Car Hire in Warsaw

About Warsaw

Warsaw is a city in Poland, more precisely in east-central Poland. The city was founded on the Vistula River. Warsaw is the largest city in Poland and also the capital of the country. It is the 6th largest city in the European Union and a very important cultural, political, and economic centre as well as the seat of the government of Poland. The first evidence of settlement in this area dates back to the 9th century AD. In the beginning, there was a small fishing town here called Masovia. This settlement grew and became more and more important in many ways. At the end of the 16th century, it became an important city and capital of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was also the seat of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw.

Warsaw experienced its greatest and fastest growth during the Industrial Revolution. Warsaw experienced several ups and downs in the past and the biggest setback for this amazing city was undoubtedly World War II. During World War II Warsaw was heavily bombed and destroyed and many citizens were killed or exiled. But the people of Poland have always managed to rise and rebuild and renovate their city. Today Warsaw is a modern centre for research and development, business process outsourcing, and information technology outsourcing. There are also many important institutions here in Warsaw.

Moreover, Warsaw has a very old and high-quality university, which is very popular among students from Poland and also from other parts of the world. Together with the many high-quality galleries, museums, and other cultural, historical, and religious sights worth visiting, Warsaw is undoubtedly the city you must visit during a road trip through Poland. It is also a perfect starting point for your road trip through this interesting and unique country that has something for everyone. This country is becoming more and more attractive for tourists and travellers from all over the world, so buckle up and drive safely.

Basic info and car hire in Warsaw

• Location: east-central Poland
• Population: 1,860,281
• Official language: Polish
• Currency: Polish Złoty
• Weather: Warsaw experiences an oceanic climate    
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Warsaw are in good condition.
• Car hire in Warsaw:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Warsaw, is at the Warsaw Chopin Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Warsaw!

 Driving in Warsaw

Renting a car is the best option in Poland if you want to explore the country properly. You can make your own plan and drive around according to your own preferences and at your own pace. Driving in Poland is not very complicated, but you should always follow the rules and obey all traffic signs. If you are going to bigger cities, for example, Warsaw, be prepared for some traffic jams, especially during rush hours. Drivers in Warsaw are often somewhat aggressive and drive fast, so be extra careful when driving in the city.

To explore the city centre, it is best to park your car in one of the many parking lots (parking is not free, so always check the prices and pay the parking fee). There are several ways to pay the parking fee, usually with a card, cash, or via a mobile app. After you park your car, you can explore the city centre on foot or you can walk and use public transportation. When you are done exploring the city centre, you can get in your car and explore the wider Warsaw area. There are really many places in the city that are easily accessible by car, so do your research well and then go exploring. Buckle up and drive safely!

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Poland is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 years old and with some suppliers for people over 75 years of age, you must also have held a driving license for a minimum of 12 months. Young driver surcharges may apply to many car rental companies for people under 25 years of age. This information is visible in the search engine with Orbit Car Hire.
• International Driving Permit: An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. 
• Additional papers: A credit card in the name of the main driver needs to be presented. A security deposit may be required while renting a car so the credit card must have sufficient funds. You can find details about the security deposit listed while booking the vehicle as well as on your voucher. It is important to have a valid driving license with the name of the main driver as well as additional drivers when it applies. An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. You will need to have identification with you such as a passport and ID cards. When you pick up your rental car you need to have your voucher with you.  
• Additional requirements: Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with four wheels or more), headlamp beam deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually), crash helmet for motorcyclists or moped riders and their passengers (a child up to the age of seven may ride a motorcycle or moped as a passenger without a helmet if the speed does not exceed 40km/h), reflective jacket (although not mandatory to carry, you could be fined for walking on the side of a road outside a built-up area at night or in reduced visibility if not wearing one), fire extinguisher.  
• Children in the car: Children under the age of 12 and less than 150cm in height must be restrained by a seat belt adapted to their size or seated in a special seat. If the car is equipped with airbags at the front, it is prohibited to place a child in a rear-facing seat on the front passenger seat 
• Driving side of the road: Right hand
• Lights: You must turn your lights on any time you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead. Use your low-beam headlights whenever it is raining.
• General speed limits: The national speed limit on motorways in Poland, unless otherwise indicated on local signage, is 140km/h (87mph). On a main road outside a built-up area, it's 90 km/h to 120km/h (according to local signs). For built-up areas, it’s 50km/h (between the hours of 05:00 and 23:00) or 60km/h (between the hours of 23:00 and 05:00).

Popular day trips from Warsaw

Kampinos National Park, Zelazowa Wola, Malbork Castle, Kazimierz Dolny, Mazovia, Wieliczka Salt Mine, Torun, Masurian Lake District, Poznan, Krakow...

What to see in Warsaw

Warsaw is a city with many different faces and each of them offers something unique, so every tourist and traveller can find something for himself here. There are many great cultural, historical, and religious sites worth visiting here, so before you come here, do some good research and make a good plan if you want to see and visit as many places as possible.

