Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) is the largest airport in Poland that receives a big number of international flights from all around the world, so there’s a big chance that you will start your Warsaw trip there. What currency exchange rates are offered at Warsaw Airport?
Even if Poland is in European Union, they use they own currency – Polish Zloty (PLN). When you need cash right at the airport for buying a ticket into the city or other purchases, you can either withdraw Polish Zloty from one of ATMs found at the airport or exchange your foreign currency at currency exchange counters of Warsaw Airport.
If you want to get much better exchange rate than your regular bank card is offering on your payments and ATM withdrawals at Warsaw Airport and anywhere else in Poland, consider getting Wise Card that lets you spend abroad with the real exchange rate and works well in Poland.
Warsaw Airport Currency Exchange
What money changers operate at Warsaw Airport and which one of them is offering the best deal for foreign exchange? How good or bad currency exchange rates can be expected at WAW Airport? Let’s see!
Warsaw Airport Money Changers
At the time of our visit to Warsaw, we’ve found 4 money changers operating several currency exchange booths at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). Where should you exchange your money for getting the best deal at Warsaw Airport?
First of all, skip all currency exchange counters that are found at baggage reclaim area as you can get better exchange rates just after passing customs. At baggage reclaim area of Warsaw Airport we found currency exchange counter of ICE International Currency Exchange which was only offering 3.7175 PLN/EUR at the time of our visit. Exchange rates of other currencies were also less than competitive. If you want to get the best exchange deal at Warsaw Airport, skip this money changer.
Once in the public area of Arrivals, you have more choices for currency exchange. However, you need to shop around as some of money changers are offering even worse exchange rates than ICE. For example this money exchange office that is very easy to notice and open 24 hours was giving only 3.42 PLN for 1 Euro, 3.09 PLN for 1 US Dollar and 3.75 PLN for 1 British Pound. These were by far the worst exchange rates at WAW airport.
Equally bad rates were offered by money changer nearby Information counter.
Best Money Changer at WAW Airport
If you want to get the best exchange rate at Warsaw Airport, find the currency exchange counter (kantor) of the company called Money World. Their branch is located nearby McDonalds, on the opposite side to public transport service point of the airport.
The same company has a branch in the hall of airport’s train station but exchange rates for buying Polish Zloty there are slightly lower than at the branch near McDonald’s. However, if you are departing from Warsaw and want to exchange Polish Zloty to foreign currency, you can get better exchange rates here.
Warsaw Airport Currency Exchange Rate
Let’s check, how good or bad currency exchange rates of the best money changer at Warsaw Airport really are.
USD to PLN exchange rate at Warsaw Airport
The mid-market USD exchange rate on the day of our visit was 3.94 PLN for 1 US Dollar, so the best rate offered at Warsaw Airport (3.37 PLN/USD) was even by 0.57 PLN lower than the market rate. For every dollar exchanged here you’re losing about 0.145 USD or 14.5 USD per 100 USD. Not the exchange rate you could call fair!
EUR to PLN exchange rate at Warsaw Airport
The mid-market EUR exchange rate at the time was 4.37 PLN for 1 Euro, so the best rate offered at the airport (3.76 PLN/EUR) was by 0.61 PLN lower than the market rate. For every euro exchanged at WAW airport you’re losing about 0.14 EUR or about 14 EUR per 100 EUR. Euro exchange rate at Warsaw Airport is almost as bad as USD exchange rate offered here.
GBP to PLN exchange rate at Warsaw Airport
The mid-market GBP exchange rate on the day of our visit was 4.78 PLN for 1 British Pound, so the best rate offered at Warsaw Airport (4.14 PLN/GBP) was by 0.64 PLN or 13.4% lower than the market rate.
Exchange rates of other currencies at Warsaw Airport
The mid-market NOK exchange rate at the time was 0.44 PLN for 1 Norwegian Krone, so the best rate offered at the airport (0.37 PLN/NOK) was by 0.07 PLN or 15.9% lower than the market rate.
The AUD exchange rate at the time was 2.67 PLN for 1 Australian Dollar, so the best rate at WAW airport (2.16 PLN/AUD) was by 0.51 PLN or about 19.1% lower than the market rate.
The mid-market SEK exchange rate at the time was 0.41 PLN for 1 Swedish Krona, so the best rate offered at the airport (0.33 PLN/SEK) was by 0.08 PLN or 19.5% lower than the market rate.
The CAD exchange rate at the time was 2.96 PLN for 1 Canadian Dollar, so the rate offered at Warsaw Airport (2.39 PLN/CAD) was by 0.57 PLN or about 19.3% lower than the market rate.
The mid-market CHF exchange rate at the time was 4.01 PLN for 1 Swiss Franc, so the best rate offered at the airport (3.46 PLN/CHF) was by 0.55 PLN or 13.7% lower than the market rate.
Should you use Warsaw Airport currency exchange?
Even the best exchange rates at Warsaw Airport are far from competitive. For popular currencies such as USD, EUR, GBP, CHF you can expect to get slightly better rate but they will still be much worse than you could get in Warsaw.
We would recommend using ATM or exchanging at the airport as little as you will need for getting into the city.
Tips
If you want to get much better exchange rate than your regular bank card is offering on your payments and ATM withdrawals at Warsaw Airport and anywhere else in Poland, consider getting Wise Card that lets you spend abroad with the real exchange rate and works well in Poland.
Money World also operates one currency exchange counter (kantor) at Warsaw Central Railway Station (Warszawa Centralna) and there you can get much better exchange rates than at the airport. For more details check Currency Exchange at Warsaw Central Railway Station.
If you are looking for the best money changer in Warsaw, check the exchange rates offered by this company: Best Currency Exchange Rates in Warsaw City Center.
You will not need to exchange money at the airport if you will decide to book online your private transfer from the airport. Private transfer is the most convenient way for getting into the city and it can be easily booked here: Private Transfer from Warsaw Airport (WAW) to Warsaw.
The cheapest way for getting from the airport to city center is by one of city trains. Where to find the train at the airport and how to use it? Check here: Train from Warsaw Airport to City Center.
If you like to use Hop-On Hop-Off buses for sightseeing, you can get your ticket by booking it online here: Warsaw Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour.