Safety & scams
Taxis in Poland: airport rides, apps and fair prices
Taxis in Poland are cheap by Western standards, and ride-hailing apps work in every big city. The only real risk is the unlicensed driver waiting for tourists at the airport or station – and he is easy to avoid.
The short answer
- Use an app – Uber, Bolt or FreeNow – or a licensed taxi from the official rank. Either way you will pay a fair price.
- Ignore anyone who approaches you in the arrivals hall or at the station offering a taxi.
- From the airports, the train is often the best option: cheap, fast and free of traffic.
- Pay in złoty, by card or in the app, and ask for a receipt (paragon) in a regular taxi.
From the airport to the city centre
| Airport | Train | Bus | Uber / Bolt | Licensed taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraków (KRK) | to Kraków Główny, about 20 min, 20 zł | 209 and 300 by day, 902 at night, 6 zł | about 40–50 zł, more at peak times | about 70–130 zł (official airport taxi: fixed fare, about 109–129 zł to the Old Town) |
| Warsaw Chopin (WAW) | S2, S3 or RL, about 20–25 min, standard city ticket | 175 by day, N32 at night, standard city ticket | usually 35–60 zł | about 35–60 zł |
| Warsaw Modlin (WMI) | shuttle bus plus Koleje Mazowieckie train, about 1 hour, about 20 zł combined ticket | direct buses, about 50 min, from 30–40 zł | about 100 zł | from 250 zł |
| Gdańsk (GDN) | PKM to Gdańsk Główny (sometimes a change at Wrzeszcz), about 30–45 min, local ticket | 210, local ticket | usually 40–60 zł | about 60–80 zł |
Prices are approximate and change during the year; app prices rise at busy times and late at night.
Kraków
The airport train (SKA1) leaves from a station connected to the terminal by a covered walkway and runs every 30 minutes for most of the day, hourly early in the morning and late at night. It takes about 20 minutes to Kraków Główny, next to the Old Town. Buy the ticket from the machine on the platform or on board and keep it until the end of the journey.
At night, or with heavy luggage, an app ride is usually the cheapest door-to-door option. The only official taxi at the airport is Kraków Airport Taxi, with fixed fares by distance – about 109–129 zł to the Old Town and Kazimierz, depending on the exact distance, whatever the time of day. It costs more than an app, but you always know the price in advance, and you can book it by phone (+48 12 258 0 258) or online.
Warsaw Chopin
Chopin is close to the city centre. Trains leave from the underground station below the terminal: S2 to Warszawa Śródmieście, S3 to Warszawa Gdańska (for the metro) and RL to Warszawa Centralna. Bus 175 runs from outside arrivals to the centre during the day; N32 replaces it at night. One ordinary Warsaw public transport ticket covers the trip – validate it as soon as you board.
Licensed taxis wait at the official rank outside arrivals. Bolt is the airport's recommended ride-hailing partner, with marked pick-up points in front of the arrivals hall.
Warsaw Modlin
Modlin, used mainly by Ryanair, is about 40 km north of Warsaw. The most reliable option is the shuttle bus to Modlin station and the Koleje Mazowieckie train to the centre, on a combined ticket that also covers Warsaw public transport. Direct buses and app rides are alternatives; a regular taxi is expensive. The road into Warsaw is often busy, so leave plenty of time for your flight home.
Gdańsk
PKM trains run from the airport station to Gdańsk Wrzeszcz and Gdańsk Główny, with connections to Sopot and Gdynia. Bus 210 is a slower alternative. The airport's official taxi partner is Neptun Taxi (+48 58 511 15 55), with a rank outside arrivals; fares are higher at night and at weekends.
Uber, Bolt and FreeNow
All three apps work in Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań and most other big cities, and they are what many locals use. They are usually cheaper than a regular taxi, the price is shown before you book, and you pay by card in the app – no language barrier and no arguments about the route.
- Prices go up at busy times: Friday and Saturday nights, rain, and when a big event ends.
- Check the number plate and the driver's name before you get in.
- Drivers working for the apps must have a taxi licence, so the ride is legal and insured.
Regular taxis
Licensed taxis have a roof sign, the company name and phone number on the side, and a sticker with the fares on the rear side window. The fare consists of a starting fee and a price per kilometre, which is higher at night, on Sundays and on public holidays and outside the city limits. Cities set maximum fares, so a licensed taxi with a working meter is never a rip-off.
- Take a taxi from the official rank or call a well-known company (or use its app) – see the list below.
- Check that the meter is switched on when you set off.
- Ask for a receipt (poproszę paragon) – licensed drivers must give you one.
- Pay in złoty. Most taxis accept cards; mention it before you set off if you need to pay by card.
