Warsaw Travel Info | Warsaw Photo Gallery & Travel Guide

Warsaw Poland Travel Guide and Photo Gallery

Warsaw Travel Guide: How to Get There

Warsaw-Okecie Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (im. Fryderyka Chopina International Airport) (IATA: WAW) Tel: (022) 650 4140, information or 3943, departures or 4220, arrivals.

Poland’s main airport, located ten kilometers (six miles) south of the city centre, annually serves 3.5 million passengers on 60 scheduled routes worldwide. It is one of the most modern and well-equipped airports in Central and Eastern Europe, operating more than 60,000 flights a year. The domestic airport, located next to the international terminal, has connections to the largest cities in Poland – Gdansk, Krakow/Cracow, Poznan, Szczecin, Wroclaw and Katowice.

LOT Polish Airlines, is the flag carrier of Poland. Based in Warsaw, LOT was established in 1929, making it one of the world's oldest airlines still in operation. Using a fleet of 55 aircraft, LOT operates a complex network to 60 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia. Most of the destinations are served from its hub, Warsaw Chopin Airport.

International carriers at Warsaw Airport include: Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Austrian Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, El Al, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Finnair, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, along with many low-cost-carriers and ULCC.

Approximate flight times to Warsaw: From London is 2 hours 25 minutes; from New York is 8 hours 40 minutes; from Los Angeles is 14 hours 10 minutes; from Toronto is 9 hours 25 minutes and from Sydney is 21 hours 45 minutes with stopovers.

Airport facilities: The airport includes a transit hotel, tourist information centre, post office, currency exchange/bank/bureaux de change (kantors), duty-free shops, ATMs, bars, restaurants and car hire from Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz.

Business facilities: There are three airport Executive Lounges (tel: (022) 650 2761 or 2768) in the departures area. A VIP lounge is available for reservation (tel: (022) 650 4383), as is conference facilities and audiovisual equipment (tel: (022) 650 4151).

Arrival/departure tax: None.

Transport to the city: The Polski Express coach service (tel: (022) 620 0330; website: www.polskiexpress.pl) departs from platform 4, outside terminal 1, every 20 minutes (Sundays and public holidays every 45 minutes), 0450-2310, stopping at the major hotels and central railway station. Tickets cost Z6 and there is no baggage charge (journey time – 25 minutes). The airport’s tourist information point provides further information.

The local ZTM (tel: (022) 827 3747; e-mail: info@ztm.waw.pl; website: www.ztm.waw.pl) bus 175 departs from in front of the arrivals hall and passes through the city centre and near the Old Town, 0450-2310 daily (journey time – 30 minutes). Bus 188 goes to the right-bank (the eastern part) of Warsaw (Praga, Grochow, Goclaw). A night bus follows the same route, as far as the central railway station, every half hour (2247-0247). Ticket prices are the same as other ZTM buses – Z2.40 during the day and Z7.20 for night buses – the same fee applies to each piece of luggage. Be aware of your personal belongings at all times.

The Marriott Hotel offers a minibus service costing Z22 – there is no baggage charge. Taxis to the city centre cost approximately Z37-45 (journey time – 20 minutes). It is advisable for visitors to book an official taxi and to confirm the price before setting off. Taxis cost Z2 per kilometer and can be hired in the arrivals hall at the airport or by calling MPT Radio Taxi (tel: (022) 919).

Warsaw Travel Guide: How to Get There: Visa Requirements for Poland

As of May 1, 2004, citizens from all the states of the European Union and European Economic Community Organization - Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden.

In accordance with free movement of persons European Union rule, citizens from the above mentioned countries enjoy stay in Poland without visas granted by Polish consulates abroad.

Citizens of the following countries may travel to Poland for tourism and business purposes without a visa if the planned stay in Poland does not exceed 90 days: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Korea, Ecuador, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Romania, San Marino, Switzerland, USA, Uruguay.

If the planned stay in Poland does not exceed 90 days: Hong Kong: holders of "British National (Overseas) Passport" and "Hong Kong Special Region Administration Passports." Macau: holders of "Macau Special Administration Region Passports."

If the planned stay in Poland does not exceed 30 days: Singapore, Bulgaria*

Visa is not required also for: holders of United Nations "laissez-passer";

Citizens of all other countries must obtain a visa in order to enter and stay in Poland legally.

However, Poland's accession to the European Union does not impact the right of holders of visas to Poland on their right of stay in all and each other EU country.

Visa approval to access Poland gives right of stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland only.

REGULAR VISAS are issued for travelers going to Poland for tourism and business purposes. Regular visas allow for one or multiple entries into Polish territory and stay in Poland for maximum up to 90 days and are issued for the definite period of stay. When applying for a visa, please indicate the number of days you plan to spend in Poland and a date of intended arrival. Holders of regular visas are not authorized to work.

TRANSIT VISAS are issued to persons traveling through Poland to another country. Under the transit visa traveler is allowed to spend a maximum of up to 5 days on Polish territory. Travelers applying for a transit visa must first present a visa to the country of their final destination. Transit visas can be valid for one, two or multiple entries.

AIRPORT TRANSIT VISAS are issued to citizens of certain countries traveling through Poland to another country. Under the airport transit visa traveler is allowed to spend a maximum of 2 days in international transit zone of Polish airport. Travelers applying for an airport transit visa must first present a visa to the country of their final destination. Airport transit visas can be valid for one, two or multiple entries. (see separate list of countries below)

WORK VISAS are issued for multiple entries and are valid for max. of 1 year of stay in Poland with the possibility of extension while in Poland . All persons who intend to work in Poland must apply for this type of visa and additionally submit a valid work promise certificate issued by appropriate local executive authorities (Office of Wojewoda) in Poland. Work visas w are issued only by Polish Consul with the office appropriate for the applicant's legal permanent residence. An alien intending to work in Poland must enter the territory with a valid work visa, as no visas can be delivered in Poland. Employment without prior authorization is strictly prohibited. English language teachers planning to work in Poland at universities (colleges) instead of the work promise certificate must submit Certificate of Employment issued by president of that university/college.