Getting to Warsaw

By plane:  

• Chopin Airport is the main Warsaw airport, located within the city. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get there from the centre, using Warsaw Public Transport (buses/trains). If you’d rather take a taxi, for safety reasons we strongly advise you to use licensed taxi services offered at Chopin Airport. Taxi tariffs should be clearly displayed in the car window. 

• Modlin Airport is located ca. 40 km from Warsaw. From Modlin the cheapest way to get to Warsaw city center is by train. You can buy airport ticket for 22 zł valid for a shuttle bus (from Modlin airport to Modlin train station) and train to Warsaw. Travel time is approximately one hour. 

By train: 

You can go to the Central, West, East train stations – all well connected by public transport. 

Train timetables are available at:
www.pkp.pl
www.intercity.pl 

By bus:  

The bus station Bus Station Warszawa Zachodnia (West Station) offers international and national connections. It’s the stop for many international bus comapnies.

Please note that trains and buses are counted as a green way of transportation – in new Erasmus project you can get a top-up for travelling green. Contact your university to find out more!

Local currency is PLN (Polish złoty). It is possible to pay in EUR in some places, however, it is recommended to compare the exchange rate with the official rate, i.e. the National Bank of Poland. 

In most places credit cards are accepted (shops/restaurants, ticket machines, counters). Contactless payment is very popular.

Money Exchanges (in Polish “Kantor”) are available in the city centre, at the airport and in most shopping malls. It is recommended to compare the exchange rate with the National Bank official rate.          

There is no need to create a Polish bank account, you can pay with a card from your home country. The only exception is when we (UW) are paying your scholarship – but don’t worry, we will inform you if you need to do it. 

Check your home operator for the roaming fees. EU citizens don’t have to worry – you will pay as much as you would in your home country!

In Poland, prepaid SIM cards need to be registered. Be prepared to have your passport or national ID when buying a SIM card. The monthly price for a standard data + calls package is around 30 PLN. You can buy them at the airport, at newsagent’s, in some grocery stores or directly at operator’s stores.

Sometimes ESN UW has limited quantity of free prepaid SIM starters for exchange students – follow their social media, as they will surely announce it!