When you are in Warsaw, you should definitely visit the Old Town. This Old Town is truly unique, as about nine-tenths of the city was destroyed during World War II. After the war, the city and the city centre were completely restored and renovated, and today you can enjoy magnificent views while walking through the streets of Warsaw's Old Town. In the Old Town, there are several places you should not miss, for example, Cathedral Square, the Warsaw Chapter, and the St. John's Arch Cathedral.

The Royal Route is the route you should definitely explore while you are in Warsaw. It starts at Castle Square and continues south for about 15 kilometres before you reach Wilanów Castle. There are three residences that give this route its Royal name. The Royal Palace, the Łazienki Palace, and the Wilanów Palace.

In Warsaw, there are not only monuments and buildings that you can visit and admire, but there are also many wonderful natural sights in Poland and in Warsaw you can get a taste of Polish nature by visiting Łazienki Park. This is the largest park in Warsaw and a trendy destination, especially for families with children. In this park, there are many different things you can do and visit. There are palaces, pavilions, two orangeries, an amphitheatre, a planetarium, follies, promenades, water games, and monuments of national rank. Probably the most famous monument is that of the composer Frédéric Chopin.

Other places t visit and things to do in Warsaw: Old Town Market Place, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Royal Castle, Castle Square, Warsaw Uprising Museum, Copernicus Science Centre, Palace of Culture and Science, Łazienki Palace, Wilanów Palace, Krakowskie Przedmieście, National Museum, St Anne's Church, Taras Widokowy na Stare Miasto (Viewing Platform in the Old Town), Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Jewish Ghetto Memorial, Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery, Zachęta, Nowy Świat Street, Copernicus Monument, Holy Cross Church, Warsaw University Library Garden, Saxon Garden...

Drive your rental car beyond Warsaw

The Republic of Poland is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into 16 administrative provinces, the voivodeships, and is the fifth most populous country in the European Union with 37.7 million inhabitants. There are several major cities in the country, the largest being: Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Szczecin. Poland covers a large area stretching from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and the Carpathian Mountains in the south. The country borders Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukraine to the east, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south, and Germany to the west. It also shares maritime borders with Denmark and Sweden. Poland is a member of the European Union, including the Schengen area. It is also a founding member of the United Nations, as well as a member of the World Trade Organization and NATO. Poland has a temperate transitional climate, and in addition to many impressive cities, there are also many breathtaking natural sights that you should definitely visit if you are planning a road trip through Poland. This country has beautiful nature and also offers many outdoor activities that you can do all year round, from rafting on the rivers (the longest Polish river is the Vistula), climbing, hiking (Poland's highest mountain is Mount Rysy), cycling, mountain biking, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, sailing, etc. Moreover, this is a country with a long and rich past and also with a very strong tradition, so you can visit many different historical, cultural, and religious sights that will give you a different view of this interesting and beautiful country. The country has 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 15 of which are cultural. There are numerous museums that will give you the opportunity to learn more about the history of Poland. The first evidence of people living on this soil dates back to 10000 BC. The country experienced several ups and downs in the past, and there were also many different civilizations that passed through and dominated this area in the past. Today's modern Poland was established in 1989.

When travelling through Poland, you will have the opportunity to meet very hospitable locals, enjoy delicious Polish cuisine, discover wonderful nature, vibrant cities, many cultural events, sporting events, and much more throughout the year. The roads are generally in good condition, so you will really enjoy driving. If we add the great landscapes you can experience on the roads of Poland, this is really a perfect country for a good road trip. There is something for every kind of tourist and traveller, it's up to you what kind of vacation you prefer, but you can be sure that you will not be bored in Poland. Besides many attractions, you can also experience very lively nightlife in Polish cities.

These are some of the most popular places to visit in Poland: Wroclaw, Warsaw, Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot, Cracow, Szczecin, Poznan, Torun, Malbork, Rzeszów, Lodz, Zakopane, Mikolajki, Swinoujscie.

Where to eat, drink, and party in Warsaw

Warsaw is one of the best places in Poland for all foodies. There are really some excellent restaurants in the city where you can try local dishes or order menus from other parts of the world. Poland and Warsaw is not only great destination for foodies, but also for all beer lovers. There are really some great places where you can enjoy a great number of different beers from Poland and also from all over the world.

If you are in Warsaw, you should definitely try kielbasa, the country's iconic sausage. Kielbasa is made from pork (sometimes beef or turkey) and is often served with sauerkraut or mashed potatoes. If you are looking for a traditional kielbasa experience, you should visit the Krakus Market.

BEST PLACES FOR FARTY

Level 27

Klar-Cocktail Bar

Warsaw Pub Crawl

Bar and Books Podwale

El Koktel

Best restaurant in Warsaw

Restauracja Future & Wine

Sushi Kado

Browar Warszawski Restauracja i Bar

Reforma Urban

Whiskey in the Jar

Azia Restaurants