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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.

SKM / Koleje Mazowieckie / WKD

Three companies share the same stations; only the ticket rules differ. SKM takes every ZTM city ticket, but on KM and WKD the short-time tickets are void - except KM's RL airport line. Validate as soon as you board.

Updated on August 5, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Work out which company runs your train
    Check the departure board for SKM, KM or WKD. All three use the same stations and differ only in which tickets they accept.
  2. 2
    Buy the ticket before you travel
    Buy at a station machine or in an app. SKM trains carry one too, but station ticket offices and crew never sell ZTM tickets.
  3. 3
    Validate as soon as you board
    Push a paper ticket into the door-side validator; an app ticket is activated by scanning the QR sticker near the doors.
  4. 4
    Match the ticket to the zone
    Going past the city boundary needs a zones 1+2 ticket - the 75-minute one is zone 1 only, while the 20-minute covers both.
  5. 5
    Switch ticket type for KM and WKD
    Short tickets fail on KM and WKD, bar the RL airport line. Use a 24-hour or longer ZTM pass, or that firm's own ticket.
  6. 6
    Expect a plain-clothes inspection
    Inspectors work in plain clothes and show an ID badge. Without a valid ticket you pay both the fare and a penalty on top.

Fares

Single fares5

ZTM 20-minute ticket (zones 1+2)
Valid on SKM and KM's RL airport line; not on other KM or WKD trains
3.4 PLN ≈ $0.9
ZTM 75-minute transfer ticket (zone 1)
Zone 1 only; SKM and KM's RL airport line - not enough for the suburbs
4.4 PLN ≈ $1
ZTM 90-minute transfer ticket (zones 1+2)
The one for a single run to the suburbs - SKM and KM's RL airport line only
7 PLN ≈ $2
WKD single ticket (own fare)
Three bands by journey time, not distance - up to 19 min, up to 38 min, and longer
4.1〜9.2 PLN ≈ $1–2
KM single ticket (own distance-based fare)
For journeys beyond the ZTM area - 4.20 zł up to 5 km, rising to 28.90 zł at 100 km
4.2〜28.9 PLN ≈ $1–7

Passes & multi-ride3

ZTM 24-hour ticket
15 zł for zone 1, 26 zł for zones 1+2 - one of the few types KM and WKD also honour
15〜26 PLN ≈ $4–7
ZTM 72-hour ticket
36 zł for zone 1, 57 zł for zones 1+2 - also honoured on KM and WKD
36〜57 PLN ≈ $9–14
ZTM weekend ticket (zones 1+2)
Friday 19:00 to Monday 08:00; a group version for up to five people costs 40 zł
24 PLN ≈ $6

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
For buying at machines only - there is no tap-to-ride system yet
IC card Unverified
The city card holds season tickets; whether visitors can get one is unconfirmed
App tickets
Buy in a supported app, then activate on the QR sticker inside the train
Paper tickets
Magnetic-stripe paper tickets - validate as soon as you board
Cash
SKM on-board machines take no cash; WKD station machines take coins only

Quick facts

Frequency
S1 and S2 every 30 min, S3 and S4 hourly, S40 sparser
Fares from
3.4 PLN+

Heads-up

  • A broken machine is no excuse - buy at the station

    A broken ticket machine is not an excuse - on-board sales are only a backup, so buy at the station before you board.

  • A WKD train has just one ticket machine

    A WKD train carries just one ticket machine. Boarding without a ticket means using the door marked with the pictogram at the Warsaw-facing cab end.

Timetable

Typical duration Best for reaching the suburbs - for moves inside the centre the metro and trams are quicker
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka