Warsaw public transport tickets and prices: a guide for newcomers
Short answer: In Warsaw a 75-minute ticket for zone 1 costs 4.40 zł, a 24-hour ticket 15 zł and a 30-day ticket for zone 1 costs 110 zł (WTP prices, 13 October 2026).
Warsaw runs one ticket system for its metro, trams, buses and the SKM city trains. Once you understand the zones and the time-based tickets, getting around costs very little. This guide uses the price list that Warsaw Public Transport (WTP) publishes on wtp.waw.pl, as shown on 13 October 2026. Prices change by city council resolution, so check the official page before you buy a long-term ticket.
Two zones and one rule to remember
Warsaw's tariff has zone 1, which covers the city itself, and zone 2, the area around it. Most of what you need as a resident is zone 1. If you travel to the airport or to a suburb in zone 2, you need a 1+2 ticket. WTP says to validate your ticket immediately after you board a vehicle. In the metro you validate at the gate to the platform, or at the validator by the lift. Carrying animals and luggage is free.
Riding without a valid ticket costs a lot. WTP lists the surcharge for travelling without the right ticket at 266 zł, which is 38 times the price of a normal 90-minute ticket for zones 1 and 2.
Single tickets
All prices below are the standard fare (normalny), and the reduced fare (ulgowy) is half. They are the WTP prices on 13 October 2026.
- 20-minute ticket, zones 1+2: 3.40 zł (reduced 1.70 zł). Unlimited rides for 20 minutes from validation.
- 75-minute ticket, zone 1: 4.40 zł (reduced 2.20 zł). Unlimited rides and transfers for 75 minutes, or a single ride on one vehicle to the last stop.
- 90-minute ticket, zones 1+2: 7 zł (reduced 3.50 zł). Same rules, valid for 90 minutes.
- Group ticket for up to 10 people, 75 minutes, zone 1: 22 zł (reduced fare).
The 20-, 75- and 90-minute tickets are not valid on "L" type buses, and the 75- and 90-minute tickets also include the airport line of Koleje Mazowieckie between Warszawa Płudy and Chopin Airport, according to WTP.
Short passes
For tourists and new arrivals, the time passes are better than many single tickets:
- 24-hour ticket: 15 zł in zone 1 (7.50 zł reduced), and 26 zł in zones 1+2 (13 zł reduced).
- 3-day (72-hour) ticket: 36 zł in zone 1 (18 zł reduced), and 57 zł in zones 1+2 (28.50 zł reduced).
- Weekend ticket, zones 1+2: 24 zł (12 zł reduced), valid from 19:00 on Friday to 08:00 on Monday.
- Weekend group ticket for up to 5 people, zones 1+2: 40 zł.
These passes are valid on all lines, including the "L" buses, and on Park&Ride car parks, WTP notes.
Monthly and 90-day passes
If you commute, the long-term tickets on the Warsaw City Card (Warszawska Karta Miejska) are the cheapest per day. WTP lists these standard prices:
- Named 30-day ticket: 110 zł for zone 1, 112 zł for zone 2, 180 zł for zones 1+2 (half price when reduced).
- "Warszawiaka" 30-day ticket for zones 1+2: 98 zł (49 zł reduced).
- Named 90-day ticket: 280 zł for zone 1, 282 zł for zone 2, 460 zł for zones 1+2.
- "Warszawiaka" 90-day ticket: 250 zł (125 zł reduced).
- Bearer 30-day ticket, zones 1+2: 230 zł, and bearer 90-day: 600 zł. A bearer ticket can be used by anyone who has the card.
The Warszawiak tickets are cheaper, and WTP has a separate information page on who qualifies, so read it before you assume you can use it. There is also a "Warszawa+" offer for passengers who pay their taxes in a municipality that has an agreement with the transport authority. It has three levels of discount.
Long-term tickets are valid on all day and night lines until 23:59 on the 30th (or 90th) day.
Who pays the reduced fare
WTP has a tool on the price page where you check if you qualify. The groups include pupils and students, and WTP lists "foreign student" and doctoral students as separate choices. There are also groups based on disability, military status and some professions. Check the tool, and bring the right document to prove it, because inspectors can ask.
Special tickets worth knowing
WTP lists a yearly ticket for a child from a family with three children, living in Warsaw, at 99 zł for zones 1+2, with conditions on age and residence. It lists a yearly senior ticket for people aged 65 and over at 50 zł, and notes it cannot be combined with other discounts.
Where to buy
WTP sells tickets through ticket machines and passenger service points, and the official page explains which channels each ticket type supports. For long-term tickets you need a Warsaw City Card or another allowed carrier, so get this first.
How to choose
- Visiting for a weekend: the weekend ticket at 24 zł.
- First week in the city: the 3-day ticket (36 zł in zone 1) or single 75-minute tickets.
- Living in Warsaw: a 30-day ticket on the City Card. At 110 zł for zone 1, it costs the same as 25 single 75-minute tickets at 4.40 zł, so it pays off if you ride more than that in a month.
- Living outside zone 1: compare the 1+2 ticket with the zone 2 ticket before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a single metro ticket in Warsaw?
A 75-minute ticket for zone 1 was 4.40 zł (2.20 zł reduced) on 13 October 2026, and a 20-minute ticket for zones 1+2 was 3.40 zł (WTP).
Do I need a ticket for zone 2 to go to the airport?
You need a ticket valid for the zones you travel in. WTP notes that the 20-, 75- and 90-minute tickets also entitle you to ride the Koleje Mazowieckie airport line between Warszawa Płudy and Chopin Airport.
What is the fine for travelling without a ticket?
266 zł, according to the WTP price list.
Is luggage free?
Yes. WTP states that carrying animals and luggage is free.
Where can I check if I am entitled to a reduced fare?
On the WTP price page, which has a tool for this.
