travel guide poland

First-timer's guide to Poland

Sep 29, 2023 • 7 min read

Everything you need to know about visiting Poland for the first time © Imgorthand / Getty Images

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Poland  has a long, fascinating, sometimes tragic history, played out against a backdrop of royal castles and palaces, picturesque old towns and incredible landscapes.

From the Carpathian Mountains in the south to the Great Masurian Lakes in the north, Poland is a dream destination if you’re up for an activity-driven vacation – hiking, cycling and kayaking opportunities are abundant, plus there’s skiing in the winter.

If urban pleasures are more your thing, vibrant cities such as the capital Warsaw , the atmospheric old capital Kraków , and revamped 19th-century industrial powerhouse Łódź do not disappoint. Each offers masses of cultural attractions alongside delicious dining and lively nightlife scenes – all at very affordable prices.

As Poland is a big country packed with travel possibilities, you’re sure to have questions. Here are some tips and practical advice on how to get the most out of your first trip to Poland.

When should I go to Poland?

There’s no time of the year to specifically avoid when scheduling a trip. For fine weather and the chance to join summer festivals and events such as Kraków’s Jewish Culture Festival and Warsaw’s Summer Jazz Days , come between May and early September.

Towns and cities come alive as the warmer temperatures tempt everyone outside for alfresco dining and drinking. This is peak season, too, for visiting Poland’s 23 national parks.

The countryside in spring and autumn can also be very beautiful. Winter is the quietest season, except in ski resorts such as Zakopane . Come prepared for frigid temperatures and sloshing through snow and rain.

Compensations include low season rates at hotels and plenty of excellent museums in the major cities in which to shelter from the elements. Autumn through early spring is also when performing arts institutions such as Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki and Filharmonia Narodowa run their season of top-grade shows.

How much time do I need to visit Poland?

Two, or better, three days is the minimum needed for a short city break to either Warsaw or Kraków. You won’t have enough time to cover everything, but you will be able to get a feel for these places and tick off the main attractions.

If you’re prepared to move around quickly, you could cram in more of Poland over 10 days to two weeks, adding to your itinerary metropolises such as Gdańsk (also close to the Baltic seaside resort of Sopot ) and Łódź, as well as smaller historic towns like the artists’ retreat Kazimierz Dolny and Zamość , a perfectly preserved 16th-century Renaissance town.

Have a month to spare? Now you’re talking! This will give you the opportunity to explore rural backwaters and national parks such as World Heritage-listed Białowieża National Park , home to some 800 free-roaming European bison, Poland’s national symbol and Europe’s largest land mammal; and Karkonosze National Park with its spectacular Ice Age glacier-carved landscapes.

Is it easy to get in and around Poland?

Poland is tethered to the world by international flights. The capital’s main airport is the central Warsaw Chopin Airport , with Modlin Airport , 39km (24 miles) north of the city, handling budget carriers.

Other international airports include Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, Katowice Airport, Kraków John Paul II International Airport, Łódż Airport and Wrocław Airport . There are also excellent rail and bus links, especially with Western European neighbors, including overnight train services to Berlin and Vienna .

Getting around Poland itself is a breeze. There’s a comprehensive system of buses and trains offering both frequent services and affordable prices. For more remote parts, including nearly all the national parks, you’ll really need your own set of wheels.

Hiring a car is straightforward and the roads have vastly improved in recent years (although you will encounter some unsealed roads in the most rural regions). Major cities and towns all have decent public transport, and you can easily cover historic old town centers on foot.

Top things to do in Poland

Kraków, the former royal capital, is a stunner with its heady blend of history and harmonious architecture. At its heart are the vast Rynek Główny, Europe’s largest medieval marketplace, and the magnificent Wawel Royal Castle , on a hill above the Old Town.

But that's just the start – every part of the city is fascinating, from the former Jewish district of Kazimierz and its lively nightlife to the atomic fallout shelters of Nowa Huta .

Warsaw had to be almost completely rebuilt after WWII. The powerful Warsaw Rising Museum focuses on the darkest hours of WWII, while the Museum of Warsaw superbly documents the city's rise, fall and resurrection. Also don’t miss the award-winning POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews , and regal Wilanów Palace and surrounding lush parkland.

Toruń , a walled Gothic city on the Vistula River, miraculously escaped WWII intact. Wander through the UNESCO-listed Old Town crammed with museums, churches, grand mansions and squares. When you’re flagging, perk up with a peppery gingerbread cookie, Toruń’s signature snack, which you can make yourself at the Gingerbread Museum .

The UNESCO-listed Białowieża National Park holds one of Europe’s last vestiges of primeval forest, which you can visit in the company of a guide. The bison, which was once extinct outside zoos, has been successfully reintroduced here, although your best bet for seeing these magnificent animals is the region’s European Bison Show Reserve .

My favorite thing to do in Poland

I’m a huge fan of street art and Łódź has embraced this public form of creative expression unlike anywhere else in Poland - the city is practically one giant art gallery! There are well over 200 public works of art ranging from massive painted murals to installations involving neon, nails and porcelain tiles.

Among my favorites are Pasaż Róży, a dazzling courtyard completely plastered with mirror fragments arranged in swirling rose patterns, and Wiedźmin, a 70m tall mural designed by Jakub Rebelka on the sides of adjacent apartment blocks – it’s a homage to the Witcher series of fantasy books by Łódź-based author Andrzej Sapkowski.

How much money do I need for Poland?

Like everywhere in Europe in recent times, prices have been rising in Poland. That said, the country offers great value, especially when it comes to accommodation, dining out and entertainment. Getting around by public transport is also a bargain.

• Hostel room: 60 zł
• Basic room for two: 200 zł
• Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): 120 zł
• Public transport ticket: 3.40 zł
• Coffee: 15-20 zł
• Sandwich: 15 zł
• Dinner for two: 150-200 zł
• Beer/pint at the bar: 12 zł

Is Poland part of the EU?

Yes, which means if you’re crossing into the country from neighboring EU countries – the Czech Republic (Czechia), Germany , Lithuania and Slovakia – there are no border formalities. However, rather than the euro, Poland’s national currency is the złoty (zł, sometimes also abbreviated as PLN) which dates back to the 14th century.

Most places accept card or electronic payments but sometimes you will need to pay in cash so it’s handy to keep some money in your wallet.

How easy is it to get online?

Very easy. Depending on your home mobile phone/internet plans, you should be able to surf the web and stay in touch using a smartphone or tablet. There are plenty of wifi hotspots and some of them are free.

What’s Polish food like?

