High popularity with tourists
Tourists have not been scared by rain or cold. Despite unpleasant weather, the Warsaw Tourist Lines started on May 1 using horse and water transport. During the first weekend of May, over 3,000 persons were guests of water trams, ships and ferries. Horse stagecoaches took over 300 passengers in the trips around the Old Town. A search engine on the ZTM website enables you to find free places easily while planning your trip around the capital city.
You are invited to use interested and diversified offer which is proposed by the Warsaw Tourist Lines for next weekend. Let’s meet en route!
Warsaw Transport Authority started the tourist lines last Saturday (May 1) for the second time. Ferries and ships sail again at the Vistula river and you can hear characteristic clatter of horses pulling stagecoaches in the Old Town.
The water tram “Wars” sails from Podzamcze to Gruba Kaśka. In May, the tram goes on cruises on Saturdays and Sundays. One cruise lasts almost two hours. A special audio-guide was prepared for the passengers of “Wars”. It provides information about the history and the architecture of the capital city. Each day of sailing the water tram goes on a cruise five times. During first three days, 912 people went for a water walk. Tickets are available directly on a ship on the day of a cruise or in advance booking. You can buy tickets in advance in the office of Żegluga Stołeczna at ul. Świętokrzyska 36, room 1, from Monday to Friday, between 12-15 p.m.
There are also three free ferry crossings: from the surroundings of Łomianki (ferry “Turkawka” goes to Nowodwory), of Podzamcze (ferry “Pliszka” reaches the beach near ZOO) and of Cypel Czerniakowski (ferry “Słonka” sails to Saska Kępa) within the lines. Bicycle racks were provided on each ferry of Przedsiębiorstwo Usług Wodnych from Legionowo. 2343 people ferried at the first weekend. Mainly cyclists were sailing by the ferry from Łomianki. There were 1143 of them. In May the ferries from Podzamcze and Cypel Czerniakowski sail every 20 minutes and the ferry from Łomianki every 15 minutes.
In the streets of the Old Town passengers can go for a ride by two horse stagecoaches – double-decker and single-decker one. Vintage vehicles leave the Castle Square and go through the New Town Market Place, ul. Senatorska and go back to the Castle Square. In May, stagecoaches go on Saturdays and Sundays (six rides a day). The double-decker stagecoach takes 16 passengers and the single-decker one 12 of them. The ride time is about 50 minutes. At the first weekend 267 persons went for a walk to trace the past. Tickets are available directly by the carrier at the stop by the Castle Square.
You can also go on an unforgettable 8-hour long weekend cruise to Serock within the tourist lines. The ship “Zefir” leaves the Podzamcze harbour at 9.00 a.m., sales through the sluices of Kanał Żerański and arrives to Serock at high noon. The history of Serock dates back to the Middle Ages. Passengers have about 1.5 hour for sightseeing and taking some rest. About 6.00 p.m. “Zefir” sales back to the capital city. About 250 persons went on first three cruises. Cruises from Warsaw to Serock are operated by Przedsiębiorstwo Usług Wodnych from Legionowo. “Zefir” sails every Saturday and Sunday and takes 110 passengers on board. There are a grill and a buffet with drinks on the board. Tickets are available in advance booking system in the ZTM Passenger Service Center at the Centrum underground station (from Monday to Thursday, between 7.00 a.m. and 8.00 p.m. and on Friday between 7.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.) as well as by the ship owner on the day of cruise.
This year season will last till September, 12. Details are available on the special ZTM website subpage in four language versions.
Each passenger who is interested in a ride by a water tram, a horse stagecoach or a cruise to Serock can check the accessibility of places on a particular day and at a particular hour on the ZTM website.
You can enter the free places search engine choosing “tourist lines” bookmark, which is on the left on the ZTM website. You should choose the last option – “check places” from the menu. Next you have to only choose means of transport you are interested in (horse stagecoach, water tram or cruise to Serock) and the date. After a while you will see the number of available places for all cruises or rides on a particular day.