Public transport is an integral part of getting around as a foreigner in Poland and in Lublin. Luckily, public transport is extremely simple in Poland Public transport, depending on the city includes buses, trolleybuses, trams, subways, and metros. Often, each city will have it's own organization operating public transport. This fact is particularly useful as it means that one single ticket universally covers multiple types of transport within the city.

You are required to have a ticket on you when on public transport. As a simplification, you may obtain a physical ticket or an electronic ticket from an app. There are various forms of tickets, but the most common and important type are Time-Limited Tickets where tickets permit you to be on public transit for a certain duration. Below shows you information about each type of ticket:

• Physical Tickets: These tickets are available at certain bus stops, usually they are in shops are machines nearby the stops. You may pay for these tickets using cash or card. There may also be ticket machines on the bus/trolleybus/tram itself, albeit, these tickets are usually more expensive and is not available on all vehicles. Once you obtain these tickets, you are required to validate these tickets on the vehicle using the ticket validator machines.

• Electronic Tickets: These tickets can be obtained from your phone, which is extremely convenient. Hence, these tickets are recommended for you to use. The most common app used is Jakdojade, which is available on both the App Store & Play Store. This app can be used to buy tickets and also act as a navigation guide. Once you obtain these tickets, you are required to validate these tickets. To validate electronic tickets, you must scan a QR code or enter the vehicle number (Note: Not the Bus Line Number) after you purchase your ticket. Alternatively, most bank apps in Poland will also sell Electronic Tickets.

Discounts

Students are entitled to Reduced Fare, which is usually 50% of the Regular Ticket Cost. To take advantage of this, you must possess the Student ID Card given to you by the university when you are on public transport. You may not take advantage of this if you did not bring your Student ID Card with you on your trip. You will only be asked to show your Student ID Card upon a Controller's Request, this information can't be saved in the app.

Fines & Penalties

You may be penalized for failure to possess a ticket on public transport. In most cases, inspection is random and is done by ticket controllers. You will incur a financial penalty. The penalty is reduced if you pay immediately to the ticket controller or within a certain amount of days. Failure to pay for the ticket within a given amount of time may cause the operator to take you to court. You will also be asked to leave the vehicle, the ticket controller has the right to temporary detain you and notify police. Financial Penalties and Due Dates vary by city and operator.

You may also be penalized for utilizing the Reduced Fare when you do not have your Student ID Card on you. The consequences are the same as failure to possess a ticket. Therefore, you must possess your Student ID Card at all times.

Special Remarks

Specific cities may have Multiple Operators for Transport. For example, Warsaw has ZTM Warszawa (Main Public Transport), but also other operators such as Koleje Mazowieckie. Please be careful and watch out for these operators as they may not accept the same tickets. Electronic Tickets from apps like Jakdojade will indicate this information and it will inform you if you can buy these tickets from the app. Rest assured, Lublin does not have multiple operators for transport. The sole operator is ZTM Lublin.

In addition to the information above, this section will discuss specific information that pertains to Lublin. Lublin Public Transport includes Buses & Trolleybuses. These lines operate throughout the city. Tickets are divided into 2 zones, Zone 1 and Zone 2. Zone 1 covers most of the city and will usually cover most of your transport needs, including access to the UMCS Botanical Garden, Open Air Village, and Lake. It however, does not include some other places where students like to go to such as IKEA or Felicity, in which case, you need a Zone 1+2 Ticket. 

You may obtain Time-Limited Tickets on Jakdojade. If you are interested in obtaining a periodic ticket that covers all public transport in the city for a certain number of days, the city has the Lubika app in which you can purchase that type of ticket, which is available on both the App Store & Play Store. If you choose to obtain a Periodic Ticket, you are also entitled to 30-mins of Bicycle Rental (For a fee, you may also pay for the Bicycle Rental). 

Below are Common Lines and Important Stops to Get Around Lublin by Students of the Medical University

Lines & Important Stops for Students

• Bus 26: Młodej Polski - Wydział Farmaceutyczny - Chodźki-szpital - Prusa - Plac Litewski - Ogród Saski

• Bus 40: Chodźki-szpital - Prusa - Plac Litewski - Ogród Saski - Lipowa-cmentarz - Zalewskiego

• Bus 17: Olimp - Unicka - Brama Krakowska - Dworzec Lublin-Kunickiego

• Bus 18: Ikea - Olimp - Plac Singera - Plac Litewski - Ogród Saski - Skansen

• Bus 29: Dworzec Lublin-Kunickiego - Prusa - Jaczewskiego - Chodźki-szpital 

• Trolleybus 154: Dworzec Lublin - Plac Singera - Unicka - Jaczewskiego - Chodźki-szpital 

• Trolleybus 156:  Młodej Polski - Wydział Farmaceutyczny - Chodźki-szpital - Jaczewskiego - Unicka - Brama Krakowska - Majdanek

• Trolleybus 160: Młodej Polski - Wydział Farmaceutyczny - Chodźki-szpital - Unicka - Brama Krakowska - Dworzec Lublin-Kunickiego

• Night Bus N1 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday Nights Only): Szpital Dziecięcy - Chodźki-szpital - Jaczewskiego - Unicka - Brama Krakowska - Zalewskiego

Stops & Associated Locations

• Main University Campus/University Hospital No. 4: Chodźki-szpital, Wydział Farmaceutyczny, Jaczewskiego,  Szpital Dziecięcy 

• Collegium Anatomicum/Maius: Prusa

• Collegium Novum: Ogród Saski

• Collegium Medicum/Maximum/University Hospital No. 1/City Center: Plac Litewski, Brama Krakowska 

• Lublin Intercity Train & Bus Station: Dworzec Lublin-Kunickiego, Dworzec Lublin

• Unicka (Student Hotspot): Unicka

• Tourist Sites

  • Lake: Zalewskiego

  • Open Air Village: Skansen

  • Majdanek Concentration Camp: Majdanek

• Shopping Centers

  • Auchan (Closest One to the University Campus): Młodej Polski

  • IKEA: Ikea

  • Olimp: Olimp

  • VIVO!: Plac Singera 

  • Lublin Plaza: Lipowa-cmentarz