Olsztyn public transport 2026: two zones, 90 vs 130 zl monthly
Short answer: Since 1 September 2026 Olsztyn has two ticket zones. A 30-day named ticket costs 130 zloty, or 90 zloty for residents who file PIT in Olsztyn. Check ZDZiT, whose tariff page still showed 2025 prices on 18 October.
Olsztyn changed how it prices public transport on 1 September 2026. The city now has two ticket zones, and the price of a monthly ticket depends on where you file your income tax. A resident who files in Olsztyn pays much less than everyone else. This matters if you live in Olsztyn, commute in from a nearby village or study there. This guide uses the city council's resolution as described in the local press and the city's own documents. One thing to know first: as of 18 October 2026 the official ZDZiT tariff page (the city transport authority) still showed the 2025 prices, from 1 January 2025. The new figures below come from local news reports of 31 August and 1 September 2026, so check the current price at a ZDZiT customer point or in the app before you buy a long-term ticket.
Two zones
Zone 1 covers Olsztyn within its city limits. Zone 2 covers lines that run to neighbouring municipalities that work with the city on transport, reported as Dywity, Jonkowo and Barczewo. The fees were set by a council resolution of 25 February 2026 (number XXIII/320/26) on charges for local public transport. Since the rules changed, the price you pay depends on the type of ticket, the zone, and, for monthly tickets, on your tax residence.
Single and time tickets
According to the local news site Co w Olsztynie (31 August 2026), the time tickets are now:
15-minute ticket, zone 1: 3.40 zloty (reduced 1.70). A new type, and the 15 minutes are counted strictly from validation, though you can change vehicles.
45-minute ticket, zones 1 and 2: 4 zloty (reduced 2). This costs what the 30-minute ticket used to cost.
90-minute ticket: 7 zloty, the same as before.
For the 45 and 90-minute tickets, the report says you do not need to buy a new ticket if the trip runs over time, as long as you stay in the same vehicle. A weekend group ticket for up to five people costs 40 zloty and works in both zones.
Monthly tickets: 90 or 130 zloty
The standard named 30-day ticket for zone 1 rose from 100 to 130 zloty (reduced 65). A ticket covering zones 1 and 2 costs 140 zloty (reduced 70). The city also introduced a resident ticket, the Bilet Olsztyniaka: 90 zloty for 30 days (reduced 45), and 260 zloty for 90 days (reduced 130). A 30-day Large Family ticket is reported at 160 zloty.
The condition for the Bilet Olsztyniaka is to live in Olsztyn and to settle your income tax at the Olsztyn tax office. The tax office, not your address, is what counts. A ZDZiT spokesperson said the discount is meant to recognise people whose taxes build the city budget.
How to prove your status
You confirm your status in the city app "Nasz Olsztyn", or at the ZDZiT customer service point by showing your PIT return and the official confirmation of receipt (UPO). The same app shows the lower parking rates. Co w Olsztynie reported that in the first days some passengers had trouble with the app reading data from the PIT and their PESEL number.
The reports do not say anything about foreigners or people who are not Polish tax residents. If you are an expat, the practical test is simple: if your annual PIT return goes to the Olsztyn tax office, you are in the group the rule describes. If you are newly arrived and have not yet filed in Poland, or if your return goes to a different office, the 130 zloty price is the one that applies as the reports describe it. Ask ZDZiT in writing if your case is unusual.
The voivode pointed to a gap: people who do not file a PIT because they have no duty to, for example under the relief for young people under 26. The press reports a ZDZiT spokesperson suggesting such people could file a zero return, without saying exactly what document that means, and ZDZiT confirmed the rules were not changed before 1 September.
The dispute
The county governor of Olsztyn County, Andrzej Abako, asked the voivode and the Ombudsman to declare the resolutions invalid, arguing that the tariff divides residents of the region into better and worse. The voivode found a partial violation of law, which concerned the rules on additional fees for travel without a ticket. The statutory time to annul the resolution had passed, and the council changed those rules in June. The Bilet Olsztyniaka rules themselves were not changed before 1 September. The Ombudsman's review was still open at the time of the reports.
Fines
A draft council resolution dated 12 June 2026, on the city's BIP site, sets the additional fee for travelling without a valid ticket at 100 times the price of the normal 15-minute ticket, and half that, 50 times, if paid within 7 days. At 3.40 zloty that is 340 zloty and 170 zloty (calculated, not stated in the draft). The draft is marked as a draft, so check the final figures with ZDZiT. The old tariff page shows 340 zloty and 160 zloty for the same two cases.
Practical tips
If you live in Olsztyn and have filed your PIT there, set up the app and confirm your status before you buy a monthly ticket, because the saving is 40 zloty a month on the standard ticket.
If you live outside Olsztyn and commute, count on the 130 zloty ticket for zone 1, or 140 zloty for both zones, as reported.
For occasional trips, the 15, 45 and 90-minute tickets are the same for everyone.
Buy tickets before boarding. The old tariff page notes that the vehicle crew does not sell tickets.
* Photos: New Town Hall in Olsztyn from the Centrum tram stop, and a view of Olsztyn (Unsplash), both CC0, Wikimedia Commons. Illustrative.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a monthly ticket in Olsztyn in 2026?
According to local news reports, the 30-day named ticket for zone 1 costs 130 zloty, or 140 zloty for zones 1 and 2. Residents who file income tax in Olsztyn can buy the Bilet Olsztyniaka for 90 zloty. The official ZDZiT page still showed 2025 prices on 18 October 2026.
Who can buy the 90 zloty Bilet Olsztyniaka?
A person who lives in Olsztyn and settles income tax at the Olsztyn tax office. Status is confirmed in the "Nasz Olsztyn" app or at a ZDZiT customer point.
Do I need a new ticket if my 45 or 90-minute ticket runs out mid-trip?
Not if you stay in the same vehicle, according to ZDZiT as reported. The 15-minute ticket is strict.
