Weather conditions in Warsaw

Currently the temperature oscillates around zero Celsius, with temperature falling below zero at night. The weather forecasts for the period of the Scalars 2015 conference predict higher temperatures, about 7C during the day and 2C during the night. The weather in December in Poland is subject to dynamical changes so some rains should be expected. It is advised to have an umbrella, a thick jacket or coat and waterproof shoes.

The current forecast can be found e.g. using the Accuweather web page.

Visas

Participants requiring a visa to visit Poland are advised to apply for one at Polish consulate well in advance.

Arriving by plane

Warsaw Chopin Airport:

Warsaw is served mainly by the Frederic Chopin airport located within the city limits, 10 km from the city center. Bus lines number 148, 175 and 188, and a train line connect the airport with the nearby residential districts and the city center.

Bus

The best way to get to the city center is to take a bus number 175 from the airport. Trip to the Central Railway Station (located at the city center) takes about 28 min (you have to get off at the stop DW. CENTRALNY). To get to the Ochota Campus of the University of Warsaw (the conference site) you should take bus number 175 or 188, and get off at the stop BANACHA-SZPITAL. The trip takes about 16-20 minutes, depending on traffic.

For the detailed information about the tariff in the public transport see below, or consult this web page.

Many hotels can be reached by bus number 175: "Polonia Palace", "Metropol", "Novotel Centrum" (stop CENTRUM), "Mariott", "Hampton by Hilton" (stop DW. CENTRALNY), "Campanile Varsovie", "Premiere Classe Varsovie", "Golden Tulip", "Radisson Blu Sobieski" (stop PL. ZAWISZY).

Please note that pickpocketers tend to be an issue on airport buses.

Train

Another way of reaching the city center is by train, line S2. The train station is very close to the terminals, it can be found by following the signs. The station located in the center is called WARSZAWA ŚRÓDMIEŚCIE, the trip to the center takes about 30 minutes. To go from the center to the conference site, you need to take tram number 7, 9 or 25 or bus 175 or 128 at the stop CENTRUM and go to the stop OCH-TEATR (BANACHA-SZPITAL in case of buses), the trip takes approximately 11 minutes. The tarifs are the same as in the buses, see below.

Taxi

Taxis are available directly at the exit doors of all terminals (transport offered by unauthorized persons is neither cheap nor safe). Taxi prices vary between the companies (2 - 3 PLN/km day rate, with 50% late night and weekend surcharge). Taxi can be also ordered by phone: 19191 (MPT Taxi), 22 6777777(Merc Taxi), 22 6444444 (Sawa Taxi).

Warsaw/Modlin Airport:

In the neighbourhood of Warsaw, 35 km from the city, there is also Modlin Airport, where Ryanair operates.

Getting from the Modlin airport to the center of Warsaw takes about 45 minutes. To get to the city center you can take a shuttle bus from the airport, go by train (but than you have to take a bus to get to the train station) or take a taxi.

Shuttle bus

The connection with a shuttle bus costs around 28 PLN one way. The tickest can be purchased on-line, at the airport or in the bus. The timetable can be found here (the second page of the document is in Englis). The bus stops in the city center, next to the Palace of Culture and Science. To get to the conference site, you need to walk to the bus stop CENTRUM and take tram number 7, 9 or 25 or bus 175 or 128 and go to the stop OCH-TEATR (BANACHA-SZPITAL in case of buses), the trip takes approximately 11 minutes.

Train

The connection with the train costs about 20 PLN one way. First, you have to take a bus to the train station, and then take a train. The ticket can be purchased in the arrival hall of the airport. The busses and trains are synchronised, the schedule can be found here. The train stops at the central station ("Warszawa Centralna"). To get from here to the conference site you should take tram number 7, 9 or 25 or bus 175 or 128 at the stop DW. CENTRALNY and go to the stop OCH-TEATR (BANACHA-SZPITAL in case of buses), the trip takes approximately 10 minutes.

Taxi

You can also take a taxi, there are two companies approved by the airport: SAWA TAXI and TAXI MODLIN. The fares for the travel from the airport to the city are fixed in these companies. A trip from Modlin airport to the city center costs (6 a.m. - 12 a.m.) 159 PLN, it takes 35-40 minutes.

Arriving by train

Warsaw main railway station Warszawa Centralna is located in the city center, with many bus and tram routes connecting it directly with all parts of the city. In particular buses number 175, 128 and 504, and trams number 7, 9, 25 go directly to the Ochota campus of the University of Warsaw (the conference site, stop OCH-TEATR). The trip takes about 10 minutes. The taxi stand can be found by following the signs on the platforms and along the underground passages.

Public transport in Warsaw

The public transport in Warsaw consists of buses, trams, one subway line and commuter trains. In all of these means of transport the same tariff applies. The tickets can be purchased in vending machines located at the stops, at newsstands, vending machines in selected busses (especially those going to and from the airport) or from the driver (exact amout of money is needed). The tickets have to be validated at the beggining of the journey! The following tickets can be useful:

single fare ticket (4,40 PLN) -- entitles to an unlimited number of journeys for a period not exceeding 75 minutes from its validation or to a single journey to a stop or station which is the last on the route (this ticket will be useful for the connection between the airport and the city center)
20-minute ticket (3,40 PLN) -- entitles to unlimited number of journeys within 20 minutes from validation
1-day ticket (15 PLN) -- entitles to unlimited number of journeys for 24 hours from its validation
Weekend ticket (24 PLN) -- entitles to unlimited number of journeys from 7:00 PM on Friday till 8:00 AM on Monday
Group weekend ticket (40 PLN) -- entitles a group of up to 5 people to unlimited number of journeys from 7:00 PM on Friday till 8:00 AM on Monday

A useful tool to search public transport connections is jakdojade.pl, also available as an application for smartphones.