Warsaw noise map – how many decibels reach your apartment
Noise is one of the most underestimated factors when choosing a home. We layered Warsaw's official strategic noise map (roads, trams, rail and Chopin airport) on top of our interactive map, so you can check the Lnight level anywhere in the city with a single click.
What is Lnight and why it matters most
Lnight is the long-term average night-time noise level (22:00–6:00) expressed in dB(A). Night noise is the single strongest environmental factor for health – it disrupts sleep, raises blood pressure and increases cardiovascular risk. The WHO recommends Lnight below 40 dB outside the bedroom window.
Our layer combines four official rasters from Warsaw's strategic noise map (mapa.um.warszawa.pl): roads, trams, rail and Chopin airport. For every point we take the maximum across all sources – one busy arterial next to your window is enough.
Color scale and impact on the location score
| Lnight | Interpretation | Score penalty |
|---|---|---|
| < 45 dB | Quiet, within WHO recommendation | 0 pts |
| 45–50 dB | Elevated, calm neighborhood | −3 pts |
| 50–55 dB | Clearly audible background noise | −7 pts |
| 55–60 dB | Bothersome, above legal limits | −12 pts |
| 60–65 dB | Very loud, health risk | −16 pts |
| ≥ 65 dB | Extreme (main arteries, airport) | −20 pts |
The penalty is subtracted from the Transport category in our 0–100 rating. The scale is 50% softer than the original – noise lowers the score but doesn't dominate it.
Explore noise on the map
Enable the Noise layer on the main map – see a gradient from green (quiet) to purple (very loud) for every corner of Warsaw.
Open the Noise layer on the mapWhere Warsaw is loudest
- Trasa Toruńska, Wisłostrada, Al. Jerozolimskie, Marszałkowska – street-facing facades reach 70–75 dB Lnight.
- Around Chopin airport (Włochy, southern Ursus, parts of Ursynów) – aircraft noise 55–65 dB at night.
- Tram lines – Wola, Praga-Północ, Targówek. Especially loud on curves and junctions.
- Cross-city railway and lines to Grodzisk/Otwock – corridors 100–200 m from the tracks.
And where it's quiet
Inner blocks of Żoliborz, Saska Kępa, Wilanów, Wesoła and most of Wawer – Lnight often below 45 dB. These are also among the top-rated districts in our neighborhoods ranking.
Data limitations
- The noise map is a propagation model, not a per-point measurement – values on a specific building may vary by a few dB.
- Only traffic-related noise is included. Bars, construction and neighbours are not.
- The model doesn't account for soundproof windows or apartment orientation – a courtyard-facing facade is typically 10–15 dB quieter than a street-facing one.