Locals like nothing better than scoffing comfort foods such as pączki (rose-jam filled doughnuts) or a plate of pierogi , dough dumplings stuffed with anything from cottage cheese, potato and meat to blueberries or other fruits.

Traditional cooking is rustic and flavorful and can be summed up by Poland’s signature kiełbasa sausages. These are usually made with pork and various seasonings, though other meats, like beef and veal, can be added.

Beyond such staples Polish cuisine also includes hearty soups and dishes such as beef tartare. In the major cities and towns, there’s a wide choice of world cuisines alongside creative renditions of vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Editor's note: This article was sponsored by Poland NTO after the city was selected for Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2024. Sponsors do not influence a destination's inclusion in Best In Travel, which is determined solely by Lonely Planet's editorial team.

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• Inspiration

Poland more than you expected

• Top attractions

Discover our regions

Discover poland’s 16 amazing regions.

This is a region with many valued historical sites, castles and palaces as well as attractions for fans of industrial tourism (it is home to Poland’s first capital city, Gniezno). The province also has plenty of valuable natural areas including two national parks (Wielkopolska National Park and part of Drawa National Park), which hold great potential for active tourism such as the Great Wielkopolska Loop. The region’s capital is Poznań, Poland’s most important trade-fair centre.

A picturesque region with remarkable rivers and lakes, the least urbanised part of Poland; idyllic landscapes, charming localities, health resorts, and four national parks (Białowieża, Biebrza, Narew and Wigry) welcome tourists; the region includes the UNESCO-listed Białowieża Forest; Podlaskie province, with hospitable Białystok as its capital, has many multicultural attractions…

A region very popular among tourists for the Great Masurian Lakes, summer resorts and health spas, visitors will discover many charming towns lying amidst beautiful forests and bodies of water.

As a destination, this province is great for health resorts and spas on the Baltic Sea as well as many interesting historical sites. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, two national parks (Słowiński and Tuchola Forest) also cultural and historical ones, starting with the region’s capital of Gdańsk.

A coastal region offering lots of great adventures and home to many seaside resorts and famous health spas, the province has attractive natural areas including two national parks (Wolin and Drawa).  Zachodniopomorskie province is a region with lots of attractions for every tourist.

Filled with attractions for the active and history-loving tourist, with traces of Chopin’s life and work, this is the largest province and home to Poland’s capital city – Warsaw, whose Old Town is a UNESCO-listed heritage site. To the south of the capital lies a health resort, and to the north-west Kampinos National Park, not to mention the surrounding localities explored via the winding roads of Mazovia…

Filled with ancient Slavic sites, famous health resorts and natural attractions, the province also includes a gem of Gothic architecture – Toruń – whose historical centre, with the 14th-century Town Hall, tenements and fragments of castle walls, is a UNESCO-listed heritage site.

A region with an ever-growing number of tourist attractions, both natural and manmade, not to mention Poland’s only thermal spa in Uniejów and a skiing facility in the heart of Poland: Kamieńsk Hill on the slope of the Bełchatów mine. The geometric centre of Poland lies in Łódzkie province, in the village of Piątek, and the province capital is the multicultural and modern city of Łódź.

Poland’s most densely forested province, rich in natural attractions including a national park (Warta Mouth), historic buildings (e.g. Łagów Castle) and former military sites (the Międzyrzecz Fortification Region), as well as a UNESCO-listed site: Park Mużakowski. The province has two capitals: Zielona Góra and Gorzów Wielkopolski.

Home to a variety of architectural marvels (including Książ, Poland third largest castle) Lower Silesia also boasts mountains, two national parks (Karkonosze and Sowie Mountains), many mountain resorts and the greatest number of health spas in Poland. Dig a little deeper and you’ll also find two UNESCO-listed sites (the Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica, and the Centennial Hall in Wrocław), as well as the bustling regional capital, Wrocław.

Poland’s smallest province, but one that is rich in culture and full of treasures for tourists. There’s something for everyone here – whether you’re looking to sightsee or are craving some relaxation. The region boasts beautiful lakes and rivers, famous castles and palaces, fascinating natural, historical and even prehistoric sites; the capital of Opolskie province is the “singing” city of Opole…

Śląśkie (Silesia) is a province rich in mineral and natural resources and is one of the most important industrial regions of Poland. Silesia’s largest city and historical capital is Wrocław, and the major metropolitan area is the Upper Silesian metro area with Katowice at its center. The multiethnic heritage of the region delivers deep and enriching cultural exploration of local history, tradition, and customs.

The Małopolska Province is where one finds some of Poland’s most visited sites. This most varied region stretches from the snowy peaks of the Tatra Mountains to the rugged limestone cliffs of Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, and the scenic, low lying Vistula River Valley.

This is a charming province, home to the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and Świętokrzyski National Park. The region is all about hermit and monastic traditions, age-old legends and dinosaurs combined with picturesque towns, multiple historical sites and famous health resorts. The regional capital is Kielce.

Podkarpackie is one of the greenest regions of Poland. There are pristine meadows and beautiful forests. Over one third of the region’s area, including remnants of the ancient Carpathian primeval Forest, is protected. Mighty wisents, lynxes, wildcats, and a number of rare bird species such as the golden eagle, are just a few of many species you can meet while hiking in the area.

Beautifully situated between the rivers Vistula and Bug, at the junction of Eastern and Western culture, Lubelskie has an alluring exoticism. Offering a rich natural environment with two national parks (Roztocze and Polesie) as well as historical sites including the UNESCO-listed Old Town in Zamość, the region tempts visitors with boats trips along the Vistula in Kazimierz, hiking in the Vistula glacial valley, treatments at health resorts and historic architecture in the province capital – Lublin.

Photos from Poland

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Best Things To Do in Poland (2-week Travel Guide)

Poland is creative, artsy, and colorful, with beautifully preserved traditions and buildings and friendly locals. That’s right, Poland is often overlooked as a travel destination, stereotyped as boring, grey, and industrial, however, that’s far from true! Rent a car and drive around Poland exploring its epic national parks, cities full of candy-colored mansions, beautiful sandy beaches, and folk art villages. Enjoy following this Poland travel route.

Poland Travel Itinerary

Poland is totally underrated! Because of this, there aren’t the crowds of tourists you’d expect in places like Italy or France . In popular cities like Krakow and Gdansk , you may find crowds but once you hit the open road Poland is peaceful and quiet.

We recommend to rent a car in Poland through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

The two main airports are Warsaw and Krakow, so depending on which airport you are flying into, you may want to alter this 2-week Poland itinerary.

