Originally Posted by milepig

You all are great - in Warsaw now, waiting for my flight.

Here's what I found.

Upon arrival - Schengen or non-Schenger - all pax will eventually enter into the same area, with Schengen bypassing Immigration. From there follow the signs "To City".

You'll pass through baggage claim and then exit via customs, and you'll be out in the terminal. I decided to check my bag and am glad I did as I didn't see anyplace for "left luggage" although I didn't look terribly hard.

You'll find a Bankomat to your left once in the terminal, if you want cash. Once you have Polish Currency go back the way you came and as you're nearing the end of the terminal you'll see a train/bus information desk on the left (look for the RED storefront). The person there will sell you a day pass using either cash or a credit card. They also have free maps. Both the airport and city are zone 1, so it will be PL15, and there was no surcharge to buy from a person. This I learned the hard way.

What did I do instead? I went outside and found a ticket machine, which does take currency, but not PL50, which is what the Bankomat dispensed (I think the ticket machine only takes 5 and 10 notes and coins, maybe a 20??). It also takes credit cards, but every card I tried failed, even those with a PIN. I got as far as entering my PIN and then got "refused." Had you been watching, at this point you would have seen a very frustrated Milepig hopping up and down and muttering Mein Gott in Himmel along with a few f-bombs.

So back into the terminal to buy a coke or something to break the 50, which is when I found the train/bus desk I'd passed before, where the person happily took my 50.

Back out to find the bus, which meant following the signs with pictures of trains and buses, or so I thought. After a bit of a walk I found myself at the motor coach/shuttle bus terminal, not the city buses. I was not alone, there were about 5 of us all looking puzzled - more "Mein Gotts" ensued.

Finally I see a sign that says "Autobus" pointing BACK toward the terminal where we found the stops almost outside the door - look for the red shelters toward your right as you exit. Why this wasn't signposted FROM the terminal remains a mystery.

All sorted, the 175 rocks, don't forget to run your pass through the machine on the bus the first time. Right to city center and then to the old city in only a few minutes. I can't imagine why anyone would take the train and then transfer to the 175 in the city, no need. I found the route fascinating, a big wide road (boulevard, really) lined with trees and greenery until we were almost in the city center. Once you turn onto Nowy Swiat you'll be on a very nice shopping stretch (as described above) but rather than exiting then I stayed on until University, which is one stop from the end of the line.

All you need to do is continue walking in the direction the bus was traveling. You'll pass the Hotel Bristol and a couple blocks later you'll be in the center of the Old City. Couldn't be easier. Really interesting area, it gave me a feel of what Warsaw must have once been like.

I walked around for awhile and did some window shopping, but it was too cold to sit at an outside cafe, and with the free Vodka and Polish Ham calling back at the LOT lounge I headed back. On the way back, I walked all the way down Nowy Swiat passing the cute shops and soon after I arrived at the last stop on the stretch a #175 appeared and off we went. If you have more time toward the end if you looks right you'll see a long shopping street that leads to the large shopping mall, from which the 175 would again be a short walk. That looked interesting, but my dogs were barking.

Arriving back at the terminal I have another hint. I thought that there would be a security check after passport control (if going non-schengen) but there wasn't. So I bought goodies in the main duty-free before control but not my Vodka to take home. I could have done it all there in one stop. Also the LOT lounge that's past passport control is very small and not quite as well stocked as the one upstairs before control. Lines were very short and I'd suggest spending most of your time at the larger and nicer upstairs lounge.

All in all, a great way to kill 3 hours or so. General observations? Well worth the time and minimal investment. Warsaw still feels less westernized (whatever that means) than the rest of Europe, and not that it matters to me there was much less English in evidence - not spoken, not on the bus announcements, not on the signs, very different from every other major European city I've been to over the years. Don't shoot me, this isn't a criticism in any way, just an observation. Maybe it was my mood and the dark cold damp day, but Warsaw seemed a little depressed to me - few colorful banners, no throngs of smiling people, sort of dour. Many of the beautiful older buildings were badly in need of a good renovation and general scrubbing. But, all fascinating and worth the time.

Bottom line? Long layover - take the 175, you won't regret it!!!