Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (IATA: WAW) is located approximately 10km southwest of the city centre and handles over 18 million passengers per year. Getting from the airport to the city is straightforward, with a fast suburban rail link, city buses, taxis, and private transfers all available. Here is how each option works.
Suburban Train (S2 Line): Fastest Public Option
The S2 line of the SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska) suburban rail network runs directly between the airport and Warsaw Central Station (Warszawa Centralna), continuing to Warsaw West (Warszawa Zachodnia) and beyond.
Journey time: 20-24 minutes to Warsaw Central
Cost: approximately PLN 6-9 as of 2026 depending on the ticket type
Frequency: every 15-30 minutes during the day, less frequent after 10pm and on Sundays
The train platform is in the lower level of the airport, accessible from the arrivals hall via a short walk through a covered walkway. Buy tickets from the yellow machines on the platform or via the Jakdojade app before boarding. Validate your ticket immediately at the validator on the platform.
Warsaw Central connects to the metro (M1 and M2 lines), trams, and the national rail network, making it the most useful interchange point for most hotels.
Pros: Fast, cheap, reliable, no traffic delays.
Cons: Requires luggage handling on stairs and escalators at some stations; not ideal for large groups with many bags.
City Bus
Bus 175 runs from the airport to the city centre and continues to Warsaw Old Town (Stare Miasto). Route N32 operates overnight.
Journey time: 40-60 minutes to the city centre (longer during rush hour)
Cost: approximately PLN 5 per single ticket as of 2026
Frequency: roughly every 10-15 minutes during the day for Bus 175
Buy tickets from the ticket machine at the bus stop outside arrivals (near the taxi rank area) or via the Jakdojade or Urbancard apps. Validate on boarding.
Pros: Very cheap, no advance booking required, drops off at multiple stops across the city.
Cons: Slow compared to the train; heavily affected by Warsaw traffic during peak hours.
Taxi (Metered)
Official taxis wait at the rank outside the arrivals exit (look for the clearly marked taxi zone). Licensed Warsaw taxis use the ZTM metered rate and display the official city taxi sign.
Cost: approximately PLN 50-80 as of 2026 for a standard journey to central Warsaw
Journey time: 20-35 minutes in normal traffic; 40-60 minutes during rush hour (7-9am, 4-7pm)
Avoid anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a taxi before you reach the rank. These are typically unlicensed drivers with no regulated fare. Always use the official rank or a ride-hail app.
Bolt is widely used in Warsaw and typically quotes PLN 35-60 for the airport-centre route. Uber is also available. Both apps show the fare estimate before you confirm.
Pros: Door-to-door, no connections, works for any time of day.
Cons: Subject to traffic; Bolt and Uber can surge during peak periods.
Private Transfer (Pre-Booked)
Pre-booking a private transfer through Kiwitaxi or a similar service fixes the fare in advance and provides a driver with a name board in the arrivals hall. There is no meter, no surge pricing, and no need to queue.
Cost: from approximately PLN 80-130 for a standard saloon as of 2026; minivans for groups of 4-8 from approximately PLN 130-180
Journey time: 25-40 minutes depending on traffic
Private transfers are worth the premium for early morning flights (when public transport is infrequent), late-night arrivals (when the taxi rank can have queues), family travel with children and pushchairs, or if you are carrying a lot of luggage.
Pre-book a private transfer from Warsaw airport
Warsaw Modlin Airport
A smaller number of routes (mostly Ryanair) use Warsaw Modlin Airport (WMI), approximately 35km north of the city centre. Do not confuse the two. Modlin has its own bus service (Modlin Bus) connecting to Warsaw city, with a journey time of approximately 55-75 minutes and a cost of approximately PLN 33 as of 2026.
Getting Around Warsaw After Arrival
Warsawβs public transport network is extensive. For a full breakdown of trains, trams, buses, and the metro, see our Warsaw getting around guide.
If you are arriving for a day trip to Auschwitz or Wieliczka, note that these excursions depart from Krakow, not Warsaw. See our Poland airport transfers overview for links to other Polish airports.
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