Warsaw Travel Forum

Hi There! Need some help on my trip to Warsaw next week.
Where is the best place to change money, at the airport or in the City Centre? Are the rates the same no matter which place you go or is there a difference? I shall be staying at Premiere Class which I think is quite centrally located. Will it be within walking distance to cafes and shops? Is it convenient to take a bus to the EXPO Centre from my hotel? I am not planning on bringing too much cash but I read that credit card is still not readily accepted in cafes & restaurants. What about shops & malls can I use my credit cards there?
Thanks in advance for your help.

To your questions:

Where is the best place to change money, at the airport or in the City Centre?
The worst is at the airport. Get there the 30-35 Zloty you might need for the taxi from the airport. To the very center from your hotel it is about 1500 meters or 2 stops by tram or bus. At the airport you can buy "all day" or "3 days" ticket, good for all means of public transport in Warsaw for time stated from first use/validation.

Are the rates the same no matter which place you go or is there a difference?
No real difference between change points in the city center and around (they called "KANTOR" in Polish).

Will it be within walking distance to cafes and shops?
Yes. It is located by central junction in terms of public transpot.
The central train station is at the mid way to central roundabout of the city, with a lot of shops and places to eat etc.


...that credit card is still not readily accepted in cafes & restaurants.....
It depends. I guess in small cafe in remote neighborhood the owner will ask for cash only. It is not very acceptable to pay for small bill usin foregn card. Most restaurants (not small bars) will happily accept your card as long as it is 'visa' or 'mastercard', because 'amex' is not popular nor accepted in most places.

What about shops & malls can I use my credit cards there?
Yes. once again: visa or mastercard, no american-express.
It is not considered as good manners using it for small amount of money, less then several tens of dollars.


Is it convenient to take a bus to the EXPO Centre from my hotel?
Well, if you mean the expo center on Pradzynskiego St. it is about 20-12 min walking distance depends on how fast you walk and how tired you'll be after the show. Unfortunately, no direct bus from your hotel (actually, no bus at all to that place, only to the crossing small street about 100 meters from it).


Most ATMs in most places at the center are with English operating instructions and let you make money withdrawal with no problems. Again: most of them will refuse to 'american express' but no problems with 'visa' or 'mastercard'.