Auto Europe
Car hire in Warsaw – Visiting the Heart of Poland
One of Europe's fastest-growing capitals, Warsaw is a dynamic city that widely reflects Poland's thriving, independent spirit. Its architectural riches are wide-ranging, with preserved medieval churches standing side-by-side with ultra-modern glass edifices that boldly punctuate the Warsaw skyline. A wander through Warsaw's medieval town square affords visitors the chance to marvel at the city's eclectic mix of Gothic, Neoclassical, Baroque and Renaissance buildings, many of which somehow withstood the relentless pounding the capital received during World War II.
Warsaw offers endless options for exploration, from a long weekend spent discovering its enchanting Old Town to a series of extended day trips around the city's breathtakingly scenic environs, where many old castles and historic villages can be visited. And with a car hire in Warsaw you'll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds by having a quick and comfortable way of visiting this fascinating city combined with the opportunity to appreciate central Poland's incredibly diverse landscapes, which ranges from ancient forests to jagged mountains covered by snow for much of the year.
Founded in 1954, Auto Europe has long been one of the industry’s top vehicle rental companies now offering more than 28,000 pick-up/drop-off locations in over 190 popular destinations around the world, including Warsaw. We work with all the leading local and global car rental suppliers and in doing so are proud to be able to offer our many customers the very best choice of vehicles at the lowest rates in summer and all other times of the year. Book online now or ask our rental specialists for assistance and they will be very happy to find you the most competitive price on the market.
In order to be absolutely sure that you are making the right choice of supplier, it's always worth taking a look at the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe's other customers visiting the city on our Warsaw car hire reviews page to give you even more peace of mind.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Warsaw, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
| Suppliers | Car Hire FAQs | Travel Guide |
Where to pick up a car hire in Warsaw
Auto Europe has achieved its strong market position by working with all the top car hire providers around the world. We are proud to be able to offer you the widest choice of locations in Warsaw and all other popular destinations in Poland, which means that you can pick up your vehicle at the airport, train station or in the heart of the city centre and be on your way in no time. Our state-of-the-art booking engine facilitates an extensive search to help you find the best vehicle and the most suitable pick-up point for your trip. Just key in your dates and select your car category and provider and an interactive map will come up with all the available locations for car rental in Warsaw.
Warsaw Chopin Airport
Warsaw Airport (also known as Warsaw Chopin Airport, after the great composer) is conveniently situated in the Wlochy district just ten kilometres south-west of the city centre. Inaugurated in 1934, it operates with one large passenger terminal divided into two sections which hosts around fifty major airlines and some 300 daily flights to and from a wide selection of both international and domestic destinations. The car hire supplier desks can be found in the arrivals hall after exiting bagage claim and cars are picked up and returned at level 0 of the P1 parking ground.
Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
Website: lotnisko-chopina.pl
Address: Żwirki i Wigury 1, Ocesi, Warsaw, Poland
Telephone: +48 22 650 42 20
Warsaw Modlin Airport
Located 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the Polish capital, Warsaw Modlin Airport is a busy international airport that mostly caters for low-cost traffic. Originally built for military purposes in 1937, today it features a modern passenger terminal comprising both the Arrivals and Departures halls, plus a wide range of on-site facilities and amenities. The car hire supplier desks can be found in the arrivals hall with pick-up and return of vehicles located at the P1 car park.
Warsaw Modlin Airport (WMI)
Website: modlinairport.pl
Address: Generała Wiktora Thommée 1a, 05-102 Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Poland
Telephone: +48 22 315 18 80
Warsaw Central Train Station
Featuring an innovative design, Warsaw Central Train Station (Warszawa Centralna) is the largest and busiest railway hub in the country. Located in the centre of the city (hence its name), it provides good access to the rest of Warsaw by means of the capital's extensive public transport system. A regular train service connects the station with Warsaw Chopin Airport (the city's main international gateway) on the S2 line which departs from the passenger terminal and operates with a journey time of around twenty minutes.
Warsaw Central Train Station
Website: wtp.waw.pl
Address: Al. Jerozolimskie 54, Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
Telephone: +48 22 474 40 86
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Warsaw
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 190 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
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Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Warsaw
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Warsaw. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please call our reservations team for assistance and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Warsaw?
Yes. You will need a valid credit card to rent a car in Warsaw. The reason for this is that the local car hire supplier will want to place a hold on the value of the deductible for the vehicle they are renting you for the duration of your rental, the amount of which is promptly returned to the card once the vehicle has been returned undamaged. All main credit cards are accepted, i.e. Visa, Mastercard, Diners and American Express, and the card must be in the name of the main driver. Please note that two major credit cards (both in the name of the main driver) might be required for vehicles in the Luxury category due to the high value of vehicles. You can easily check which card is acceptable for your car hire in Warsaw when making a quick search in our booking engine. All you need to do is choose your preferred car hire category/supplier before clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) and all the credit card-related info will pop up. For more information, please read our dedicated our blog posts on credit card and the six most important things to know about credit cards and deposits before your trip.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Warsaw?
