Car Hire at Warsaw Airport

Airport travel guide

The capital of Poland, Warsaw is also the country’s main hub of culture, commerce and entertainment. While the city has a wealth of historic landmarks and interesting museums to explore, the region that surrounds it is sometimes overlooked by foreign visitors. But for those looking to broaden their horizons, a number of interesting and underrated destinations are just a short ride away and can be visited as part of a day-trip. Here’s our pick of them:

• Kampinos National Park. Located just a 40-minute drive northwest of the capital, Kampinos is one of the nicest wilderness areas in the Warsaw area. Made up of a primeval forest, as well as extensive wetlands and sand dunes, the park provides home to a large variety of flora and fauna species including moose, lynx, and beavers.
• Plock. A medium-sized city in the Masovia region which it shares with Warsaw, Plock is home to some fascinating history. It was the capital of Poland in the 11th and 12th centuries and remained an important centre for years to come. Sitting on the right bank of the River Vistula, it boasts the impressive gothic Castle of Masovian Dukes, the Plock Cathedral, and one of the prettiest city halls in the country. About 110 km (68 miles) northwest of Warsaw, Plock can be reached in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Lodz. A historic centre of textile-making and other industries, Lodz used to be absent from most Polish travel brochures. Although one of the largest cities in the country, it experienced a couple of rough decades following Poland’s transition from socialism and didn’t have a reputation for being a tourist hotspot. Over the last 10 years, though, Lodz has been working hard to shed its previous image — and, according to many, it has done a great job. The city is home to Piotrkowska Street, one of the longest urban boulevards in Europe which is now lined with cafeterias, galleries, and museums. Visitors also love its well-preserved Old Market Square and the Poznanski Palace and Museum, while Litzmannstadt Ghetto offers a history lesson on the plight of Poland’s Jewish community. The city is also home to a Textiles Museum dedicated to its working-class roots. Located some 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Warsaw, Lodz takes 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach.
• Białowieża. Located in the northeastern part of Poland on the border with Belarus, Białowieża is famous for its old-growth forest which is one of the oldest in Europe. One of the very few woodlands in the world that have received a UNESCO World Heritage designation, it is also a national park home to many species of wildlife, the most famous of which is the European bison. Most of the protected area can only be visited with a tour guide. Located some 235 km (146 miles) from the capital, Białowieża takes three hours to reach. It might be a stretch to visit it as a day trip — although many travellers do so — but there are also a number of cottages and cabins near the national park and in the surrounding villages.

Top international routes

• Amsterdam
• Frankfurt
• Vienna
• Munich
• London
• Paris
• Krakow
• Gdansk
• Wroclaw
• Copenhagen

Main airlines

LOT Polish Airlines, Small Planet Airlines Poland, Wizz Air, Enter Air, Lufthansa, and British Airways

Terminals

There’s a single passenger terminal, Terminal A, divided into a South Hall and North Hall. These are in the same building complex, and it’s possible to walk from one to the other.

Location

The airport is about 8 km (5 miles) from downtown Warsaw. Motorways 634 and 631 are the main roads connecting Warsaw Airport to the city.

Most popular types of hire car

• Small cars - starting at US$4 per day
• Medium cars - starting at US$5 per day
• SUVs - starting at US$5 per day
• Station wagons - starting at US$5 per day
• Large cars - starting at US$14 per day
• Premium cars - starting at US$49 per day
• People Carriers - starting at US$45 per day

Car hire desks

Most are located in the arrivals hall.

Services and facilities

You’ll find many shops and stores, pubs, cafeterias, currency exchanges, and ATMs. There are also three lounges, a lost and found office, baby care facilities, children’s play areas, and a chapel. There are luggage lockers in the arrivals area, on the sidewalk behind the bus stop. The storage fee is charged per 24-hour. period. Keep in mind that the locker machines do not return change. Many of the Warsaw Airport facilities are friendly to travelers with reduced mobility.

Nearest petrol station

Orlen petrol station, located right outside the airport at Jamesa Gordona Bennetta 2B, can be reached in less than five minutes and is open 24/7. There are other petrol stations nearby.

Popular one-way hires

• Lodz (137 km / 85 miles)
• Poznan (312 km / 194 miles)
• Gdansk (417 km / 259 miles)
• Krakow (286 km / 178 miles)
• Lublin (176 km / 109 miles)
• Wroclaw (355 km / 221 miles)
• Katowice (292 km / 181 miles)
• Bialystok (221 km / 137 miles)