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Poland

Warsaw

A capital that rebuilt its old town from rubble. Trams do the heavy lifting; buy your ticket before you board.

Warsaw Metro (Metro Warszawskie)

Warsaw's metro has no tap-to-ride with a bank card. Buy a ticket first, from a machine or an approved app, and validate at the gate before heading down - step into the paid area without it and the surcharge is 266 zł.

Updated on August 5, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Buy the ticket before you go down
    Buy a paper ticket from a station machine, which takes both cash and cards, or buy one in an approved mobile app.
  2. 2
    Pick the ticket by zone and duration
    The 20-minute ticket covers zones 1+2, but the 75-minute transfer ticket is zone 1 only; beyond the city you need the 90-minute.
  3. 3
    Validate at the gate, then head down
    Push a paper ticket into the slot on the gate and wait for the green light; there are validators beside the lifts too.
  4. 4
    App tickets use the wide baggage gates
    App tickets show a QR code - hold it to the reader on a wide baggage gate; every station has at least one such gate.
  5. 5
    No validation on the way out
    The exit gates open freely, but keep the ticket until you are out of the station - the paid area is where inspectors work.

Fares

Single fares3

20-minute ticket (zones 1+2)
Unlimited travel for 20 minutes from validation, valid in both zones - but not on the blue "L" buses.
3.4 PLN ≈ $0.9
75-minute transfer ticket (zone 1)
Unlimited transfers for 75 minutes, but zone 1 only - it will not take you out of the city.
4.4 PLN ≈ $1
90-minute transfer ticket (zones 1+2)
Ninety minutes of unlimited transfers, valid across both fare zones.
7 PLN ≈ $2

Passes & multi-ride4

24-hour ticket
15 zł for zone 1, 26 zł for zones 1+2, running 24 hours from validation.
15〜26 PLN ≈ $4–7
72-hour (3-day) ticket
36 zł for zone 1, 57 zł for zones 1+2, running 72 hours from validation.
36〜57 PLN ≈ $9–14
Weekend ticket (zones 1+2)
Unlimited travel from 7pm Friday to 8am Monday, valid in both fare zones.
24 PLN ≈ $6
Group weekend ticket (up to 5 people)
One ticket for up to five people, 7pm Friday to 8am Monday across both zones.
40 PLN ≈ $10

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
There is no tap-your-bank-card-to-ride at the gates.
IC card
No stored-value card for visitors; the city card is personalised.
App tickets
Five approved apps sell tickets; the QR opens the wide baggage gate.
Paper tickets
Magnetic-stripe paper tickets, validated at the gate.
Cash
Stationary machines at stations take both cash and cards, and give change.

Quick facts

Hours
05:00-00:30 approx.
Frequency
Every 2-10 min
Fares from
3.4 PLN+

Heads-up

  • The ticket must be sorted before you enter the paid area

    In the metro the contract of carriage starts the moment you enter the paid area, so the ticket has to be sorted before you step in - and anything validated once an inspection has begun counts as invalid.

  • Scooters and bikes must be pushed in stations and trains

    Riding a scooter, skateboard or bicycle inside stations and vehicles is banned by the public order rules, and a breach is treated as a petty offence. Push it instead.

  • Rental e-scooters are barred from the Old Town

    Rental e-scooters (Bolt, Dott, Lime) are barred from both riding and parking in the Old Town, Łazienki Park, the Krasiński Garden and several other areas, and are capped at 12 km/h where streets such as Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat are pedestrianised.

Timetable

Operating hours 05:00-00:30 approx.
Typical duration Two lines, M1 and M2, crossing at Świętokrzyska - end to end is 30-40 minutes
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Direction sign on the platform at Natolin: the whole M1 line on one strip, with the M2 interchange marked at Świętokrzyska. Taken Apr 2023 © kallerna・CC BY-SA 4.0
Editor Naotaka