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FAQs concerning Warsaw

Our Web Site collects several links to tourist information sites concerning traveling to Poland, sightseeing Warsaw, exchange rates etc. You also find there train and flight connections to Warsaw. Consult these pages for details in the future. Below some preliminary answers to Frequently Asked Questions concerning arrival to Warsaw.

To reach the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research (IPPT PAN) from the City Center (coming by train) you may just walk (45 min) or take a bus/tram. From the Airport the simplest way is to take a bus (175, 188). We are only 3km from the Airport but due to traffic jams it may take 20 minutes or more by bus/taxi to reach our place. To enter the Institute you have to pass the gate with two labels: IMDiK PAN, Pawinskiego 5A and IPPT PAN, Pawinskiego 5B, as there two institutes behind it. IPPT PAN is in the new buliding you should see in the backyard about 50m behind the gate (click to see the map and photos).

Warsaw International Airport is very small so you will not get lost. It is located just in the city, only 8km form the centre. There are two arrival terminals, only 100m apart. After arrival at the main terminal (Terminal 2 Chopin) at the arrival level (ground floor) you find several ATM machines and Tourist Information. Getting to town by TAXI will cost about 30zl. There are three authorized taxi stands just in front of the arrival hall of the Terminal 2, all accept credit cards. The taxi cabs wait just at the exit from the main hall. You can trust them, they have license to serve the airport passengers. DO NOT ACCEPT a lift from one of the taxi touts that hover around the arrival hall and suggest to walk somewhere! They will try to cheat you. The buses to the City Centre are 175 and 188, they stops on the island outside the terminal. It takes 20min to reach IPPT PAN, leave at the bus stop at Wigury/Trojdena corner.

Opening hours of shops are usually from 9.00 to 19.00 Monday - Saturday. Super- and hyper-markets are open 7 days a week, usually until 22:00. Small shops close on Sunday or are open until noon only. Most of the banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Polish Money is Zloty (abbreviations used ZL or PLN).
It is very difficult to pay with foreign money (even US dollars and Euro) in the shops, taxis or restaurants. You may exchange cash in large number of "KANTOR"s (exchange kiosk) around the city. Some of them are open 24 hours. There are few hundred ATMs (Bankomat) at the main streets, hotels, airport (arrival deck), at the railway, gas and metro stations, around supermarkets, etc. Most of them accept major international cards. Current exchange rate you may find here.

Warsaw has rather well developed network of bus (Autobus) and tram (Tramwaj) lines as well as one underground (Metro) line, connecting south part of the city with the center. Tickets are available at RUCH (newspaper kiosks) and must be validated after entering the bus/tram. Regular fare is below 4 zloty. You can also buy tickets from the driver (extra charge apply).

There are over twenty taxi companies operating in Warsaw. Every legal taxi has its identification, counter and driver's ID displayed. Their prices per kilometer vary from 2.50 zloty to over 5 zloty. This price should be displayed on the side window. There is no extra charge for calling taxi by phone. They are usually coming within few minutes and you pay only from the place you start.

Phone numbers of some relatively cheap and reliable companies: MPT - tel. 22-19191 (accepts also credit cards), Hallo - tel. 22-19623 , OK - tel. 22-19628, Volfra - tel. 22-19625, Wawa - tel. 22-19644, Super - tel. 22-19622, Plus - tel. 22-19621, Sawa - tel: 22-6444444.

To use telephone you need a phone card. It can be bought at RUCH kiosks. One calling unit costs about 0.4 zloty, it allows for 3 min local call. One minute to Europe costs below 2 zloty. There are four mobile phone companies. Add prefix 22 ( +4822 from mobile) to call any stationary number in Warsaw.

Warsaw has about 2mln people, it has about 30km north-south and 20km west-east. Despite small size of the city due to missing fast transit routes it may take you more than one hour to drive across.

You may have sometimes problems finding people speaking any foreign language. Prepare some simple expressions in a body language. The Warsaw central point, Palace of Culture and Science PKiN ("Stalin's gift"), is the well visible orientation point.

Warsaw, just like other cities in Europe, has some higher risk areas. In trams and busses, markets and especially around the Central Railway Station and in bus lines from the Airport always watch out for pickpockets collecting the "Tourist Tax". The codes of safe behaviour are much the same wherever you are going in Europe. Just try to use experience you maybe already gained visiting other tourist area. The toll-free Police emergency number is 112 or 997. But we are sure you will not need it.