Tourist Tram “T” and Tram Line 36 in Warsaw

Warsaw Tourist Lines

The Warsaw Tourist Lines (Warszawskie Linie Turystyczne) are a seasonal service operated by Warsaw’s public transport authority, ZTM. In practice, these are tourist routes that allow visitors to discover the city and its surroundings in a particularly atmospheric way, different from travelling on regular public transport. The tourist lines include historic buses, ferries across the Vistula, boat cruises and sometimes even a narrow-gauge railway as part of the extended seasonal offer. In this article, we would like to introduce you to the historic tram lines “T” and “36”. A journey on these vintage trams is not only an attraction for public transport enthusiasts but also a wonderful opportunity to explore Warsaw’s sights while sitting comfortably by the window.

Operating Period and Route

Line “T”

Tourist line T operates from the end of June until the end of August on Saturdays and Sundays between 12 noon and 6 p.m. A complete round trip takes approximately 60 minutes.

The following link will take you to a Google Maps city map showing the route and the sights that can be viewed from the tram windows. This tram travels in a circular route and in one direction only.

Line 36

Tram line 36 operates from the beginning of May until the end of September. Its route through the city centre is similar to that of line T. Afterwards, line T makes a tourist detour, including through the Praga district, while line 36 travels north towards the Żoliborz district, where there are fewer tourist attractions.

The Vehicles

Type 105N tram in Warsaw @ Walking Warsaw

The vehicles are genuine eye-catchers with their retro design. There are seats only, so it is advisable to board at the beginning of the route. Otherwise, after waiting for a long time at another stop, you may not be allowed to board because no seats are available. This was especially relevant during the coronavirus pandemic, although no one knew when it would end.

The fleet consists of historic rail vehicles and the Warsaw Promotional Tram (Warszawski Tramwaj Promocyjny. The tram is a 105N-type vehicle with fleet number 1006. It is the only restored carriage of its kind in Poland. It never looked like this when it was used as a regular city tram; for more information, see the history section below. In 2012, it was converted for use as a tourist tram.

The central doors were replaced by cabinets resembling a piano. Passengers sit on wooden retro-style benches, while ceiling and wall lamps have been installed throughout the interior. Roller blinds hang beside the windows, the walls are covered with wooden panels and, of course, the tram also includes modern features such as air conditioning and multimedia equipment.

Tickets

Before boarding, you must purchase a standard public transport ticket. Single-journey tickets cost PLN 4.40. They can also be validated inside the tram. Other tickets, such as weekend tickets or day tickets, are also valid, but they must be validated beforehand. This can be done either at a free-standing validator or inside a bus or tram operating on a regular route.

Single-journey tickets are validated by a retro conductor, just as they were many years ago, by stamping the ticket. The stamp records the beginning of your journey. The PLN 4.40 ticket is valid for 75 minutes. The conductor is provided by the Public Transport Enthusiasts’ Club (Klub Miłośników Komunikacji Miejskiej – homepage in Polish, German and English →).

Please note: If you are travelling with a weekend ticket or day ticket, you must validate it outside the tourist tram beforehand.

History and Designation

Touristic Tram in Warsaw

The retro tram has been part of Warsaw’s streetscape in its present role since 21 April 1996. Originally, however, it was an ordinary tram line. This is why the tram’s distinctive “T” does not stand for “tourist”, but comes from the name of Towarowa Street, along which it operated many years ago. Its inaugural journey took place on 1 July 1935. After the outbreak of the war, the occupying forces severely restricted the route until the line was eventually discontinued in 1940 due to heavy bombing and destruction. Although line T was not forgotten by the end of the war, the city had been so extensively destroyed that practically nothing could simply be “restored”. It therefore took 56 years for the line to be revived. The special occasion chosen for its return was the 400th anniversary of Warsaw becoming the capital of Poland.