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The Frederic Chopin International Airport
The Frederic Chopin International Airport in Warsaw is by far the biggest in Poland, covering an impressive 834 hectares of land and handling 70% of the country’s air traffic. Seven million people travelled to over 80 destinations in 2005, a passenger growth of 16% from the year before. To cope with this ever-increasing traffic work has already begun on a fourth terminal... Intriguingly called ‘Terminal 2’! Not quite as daft as it sounds as the three existing terminals are: Terminal 1; Terminal Krajowy, for domestic flights; and Etiuda Terminal. The latter is in a separate building and serves budget airlines such as Easyjet, Dauair, Germanwings, Skyeurope and Wizz Air.
Getting from the airport to the city...
The Frederic Chopin is just 10km south west of Warsaw in Okecie, and the journey time by bus is usually only around 20 minutes. Between the 175 and 188 you'll be able to catch a ride into the city centre every ten minutes or so, or at night jump on the 611 and you'll get right to Warsaw Central Station (Dworzec Centralny). Tickets for the bus cost a mere 2.4 PLN (approx. $0.80, €0.65, £0.40) and you can snag one at any kiosk; or buy from the driver for an additional 0.5 PLN.
If you’re happy to splash out on your own ‘chaffeur’, a taxi is bound to prove quicker and easier than the bus and not too much more expensive either. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding one on the rank outside arrivals, but if you want real peace of mind (see our comments in this section!) then book a taxi cab transfer in advance.
Travelling from town to the airport? Then simply reverse the directions. Head to Warsaw Central Station for buses, or if you are travelling by your own set of wheels then find the Zwirki i Wigury street. It takes you all the way from Warsaw centre directly to the airport.
Flight Delayed?
Well, you'll find plenty of stuff to do around 'ol Chopin to pass the time... Top facilities, shopping and information points are on hand to make your life that bit more comfortable.
Airport Info - (6 AM to 10 PM) or try 650 4220
Tourist Info - (8 AM to 8 PM) or call 9341
Tourist agencies - Skip these guys and just peruse our site instead!
First Aid - For all those nasty paper cuts, etc.
Children's Needs - These rooms are free to all, just call: 650 3525
Chapel - In the transit area. Daily Masses at 11:45 AM. Sundays: 9 AM, 11:30 AM, and around 3 PM
Post office - For that letter you forgot to send your mom.
Bank - (M-F: 8 AM to 8 PM, Sat: 8 AM to 2 PM). A host of ATMS and over half a dozen Bureaux de Change got you covered
Car Rental - all the top brands, 7 in total. Drive safely!
Food - A sit down restaurant, fast food and ice-cream. What else could you want?
Press - Get your mags and papers in one of the many kiosks
Retail Shopping - Booze, toys, jewelry, all that stuff you forgot to buy... Go shoppin' in Chopin (had to say it, sorry)
Transit Hotel - If you are stuck waiting for a connection, just ask for the Falcon Hotel or call: 650 4891
Insurance - In case you just don't trust those airlines with everything
VAT Refunds - (6 AM to 10 PM) Not from around here? ('here' = EU) talk to these guys about giving you some money back!
Transferrring straight to Krakow
If you are flying to Warsaw and transferring straight to Krakow then follow the same instructions as before to Warsaw Central Station (Dworzec Centralny), where you can buy your tickets and board your train. The queues at the ticket booths can be pretty big, so keep an eye out for automated ‘fast ticket’ machines, which accept most major credit cards. Finally don’t forget to check our sister site Cracow Life, before you arrive. They can sort you out with all the hotels, tours and info you need!
OK. That about wraps up the basics for Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport. If you need more specific info you might want to check out the airport’s official site. Read about Krakow Airport on our sister site. Meanwhile, if there is something else you were looking for on this page but didn't find, please let us know!
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 | | "can anyone tell me if there is a left luggage office in the center of warsaw?
And is it open on sundays?" | oliver
Belgium
Apr.21.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "I have traveled to and from Poland several times coming in is ok. Leaving is another story, make sure you get there and plan to wait bunched in and crowded. The airport is very very small and the number of travlers is great as well as the number of airlines there. " | Cecilia
United States
Apr.19.2008
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "I have travelled to warsaw and found nothing wrong with airport, the only thing was i had to wait like maybe 15 min go tru passport control, by the time i've done that my luggage was waiting for me on the carousel, and to my suprise ma lagguage was intackt not like when I fly with Lufthansa, as soon as i get my lagguage I run to luggage claim kiosk to show them what they have done it.
I think this airport is booming and in few years from now it will be main airport in europe.
" | Derek
Canada
Mar.14.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "how can i rent a cheap car from the airport" | Marcin
United States
Mar.09.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Hi Claire, you can take the train from Warsaw to Krakow, it's the easiest and fastest way, and it goes from the main Warsaw train station (Warszawa Centralna) to the main Krakow train station (Krakow Glowny), both in the centre of the cities, and takes just under 3 hours." | Ania
Poland
Jan.09.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Could you please tell me the easiest way to travel to Krakow for Warsaw Airport. Made a big mistake flying from Warsaw, cant get tickets refunded so will have to live with it?" | claire
United Kingdom
Jan.08.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Be warned. If departing from Etiuda terminal there is no duty free shopping. on the check in side there is one stall selling drinks and cigarettes. once through check in the departure lounge has 2 vending machines, and thats it. just to let you know, if departing from here leave it as late as you can to check in and keep some change. this was the only minor blemish on 3 great nights in warsaw, so take note and plan for it." | steve
United Kingdom
Nov.19.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "What is the fastest way to get from Lodz to the Warsaw airport? Is there a direct bus?" | Clara
United Kingdom
Nov.18.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "We spent the weekend in Warsaw 12th - 14th October 2007. All arrivals were routed through Terminal 2 and all departures through Terminal 1 (except for the odd budget airline flight from the temporary Etiuda terminal).
