Bus 188orPre-booked private transfer?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Pre-booked private transfer reaches Śródmieście: Warszawa Centralna and Warszawa Śródmieście stations, and the Centrum junction on Marszałkowska; the Bus 188 does not. It skirts the center: Metro Politechnika is its closest stop to Śródmieście, on the M1 metro one station south of Centrum, and it does not pass Centralna or Centrum. Useful for the Politechnika district, Torwar and Praga-Południe.

The Pre-booked private transfer is quicker: 20 min against 21 min. The Bus 188 varies between 19 and 26 minutes.

Bus 188: 04:43–23:48. Pre-booked private transfer: Runs all night.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares

What each costs for the whole party, in PLN. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row. The Pre-booked private transfer is charged in euros; its column is converted at the reference rate in its fare note.
Travelers	Bus 188	Pre-booked private transfer	Difference
1	PLN 4.40	about PLN 178	PLN 173.60
2	PLN 8.80	about PLN 178	PLN 169.20
3	PLN 13.20	about PLN 178	PLN 164.80
4	PLN 17.60	about PLN 178	PLN 160.40
5	PLN 22	about PLN 256	PLN 234
6	PLN 26.40	about PLN 256	PLN 229.60
7	PLN 30.80	about PLN 256	PLN 225.20
8	PLN 35.20	about PLN 512	PLN 476.80

Side by side

Where each one leaves you

188 · Warszawski Transport Publiczny (ZTM)Bus 188

From: Stop "Lotnisko Chopina – Przyloty 02" on the arrivals level
To: Metro Politechnika in about 21 minutes, then over the Łazienkowski bridge to Praga-Południe and PKP Gocławek
Luggage: Free and unlimited by the tariff; a city bus with no hold.
Runs: 04:43–23:48
Journey: 19–26 min

For Centralna, Centrum or the Old Town take the 175 or the train; the 188 goes east across the river instead.

The PLN 4.40 ticket covers the change to the metro at Politechnika inside its 75 minutes.

Bus 188: price for every party size

WTP's airport page

transfer · KiwitaxiPre-booked private transfer

From: Driver meets you in arrivals with a name board
To: Any address in Warsaw
Luggage: The sedan seats four with three bags; the minibus seven with seven. Choose by luggage as well as seats.
Runs: All night
Journey: 20 min

Book at least 16 hours ahead; nearer the day a car is offered only when one is free.

Pre-booked private transfer: price for every party size

Book transfer through Kiwitaxi

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This compares two of 7 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

Bus 188orPre-booked private transfer?

Priced against each other

Side by side

The other comparisons at Chopin Airport