Alternative route: The itinerary starts and ends in Warsaw. However, if Krakow is your starting point, you can follow this loop: Krakow > Wroclaw > Gdansk > Warsaw > Zalipie > Krakow

Day 1-2: Warsaw

Prepare to be blown away by unexpected Warsaw! Despite the mass bombings during World War II, the city has a rebuilt, colorful old town, as well as younger, more cosmopolitan areas with street art and a neon museum.

Spend the night in Warsaw exploring the old town squares, the city markets, and the surprising creative hipster neighborhood!

Read: How to spend 24-hours in Warsaw

Where to Stay in Warsaw

The old town in Warsaw is the best area to stay, as it situates you close to all the historical sites and top things to do in the city. You can also search for hotels in the Srodmiescie district .

Hotels in Warsaw 😴

Tip: Another great area to stay is in the newer zone of Warsaw. We stayed here on our trip – at Hotel Metropol .

Zalipie painted village – One of the best things to do in Poland

On your way from Warsaw to Krakow, make a stop at the hidden gem of Poland: Zalipie painted village ! The village is a little off the direct route but is well worth the journey.

For years, the women of the village have painted everything with floral patterns, from walls and doors to garden sheds and fences. The village is a must-see to get some great photos and to better understand the unique folk culture of Poland.

Getting here: From Warsaw to Zalipie, the journey by car takes 3.5 hours.

Read more: Zalipie painted village, most beautiful village in Poland

Day 3-5: Krakow – Best of the Poland Travel Guide

Krakow is the most popular city in Poland, and for a good reason! It is known for its charming cobblestone squares and streets, incredible restaurants, yearly Christmas markets, and historic neighborhoods.

Here’s:   how to spend 3 days in Krakow!

Most importantly of all, it is known for its close proximity to Auschwitz – one of the largest Nazi concentration camps where over a million Jews lost their lives. We highly recommend setting aside one of your days in Krakow to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau .

See tickets and availability for a tour to Auschwitz

Additionally, visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines and discover the huge underground chambers over 300 km in size!

Where to Stay in Krakow

Krakow’s old town is the most popular area to stay in. However, hotels are generally more affordable outside the old city walls.

Hotels in Krakow 😴

Alternatively, stay in the hipster neighborhood of Kazimierz – one of the best areas for art galleries and vintage stores!

Warsaw to Krakow : Driving directly to Krakow from Warsaw takes 3.5 hours, however, we recommend making a stop in Zalipie painted village. From Zalipie to Krakow the drive is 1.5 hours. Public transport: There are also direct fast trains leaving Warsaw to Krakow daily that take 2.5 hours or take the bus in 4 hours. ( Search here for trains to Krakow )

Day 6-7: Wroclaw

Wroclaw , pronounced ‘vrots-wahf’, is a city that’s full of quirky sights, traditions, and stories. From hunting the gnomes hidden all around the city to watching the famous lamplighter, there is always a different and exciting activity on offer here.

The small old town itself is also beautiful, in true Polish style, with its colored grand townhouses, cobbled squares, and incredible cathedrals. What’s more, it lies close to Książ Castle in Poland and the incredible Adrspach-Teplice park in the Czech Republic !

Read: Wroclaw city trip guide

Krakow to Wroclaw: 3 hours driving. Alternatively, there is also a 4-hour direct train.

Where to Stay in Wroclaw

Wroclaw is a fairly small city, so you can stay in most places and be close to all the best things to do. For the best of everything, stay in the Old Town, where all the most beautiful buildings are located.

Hotels in Wroclaw 😴

Day 8-10: Poznan or Lodz

Break up your journey up north to Gdansk with a stop at either Poznan or Lodz. Both cities are a 2.5-hour drive from Wroclaw.

Poznan has one of Poland’s postcard-perfect town squares, including a beautiful town hall. See the town hall’s clock at noon to see two mechanical goats headbutt each other twelve times. This city is the perfect example of the old and new Poland .

Here are all your hotel options in Poznan.

Alternatively, visit Lodz, a city that is still a bit hidden from tourism. Former factories in the city now house delicious restaurants and hipster bars. The industrial look goes well with the stunning street art pieces that are spread throughout the city.

Here are all your hotel options in Lodz.

Day 11-13: Gdansk

Gdansk, situated in the very north of Poland , is the perfect city to close your Poland travel itinerary. It’s probably the most colorful of all the Polish cities so far, with its endless rows of rainbow-colored mansions and ornate carvings.

On top of that, allow yourself one full day to explore the countryside around Gdansk. For example, the beautiful Sopot beach, the stunning Kepa Redlowska National Park, and the circular fortress at the mouth of the Vistula River.

Discover: all the best things to do in Gdansk!

Getting to Gdansk : It’s a long drive from Poznan or Lodz to Gdansk of about 4 hours. If you don’t have a car, there are trains departing from both cities towards Gdansk.

Where to Stay in Gdansk

Stay anywhere inside the Old Town to soak up the charming atmosphere of the historical city and be close to all the top things to do in Gdansk.

Hotels in Gdansk 😴

Day 14: Ending your Poland Road Trip

Beforehand, check if you have the option to fly back home from Gdansk ( Check here ). Gdansk has a limited selection of international flights. If you don’t have that option, head back to Warsaw for your flight, which takes 4 hours by car or 3.5 hours by train.

Book your train tickets to Warsaw in advance

Costs of Traveling in Poland

Traveling in Poland is really cheap! Direct trains can cost anything between 15-30 USD, and buses for a fraction of that price. Food and drink are particularly cheap, with a traditional Polish meal of Pierogi costing as little as 4 USD!

Travel on a budget in Poland, from $340 − $450 USD weekly per person, mid-range $630 − $1390 USD, and high-end from $1380 − $1990 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hotels: $30 − $80 USD Check available hotels
• Hostels: $15 − $30 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $10 − $40 USD Book public transport
• Car Rental: $50 − $150 USD Book a rental car
• Food: $15 − $25 USD
• Activities: $5 − $20 USD See tickets & tours
• Sim: $1 − $3 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

How to Get Around Poland

Getting around Poland is really easy, with great public transport connections that are very reasonably priced. However, the distances between cities are long, so it’s worth renting a car so you can explore off-the-beaten-path destinations on your Poland travel route.

Best Time to Visit Poland

The spring between March and June is a great time to visit Poland. The temperatures are pleasant, and the flowers are in bloom, so you can drive through beautiful green countryside full of wildflowers.

June is a wonderful time to come if you want to also witness the famous Zalipie painted cottage competition!

Christmas Markets in Poland

Poland is also famous for its cold, snowy winters and amazing Christmas markets. Visiting in December is a really special time, as you can see the variation of Christmas traditions from town to town, stunning twinkling lights, and frozen lakes.

