Where to Get the Best Exchange Rates in Warsaw

If you’re visiting or moving to Warsaw, one of the first things you’ll need to figure out is where to exchange your money. The difference between a good and bad exchange rate can easily cost you 5–10% of your total — and in a city full of tourist-trap exchange offices, that adds up fast.

Here’s everything you need to know about getting the best exchange rates in Warsaw.

What Is a Kantor?

In Poland, currency exchange offices are called kantors (from the German Kontor, meaning office). Unlike in many Western European countries where airport and city-center exchange bureaus charge enormous fees, Polish kantors are generally competitive and transparent.

Most kantors display their buy and sell rates on boards outside the shop. There’s no commission on top — the rate you see is the rate you get. This makes it easy to compare, but you still need to know what a “good” rate looks like.

Where to Find the Best Rates

1. City-Center Kantors (Away from Tourist Spots)

The best rates in Warsaw are typically found at kantors located slightly off the main tourist trail. Areas around Marszałkowska Street, Centrum metro station, and the Praga district tend to offer rates very close to the interbank mid-market rate.

Avoid kantors directly at:

• Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) — rates here are typically 5–8% worse than city center
• Old Town (Stare Miasto) — tourist markup is real
• Inside shopping malls — generally mediocre rates

2. Online Kantors

Poland has a thriving online kantor market. Services like Cinkciarz, Walutomat, and Tavex let you exchange currency online at rates that are often better than physical kantors. The catch: you need a Polish bank account to receive the funds.

This option works best for expats and residents rather than short-term tourists.

3. Banks

Polish banks generally offer the worst exchange rates. The spread (difference between buy and sell rate) at a bank can be 3–5%, compared to 1–2% at a good kantor. Banks are convenient if you already have a Polish account, but for pure currency exchange, kantors win every time.

4. ATMs

Using your debit card at a Polish ATM is convenient but comes with hidden costs. Watch out for:

• Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC): Always decline the offer to be charged in your home currency. Choose PLN instead. DCC rates are typically 3–7% worse.
• ATM operator fees: Some ATMs (especially Euronet) charge flat fees of 10–20 PLN per withdrawal.
• Your bank’s foreign transaction fee: Check if your card charges a percentage on foreign withdrawals.

The best strategy: use a fee-free card (like Revolut or Wise) and always choose to be charged in PLN.

How to Spot a Tourist Trap

Here are red flags for exchange offices you should avoid:

• “0% Commission” signs with terrible rates — The commission is baked into the spread
• Rates that look too good to be true — Some kantors advertise great rates but only offer them for large amounts (e.g., over €5,000)
• Located inside or directly adjacent to major tourist attractions — The rent is high, and they make up for it with worse rates
• No rates displayed outside — Legitimate kantors always show their rates publicly

How to Check If You’re Getting a Good Rate

Before exchanging money, check the current mid-market rate. The ECB publishes daily reference rates — for example, as of February 2026, the EUR/PLN rate is around 4.215. A good kantor should offer you something within 1–2% of this rate.

You can use the FX Europe app to quickly compare the current ECB reference rate with what kantors and banks are offering. It pulls live data so you always know what the fair rate should be before walking into any exchange office.

Tips for Getting the Best Deal

1. Exchange larger amounts at once — Kantors often give better rates for larger exchanges (€500+)
2. Go during business hours — Some kantors have slightly worse rates on evenings and weekends
3. Compare at least 2–3 kantors — Even in the same area, rates can vary by 1–2%
4. Avoid exchanging at the airport — If you must, exchange only a small amount for the taxi ride
5. Consider the direction — If you’re buying PLN with EUR, you want the highest possible rate. If selling PLN for EUR, you want the lowest

What About Card Payments?

Poland is extremely card-friendly. Most shops, restaurants, and even street vendors accept contactless payments. If you have a card with no foreign transaction fees, you can often skip cash exchange entirely for daily expenses.

That said, having some cash is useful for:

• Small kantors themselves (ironic, but true)
• Market stalls and street food
• Small tips
• Emergencies

The Bottom Line

For the best exchange rates in Warsaw: avoid the airport and tourist zones, visit kantors on main commercial streets, and always check the current rate on FX Europe before exchanging. If you’re staying long-term, online kantors offer the best value overall.

The difference between a good and bad exchange can save you hundreds of zloty over the course of a trip or move. A few minutes of research pays off every time.