BUSES AND TRAMS

Daily buses and trams run from 5 am to 11 pm on weekdays and from 6 am to 10 pm on public holidays. Night buses run between 11.30 pm and 5.00 am every half hour, starting from the bus station (PKS Bus Station), where they set off to all parts of the city. Regular/normal (“Normalny”) bus routes are numbered 100 to 149. The fare for the faster bus (“Przyspieszony” with the numbers 4...) is the same as for the normal bus. More expensive are the suburban (“Podmiejski”) buses (numbers 6...), the express buses (“Pospieszny” marked with letters) and the night buses (numbers 240 to 259).

If you want to easily plan your route using public transport in Wrocław, check out the website:

http://wroclaw.jakdojade.pl

URBAN CARD

The Wrocław Urban Card is a convenient, multifunctional carrier of electronic services and products in prepaid card format. The card encodes Wrocław Municipal Transport tickets. Benefits for URBANCARD users include the ability to recover a ticket in the event of theft or loss of the card, the wide availability of e-ticketing outlets, ease and convenience of use, security of transactions, multifunctionality and durability of the card, as well as the possibility to implement new services supported by the card. With the card, you can travel on trams, buses and trains within Wrocław. An interesting option is a Wrocław URBANCARD with a payment function.

Here, you can apply for an URBANCARD, pick up your card, buy tickets and make a complaint about the Wrocław Urban Card:

1. Grabiszyńska 9, entrance from ul. Piłsudskiego (at pl. Legionów)

(Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.), tel.: 71 341 12 00

More information in English on the Urbancard website: http://www.urbancard.pl/en/index.html

WROCŁAW CITY BIKES (WRM)

Wrocław has an extensive urban bicycle network (WRM). It is a convenient and affordable means of transport in many parts of the city. How it works and how to use it:

1. Register on Nextbike (www.nextbike.pl), “Rejestracja” tab, enter the required data, confirm the terms and conditions and pay at least PLN 1 of the initiation fee (WRM) – this fee will allow you to use Nextbike 24 hours a day from spring to late autumn.
2. To rent a bike from the station, approach the terminal and press the “Rent” icon (“Wypożycz”).
3. Then authorise the rental with the phone number and PIN code generated during registration or with any PayPass card (the card can be registered at the terminal during the first bike rental).
4. Remember the code displayed on the terminal to lock the security cable, which is built into each bike at the station. It is also used to secure the bike when it is parked outside the station.
5. Unlock the bike station lock and... Hit the road!
6. When cycling, observe the road rules and follow common sense.
7. To return a bike, approach the terminal, log in with your phone number and PIN, then click “Yes” (“Tak”) to confirm the return and wait for the command – “return accepted, lock the bike” (“zwrot przyjęty, zapnij rower”).
8. Put the bike on the rack handle and clip it to the rope cipher.

- If you cannot find the rack, clip the ear of any bicycle rack or other permanent fixture (sign, barrier) a short distance from the station. Please use the bicycle in the terminal.

- If you cannot find an operating terminal, hire a bicycle or use the helpline /in English/ or the website www.nextbike.pl.

- The helpline telephone number 22/382 13 12 or 22/244 13 13 may be found at each stop.

TAXI

Always choose a (licensed) taxi company, never a so-called “independent” taxi. A taxi company is cheaper and available by phone. Remember that it is cheaper from 6 am to 11 pm and from 11 pm to 6 am it becomes more expensive. Licensed taxis must have a sign with the word “taxi” and the word “Wrocław” on the side door, along with the side number and price list pasted on the window. They also have to be equipped with a cash register with a taximeter. There is one zone of taxi fares and kilometre rates approved by the City Council, and they are the maximum prices. A ride from the airport to the city centre on a weekday will cost around PLN 40, and on a day off or at night around PLN 60.

Examples of taxi companies:

ZTP Radio Taxi, tel. 71/196 22

Radio Taxi Expres, tel. 71/196 28

MPT Radio Taxi, tel. 71/191 91

Radio Taxi Serc, tel. 71/196 29

Super Taxi, tel. 71/196 63

Radio Taxi Blues, tel. 71/196 61

1. Travelling in Poland (buses, trains, discounts)

BUSES AND COACHES

In Poland, public transport services are provided by a number of companies, both nationwide and regional. They provide international, long-distance, intercity, suburban and local services. Tickets can be purchased at bus stations or sometimes directly from the bus driver before the start of your journey. Timetables and ticket prices can be found on the websites of the PKS companies in each region/city or on the websites of private companies.

