October 2026. The Gdzie Jest Kanar app shows today's timetable and live departures.
From the airport and the main station
From Chopin Airport the quickest way into town is an SKM or KM train, about 20 minutes, on a standard 4.40 PLN ZTM ticket: Chopin Airport to Warsaw city centre. Landing at Modlin? That airport needs a different ticket: Modlin Airport to Warsaw.
Arriving by train at Warszawa Centralna, trams stop right by the station hall, and metro Centrum is about 400 m away: Warsaw Central Station: getting there.
At night
The metro runs roughly from 5:00 to 1:00, later on Friday and Saturday nights. After 23:00 the night buses with the letter N take over, meeting at the stops by Warszawa Centralna. A ticket at night costs the same as by day. More: Warsaw night buses and metro.
Ticket inspections
Inspectors, known in Polish slang as kanar, check tickets on trams, buses, the metro and SKM, evenings and weekends included. They usually start after the vehicle leaves a stop and must show an ID. Riding without a ticket costs 266 PLN, or 159.60 PLN if you pay on the spot. What happens during a check and afterwards: Warsaw ticket inspection and fine.
Frequently asked questions
Which ticket should I buy for sightseeing in Warsaw?
For one day, the 24-hour zone 1 pass for 15 PLN; for three days, the 3-day pass for 36 PLN. A single ride needs a 75-minute ticket for 4.40 PLN.
Does one ticket work on the metro and the tram?
Yes. A ZTM ticket is valid on the metro, trams, buses and SKM trains within the zone you bought it for.
How do I get to the Old Town?
Take tram 4, 13, 20, 23 or 26 to the Stare Miasto stop, or bus 116, 128, 175, 178, 180 or 503 to Pl. Zamkowy.
Do I have to validate a ticket bought in an app?
Yes. Once on board, scan the QR code on the sticker by the door. A ticket you bought but did not validate is not valid.
How much is the fine for riding without a ticket in Warsaw?
266 PLN, or 159.60 PLN if you pay the inspector on the spot (as of October 2026).
Sources
- Warszawa 19115: short-term tickets
- Warszawa 19115: tickets in mobile apps
- Warszawa 19115: additional fees
- Warszawa 19115: ticket inspectors in ZTM vehicles
- ZTM timetable in GTFS format, version of 16.10.2026 (mkuran.pl)
Ride with a ticket.
Ride with a ticket
Live departures, inspections reported by passengers and what is happening on your route: the Gdzie Jest Kanar app, in English.