Reliable taxi companies by city
All of these are licensed radio-taxi companies; most have an app and English-speaking dispatchers. Short numbers such as 19 191 work with the area code from a mobile phone.
| City | Company | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Kraków | Barbakan Taxi | +48 12 196 61 |
| Radio Taxi 919 | +48 12 191 91 | |
| iCar Taxi | +48 12 653 55 55 | |
| Radio Taxi Wawel | +48 12 266 66 66 | |
| Kraków Airport Taxi (airport only) | +48 12 258 0 258 | |
| Warsaw | MPT Radio Taxi | +48 22 19 191 |
| Super Taxi | +48 22 196 22 | |
| Halo Taxi | +48 22 196 23 | |
| Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia | Neptun Taxi | +48 58 511 15 55 or 19 686 |
| Hallo Taxi | +48 58 19 666 | |
| Wrocław | MPT Radio Taxi | +48 71 191 91 |
| Partner Taxi | +48 71 196 27 |
The city-wide apps iTaxi (Warsaw, Kraków and other cities) and FreeNow also send regular licensed taxis with a meter.
How taxi overcharging works – and how to avoid it
The classic trick is simple: a friendly man in the arrivals hall or outside the station asks “Taxi?”, takes your bag and drives you to the city in an unmarked car or a car with an unknown company name. At the end of the ride the price is several times the normal fare – sometimes because the meter is set to an expensive rate, sometimes simply because he names a price.
To avoid it:
- Never accept a ride from someone who approaches you. Walk to the official rank or order an app ride.
- Do not get into a car without a company name, phone number and fare sticker.
- If the price seems far too high, ask for a receipt and note the car number. You can report the driver to the city or the police (dial 112 in an emergency).
More on staying safe in our guides Is Poland safe?, Is Kraków safe? and Is Warsaw safe?.
Booking a transfer in advance
If you arrive late at night, with children or with a lot of luggage, a pre-booked transfer is the most relaxing option: the driver waits in arrivals with your name, and the price is fixed when you book. It costs more than an app ride, but for a group of three or four it can work out at a similar price per person.
How to book
- Book online a few days before you travel – or at least 24 hours ahead – giving your flight number, the number of passengers and bags, and your hotel address.
- Choose the right car: a standard car takes three or four people with luggage; book a minivan for five or more or for skis and pushchairs. Ask for a child seat if you need one.
- The driver tracks your flight, so a delay is not a problem. Most companies include 45–60 minutes of free waiting after landing.
- Look for your name on a sign in the arrivals hall. You will usually get the driver's phone number by text or in the app on the day.
- Check the cancellation policy – most allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up.
Where to book
| Airport | Official airport taxi | Online transfer services |
|---|---|---|
| Kraków (KRK) | Kraków Airport Taxi – fixed fares, book online or by phone | Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi, Transfeero |
| Warsaw Chopin (WAW) | Licensed taxi rank outside arrivals; Bolt pick-up points | Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi, Transfeero |
| Warsaw Modlin (WMI) | – | Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi |
| Gdańsk (GDN) | Neptun Taxi – +48 58 511 15 55 | Welcome Pickups, Kiwitaxi |
Many hotels also arrange airport pick-ups – ask when you book your room, and compare the price with an app ride.
Arriving late and hungry?
Most kitchens close by 22:00, but in every big city you can order food to your hotel or apartment until late at night with a delivery app such as Wolt or Glovo. The apps work in English, show the price up front and take card payments – handy after a late flight. More in our guide to food delivery in Poland.
Useful Polish
| English | Polish |
|---|---|
| To the city centre, please | Do centrum, poproszę |
| How much will it cost? | Ile to będzie kosztować? |
| Can I pay by card? | Czy mogę zapłacić kartą? |
| A receipt, please | Poproszę paragon |
| Stop here, please | Proszę się tu zatrzymać |
Sources
- Kraków Expats: Getting from Kraków Airport to the city (December 2025, updated October 2026) – train timetable and fares, buses, app and taxi prices
- In Your Pocket Warsaw: Warsaw Chopin Airport – trains, buses and taxis
- My Wanderlust: Modlin Airport to Warsaw (August 2026) – shuttle, train, bus, app and taxi prices
- In Your Pocket Gdańsk: Arriving by plane – trains, buses and the airport taxi
- Kraków Airport: Kraków Airport Taxi service – official taxi, fixed fares by zone
- Gdańsk Airport: Taxi – official partner Neptun Taxi
- Pasażer.com: Bolt recommended transport partner of Warsaw Chopin Airport (from June 2024)
- Taxi phone numbers: In Your Pocket city guides, World Travel Guide and company websites – check before you call
Prices and opening hours change – we re-check them regularly. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.