Masovian (Mazowsze) is the central voivodeship of Poland, built around Warsaw, the capital, whose Old Town was rebuilt after 1944 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beyond the city lie Chopin's birthplace at Żelazowa Wola, the riverside cathedral city of Płock, the brick castle town of Pułtusk and the forests and dunes of Kampinos National Park.
- Public
- Warsaw's ZTM network (metro, tram, bus, SKM) is modern, frequent and cheap. One ticket works on all modes; buy via the ZTM app, ticket machines or kiosks and validate paper tickets on first boarding.
- Taxi
- Bolt, Uber and FreeNow are reliable and usually cheaper than hailing street taxis; a typical Warsaw city ride costs 20-45 PLN ($5-12).
- Rental
- Needed mainly for rural Masovian: Kampinos National Park, Kurpie villages and Treblinka. City-centre parking is paid and scarce; park-and-ride lots at metro terminals (Kabaty, Młociny) are cheaper.
- Walking
- Warsaw's centre is flat and walkable: Old Town to Łazienki Park is about 4 km along the Royal Route. Praga and Wilanów need a tram or bus.
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 5/5
- Taxi
- 4/5
- Rental
- 3.5/5
- Walking
- 4.5/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- 40-70 PLN ($10-18) from Chopin Airport to the centre (15-25 minutes)
- Taxi Info
- Use the Bolt, Uber or FreeNow apps for an upfront price, or the licensed taxi rank outside arrivals. Avoid unsolicited drivers inside the terminal.
- Shuttle
- Modlin Bus from Warsaw Modlin Airport to Warsaw Centre, about 20-35 PLN ($5-9)
- Shuttle Info
- Book at modlinbus.com; departures are timed to flights, journey 40-60 minutes depending on traffic.
- Bus
- 4.40 PLN ($1.16) on ZTM bus 175 from Chopin Airport to Warsaw Centre
- Bus Info
- Stops at Dworzec Centralny and the city centre in 30-40 minutes. Buy a ZTM ticket at the machine in arrivals or via the ZTM/mobile apps; validate if using paper.
- Train
- 4.40 PLN ($1.16) on SKM S2/S3 to Warszawa Śródmieście and Centralna (about 20 minutes)
- Train Info
- Trains depart from Warszawa Lotnisko Chopina station next to the terminal every 15-30 minutes. The fastest and cheapest reliable link into the centre.
- Private
- 120-180 PLN ($32-47) for a pre-booked private car from Chopin Airport
- Private Info
- Book online in advance for a fixed price and a driver meeting you in arrivals; for Modlin expect 220-300 PLN ($58-79).
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
ZTM buses and trams cover all Warsaw districts; night lines run after the metro closes. A 75-minute ticket (4.40 PLN / $1.16) allows unlimited changes.
Alternatives
Metro (M1, M2), SKM and WKD suburban rail, Veturilo bike sharing (first 20 minutes free), e-scooters (Lime, Bolt, Dott).
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- Metered taxis in Warsaw charge a base fare of about 8-10 PLN ($2.10-2.60) plus about 3-4 PLN/km ($0.80-1.05); night and holiday rates are higher (check the tariff sticker in the window)
- Apps
- Bolt, Uber, FreeNow
- App Names
- Bolt (most popular, cheapest), Uber, FreeNow (licensed taxis)
- Typical Fare
- 20-45 PLN ($5-12) for most Warsaw rides; 40-70 PLN ($10-18) to/from Chopin Airport
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
FlixBus, Sindbad and PKS run from Warszawa Zachodnia (Al. Jerozolimskie 144) to Płock, Radom, Siedlce, Ostrołęka, Ciechanów and Pułtusk: about 15-45 PLN ($4-12).
Rail
Koleje Mazowieckie (kolejemazowieckie.com.pl) and PKP Intercity (intercity.pl) serve Radom (Intercity 1h25, KM 1h50-2h15), Siedlce (about 1h15), Ciechanów (about 1h30), Żyrardów (about 45 minutes) and Sochaczew (about 50 minutes).
Shared
Minibus (busik) services run from Warsaw to smaller towns such as Wołomin, Wyszków and Mszczonów; check Jakdojade for current operators.
Flights
No scheduled domestic flights within Masovian; LOT operates domestic flights from Warsaw Chopin to Gdańsk, Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław, but trains are usually as fast door to door.
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Masovian is Poland's best-connected region, anchored by Warsaw. Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) handles most international flights, while Warsaw Modlin (WMI) and Warsaw-Radom (RDO) serve low-cost and charter traffic. Warsaw has two metro lines, trams, buses and the SKM and WKD suburban railways on a single ZTM ticket system; Koleje Mazowieckie (KM) regional trains and PKP Intercity link Warsaw with Radom, Siedlce, Ostrołęka, Żyrardów and Sochaczew, and buses reach Płock, Pułtusk and Ciechanów. Roads are good (A2, S7, S8, S17), and most day trips are possible without a car.
Airports
Warsaw Chopin Airport (Lotnisko Chopina)
Warsaw Modlin Airport (Lotnisko Warszawa-Modlin)
Warsaw-Radom Airport (Sadków)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Jakdojade
Journey planner and ticket purchase for Warsaw ZTM, SKM, WKD and regional lines across Poland.
ZTM Warszawa
Official ZTM resources and digital fares for metro, tram and bus (ztm.waw.pl).
Bolt
Ride-hailing with upfront price and e-scooter rentals in Warsaw.
Uber
Ride-hailing in Warsaw and larger Masovian towns.
Koleje Mazowieckie app
Regional rail timetables and tickets, cheaper than buying from the conductor.
PKP Intercity
Intercity train tickets and seat reservations; also at intercity.pl.
Veturilo
City bike-sharing app for unlocking Warsaw bikes.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy a ZTM 24-hour ticket (15 PLN / $3.95 for Zone 1) if making four or more trips.
Validate paper tickets on first boarding; inspectors issue fines of 300+ PLN ($80) to travellers without a valid ticket.
Jakdojade (jakdojade.pl) gives live routing and ticket purchase for Warsaw and most Masovian towns.
Koleje Mazowieckie tickets bought on board cost more; use the KM app or a station machine.
Warszawa Centralna is the Intercity hub; for regional lines check whether the train leaves from Zachodnia, Wschodnia or Śródmieście.
Airport trains SKM S2/S3 are quicker than buses at rush hour.
Taxi apps give upfront prices; decline unlicensed offers at the airport or Centralna station.
Zone 1+2 tickets are needed for suburbs beyond Warsaw's boundary such as Piaseczno, Pruszków and Legionowo.