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Zalipie: The Beautiful Painted Village in Poland

12 best things to do in krakow, poland, how to visit auschwitz concentration camp in poland.

Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.

Hi Hannah and Nick! Thank you for presenting my home country so beautifully! <3. I haven't been to a few cities myself, so this post is super useful! If you ever back to Poland – would also recommend to check out the Masuria District (Lakes), Tatra Mountains, Bledow Desert and Lower Silesia district. Forever love your content guys! Great job! Keep it going :) Take care!

Hi Aleksandra, ah, fantastic recommendations! We hope to be able to return and explore more of Poland!

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We chose a trip to Poland due to the fact that my family comes from Poland. It was the best choice. Our guide showed us the house where my family once live...

Poland has long been a nation steeped in tradition and history, although the past twenty years have witnessed such dizzying economic development that the country is starting to feel more and more like the West. Still, beneath the gleaming surface lies a culture firmly rooted in Eastern hospitality and community values, and fascinating reminders of the turbulent past are everywhere. Poland is also a land of considerable natural beauty, whose idyllic lakes, beaches and mountains provide a nice contrast to the cultural rigours of the cities.

Where to go in Poland

Travel ideas for poland, created by local experts.

11 days  / from 1613 USD

Explore the Liberation Route in Poland

Poland was the first country that Hitler invaded and with it starting World War II. Discover the Polish sites of World War II with this itinerary, from the Northern city of Gdansk where the first battle took place to the concentration camps of Auschwitz close to Krakow.

Much of Warsaw, the capital, conforms to stereotypes of Eastern European greyness, but it does boast an historic centre, beautiful parks and vibrant nightlife. Kraków, the ancient royal capital in the south, is the real crowd-puller, rivalling the elegance of Prague and Vienna, while Gdańsk on the Baltic Sea offers an insight into Poland’s dynamic politics as well as the golden beaches at the nearby resort of Sopot. In the west, stately Wrocław charms visitors with its architecture and vibrant student life, while quintessentially Polish Poznań is still revered as the heart of the nation. Outdoorsy types can enjoy fantastic kayaking in the lake district of Mazury, while the Tatra Mountains on the Slovak border offer exhilarating hiking and affordable skiing.

Top image: Krakow, Poland © Shutterstock

Discover more places in Poland

Population 38.5 million

Area 312,685 sq km

Language Polish

Currency Złoty (zł/PLN)

Capital Warsaw (population: 1.7 million)

International phone code 48

Travel advice for Poland

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Poland

• How to get to Poland
• Culture and Etiquette in Poland
• Eating and drinking in Poland
• Getting around Poland: Transportation Tips
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Poland
• Travel Tips Poland for planning and on the go
• Best time to visit Poland

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 26.04.2021

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Polish people have never lost hold of their national identity, not even when their country officially ceased to exist for the 123 years leading up to World War I (it was partitioned by Austria, Russia, and the Kingdom of Prussia). Though Poland suffered greatly during the world wars, and through the privations of a half century of real socialism that followed, the country has spent the last three decades rebuilding itself as a modern democracy. In 2004, it joined the European Union and started focusing even more intensely on the future.

Poland is arranged in latitudinal strips, with the Vistula River running the length of the country all the way to the Baltic Sea, passing by the rugged peaks of the Tatras, as well as rolling plains, vast forests, and thousands of lakes. In addition to this natural beauty, the country boasts a great wealth of historic monuments and cultural traditions, both in its big cities and smaller villages. Places like the ancient city of Kraków, vibrant metropolitan Warsaw, and Gdańsk, the cradle of the Solidarity movement, are not to be missed. With more time on your hands, however, Poland invites venturing off the beaten path.

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When’s the best time to go to Poland?

In Poland, you can experience the pleasures of four distinct seasons, all in a mostly temperate climate. Spring brings ancient folk celebrations and classic music festivals, while summer is the time to relax on a café terrace or take to the beach. In the fall, the mountains beckon with their changing colors, and in winter, locals busy themselves with skiing, Christmas markets, and mulled wine. While May and September are considered the most desirable months weather-wise, Poland has something to offer year-round.

How to get around Poland

Poland has two major international airports, in Kraków and Warsaw, but European budget airlines also fly to Gdańsk, Katowice, and other smaller ports. For traveling domestically, the country has a well-developed train network, especially between the major towns—recently, the Pendolino high-speed train has made travel between Kraków and Gdańsk even easier. Roads have improved drastically over the last few decades, with thousands of new miles of highways and expressways as well as many smaller, picturesque country roads for slow, scenic drives. Additionally, Poland has a well-functioning public transportation system, particularly in the big cities, and fairly well-developed intercity bus connections.

Food and drink to try in Poland

In the melting pot of Central and Eastern Europe, various cultures and traditions have left their mark on what is considered “typically Polish” cuisine. For a true taste, try one of the country’s many signature soups, from rosół (beef or chicken broth), krupnik (barley), kapuśniak (sour cabbage), and grzybowa (mushroom) to barszcz (beetroot) and żurek (a sour soup of fermented rye). Pierogi (dumplings), which come with a variety of fillings both savory and sweet, are another simple yet indisputable pleasure of Polish food.

Cured meats and sausages are popular, but vegetarian cuisine is also on the rise. Over the last few decades, several young, talented local chefs have worked to give traditionally heavy Polish cuisine a lighter, more modern makeover, creating a sort of “cuisine d’auteur.”

Culture in Poland

With its more than 1,000 years of history, Poland has no shortage of cultural offerings, from excellent museums (including the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, and the European Solidarity Center in Gdańsk) and fascinating attractions (encompassing 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites) to world-class festivals, theater, film, and, especially, music. Some of the country’s more famous musical events include the International Chopin Piano Competition (held every five years in Warsaw), the Actus Humanus classical music celebration in Gdańsk, and the ultramodern Unsound and Sacrum Profanum festivals in Kraków.

Can’t miss things to do in Poland

The essential Poland itinerary should include Kraków, the country’s ancient capital, with side trips to the medieval salt mines of Wieliczka and the memorial and museum at Auschwitz. Also not to be missed are Warsaw, where you can learn about Polish history and sample some big-city pleasures, as well as Gdańsk, the birthplace of the Solidarity movement. If you have more time, consider adding destinations like the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, the historic cities of Toruń and Kazimierz Dolny, the Tatra Mountains in the south, the wilderness of Podlasie near Poland’s eastern border, and historically industrial towns like Łódź and Nikiszowiec.

