Car Hire Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)

If you’re planning a trip to Warsaw, you’ll find booking an Avis hire car from Warsaw Chopin Airport is the perfect way to explore Poland’s lively, modern capital at your own pace.

A fascinating and historic city which blends old and new, Warsaw is in east central Poland and within easy reach of destination cities like Krakow and Gdansk which are both around a 3hr drive as well as the Carpathian Mountains and Baltic Sea coast.

As well as being Poland’s administrative capital, it is the country’s largest commercial centre, a finance and IT hub and regarded as the fastest growing European city.

Whether you are travelling to Poland for business or leisure, our friendly, efficient Avis team at Warsaw Chopin Airport is ready to provide the perfect rental car for your trip.

Book direct with Avis and you’ll benefit from flexible booking with free cancellation, a fleet of quality rental vehicles and speedy collection to get you on the road quickly plus we’ve a free loyalty programme with a host of travel benefits you’ll love.

You’ll find our Avis counter at Warsaw Chopin Airport located on the mezzanine level in the arrivals hall just after baggage reclaim. Our Avis rental car collection is just outside the terminal building in the designated rental car airport parking P34.

Warsaw International Airport (WAW) was renamed Warsaw Chopin Airport in 2001 in honour of the Polish-born composer Frédéric Chopin. It is one of three airports covering Warsaw including Warsaw Modlin Airport, which opened in 2012, and the Warsaw Radom Airport, which opened in 2023. Warsaw Chopin is the busiest airport in Poland and the 28th largest airport in Europe welcoming more than 21 million passengers a year.

First opened in 1934, it serves 137 destinations in 57 countries. The airport has been under development in recent years with a new terminal building opened in 2015 to bring the two previous terminals into a single unit. An underground railway station at the airport was opened in 2012 to connect the airport with Warsaw’s railway network.

The airport is located on the south western edge of Warsaw with good road access via the S2/S8 Warsaw ring road and S79 and E77 highways.

If you are driving in Poland for the first time or have just arrived in Europe, make sure you familiarise yourself with the Polish driving rules before picking up your car. Some key road rules in and around Warsaw include driving on the right and overtaking on the left. Be aware that rush hour in the city is between 7:00-9:00 AM and 4:00-6:00 PM. Speed limits in Warsaw are 50 km/h in built-up areas (60 km/h between 11pm and 5am), 90 km/h outside built-up areas, and 130 km/h on motorways. There is a tram network in Warsaw and drivers should always give way to trams, overtake on the right and use any part of the road provided for trams.

What are the age requirements for renting a car in Warsaw?

The minimum age to rent a car with Avis in Warsaw and the rest of Poland is 21. Age restrictions also vary by vehicle and some selected car groups are not available to drivers under the age of 25.

There is currently no maximum age for hiring a rental car, so long as you have had a full, valid, licence for at least 1 year. Some additional steps may be required for those who are over the age of 75 on the date of the scheduled return. When you book, you’ll be told if there are any maximum age restrictions for the vehicle you request. If you’re not sure, please check your booking confirmation email – or call the reservations team. 

What documents do I need to hire a car in Poland?

To hire a car in Warsaw, Poland, you just need to bring your:

• Driving licence
• The credit card used to make your booking (if it's a high value vehicle two payment cards must be provided, one of which needs to be a credit card),
• Proof of any discount (such as a frequent flyer or Avis Preferred  card),
• Photo ID for international rentals (such as a passport or driving licence) taken in the last 10 years.

Can I pick up my rental car in Warsaw and return it to another location?

One-way car rental with Avis makes it easy to go from A to B without driving full circle. That means you can collect your Avis hire car from Warsaw Airport and then return it to another Avis office whether that’s in Poland or even another country in Europe. Many of our Avis locations offer a 24-hour drop-off facility, which makes a one-way car hire hassle-free and very user-friendly. Simply check out our many available one-way journeys and start planning your route. When you are ready to book, just specify your destination in the booking panel and we will arrange it for you.

Is it worth hiring a car in Warsaw?

While central Warsaw is a walkable city, especially in the UNESCO-designated Old Town area with its narrow streets, and the city has a good public transport network of buses and trams, you’ll want to hire a car to travel further afield. Renting a car at Warsaw Chopin Airport gives you the freedom of independent travel as well as the opportunity to plan a Poland road trip.

The Avis team at Warsaw Chopin Airport are experts on Warsaw and the surrounding area and can offer advice on the best routes to take and make your trip a smooth one from the moment you touch down.

What is parking like in Warsaw?

Parking is plentiful in central Warsaw with on-street parking free on Saturdays and Sundays. Payment on weekdays is by meter or mobile payment app and there is a limit of 2 hours for on-street parking from 8am-5pm. There are a number of public car parks with the largest multi-storey space at Arkadia Westfield Shopping Mall.

There is a network of park and ride options at metro stations on the outskirts of the city.

From the Avis car park at Warsaw Chopin Airport to the centre of Warsaw is a drive of 8.4km which will take around 25min depending on the time of day. Head north from the airport and take the DW634 following signs to the centre of the city.

After being badly damaged in World War II, much of Warsaw was reconstructed and as a result the city is an enthralling mix of old and new architecture.

Head to the historic Old Town first. The focal point here is Castle Square, a gorgeous area surrounded by old architecture that somehow survived the war. Stroll the cobblestoned streets and stop at a café for a cup of coffee served with traditional blueberry mazurka – a popular Polish pastry. When it comes to food, you can’t leave Poland without trying some pierogi (dumplings stuffed with potato, sauerkraut and ground meat). Do some shopping at Market Square, especially for souvenirs and handicrafts, and take in the Renaissance buildings.

Visiting the Warsaw Uprising Museum is a must. Here you can learn about how the Polish people tried to drive the Nazis out of Poland. Spend time at the Palace of Culture and Science, the tallest building in Poland and visit the Chopin Museum to learn about Poland’s beloved composer.

With its quaint towns and historical sites not to mention coast and mountain ranges, there is so much to see within an easy drive from Warsaw.

Masovia

Take route DK7/E77 from Warsaw for 50 minutes and you’ll arrive at Masovia. Visit the beautiful Zelazowa Wola park and manor house, where Chopin was born and see the baroque palace in Nieborow. Stop by Arkadia while you’re here too – one of the most beautiful gardens in Poland.

Lublin

Lublin is just two hours from Warsaw on the DK17/E372. The medieval Lublin Castle is the main attraction of this quaint, lively city, thanks to its unique gothic-revival architecture. Spend time trying the local foods around Rynek – a special area of town devoted to dining and shopping. Also allow time to soak up the lively Old Square and stop by the Krakowska Gate.

Tykocin

Drive along the DK8 and the S8 for two hours and you’ll reach Tykocin – a small town settled on the Narew river. Wooden houses, a synagogue and a stunning baroque church are among the top sights. One of the few Jewish communities that escaped the Holocaust came from here. You can also visit Treblinka along the way – the second largest concentration camp after Auschwitz.