Many parts of the city are best seen on foot, but the best way to travel greater distances in the city is by public transportation or taxi. Buses, trams and the metro (subway) are easy to use. We recommend that you purchase, either prior to your trip or on arrival, a good city map that shows all the public transportation routes.
Warsaw's streets are often overtaxed by the amount of cars. Traffic jams can be horrendous, and parking may be difficult to find. Therefore, a car may be a burden for city touring. For nighttime travel and places that are not close to public transport, call a taxi. They are reliable and cheap, and the drivers are generally very helpful. Rent a car if you will be traveling a lot to areas outside of the city.
Car
Driving is on the right side of the road. When entering the city, follow the signs for Warszawa Centrum. When leaving the city, know the name of the largest city at the end of the highway you want to take (e.g., Bialystok, Lodz, Lublin, etc.). Trams complicate city driving: Crossing tram tracks is hazardous because trams don't necessarily have a red light when you have a green one. Parking on sidewalks is fairly common, but parking laws outlawing that practice are being enforced. It's best to park in a garage.
Don't talk on a cell phone while driving. It's illegal, and if you're caught, the fine is steep.
Public Transportation
Public transportation in Warsaw consists of bus, tram and metro (subway) systems. Apart from quite a few pickpockets on board, public transportation is safe, reliable and a common method of getting around. A good map that shows all public transportation routes is a helpful tool to have; check with a local tourist information center to obtain one. You can get additional information from Zaklad Transportu Miejskiej (ZTM), the public transportation authority. The metro operates 5-12:30 am, buses and trams run until 11 pm, and then night buses run to and from Central Station every 30 minutes.
The basic fare is valid on all three systems. A single ticket (bilet normalny) costs 2.40 Zl; for connecting rides you must buy a new ticket. Day (bilet jeden dni) and week (bilet jeden tygodnie) passes can be purchased at any of the Ruch kiosks on the streets. Tickets can also be purchased onboard buses and trams, but they're subject to a surcharge and drivers usually don't give change. On buses and trams you must punch your ticket in the validation machine when you get on. If you're caught without a ticket, you will be fined.
For a current list of all ticket tariffs set by the Warsaw Transport Authority, visit http://www.ztm.waw.pl/en/tariff-en.html.
Taxi
There are two kinds of taxis: registered (legal) and unregistered. Registered taxis have a light across the roof of the car with the word
Taxi, as well as the name of the company and a phone number. Unregistered taxis usually sport a tiny black-and-white light that also says
Taxi, but no name or phone number. They also charge inflated prices. It's best to order a registered taxi in advance by phoning a reputable company. Otherwise, stick to cabs that display phone numbers. Taxis charge lower fares 8 am-10 pm. Recommended companies include Merc Taxi (phone 22-677-7777; http://www.merctaxi.pl), MPT Radio Taxi (phone 9191, its special four-digit information line; http://www.taximpt.com.pl) and Sawa Taxi (phone 22-644-4444; www.sawataxi.com.pl).