Practical Information

Citizens of the U.S., E.U., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (among many other countries) do not need a visa to visit Poland, but will require a valid passport or, in the case of E.U. citizens, either a passport or national ID. The local language is Polish, but English is widely spoken, especially within the hospitality industry. The local currency is the Polish zloty (PLN) and the voltage is 230 V; an adapter is needed for American and British plugs.

Local Resources

Poland.pl Poland.travel

Guide Editor

Dorota Wąsik is a writer, journalist, and translator, keen to travel the world but always return to her home in Kraków. She loves exploring her native Poland, discovering less-famous-but-no-less-fascinating destinations, browsing flea markets, and searching for forgotten mid-century ceramic decorations. She likes to time her trips to include maximum exposure to art and (preferably early classical) music.

• 3 Other destinations
• 4.1.1 Early history
• 4.1.2 Partitions and regaining independence
• 4.1.3 World War II
• 4.1.4 Communism (People's Republic of Poland)
• 4.1.5 Contemporary Poland (Third Republic of Poland)
• 4.2 Holidays
• 4.3 Tourist information
• 6.1 Entry requirements
• 6.2 By plane
• 6.3 By train
• 6.6 By boat
• 7.1 By plane
• 7.2.1 Train types
• 7.2.2 Tickets
• 7.5 By taxi
• 7.6 By bicycle
• 7.7 By thumb
• 8.2 Natural attractions
• 8.3 Castles & other rural monuments
• 8.4 Countryside
• 12.1.1 Money exchange
• 12.1.2 ATMs
• 12.1.3 Credit cards
• 12.1.4 Cheques
• 12.2 Tipping
• 12.3 Exports
• 12.4 Shopping
• 13.1 Traditional local food
• 13.2 Milk bars
• 14.5 Cocktails
• 14.6 Tea and coffee
• 14.8 Prices
• 15.1 Prices
• 15.2 Hotels
• 15.3 Hostels
• 15.4 Agritourism farms
• 16.2 Security on trains
• 16.3 Violence
• 16.4 Racism
• 16.6 Driving conditions
• 16.7 Strip clubs
• 17 Stay healthy
• 18.1 Etiquette
• 18.2.1 Politics
• 18.2.2 National issues
• 18.2.3 Religion
• 18.2.4 LGBT travellers
• 18.3 Miscellaneous
• 19.1 Mobile phones
• 19.2 Polish telephone numbers
• 19.3 International calls
• 19.4 Internet
• 20.1 Digits
• 20.2 Toilets

Poland ( Polish : Polska ) has a rich and eventful history, and a strong basis for its bourgeoning tourism industry. As one of Europe's most underrated countries, it offers a fair share of countryside, vibrant urbanity, pristine beauty and a culture in connection to its thousand-year history.

Its heritage is reflected in its architecture, museums, galleries and monuments. Its landscape is varied, and extends from the Baltic Sea coast in the north to the Tatra Mountains in the south. In between, lush primeval forests are home to fascinating species of animals including bisons in Białowieża ; beautiful lakes and rivers for various water-sports, the best known of which are in Warmińsko-Mazurskie ; rolling hills; flat plains; and deserts. Among Poland's cities you can find the perfectly preserved Gothic old town of Toruń , Hanseatic heritage in Gdańsk and evidence of the 19th-century industrial boom in Łódź .

Creative and enterprising, Poles continually come up with various ideas for events and festivals, and new buildings and institutions spring up almost before your eyes, so that every time you come back, you are bound to discover something new.

Regions [ edit ]

Cities [ edit ]

• 52.229875 21.011654 1 Warsaw ( Warszawa ) — capital of Poland, and one of the EU's thriving new business centres; the old town, nearly completely destroyed during World War II, has been rebuilt in a style inspired by classicist paintings of Canaletto.
• 54.351991 18.646354 2 Gdańsk — the former German city of Danzig is one of the old, beautiful European cities, rebuilt after World War II. It is a great departure point to the many sea resorts along the Baltic coast.
• 50.264443 19.023717 3 Katowice — central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, both an important commercial hub and a centre of culture.
• 50.061734 19.937302 4 Kraków — the "cultural capital" of Poland and its historical capital in the Middle Ages; its centre is filled with old churches, monuments, the largest European medieval market-place - and now with trendy pubs and art galleries. Its city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• 51.247795 22.567639 5 Lublin — the biggest city in Eastern Poland, it has a well-preserved old town with typical Polish architecture, along with unusual Renaissance elements.
• 51.759008 19.455704 6 Łódź — once renowned for its textile industries, the "Polish Manchester" has the longest walking street in Europe, Piotrkowska Street, full of picturesque 19th-century architecture.
• 52.406244 16.925646 7 Poznań — the merchant city, considered to be the birthplace of the Polish nation and church (along with Gniezno ); presents a mixture of architecture from all epoques .
• 53.427715 14.552327 8 Szczecin — the most important city of Pomerania with an enormous harbour, monuments, old parks and museums.
• 51.110113 17.033416 9 Wrocław — an old Silesian city with great history; built on 12 islands, it has more bridges than any other European town except Venice, Amsterdam and Hamburg.

Other destinations [ edit ]

• 50.035833 19.178333 1 Auschwitz-Birkenau — An infamous complex of German Nazi extermination and slave labour camps that became the centre of the Holocaust of Jews during World War II. UNESCO World Heritage Site .
• 52.752128 23.879128 2 Białowieża National Park — a huge area of ancient woodland straddling the border with Belarus . UNESCO World Heritage Site .
• 49.866667 19.683333 4 Kalwaria Zebrzydowska — monastery in the Beskids from 1600 with Mannerist architecture and a Stations of the Cross complex. UNESCO World Heritage Site .
• 50.766667 15.65 5 Karkonosze National Park — national park in the Sudety around the Śnieżka Mountain with beautiful waterfalls.
• 54.033333 19.05 6 Malbork — home to the Malbork Castle, the beautiful huge Gothic castle made of brick and the largest one in Europe. UNESCO World Heritage Site .
• 54.703333 17.306944 7 Słowiński National Park — national park next to the Baltic Sea with the biggest dunes in Europe.
• 49.983039 20.055731 8 Wieliczka Salt Mine — the oldest still existing enterprise worldwide, this salt mine has been exploited continuously since the 13th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• 52.266667 16.783333 9 Wielkopolski National Park — national park in Greater Poland protecting the wildlife of the Wielkopolskie Lakes.

Understand [ edit ]

Poland is located at the very centre of Europe with an area of 322,575 km².

