Arriving in a foreign country, it's natural to feel unfamiliar with the local transportation system. For those who don't plan on purchasing long-term passes, here is a brief guide to ticketing options for trams and buses in Poland.
How to Use Public Transportation in Poland?
BUS:
Methods and Locations for Purchasing Tickets:Ticket vending machines at stations, on buses, Jakdojade app.
Introduction:
The most common means of transportation, which is easily recognizable due to its characteristic appearance, is the bus. Therefore, it's hard to mistake. At the majority of stops, ticket vending machines are available, and you can select English as the language for the ticket purchase interface. Additionally, after purchasing a ticket, remember to insert it into the validation machine when boarding (otherwise, inspectors won't know when you started your journey, and you might face a fine!).
The machine for inserting the ticket.
However, not every bus stop is equipped with ticket vending machines. So, if travelers who haven't downloaded the Jakdojade app should be prepared to buy tickets on the bus (ticket machines on buses sometimes do not accept credit card payments, so it's advisable to carry change). However, in the two months I've been using the service, I haven't seen ticket inspectors on the buses 👍). Those who have downloaded the Jakdojade app have a much more convenient option: simply buy a ticket by viewing the bus number after boarding.
In the city of Krakow, the student fare for a 20-minute journey is 2 PLN (doubled for non-discounted travelers), 3 PLN for 60 minutes (doubled for non-discounted travelers), and 4 PLN for 90 minutes (doubled for non-discounted travelers). If you buy a ticket and even if you haven't used up the time, it can only be used for a single journey. Otherwise, if caught, you might face a fine!
Ticket vending machine
Trams:
Methods and Locations for Purchasing Tickets: Ticket vending machines at stations, on buses, Jakdojade app.
Introduction:
The ticketing process is the same as for buses, and not all bus stops necessarily have ticket vending machines. Trams and buses have the same fare, but it's crucial to be attentive to ticket inspectors (I've been checked about 5 times so far, got caught once, with a fine of 123 PLN; around 30ERU). If using the Jakdojade app for ticket purchase, it's recommended to identify the tram's number displayed at the front of the vehicle before it fully enters the station. Purchase the ticket before boarding if possible. In the instance I was caught, the inspector requested proof of ticket immediately upon boarding. There was no time to buy a ticket on the tram, and the inspector even disabled the Jakdojade app purchasing system for that specific tram, making it impossible to buy online in the moment.
If unfortunately caught by an inspector, you can choose to pay on the spot (credit card, cash), or they might issue a payment slip for you to settle later. Be cautious and prepared!
Trams
Fine Receipt
This is a brief overview and sharing about the two most common means of transportation in Poland. In the future, I will also share information about long-distance transportation options like trains and FlixBus. If you like this article, please give it a ❤️ and consider following. Thank you!