Please be aware that when you search for car rental in Warsaw on the Auto Europe website, you'll find that all our rates automatically comprise the minimum amount of legally-required coverage, including TP (Theft Protection) and CDW (Collision Damage Waiver), either with or without excess (depending on which car rental company you book with). It's important to note that CDW doesn't cover every part of the vehicle, for which it is always best to purchase our Full Damage & Theft Protection policy which provides extensive coverage for extra peace of mind.
All the coverage information relevant to your car hire in Warsaw can easily be found when you make your initial search in the Auto Europe booking engine. After selecting your dates, destination and preferred car and supplier, please click on the blue and white info icon (i) where you’ll find the all the coverage details, along with CDW Deductible, Theft Insurance Deductible and Liability Insurance. Please note that this same information is accessible in the Terms & Conditions whenever you make a search or confirm your reservation. You can find more details in our complete car hire coverage blog post. Please also consult our dedicated car hire coverage page six-part car hire coverage guide for an overview of what to be aware of when making your booking.
How is the traffic in Warsaw?
Four extensive European motorways (E-roads) pass through Warsaw under the unofficial Via Baltica road system. Generally speaking, travelling east–west is much easier than it was in the 2000s, with Warsaw now connected to Polish-German border. Be aware of the fact that Polish drivers often drive faster than the official speed limit, including truck drivers. Weekday traffic in Warsaw tends to remain busy until late in the night, plus it is always best to avoid peak rush-hour times (both morning and evening) when visiting the city with your car rental in Warsaw because the traffic tends to be heavily congested. When the rush hour is over, driving in Warsaw is quite fast and less stressful. Cars drive on the right-hand side of the road in Poland. Please visit our Poland Driving Guide to familiarise yourself with the local traffic rules. Thanks to the new express way and motorway network, travellers can now easily reach other major Polish cities like Gdańsk, Kraków or Wrocław.
Where can I park my car hire in Warsaw?
In Warsaw, zones for unguarded paid parking are located in several districts: City Centre, Wola, Mokotów, Ochota, Żoliborz, Praga Północ and Praga Południe. Unguarded paid parking zones are in effect from Monday to Friday between 8.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m. (excluding 2 May, 24 and 31 December). On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays parking is free. You can pay for parking at the parking meter (payment is possible with coins and cards) or using the mobile payment system using apps such as MobiParking, moBILET and Flowbird, etc. Please note that there is a 2-hour parking limit for downtown parking Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm In Warsaw, parking machines accept cash (coins only, no change given back) – or cards. If you pay using the parking machine, you need to enter the plate number before inserting the coins until you reach the required parking time and then press the green button. If you pay with a card, you need to enter the parking time before accepting it and inserting the card, after which the ticket is printed (please note that there is no need to put the parking ticket behind the windscreen). Fee collection control is carried out remotely via an e-control system. Beside on-street parking, Warsaw has a number of large car parks in the city centre, such as the one at Arkadia Westfield Shopping Mall (the largest of its kind in central Europe) which offers free parking to its customers. Alternatively, there are several Park&Ride car parks in the city that allow visitors to park their car rental in Warsaw free of charge provided they buy a public transport ticket.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Warsaw?
A large portion of Polish motorways are toll roads but you do not need to purchase a vignette because there are toll gates along the motorways for toll collection. A few of the motorways connect Warsaw with other parts of Poland and the borders of other neighbouring countries. The main toll roads in Poland are the A1, A2, A4 and A8 and you pay directly at the gates. A new system called e-TOLL began in 2021 to replace the previous viaTOLL system. The main toll roads in Warsaw and other parts of Poland are the A1 (Rusocin, Stanisławie, Swarożyn, Pelplin, Kopytkowo, Warlubie, Nowe Marzy, Lisewo, Lubicz and Nowa Wieś), the A2 (Konin, Września, Poznań and Nowy Tomyśl) and the A4 (Katowice, Myslowice, Jaworzno, Chrzánóv, Kreszowice and Kraków). Payment is collected using two different systems, the open system with the amount depending on the type of vehicle and the closed system where payment is collected at toll booths situated on access roads, junctions and final motorway sections, with the amount depending on the type of vehicle and the distance covered.
