Warsaw Taxi Fares: Official Caps and Passenger Rights
The essentials: Warsaw has a single taxi fare zone covering the whole city, with maximum prices set by the city council. Per the City of Warsaw, drivers may charge at most 10 zł to start, 5 zł per kilometre in the daytime tariff (weekdays 6:00-22:00), 7.50 zł per kilometre at night, on Sundays and holidays, and 50 zł per hour of waiting. The taximeter or app reading is what you pay; the driver must always issue a receipt.
Photo: Bravada, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). a taxi waiting by the Marriott hotel in central Warsaw.
The maximum tariffs
Taxi prices in Warsaw are capped by city council resolution, and drivers may not charge more than the maximum rates. Per the City of Warsaw's transport office, the caps are: 10 zł initial fee covering the hire of the cab (all tariffs); 5 zł per kilometre in tariff 1, which applies on weekdays from 6:00 to 22:00; and 7.50 zł per kilometre in tariff 2 - fifty percent higher - which applies on weekdays from 22:00 to 6:00, all day on Sundays and public holidays, on 24 and 31 December, and on the Saturday before Easter from 19:00. Waiting time costs at most 50 zł per hour in all tariffs.
One zone, no return fee
All of Warsaw forms a single fare zone, so there is no surcharge for crossing district lines. The driver may not add an extra charge for the so-called return - the trip back from where you get out to the cab's original stand. The fare is whatever the taximeter or the mobile app shows.
Your rights as a passenger
Per the city, the driver must take the shortest route unless you ask for a different one, must always give you a receipt (and an invoice on request), and must tell you if the tariff changes from day to night mid-trip and switch the meter accordingly. The receipt is the basis for any complaint about an improperly performed ride; complaints go to the City of Warsaw or the 19 115 city contact centre. The current caps were set by council resolutions of 4 July 2024 and 29 August 2024.
FAQ
How much is a taxi per kilometre in Warsaw?
At most 5 zł per kilometre on weekdays 6:00-22:00, and 7.50 zł per kilometre at night (22:00-6:00), on Sundays and public holidays, per the City of Warsaw's maximum tariff. The initial fee is capped at 10 zł.
Can a Warsaw taxi charge more than the meter?
No. The city states the taximeter or app reading is the fare, and drivers may not charge above the maximum rates or add a fee for the return trip.
Do Warsaw taxis have to give a receipt?
Yes. Per the City of Warsaw, the driver must always issue a receipt and, on request, an invoice. The receipt is the basis for complaints, which can be filed with the city or via the 19 115 contact centre.
Sources
Follow Warsaw Daily on Instagram
Daily Warsaw news, events, concerts and city tips in English: @warsawdailynews
Related articles
Museum of Independence Warsaw: Hours, Tickets and Branches
The Muzeum Niepodleglosci tells the story of Poland's road to independence from five Warsaw locations. Current opening hours, ticket prices and free-admission Thursdays, per the museum.
Hala Mirowska: Warsaw's Historic Market Hall on Plac Mirowski
Twin market halls raised at the turn of the 20th century, rebuilt after the war and protected as a monument since 1986. The history of Warsaw's most famous market, per the city.
Bazar na Kole: Warsaw's Sunday Antiques Market on Obozowa
Farmers on Tuesdays and Fridays, antiques and bric-a-brac on Sundays - the Wola bazaar where collectors, dealers and strollers hunt for lamps, ceramics and old clocks. Per the City of Warsaw.