Warsaw Vistula Ferries and the Kopernik Cruise: A Guide
The essentials: Warsaw's free Vistula ferries - W1 Slonka, W2 Pliszka and W3 Wilga, plus the Dudek crossing outside the tourist system - normally run from 1 May to 20 September, daily in July and August. The 2026 season ended on 20 September. WTP's page still carries an undated notice from the season: W1-W3 and the Kopernik sightseeing ship were suspended until further notice due to low water levels in the Vistula.
Photo: Wojtek S., Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0). A ferry crossing the Vistula in Warsaw.
Few Warsaw pleasures beat crossing the Vistula by ferry on a summer day - a few minutes of river chill between the boulevards and the beaches of the right bank. The service is run by Warszawski Transport Publiczny (WTP).
Season over - and a suspension notice
The 2026 season ended on 20 September, and no ferries run outside the season. WTP's page still carries an undated notice from the season: the W1, W2 and W3 ferries and the Kopernik sightseeing ship were suspended until further notice due to low water levels in the Vistula. Whether the disruption affected the whole 2026 season is not stated; check the WTP pages when the 2027 season approaches.
The normal season
In a regular season the ferries run on weekends and public holidays from 1 May to 20 September, and daily from 1 July to 31 August. The crossings are free: W1 Slonka links Cypel Czerniakowski with Saska Kepa beach, W2 Pliszka runs from the Poniatowski Bridge to Poniatowka beach, and W3 Wilga connects Podzamcze with the beach by the ZOO. A fourth crossing, Dudek, links Mlociny with Tarchomin outside the tourist-lines system.
The Kopernik cruise
The sightseeing ship Kopernik normally sails from Karski Boulevard in Podzamcze towards the Gruba Kaska water intake tower and back - a cruise of about 1.5 hours for up to 81 passengers, Thursday to Sunday in season, with departures at 12:00, 13:40 and 15:20.
Accessibility
Each ferry has one space for a wheelchair user. Passengers needing assistance should contact WTP at +48 22 459 42 31 (Monday to Friday, 8:00-16:00) no later than one working day before the cruise.
FAQ
Are the Warsaw Vistula ferries running now?
No. The 2026 season ended on 20 September, and WTP's page still carries an undated in-season notice that the W1, W2 and W3 ferries and the Kopernik sightseeing ship were suspended until further notice due to low water levels. The normal season runs 1 May to 20 September.
How much do Warsaw Vistula ferries cost?
They are free. Four crossings link the banks: W1 Slonka, W2 Pliszka, W3 Wilga and the Dudek crossing, the last outside the Warsaw Tourist Lines system.
What is the Kopernik ship in Warsaw?
A WTP sightseeing ship that normally cruises from Podzamcze towards the Gruba Kaska water intake tower and back - about 1.5 hours, up to 81 passengers, Thursday to Sunday in season. It was also suspended in the 2026 season under the same low-water notice.
Sources
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