Arriving

By plane

There are two airports in Warsaw: Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) and Modlin Aiport (WMI).
Out of the two, WAW is a far better option, since getting to the city from the Modlin Airport is quite long and arduous. Warsaw Chopin Airport is only a 15-minute taxi ride away from the venue. See the section below for directions.

Getting from the airport (CHOPIN) to the city

If you want to get a cab, there should be plenty outside Arrivals hall. The trip to city center should cost ~ 40 PLN. Make sure that you use one of the recommended taxi corporations.

Chopin Airport has a convenient train connection with city center, served by two SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska – Fast Urban Railway) lines: S2 (to WARSZAWA ŚRÓDMIEŚCIE) and S3 (to WARSZAWA CENTRALNA). Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines placed at bus stops and next to the train station entrance. A train ride to city center should take 25-30 minutes. For this trip, you should purchase a single fare ticket for 4.40 PLN.

Your other option is to hop onto a bus. Line 175 will take you to the city center in about 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic. You should get off at DW. CENTRALNY stop. Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines placed at bus stops or at the Passenger Information Point in the arrivals hall. For this trip, you should purchase a single fare ticket for 4.40 PLN.

By train

Leave the train at Warsaw Central Station – it’s in the center of the city, so ~20 minutes to the venue.

Public transport

Subway

We have just a single subway line, which somewhat eliminates confusion. You can either go south (direction: Kabaty) or north (direction: Młociny). It’s the fastest and most comfortable means of transport in Warsaw and probably your best bet for getting to the venue from the center. From city center, you should take the Kabaty train.

Trams & Buses

The city has a robust network of trams and buses. Trams are much faster than buses (not to mention less crowded and more pleasant in general), so pick those if you can.

Tickets

A single ticket costs 4.40 PLN (~1.10€, ~$1.30) – it is valid for 75 minutes for as many transfers as you want. Student tickets are half price (don’t forget to take your student id with you). You can buy them from ticket machines at most stations, in kiosks, or sometimes even in buses or trams. It would be best to buy them at the airport, if you’re coming by air. Important: do remember that you have to validate your tickets by putting them in the ticket puncher on the tram/bus (or subway gate), and have them with you at all times.

Public transport mobile app

Download the supremely useful JakDojade app (Android/iOS) to your device, or just use its mobile website. It works similarly to CityMapper, showing you how to best utilize the transportation system to get where you need. Note that it works online.

Taxi

Taxis in Warsaw are rather cheap with the exception of those at the airport or train station. It is better to call one of the taxi companies below (you don’t have to do so at Chopin Airport, just take one waiting outside the airport), otherwise there is a chance that the driver will try to charge you more than is proper. 1 km should cost you less than 3 PLN (daytime), so including the staring cost, a ride from Chopin Airport to the conference venue (8.5 km) should cost somewhere between 22-27 PLN (~6€, ~$8) – if the price is greater than 35 PLN, request a bill and check if the addresses of Chopin Airport and SGGW (if going straight to the venue) are entered properly.

Recommended taxi companies:

iTaxi iPhone/Android application (you can choose cash/credit card in the settings)
Sawa Taxi: +48226444444 (they accept credit cards)
Wawa Taxi: +48229644 (you need cash unless you tell them that you’re paying via card while ordering)

SIM Card / Prepaid Data Plan

Sim card starter sets are cheap and sold pretty much everywhere.

You can pick whichever mobile provider you want, but we generally recommend Play (whose logo is a purple-white blob) as a safe bet. It costs 5 PLN (~1.2€, ~$1.5).