One of the two, the largest airport in Warsaw is located within the city, just ten kilometers from the center. It is the largest international air gate in Poland.
History of Creation
Warsaw Airport was built in 1933. It was from that time that he began to receive the first aircraft. The land on which it was erected is located in the area of the village of Okęcie. That is why it is often called by the name of this locality.
During World War II, the Okęcie airfield was completely destroyed, because there were heavy battles between German and Polish troops on its territory.
So after the war, LOT Polish Airlines had to fly using pre-war infrastructure.
But already in 1969, a new passenger terminal was put into operation. At that time, Warsaw Airport was able to serve more than one million passengers a year.
Domestic flights in those years were carried out from the building built on the site of the pre-war airport terminal. And since 1992, when a completely new and modern terminal began to operate, with a capacity of three and a half million people, the old building has ceased service.
Since 2001, this air gate of Poland has been named after composer Frederic Chopin, who is so proud of Warsaw.
Airport: how to get there
This city is not only very beautiful, but also big enough. Those who have the means to travel by taxi, especially since there are a lot of services in the Polish capital that offer customers a variety of carrier services. However, an uninformed traveler can spend a lot of money heading to the airport. This means of transportation is convenient for those tourists who have a map of Warsaw in their hands. The airport of the Polish capital is served by licensed taxi services, whose cars are at the exit from the terminals. The cost of their services to the city center is twenty euros. But on the other hand, they can safely, and most importantly, reliably get to the airport.
Warsaw, whose air terminal address is Zwirkrand Wigury Str. 1 is a favorite place for many tourists. There are many hotels, both expensive and economy class. Therefore, for those who do not have the means to travel by taxi, special hotel shuttles that depart from the Jan III Sobieski, Marriott and Bristol hotels are perfect. At the same time, they are free for customers living in them.
Those who are not comfortable can use the buses operating on routes 188 or 175. They leave every fifteen minutes from the railway station. The ticket price is approximately 0.5 euros. The duration of the trip is twenty minutes to the center.
Those who prefer to travel to the Warsaw airport in their own car can use the parking lot, designed for three and a half thousand places. The cost of parking depends on the type of parking and time.
Terminals
Warsaw Airport is very spacious, yet quite compact and without swirling labyrinths. Its first and second terminals together form a single international system with a combined area for departures or arrivals. There is a convenient transition between them. The third terminal - Etuda - is provided for low-cost flights. The departure area for flights to countries outside the Schengen area is located on the right pier.
For those passengers who are scheduled to dock in Warsaw, it is important to take into account the presence of aviation security checkpoints installed in the transit zone. It takes some time.
Another terminal is currently under construction.
Food at Warsaw Airport
Food establishments in the building of the Frederic Chopin airport terminal are located on the first level in the check-in area of the first terminal, on the zero - in the second, as well as in the passage between them.
The cost of a sandwich is ten zlotys and more. In addition, there are drinks vending machines in the Etiuda terminal.
Register
Airplanes from more than sixty airlines arrive at Frederic Chopin Airport. Passenger check-in and baggage handling for domestic flights must be completed in two hours. It ends 40 minutes before departure. For passengers flying on international routes, check-in starts two and a half hours before. Information about the time of departure, as well as which gate leads to boarding, can be viewed on the information monitors.
More information
Warsaw Airport has exchange offices and ATMs on its territory. Its staff speaks excellent English. Lost and found and information boxes for tourists are located in the arrivals hall. There are also five rooms for free mother-to-child service. There are bank and post offices in the departure hall.
The main Duty Free shops are located in the central pier of the first terminal. Access for passengers is open here regardless of the direction of their departure and the place where they pass through security control.
Next to the airport is a small four-star hotel called the Courtyard Warsaw Airport. All rooms in it are equipped with TVs, Internet access and cable TV.