Poland's western regions, including large parts of Lower Silesia , Lubuskie and Zachodniopomorskie , were parts of neighbouring Germany at different periods of time. The natural border of mountain ridges separating Poland from its southern neighbours, the Czech Republic and Slovakia , did not stop the cultural influence (and periodic warring). In the Middle Ages, Poland was part of a powerful Commonwealth with Lithuania that governed much of today's Belarus and Ukraine . The cultural evidence of it can be found closer to the present-day borders. Lastly, the entire eastern half of Poland used to be controlled by the Russian Empire, and there was a strong Soviet influence during the communist era, leaving behind many traces in both culture and built heritage.

Poland has a very homogeneous society in terms of ethnicity, language and religion. The historical Republics of Poland, whose boundaries were very different from those of today, were very multi-cultural, and, for a period, Poland was known as Europe's most religiously tolerant. Poland held Europe's largest Jewish population, which was all but wiped out by the Holocaust of World War II then after the war the survivors were persecuted by the anti-Semitic communist government into leaving the country.

Despite losing a third of its population, including a disproportionally large part of its elites, in World War II, and suffering many economic setbacks as a Soviet satellite state afterwards, Poland in many ways flourished culturally in the 20th century. Paving the way for its fellow Eastern bloc states, Poland had a painful transition to democracy and capitalism in the late 1980s and 90s. In the 21st century, Poland joined the European Union and has enjoyed continuous economic growth unlike any other EU country. This has allowed it to markedly improve its infrastructure and had a profound effect on its society.

History [ edit ]

Early history [ edit ]

The first cities in today's Poland, Kalisz and Elbląg on the Amber Trail to the Baltic Sea, were mentioned by Roman writers in the first century AD, but the first Polish settlement in Biskupin dates even further back to the 7th century BC.

Poland was united as a country in the first half of the 10th century, and adopted Catholicism as the state religion in 966 AD. The first capital was the city of Gniezno , but a century later the capital was moved to Kraków , where it remained for half a millennium.

Poland experienced its golden age from 14th to 16th century, under the reign of King Casimir the Great, and the Jagiellonian Dynasty, whose rule extended from the Baltic to the Black and Adriatic seas. In the 16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the largest country in Europe; the country attracted many immigrants, including Germans, Jews, Armenians and Dutch, because of the freedom of confession guaranteed by the state and the atmosphere of religious tolerance, which was exceptional in Europe at the time of the Holy Inquisition.

Under the rule of the Vasa Dynasty, the capital was moved to Warsaw in 1596. During the 17th and the 18th centuries, the nobility increasingly asserted its independence from the monarchy; combined with several exhausting wars, this greatly weakened the Commonwealth. Responding to the need for reform, Poland passed a constitution in 1791 that was a key reform among many progressive but belated attempts to strengthen the country during the second half of the 18th century.

Partitions and regaining independence [ edit ]

With the country in political disarray, various sections of Poland were occupied by its neighbors — Russia , Prussia (later Germany ) and Austria — in three coordinated "partitions" of 1772 and 1793, and 1795. After the last partition and a failed uprising, Poland ceased to exist as a country for 123 years.

However, this long period of foreign domination was met with fierce resistance. During the Napoleonic Wars , a semi-autonomous Duchy of Warsaw arose, before being erased from the map again in 1813. Further uprisings ensued, such as the 29 November uprising of 1830-1831 (mainly in Russian Poland), the 1848 Revolution (mostly in Austrian and Prussian Poland), and 22 January 1863. Throughout the occupation, Poles retained their sense of national identity, and kept fighting the subjugation of the three occupying powers.

Poland returned to the map of Europe with the end of World War I , regaining its independence on November 11, 1918. In 1920–21, the newly-reborn country got into territorial disputes with Czechoslovakia and, especially, the antagonistic and newly communist Soviet Russia with which it fought a war. This was further complicated by a hostile Weimar Germany to the west, which strongly resented the annexation of portions of its eastern Prussian territories, and the detachment of German-speaking Danzig (contemporary Gdańsk ) as a free city.

World War II [ edit ]

World War II in Europe began with a coordinated attack on Poland's borders by the Soviet Union from the east and Nazi Germany from the west and north. Only a few days prior to the start of the war, the Soviet Union and Germany had signed a secret pact of non-aggression, which called for the re-division of the central and eastern European nations. Germany attacked Poland on 1 September 1939 and the Soviet Union attacked Poland on 17 September 1939, effectively starting the fourth partition. These harmonised invasions caused the re-established Polish Republic to cease to exist. Hitler used the issue of Danzig ( Gdańsk ) as a pretext to invade Poland, much as he used the "Sudetenland Question" to conquer Czechoslovakia.

Many of World War II's most infamous war crimes were committed by the Nazis and Soviets on Polish territory, with the former committing the majority of them. Polish civilians opposed to either side's rule were ruthlessly rounded up, tortured, and executed. Nazi Germany established concentration and extermination camps on Polish soil, where many millions of Europeans — including about 90% of Poland's long-standing Jewish population and thousands of local Romanies (Gypsies) — were murdered; of these Auschwitz is the most infamous. The Nazis murdered about three million Polish Jews and about the same number of Polish non-Jews — not only people who actively opposed the Nazi occupation, but also people more or less randomly rounded up. Part of the Nazis' strategy was to attempt to annihilate all Polish intelligentsia and potential future leadership, the better to absorb Poland into Germany, so thousands of Polish Catholic priests and intellectuals were summarily murdered. For their part, the Soviets rounded up and executed the cream of the crop of Polish leadership in the part of Poland they occupied in the Katyń Massacre of 1940. About 22,000 Polish military and political leaders, business owners, and intelligentsia were murdered in the massacre, approved by the Soviet Politburo, including by Joseph Stalin and Lavrentiy Beria. The Soviets also murdered about 150,000 ordinary Poles and deported another 1,700,000 to Siberia between 1939 and 1941.

World War II shattered and battered the country — Poland lost nearly 30% of its population, nearly all of its important cities were destroyed, lost control of significant poritions of its territory, and was left impoverished and bankrupt.

Following the war, Poland found itself compelled to assume the role of a Soviet satellite nation due to the Yalta and Potsdam agreements forged between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. These historical junctures continue to be perceived by a significant number of Poles as a profound act of treachery carried out by the Allies.

The inhabitants native to the former Polish regions in the east, which were subsequently annexed by the Soviet Union, were forcibly expelled, making way for the displaced German populations from the western and northern regions of the country. This forced displacement resulted in the uprooting of over 10 million individuals and served to impede the process of reconciliation between Poland and Germany. For a comprehensive understanding of the broader context, one can refer to the dynamics of Cold War Europe .