The main bus station in Wrocław is located near the railway station, at the address:

1. Joannitów 13, 50-525

You can obtain information directly on-site or via the telephone hotline +48 801 833 000.

This portal can be useful for planning a bus journey:

https://www.e-podroznik.pl/

TRAIN

Rail services in Poland are provided by a number of public and commercial operators. However, the dominant operator is Polskie Koleje Państwowe (PKP), which combines several companies offering national and international services. The Polish rail industry is constantly modernising its infrastructure to improve travel times, conditions and passenger comfort.

You can now choose from around 100 trains running daily between popular tourist destinations, major cities in Poland (Intercity and Express trains) and beyond. Poland has rail links to many European cities, including Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Budapest.

In the Lower Silesia area, regional connections are operated by Koleje Dolnośląskie or Koleje Polregio. Make sure which carrier operates your chosen route and that you have the correct ticket, as their prices may vary, and the ticket from a different provider may not be recognised by the inspector.

DISCOUNTS: Pupils and students up to 26 years of age and PhD students up to 35 years of age are entitled to a 51% discount on the full fare, provided they have a valid student card issued in Poland (which must be presented to the conductor on request).

DRIVING

In Poland, right-hand traffic is mandatory, and vehicles are overtaken from the left.

When driving a car or other vehicle in Poland, you must have a driving licence, a vehicle registration certificate and a document confirming that you have third-party insurance (Green Card).

The vehicle should be equipped with a warning triangle, fire extinguisher, reflective waistcoat and first aid kit, which is not mandatory but recommended.

Do not use a mobile phone while driving unless you have a headset or hands-free kit.

Drivers must use dipped-beam headlamps or daytime running lights all year round.

All passengers (with the exception of visibly pregnant women, taxi drivers and those on sick leave) must wear seatbelts in both front and rear seats.

Driving licence

If you want to drive in Poland, you should check the following rules, which determine whether you can use your national driving licence in Poland:

Driving licences issued by EU Member States, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Iceland, may be used in Poland up to the expiry date stated on the document. Then you need to apply for a Polish driving licence.

If you are a national of a country other than those listed above and wish to drive immediately upon arrival, you should hold an international driving licence issued in your country of origin, which is valid for up to three years or until the expiry date of your national driving licence, whichever is shorter.

Driving licences from other countries are not valid in Poland. They must be converted into a Polish driving licence, which can only be done after 185 days of legal residence in Poland. You can apply for a driving licence earlier if you present documents proving your right to reside in Poland for more than 185 days. This can be a visa or a residence permit.

The procedure for exchanging a driving licence for a Polish document differs depending on whether or not the driving licence held conforms to the model set out in the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (1949) or the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (1968). In the case of a convention-compliant driving licence, it is sufficient to submit the following documents to the district office (transport department) competent for the place of residence to obtain a Polish document. However, if your driving licence does not comply with the convention model, you will additionally have to take a partial state examination - a written theoretical test in English, German or Polish.

List of required documents:

- Completed application form,

- Copy of the national driving licence,

- Certified translation of national driving licence into Polish,

- Copy of your residence card, visa or other document confirming your right to reside in Poland, or a certificate that you have been studying for at least six months,

- Proof of payment,

- Colour photograph measuring 35 x 45 mm.

Car rental in Poland

Polish rental companies offer many types of cars for hire. The average price for a monthly rental is EUR 1,000, but you can find a small car for EUR 400 per month. Sometimes, certain discounts allow you to pay even less for your car.

In some cities, there is a system that allows you to rent a car for minutes, hours or even a few days. Cars waiting on the street in various parts of the city can be accessed via mobile apps. The rental cost includes fuel charges, time of use and driven kilometres.

Examples of rental companies:

www.rentcars.pl

www.carnet.pl

www.mobicars.pl

www.carjet.pl

www.carace.pl