Warsaw Travel Guide
Full of intrigue and endless charm, Warsaw's beauty often surprises first-time visitors whose expectations are sometimes low after the city's destruction during World War II. Today the city ranks as one of Europe’s most exciting cultural and culinary centres with dozens of new attractions and stylish eating establishments having opened their doors in recent years. Warsaw’s admirable regeneration continues as people flock to the city from all four corners of the globe to savour the old-world but somehow fashionable atmosphere of Poland's vibrant capital.
Best day trips with my car rental in Warsaw
Warsaw and the Mazovian district of central-eastern Poland covers a vast area and accounts for a large percentage of the population. There's much for the touring visitor to see and do here, including many castles, palaces and historic villages. For those planning to go further on a road trip of Poland, we suggest a one-way car hire which will allow for extra freedom and flexibility. You might also want to take advantage of Auto Europe's popular Free Additional Driver offers so that you can relax more by share the driving with a friend of family member.
Kozienice
This charming town 90 kilometres from Warsaw is full of royal Polish history. Located at the edge of a vast wilderness, it is famous for its palace, royal springs and many other reminders of the country's regal past. Kozienice became one of King Wladyslaw II Jagiello's favorite retreats and he founded a church there in 1394. King Sigismund I the Old was born there in 1467 and a monument to the great man (erected in 1518) is the oldest non-religious monument in Poland.
Kampinos National Park
Located on the north-western outskirts of Warsaw, Kampinos National Park is situated at Poland's biggest river junction where the valleys of Wkra, Vistula, Bzura, Bug and Narew all meet. The park's flora is particularly rich with around 1,245 different species of plants, many of which are protected.
Zelazowa Wola
Fans of classical music won't want to miss the chance to visit the lovely village of Zelazowa Wola, the place where Frédéric François Chopin was born on the 1st of March 1810. His house is now a museum with a vast collection of memorabilia (the world's largest) linked to the great composer’s life and work, including portraits, musical manuscripts, notebooks and Chopin’s last piano.
Inowlodz
Located a 90-minute drive to the south-west of Warsaw, Inowlodz is one of the oldest towns in Poland and was first mentioned in documents dating back to 1145. By then, the town already had it's own church, fair and even a pub! The history of its Roman Catholic church (of Saint Giles) stretches back almost a thousand years to 1082. Today the town is a popular day-trip destination for visitors to Warsaw, for whom a lunch of traditional Polish fare awaits.
What to do in Warsaw
With a history dating back more than 1,400 years, Warsaw offers its growing number of visitors a wealth of tourism appeal, from the Old Town (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to the preserved remains of the Second World War–era Jewish Ghetto. The city's expanding arts scene is culturally entwined with several high-profile architectural projects which in turn have spawned a series of museum openings throughout the centre.
- Royal Castle: Now a state museum and national historical monument, Warsaw's magnificent Royal Castle formerly served as the official royal residence of several Polish kings. It also witnessed many important events in Poland's volatile history, including the Constitution of the 3rd of May 1791, the first of its kind in Europe. Today's its sprawling interior comprises many different sections, including the Lanckoroński Collection featuring two famous portraits by Rembrandt.
- St John's Archcathedral: Originally built in the 14th century in Masovian Gothic style, Warsaw's iconic St John's Archcathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Warsaw and one of Poland's national pantheons. The last Polish monarch, King Stanisław August Poniatowski, is buried in the crypt and there are many chapels, gravestones and epitaphs in the cathedral, including the Baryczka Chapel (which houses a rare wooden crucifix), the Chapel of Whipped Christ (dating back to 15th century) and the Baptistery most notable for its valuable 17th century baptismal.
- Copernicus Science Centre: Nestling on the bank of the River Vistula, the Copernicus Science Centre is the ultimate family attraction and one of the best of its kind in Europe. It offers a wide range of activities for every age group, with several mind-bending puzzles and top-notch interactive displays (over 450 in total) to amuse and educate the kids. The centre's permanent display is divided into six sections, namely On the Move, Humans and the Environment, Buzzz! (preschool gallery), Lightzone, Roots of Civilization and RE: Generation (young adults' gallery).
- Market Place: The oldest part of Warsaw is the Old Town Market Place which dates back to the 13th century. This charming part of the city centre is a fine mix of medieval architecture featuring several Renaissance and Gothic buildings, many of them merchant houses from days gone by. Standing proud in the middle of the square, the 19th-century bronze statue of a mermaid wielding a sword has been adopted as a striking symbol of Warsaw. The Market Place is home to numerous bars, cafés, restaurants, souvenir stalls and street-food stalls selling traditional Polish fare. The square is also home to some of the city's top museums, including the Historical Museum of Warsaw (home to one of Poland's best art collections) and the Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature, which pays tribute to the country's most famous writer and poet.
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