Communism (People's Republic of Poland) [ edit ]

After World War II, Poland was forced to become a socialist republic. Between 1945 and 1953, pro-Stalinist leaders conducted periodic purges. In particular, members of the Polish Home Army and other partisan organizations that had opposed both Soviet and German domination of Poland were executed in large numbers. There were also pogroms after the war; the most notorious was the 1946 Kielce pogrom, which was allegedly incited by Joseph Stalin's NKVD secret police, though based on the traditional Christian blood libel against Jews and with very weak condemnation, at best, from Polish cardinals. The result of the pogroms and subsequent antisemitic policies of the communist government was that most Jewish survivors of Nazi persecution emigrated, effectively ending centuries of strong Jewish presence in the cultural and ethnic fabric of Poland.

After the bloody Stalinist era of 1945–1953, Poland was comparatively tolerant and progressive in comparison to other Eastern Bloc countries. But strong economic growth in the post-war period alternated with serious recessions in 1956, 1970, and 1976 which resulted in labour turmoil over dramatic inflation and shortages of goods. Ask older Poles to tell you about the impoverished Poland of the Communist era and you'll often hear stories of empty store shelves where sometimes the only thing available for purchase was vinegar. You'll hear stories about back room deals to get meat or bread, such as people trading things at the post office just to get ham for a special dinner, or religious services held secretly in basements.

A brief reprieve from this history occurred in 1978. The then-archbishop of Kraków, Karol Wojtyła, was elected as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name John Paul II. This had a profound impact on Poland's largely Catholic population, and to this day John Paul II is widely revered in the country.

In 1980, the anti-communist trade union, "Solidarity" (Polish: Solidarność ), became the major driving force in a strong opposition movement, organizing labor strikes, and demanding freedom of the press and democratic representation. The communist government responded by imposing martial law from 1981 to 1983. During this period, the country again suffered from widespread poverty, thousands of people were detained, phone calls were monitored by the government, independent organizations not aligned with the Communists were deemed illegal and members were arrested, access to roads was restricted, the borders were sealed, ordinary industries were placed under military management, and workers who failed to follow orders faced the threat of a military court.

Solidarity was the most famous of various organizations which were criminalized, and its members faced the possibility of losing their jobs and imprisonment. However, the heavy-handed repression and resulting economic disaster greatly weakened the role of the Communist Party. Solidarity was eventually legalized again, and shortly thereafter led the country to its first free elections in 1989, in which the communist government was finally removed from power. This inspired a succession of peaceful anti-communist revolutions throughout the Warsaw Pact bloc.

Contemporary Poland (Third Republic of Poland) [ edit ]

Nowadays, Poland is a democratic country with a stable and robust economy. It has been a member of NATO since 1999 and the European Union since 2004. The country's stability has been underscored by the fact that the tragic deaths of the President and a large number of political, business and civic leaders in a plane crash did not have an appreciable negative effect on the Polish currency or economic prospects. Poland has also joined the borderless Europe agreement (Schengen), with an open border to Germany, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and is on track to adopt the Euro currency in a few years time. Poland's dream of rejoining Europe as an independent nation at peace and in mutual respect with its neighbors has finally been achieved. However rural Poland and the smaller towns have been in decline since the 1990s due to migrants leaving the countryside looking for better jobs in the main cities like Warsaw or Krakow.

Holidays [ edit ]

On public holidays, which including many Catholic holidays and important anniversaries, most service and retail outlets, other companies, museums, galleries, other attractions and public administration units, close entirely. Plan ahead for shopping, services or official business.

Places to eat, gas stations and pharmacies generally remain open. Some small and almost all Żabka neighbourhood convenience stores stay open, but many may have shortened opening hours. In smaller towns and villages, the local gas station can be your only resort.

Most means of public transport will run according to their Sunday schedule on public holidays, usually meaning less frequent operations. Some connections, e.g. peak bus lines, do not operate on such days entirely ("Sunday service").

If a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, many Poles take a day off on the Monday preceding or Friday following to have a long weekend, so many companies and public administration units close on those days as well. Roads and trains may become congested on the days long weekends start or end. In tourist destinations, prices may rise and accommodation may be booked out long in advance. On the other hand, large cities often become relatively deserted.

Catholic religious holidays are widely celebrated in Poland and many provide colourful and interesting festivities and include local traditions. Most of the population, especially in smaller towns and villages, will go to church on those days and participate in them. For Christmas and Easter, it is customary to join one's family for celebratory meals and gatherings that often bring together family members from far away, so many Poles will travel to their home towns or families out of their place of residence. Having celebratory dinners in restaurants is very rare, although many hotels and restaurants would offer Christmas and Easter meals.

