Cheap flights from Shanghai to Warsaw

December is the cheapest month on this route, so if your dates are flexible, that is the month to aim for. Late September and early October tend to go the other way, with the National Day holiday in China pushing fares up, and the run into Spring Festival is busy too, as everyone flying home books months ahead. In Poland, the Christmas and New Year stretch and the Easter weekend are the periods to plan around. Midweek departures, Tuesday and Wednesday especially, are usually quieter than weekend ones. Book well ahead if you are travelling over holidays.

No airline flies this route nonstop, so every option here is a connecting itinerary. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways route through the Gulf, Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, and Swiss, Austrian and Lufthansa through Zurich, Vienna or Frankfurt. Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines connect in Hong Kong, while Juneyao Airlines and Hainan Airlines are the Chinese carriers serving the route. These are full-service airlines, so a checked bag and meals are normally part of the fare, but what is included depends on the fare class you pick, so read the conditions before you pay. Connecting times differ a lot between hubs, so check the layover before you commit.

Warsaw has two airports, and they are not interchangeable, so check which one your ticket names. F. Chopin is the main gateway and the closer of the two to the centre, with public transport links into town. Modlin sits further out and handles a smaller set of flights, so allow extra time for the transfer if you land there. Whichever you use, sort out your onward transport before you fly — after a long connecting journey you will not want to be working it out in the arrivals hall. Keep your passport and booking details within reach, and check the entry requirements for Poland before you travel.

Currency

PLZ (zł)

Power sockets

Type C, E · 230 V

Language

Polish

Emergency number

112, 986, 997

Driving side

right

Calling code

+48

Internet domain

.pl

EU / Schengen

EU member, Schengen area

Population of Warsaw

1.9 M (2024)

Time zone

UTC+01 (Europe/Warsaw)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Decide whether you are flying from Pudong or Hongqiao — Shanghai's two airports are far apart, and the wrong one costs you the flight.
• Check the baggage allowance on the cheapest fare, since a low fare often means paying extra for a checked bag.
• If your trip is built from separate tickets, leave a generous gap between flights — a missed connection is your problem, not the airline's.
• Confirm that your passport and any visa or entry document for Poland are valid for your travel dates.
• Book early if you are travelling over Christmas, New Year or Easter, when seats on this route fill up.
• Compare total journey time as well as fare, because every option here involves at least one connection.