Is There Uber in Poland? What to Know About Ride-Share Apps in Poland

With more and more tourists flocking to Poland annually, it’s natural to wonder if popular ridesharing apps like Uber are available. While Poland is extremely easy to navigate via public transportation and intercity rail and buses, it’s always a safe play to have a familiar app in your back pocket should you run into any problems.

Yes, Uber is in Poland and it’s a reliable, effective means of transportation. It’s legal, regulated, and operates under the category of a ‘special purpose vehicle’ (SPV). During my two-plus months in Poland (spread across Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk), I’ve used Uber more than a dozen times and haven’t run into any major issues. 

Below, I’ll explain a little bit more about using Uber in Poland, several frequently asked questions, and my experiences using this popular ride-hailing app to get around. 

Is There Uber in Poland?

Uber is available in Poland. In fact, it’s the most popular ride-share app in the country. It’s commonly used in major Polish cities such as Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk. So, if you’re traveling or moving to Poland, you’re in good hands and don’t have to worry about a lack of riders. 

In certain situations, when you book an Uber via the app, you’ll be provided a ‘code’, which allows you to hop in any Uber at the dedicated Uber pick-up point. This is more common at airports, where there may be a large number of riders and it could be hectic (and confusing) for drivers and riders to easily find one another. 

Once entering the Uber, you simply provide the driver with your code, they will enter it, and your destination will appear on their app. 

Is Uber Eats in Poland?

Food delivery is available with Uber Eats in Poland. However, as of 2023 statistics, Glovo is/was the most popular free online food delivery app. Pyszne.pl is a close second (‘pyszne’ literally means ‘delicious’ in Polish)

I can personally vouch for this as I even decided to download Glovo while in Poland. I did this because it’s the predominant food delivery logo that you see in restaurant windows and on delivery riders’ bags when walking around whatever city you are in. 

I even kept Glovo installed after a delivery bicyclist in Gdańsk nearly trucksticked me when I stepped out of my hotel for some fresh air. 

Is Uber Cheaper Than a Taxi in Poland?

According to the Vistula School of Hospitality, Uber is more expensive than the cheapest taxi corporations in the country. However, it is still cheaper than the market average for Polish taxis. 

Further, Uber is generally more expensive at peak traffic hours, such as rush hour, and when there are more riders in a specific area than drivers (commonly referred to as ‘surge pricing’). 

Is Uber Reliable in Poland?

This is purely anecdotal but of the dozen-plus times that I’ve used Uber in Poland (across three cities), I have not run into a single issue and it has been extremely reliable.  

I should note that I haven’t run into any issues with taxis either. To cut down on any potential issues, I’ve always loaded up the address and a screenshot of where I need to be, practiced pronouncing it in Polish, and taken/hailed taxis from designated taxi pick-up points (such as outside Warsaw Centralna).

Take this information as you will. 

4 Situations I Recommend Using Uber in Poland

Here are four common situations you might prefer to use Uber over a taxi or public transport to get around in Poland. 

Late-Night Rides

While Poland is ranked as one of the safest countries in Europe, there still may be situations where you want that extra assurance of safety and documentation, such as late at night. 

Uber can be a safer and more reliable option than traditional taxis as it provides real-time tracking, driver information, and the ability to share your trip’s details with family or friends. 

Lots of Luggage or Need Extra Room

My brother and I both had a good amount of luggage with us on our 9-day Poland trip (actually, it was mostly me). 

Uber was preferable to taxis in several situations as it allowed me to choose a larger vehicle type, aka the UberXL, to ensure more space for luggage and a more comfortable ride. 

Cashless Transactions

I don’t carry a ton of cash on me. Poland is also an extremely credit card-friendly country so there’s a good chance you might not also carry much cash on hand (or just several big bills). 

Uber is convenient for cashless transactions and for those who want to pay directly via the app and their linked credit card. 

Language Barrier

This one is simply for those who want to ensure everything is in order before stepping foot into the vehicle. 

Uber is great in situations where you are uncomfortable with the language barrier and want to reduce the potential for misunderstandings or miscommunication (as everything can be done from within the app). 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Besides my comprehensive 9-day, 3-city Poland travel itinerary, I also recommend checking out my post breaking down some bonus travel recommendations and what I’d do differently on my next trip. 

Alternative Ride-Sharing Apps in Poland

If you want to have a “backup” for your “backup” to public transportation in Poland, below are three popular alternative ride-sharing apps to download. 

Bolt

Bolt is a formidable alternative to Uber when it comes to effective and reliable ride-hailing apps. While Uber operates in far more cities and locations than Bolt, the latter is European-based and an extremely popular ride-share app in Europe. 

It’s also more affordable/cheaper than Uber in my experience. I first downloaded Bolt when I spent nearly one year in Europe and used it somewhat religiously (especially in The Balkans and Budapest). 

I’d classify Bolt as an “Uber clone” that is extremely reliable and slightly more affordable because it pays its drivers a smaller commission, meaning rides are slightly cheaper as a result. 

If you want to have a back up to Uber, I definitely recommend downloading Bolt. 

FreeNow

FreeNow is a popular, trustworthy alternative to both Uber and Bolt. It’s also commonly cited as noticeably cheaper than Uber and is actively developing/growing nationwide. 

While I haven’t personally used the FreeNow app, I’d just emphasize that due to it being less popular than the above two, it may not always have a large number of drivers available - unless you’re directly in the city center.   

Pale Ale Travel Note: Keep in mind that the popular ride-hailing app ‘Lyft’ is not available in Poland. 

Using Uber in Poland: My Final Thoughts

Frankly, Poland has been one of the most seamless countries to navigate thanks to quality, prompt, and clean public transportation (trams being my favorite) and intercity trains. 

However, I’m glad I re-downloaded Uber before my trip to Poland as it has come in clutch on more than a few occasions. 

It especially was useful for me in situations where it was literally right in front of my face, such as at the Warsaw Chopin Airport where there’s a dedicated Uber pick-up point, and when my brother and I were strapped to the gills with bulky luggage and wanted to ensure there was enough room (ex. Booking an UberXL), and when I was so far south of the city in Warsaw (and had a few drinks in me) that I just wanted to get home promptly and was too tired to figure out my public transport route home.   

If you have any questions about traveling to Poland or getting around the country, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] and I’d be more than happy to answer them. 

Travel well everyone,

Big Body