Ten post dostępny jest również po polsku.

Hi there, this post is based on an old reddit comment (now deleted) describing all the ins and outs of the Warsaw public transport system I wrote for some tourists. I decided to update the information I gathered back then and create an ultimate guide for everyone to refer to whenever travelling or planning to visit Warsaw. I will do my best to continously update it whenever any large change happens.

Public transport logo

Warsaw Public Transport logo

Warsaw public transport (WTP) system contains several different modes of transport. Most of them are subject to Municipal Transport Authority (Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego), but not all, which will be covered below. Each has their own strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities. This section focuses on availability and also key information on how to actually use each.

Metro

Metro logo

There are currently two metro lines in Warsaw:

• M1, usually marked in dark blue on maps. It runs on a north-south axis, between Młociny, a neighbourhood in Bielany district and Kabaty, the southermost neighbourhood of Ursynów district. It was originally launched in 1990 and expanded northwards several times. At the moment it has a total of 21 stations.
• M2, usually marked red or dark blue on maps. This one connects western and eastern parts of the city, currently runs between Bemowo and Bródno districts.
• M3 (dark green) is currently under planning, will connect to M2 at Stadion Narodowy (“National Stadium”)

The two lines cross at There is a direct stairway (with an elevator available) that connects M1 and M2 platforms. To access it from M1, stay on the platform and walk all the way southwards immediately after leaving the train (forwards when leaving train towards Kabaty; backwards when leaving a train towards Młociny) and don’t take the escalator up, even though the floor markings will point you to do so. To access the stairway from M2 platform, walk westwards when leaving the train (forwards if riding towards Bemowo; backwards if riding towards Bródno). It gets quite busy in rush hour; there’s no huge pickpocketing problem in Warsaw, but practice regular caution when in dense crowd.

Accessing Metro

Stations are usually marked with the red and yellow “M” logo posted above. M1 stations have these old-style stairway entrances with distinct dark blue handrails. M2 stations have fully glass-enclosed entrances, and each one is different colour, usually similar to the platform interior.

Every platform entrance has turnstiles or gates. You need to carry a paper or digital ticket to unlock it and enter the platform (more information in the Fares section). Note that your ticket needs to be valid not only when inside a vehicle, but also when waiting on the platform or after leaving the train. Politechnika (M1), Centrum (M1), and Nowy Świat – Uniwersytet (M2) are stations where ticket inspectors may check your ticket when still on the platform.

Availability

Metro trains ride between 5 in the morning and midnight on weekdays or 2 in the morning on Friday-Saturday and Saturday-Sunday nights; sometimes even longer, on special occassions (like The Long Night of Museums). Trains run every 2 minutes in rush hours, every 5 to 10 minutes outside rush hours and every 20 minutes late at night. There no fixed schedules for Metro, so YMMV.

All Metro stations are fully immersed. The train never goes overground, unlike for example U-Bahn in Berlin which does have overground segments. The technical depot in Las Kabacki south of Kabaty terminus is the only place where the tracks run overground, but passengers are not allowed to ride there or enter the depot, it’s surroanded with fence and heavily monitored. You can sometimes see the trains move around from outside the fence though.

Buses

buses logo

There are around 200 total bus lines in and around Warsaw. They are usually marked with 3-digit numbers or variations thereof and use purple signage on diagrams and maps. There are a couple types of bus routes:

• 1xx and 2xx – regular bus lines; they ride on all days of the week on pretty much standard routes, stop at most stops on their way.
• 3xx – periodic lines; these ride on unusual schedule, sometimes only in rush hours, or only on weekends, or only on weekdays etc.
• 5xx – rapid lines; usually have longer routes but also skip non-popular stops or some stops may be on demand only.
• 4xx – periodic rapid lines; same as rapid lines, but also periodic.
• E-x or Exx – express lines; these have even longer routes and skip even more stops.
• 7xx – zone lines; these at some point leave Zone 1 (more info in Fares)
• 8xx – zone periodic lines; zone lines which are also periodic.
• 9xx – event and special lines; these are created for special events or specific places and businesses. Includes tourist lines as well.
• C-x or Cxx – cementary lines; these work like 1/2xx lines, but only around the All Saints’ day and usually terminate at some public cementary.
• L-x or Lxx – subruban lines; these ride mostly outside Warsaw city limits, may leave Zone 1. Usually very weird schedule.
• Nxx – night lines, marked in dark blue, almost black; ride at night and most stops are on demand
• Zxx – replacement lines; when some other service is down, a replacement line may be sent on the road (like ZM1 to replace M1 Metro or ZS2 to replace S2 trains).

Using buses

To ride a bus you need to carry a ticket. Most buses will NOT automatically open the door for you, there usually is a red, round button outside the bus or blue/green button inside the bus to open the door. To enter a bus on an on-demand stops (marked as na żądanie or nż or with an empty dot) you need to raise your hand or wave at the driver early enough for them to slow down and pull up. If you want to get off at an on-demand stop, you need to press the red STOP button, also early enough for the driver to do so safely.

Each bus has its limits as far as sitting and standing passengers go. Drivers usually don’t care about that, but they do care about the limit of strollers/wheelchairs/bicycles. You can find this limit at the front of the bus, directly above the driver’s seat. You can ride with your bicycle inside but you may be asked to leave if the bus gets too busy or a baby stroller or wheelchair needs to get in. The reason is insurance, if anything happens when there’s too many strollers/wheelchairs/bicycles onboard, the insurance company will not pay out and the driver will get in trouble.

Availability

All bus lines generally ride between 4 in the morning and 11 in the evening (well except periodic or special lines). Night lines usually ride between 11 and 5 in the morning. Frequency varies between 3 minutes for the most popular lines and 1 hour for night lines.

Bus stops are named after typical places or streets, with a two-digit number added to specify the actual platform and direction. They usually are roofed shelters with a schedule board, a bench, a usb charging port (rarely) and a gargabe bin available.

Trams

trams logo

There are around 25 tram lines around Warsaw. They drive on tracks, which are sometimes separate from the driveway but sometimes shared with a bus lane or regular lane. Tram line numbers are two-digits long and have no special meaning behind them. Everything else works just like buses, but trams have no on-demand stops, they always stop at all stops on the way.

Suburban rail

trains logo SKM logoKM logo WKD logo

There are three separate operators of suburban trains in and around Warsaw. They operate different routes, use visually different vehicles and use partly separate ticketing (more information in the Fares section).

• SKM – Fast Urban Railway (Szybka Kolej Miejska) are red-and-beige trains operated by the same authority as the Metro, buses and trams. Their numbering system is Sx, there are 4 total lines.
• KM – Masovian Railway (Koleje Mazowieckie) are green-and-white trains. They have a seemingly random numbering system of KMxxxxx or