There are no passenger facilities in Terminal 2 other than a few car hire desks. The Tourist information desk is in Terminal 1. The only way there was to walk around the outside of the Terminal 2 building to the right. This was difficult as there were pedestrian barriers in place.
Getting out through Terminal 1 on Sunday morning was horrendous. There were huge queues at the check-ins, which moved at a snail's pace. We stood in the queue for over an hour before getting to the check-in desk. There is no system of tapes and fences to channel the flow of people and enterprising Poles jumped to the head of the queue. [Incidentally, the one and only airport employee in the concourse had been retained by British airways to control their Heathrow queue.]
There is another long unregulated queue for the security screening. Signposting is poor and we stood in the first queue for a time before realising it was for Gates 4,5,6. We needed to walk past left up to the second queue (not visible when entering) for Gates 1,2,3. Again, no airport staff were present to guide passengers.
Two hours from arrival at the airport to get through security!
" | Peter
Ireland
Oct.14.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Please tell me how can I get to Hotel Harenda from the Airport (Frederik Chopin) with bus? Thank you" | Elena
Macedonia
Oct.14.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Hello, the train does not go from the airport. You will have to take a bus or cab to the main train station, Warszawa Centralna, and get a train from there. Train timetables can be found here: http://rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en" | Warsaw Life
Poland
Aug.14.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I need to take the Train from Warsaw airport to Ketrzyn. How do I do that? " | Petra
Netherlands
Aug.14.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i'll return warsaw at 1225 in 30 ,May.I must leave to krakaw,I have some questions;
can i handle my luggage in the bus which leaves to train station?
Is this possible not to catch a ticket in a certain time after standig in its query because of overloading?
" | mehdi mazaheri
Kuwait
May.25.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I have a flight scheduled from Warsaw to Krakow in the afternoon. My flight arrives from Moscow at 0955 hours. If I am in time, is it possible to take an earlier flight - approx. 1130 hours - the cost of these two tickets are the same and does not involve an upgrade." | Ken
Canada
May.17.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "please help me, at the warsaw airport which train is to the central railway station?" | Bulent
Ireland
May.12.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "George, there is a left luggage office that's open 24 hours, where you can leave luggage for 24h for 5 PLN." | Warsaw Life
Poland
May.09.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Thank you so very much for your reply. One more thing: Are there lockers or any other facilites at the airport where I could store my carry on luggage for a few hours? I wish to be able to walk in town without carrying luggage with me." | George Seawave
United States
May.07.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Hi, you can catch the 175 or the 188 into the city centre every ten minutes or so, or at night jump on the 611 and you'll get right to Warsaw Central Station (Dworzec Centralny). You don't need exact change to buy from the driver, but they likely won't have change for anything bigger than a 10 PLN bill." | Warsaw Life
Poland
May.07.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Question: do you need exact change to take the bus at the airport? I need a bus to take me into the city during my 7 hours layover in Warsaw. Which bus? can I leave small luggage at the airport? until what time can I catch the return bus from the old city to Chopin?" | George Seawave
United States
May.04.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "this is WARSAW OKECIE WARSAW OKECIE WARSAW OKECIE !!! wszyscy warszawiacy to wiedza....." | gosia
United Kingdom
Apr.10.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "The cheapest and easiest way to get to Krakow from the Warsaw airport would be to take the train like we recommend, as it takes only 2 hours and 45 minutes and runs just about every hour on the weekdays. And if you don't want to risk getting lost on the way or figuring out the Warsaw bus system, why not book a taxi to take you straight there? However, if you'd rather not leave the airport, one solution is the "Polski Express" coaches, which run directly and regularly between Warsaw and the biggest Polish towns. The bus stop is located on the Arrivals Hall level of the passenger terminal of Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport.
For more information about "Polski Express" services, call +48 (22) 844 55 55.
Be warned, however, that due to stops and speed limitations, the trip to Krakow could take up to 8 hours by bus. Another, though more expensive option is a direct airport transfer, which you can book through Warsaw Life's airport transfer. We hope that helps! - The Warsaw Life Team." | The Warsaw Life Team
Poland
Mar.19.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "AM ALSO LOOKING FOR A WAY TO TRAVEL FROM AIRPORT TO CRACOW" | CAROLINE
United States
Mar.14.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I am also looking for a direct way to get to Krakow from the Warsaw Airport - preferably by express bus. Is there an express bus available from the Airport and approximately how long is the trip." | Wendy
Canada
Mar.13.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Is there a way of getting from Warsaw Airport to Cracow without leaving the airport, like an airport shuttle bus. " | Julianne Barry
Ireland
Feb.27.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
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