Thematic in Warsaw
Getting Around Warsaw: Metro, Trams and Ticket Prices
Warsaw sells one ticket for the metro, trams and buses, which makes the city simpler to cross than its size suggests.
By ViewPoland Editorial
5 min read
Updated September 2026
The short answer
Warsaw's metro, trams and buses share one ticket system run by Warsaw Public Transport. A 75-minute ticket for zone 1 costs 4.40 PLN, a 24-hour ticket for zone 1 costs 15 PLN and a 72-hour ticket for zone 1 costs 36 PLN. Time tickets start counting when you validate them.
The capital is spread out in a way Kraków is not, so many visitors use public transport every day. The good news is that one ticket system covers the metro, trams and buses, with a few exceptions noted below, and the ticket range is small enough to understand in a couple of minutes.
How does public transport in Warsaw work?
Warsaw Public Transport, known by its Polish initials WTP, runs the metro, trams and buses under one tariff. You buy a ticket for a length of time or a number of days, and within that time you can change between vehicles freely. WTP's price list notes that some tickets, including the 20-minute ticket, are not valid on type L buses, so check the conditions of the ticket you buy.
WTP's price list also notes that several of its tickets are honoured under a joint offer with the regional rail operators, and that some are valid at Park and Ride car parks. That matters mainly if you are combining a train with the city network, which we come back to below.
How much is a ticket in Warsaw?
These are the standard fares on WTP's price list, with the reduced fare for eligible passengers in brackets. A 20-minute ticket for zones 1 and 2 costs 3.40 PLN (1.70). A 75-minute ticket for zone 1 costs 4.40 PLN (2.20). A 90-minute ticket for zones 1 and 2 costs 7 PLN (3.50).
For longer stays, a 24-hour ticket costs 15 PLN for zone 1 (7.50) or 26 PLN for zones 1 and 2 (13). A 72-hour ticket costs 36 PLN for zone 1 (18) or 57 PLN for zones 1 and 2 (28.50). A weekend ticket for zones 1 and 2 costs 24 PLN (12), and a group weekend ticket for up to five people in zones 1 and 2 costs 40 PLN.
Which Warsaw ticket should a visitor buy?
It comes down to arithmetic. Each 75-minute ticket already allows unlimited rides within its 75 minutes, and at 15 PLN the 24-hour ticket for zone 1 costs the same as about three and a half of them at 4.40 PLN. So the day ticket pays off on any day you would otherwise buy four or more 75-minute tickets. The 72-hour ticket at 36 PLN works out cheaper per day than three separate 24-hour tickets.
For a weekend, look at the weekend ticket first. WTP gives it as valid from 19:00 on Friday to 8:00 on Monday for zones 1 and 2, at 24 PLN, which is cheaper than the 72-hour ticket. A small group travelling together should compare it with the group weekend ticket for up to five people at 40 PLN.
When does a Warsaw 24-hour ticket start counting?
From the moment it is validated, not from the moment you buy it. WTP describes the 24-hour ticket as allowing unlimited travel on all lines within 24 hours of validation. One catch: SKM Warszawa notes that a ticket bought from the machine on one of its trains is already validated, and its time runs from the moment of purchase. If you want to buy a ticket in advance, buy it from a machine at a stop or at a sales point.
How many metro lines does Warsaw have?
Metro Warszawskie's site lists lines M1 and M2, and describes lines M3 and M4 at the stage of technical studies and pre-design work. The metro runs on the same tickets as the trams and buses, so you can combine it with a tram ride without buying anything extra as long as your time ticket is still running. For the sights they connect, see things to do in Warsaw, and for choosing a base near a station, where to stay in Warsaw. The rebuilt Old Town is best explored on foot, and the story behind it is in how Warsaw was rebuilt.
Do Warsaw public transport tickets work on local trains?
On some routes, and this is where a short ticket catches people out. SKM Warszawa, which runs the city's suburban trains, points out that a 20-minute ticket is not long enough for the journey from Chopin Airport to Warszawa Centralna. The full picture for arriving by air, including which trains accept which tickets, is in Warsaw airport to city centre.
Where do you buy tickets in Warsaw?
WTP says its ticket machines are in every vehicle and near stops and metro stations. Tickets are also sold at its passenger service points, in kiosks and other sales points, and in mobile apps, including WTP's own mobiWAWA app, which offers selected long-term tickets. Tickets work differently in other cities, as getting around Gdansk and getting around Wroclaw show, and for late journeys is Warsaw safe covers what to expect at night. How ticketing works in other Polish cities is summarised in public transport in Poland, and if you are coming from Kraków, the comparison with its system is in Krakow trams and buses.
Sources
WTP, ticket prices and types for every fare quoted, the weekend ticket hours, type L buses and the validation rule for the 24-hour ticket. WTP, where to buy a ticket for machines, sales points and apps. Metro Warszawskie for its lines. SKM Warszawa, FAQ for the 20-minute ticket, the airport and tickets bought on board. Fares change, so check the WTP list before travelling.
Written by ViewPoland Editorial for ViewPoland, an independent English-language guide to Poland. Published 27 September 2026. Last updated 27 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
15 PLN for zone 1 or 26 PLN for zones 1 and 2, according to WTP's price list. Reduced fares for eligible passengers are half of those amounts.
Yes, one ticket system covers all three, and a time ticket lets you change between them until it expires. WTP notes that some tickets, including the 20-minute ticket, are not valid on type L buses.
For a short hop, yes. It is not enough from Chopin Airport to Warszawa Centralna, because SKM Warszawa states that the journey takes longer than 20 minutes.
Yes. For zones 1 and 2 it costs 24 PLN and is valid from 19:00 on Friday to 8:00 on Monday. A group weekend ticket for up to five people costs 40 PLN.
36 PLN for zone 1 or 57 PLN for zones 1 and 2. It is cheaper than three 24-hour tickets, but for a stay from Friday evening to Sunday compare it with the weekend ticket at 24 PLN.
Metro Warszawskie lists lines M1 and M2, with lines M3 and M4 at the stage of technical studies and pre-design work.