• New Year's Day ( Nowy Rok ) - 1 January is a public holiday, with celebrations taking place around midnight.
• Epiphany ( Święto Trzech Króli or Objawienie Pańskie ) - 6 January - is the first day of the carnival period. In many Polish cities, merry parades are organised to commemorate the biblical Wise Men.
• Easter ( Wielkanoc or Niedziela Wielkanocna ) is scheduled according to the moon calendar, usually in March or April. Like Christmas, it is primarily a meaningful Christian holiday. On the Saturday before Easter, churches offer special services in anticipation of the holiday, including blessing of food; children bring baskets of painted eggs and candy to be blessed. On Easter Sunday, practicing Catholics go to the morning mass, followed by a celebratory breakfast made of foods blessed the day before. On Easter Sunday, shops, malls, and restaurants are commonly closed.
• Lany Poniedziałek , or Śmigus Dyngus , is a public holiday on the Monday after Easter , and also a holiday. It's the day of an old tradition with pagan roots: groups of kids and teens wander around, looking to soak each other with water. Often groups of boys will try to catch groups of girls, and vice versa; but innocent passers-by are not exempt from the game, and are expected to play along. Water guns and water balloons are common, but children, especially outdoors and in the countryside, use buckets and have no mercy on passers-by. (Drivers - this means keep your windows wound up or you're likely to get soaked.)
• Labour Day ( Święto Pracy ) - 1 May is a public holiday as well. Politically inspired parades and rallies are often organized, especially in larger cities, and it is best to avoid them as opposing political factions often collide and police will usually close off the area where parades and rallies are held. Combined with May 3 (see below), this holiday provides for a surefire long weekend in most years and will see many Poles enjoy a holiday outside of their hometowns.
• Constitution Day ( Święto Konstytucji Trzeciego Maja ) - 3 May , celebrated in remembrance of the Constitution of 3 May 1791. The document was a highly progressive attempt at political reform, and it was Europe's first constitution (and world's second, after the US). Following the partitions, the original constitution became a highly poignant symbol of national identity and ideals.
• Pentecost ( Zesłanie Ducha Świętego or Zielone Świątki ) - movable feast, celebrated 7 weeks after Easter , which is always on a Sunday . It is a relatively low-key religious holiday. Since this is a Sunday, it may make little difference in some cases, but in case of establishments normally open on Sundays you may find them closed on that day. The second day (Monday) is not a public holiday and not widely celebrated in Poland.
• The Feast of Corpus Christi ( Boże Ciało ) is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, or sixty days after Easter . It is celebrated across the country; in smaller locations virtually the whole village or town becomes involved in a procession, and all traffic is stopped as the procession weaves its way through the streets.
• Assumption ( Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Marii Panny ) coinciding with Day of the Polish Military ( Święto Wojska Polskiego ) - 15 August , commemorating the victory of the Polish Army over the invading Soviet (Red) Army in the Battle of Warsaw. The victory was attributed by the religious to the influence of the Virgin Mary. The day is marked with Catholic religious festivities and military parades.
• All Saints Day ( Wszystkich Świętych ) - 1 November . In the afternoon people visit graves of their relatives and light candles. After dusk cemeteries glow with thousands of lights and offer a very picturesque scene. If you have the chance, visit a cemetery to witness the holiday. Many restaurants, bars and cafés will either be closed or close earlier than usual on this holiday.
• Independence Day ( Narodowe Święto Niepodległości ) - 11 November , celebrated to commemorate Poland's independence in 1918, after 123 years of partitions and occupation by Austria, Prussia and Russia. Some somber official celebrations, and another slew of politically-inspired rallies are bound to be held. There are also big patriotic demonstrations and marches in larger cities, especially in Warsaw, where over 100,000 people participate in the salt marsh soil of the Independence. It is calm and many foreigners participate in it.
• Christmas Eve ( Wigilia Bożego Narodzenia or simply Wigilia ) - 24 December is not a public holiday, but for the Poles it is the year's most important feast. According to Catholic tradition, celebration of liturgical feasts starts in the evening of the preceding day (a vigil, hence wigilia ). In Polish folklore, this translates into a special family dinner, which traditionally calls for a twelve-course meatless meal (representing the twelve apostles), which is supposed to begin in the evening, after the first star can be spotted in the night sky. On Christmas Eve most stores will close around 14:00 or 15:00 at the latest out of respect for traditions. It is also a Polish tradition to not leave anybody alone on Christmas Eve, so Polish people tend to be extremely hospitable on the evening and on many occasions will invite their lonely friends to participate in the traditional dinner. It is also acceptable to ask your friends if you could join them if you're alone. There's also a tradition of Midnight Mass on that day ( Pasterka ), when Christmas carols are sung.
• Christmas ( Boże Narodzenie ) - 25 and 26 December . On Christmas Day people usually stay home and enjoy meals and meetings with families and sometimes close friends. Everything apart from essential services will be closed and public transport will be severely limited.
• New Year's Eve ( Sylwester ) - 31 December is not a public holiday, but many businesses will close early. Pretty much all hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs will host special balls or parties, requiring previous reservations and carrying hefty price tags. In cities, free open-air parties with live music and firework displays are organized by the authorities on central squares.

Tourist information [ edit ]

• Polish Tourism Organisation website

Talk [ edit ]

The official language of Poland is Polish .

Virtually all official information is in Polish only, including street signs, directions, information signs, etc., as well as schedules and announcements at train and bus stations. Airports and a few major train stations usually do have information in English, though. Information signs in museums, churches, etc., signs are typically in multiple languages at popular tourist destinations, elsewhere in Polish only.

The vast majority of young people who grew up after the fall of communism know English, usually at a decent level. Older Poles, however, especially those outside the main cities, will speak little or no English. However, it is possible that they speak either French , German or Russian , taught in schools as the main foreign languages until the 1990s. German remains very common, especially in Western Poland and tourist hotspots like Kraków and Gdańsk. However, speaking Russian to Poles remains a sensitive issue due to over a century of unwanted Russian and Soviet domination, so be sure to begin the conversation in Polish and ask if the person speaks Russian before proceeding, and only use Russian as a last resort.

Czech and Slovak are West Slavic languages that share many similarities with Polish; it can be possible to hold an actually decent conversation in those languages. People who speak Ukrainian or Belarusian might be able to get the gist of what is being said in Polish, but holding anything more than a basic conversation will be difficult.

A few phrases go a long way in Poland. Polish people generally love the few foreigners who learn Polish or at least try to. Younger Poles will also jump at the chance to practise their English.

Do your homework and try to learn how to pronounce the names of places. Polish has a very regular pronunciation, and although there are a few sounds unknown to most English speakers, mastering every phoneme is not required to achieve intelligibility; catching the spirit is more important.

There are Polish language schools in Łódź , Kraków , Wrocław , Sopot and Warsaw .

Get in [ edit ]

Entry requirements [ edit ].

Poland is a member of the Schengen Agreement . See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, which countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality. In summary:

• There are normally no immigration controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty.
• There are usually identity checks before boarding international flights or boats entering the Schengen Area. Sometimes there are temporary border controls at land borders.
• A visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty.

In addition to the ordinary Schengen visa waiver, citizens of South Korea, the United States of America, and Israel are permitted to spend up to 90 days in Poland without a visa, regardless of time spent in other Schengen countries. Time spent in Poland, however, does count against the time that would be granted by another Schengen state.

Regular visas are issued for travelers going to Poland for tourism and business purposes . Regular visas allow for one or multiple entries into Polish territory and stay in Poland for maximum up to 90 days and are issued for the definite period of stay. When applying for a visa, please indicate the number of days you plan to spend in Poland and a date of intended arrival. Holders of regular visas are not authorized to work.

Ukrainian citizens do not require a separate visa for transit through Poland if they hold a Schengen or a UK visa.

By plane [ edit ]

Most of Europe's major airlines fly to and from Poland. Poland's flag carrier is LOT Polish Airlines , a member of Star Alliance, operating the Miles&More frequent flyer programme with several other European Star Alliance members. Most other European legacy carriers maintain at least one connection to Poland, and there are also a number of low cost airlines that fly to Poland including WizzAir , EasyJet , Norwegian and Ryanair .

While there are many international airports across Poland, and international air travel is on a constant increase, Warsaw 's Chopin Airport ( WAW  IATA ) remains the country's main international hub. LOT flies e.g. to Beijing , Delhi , Toronto , New York and Chicago , while Qatar Airways and Emirates offer flights to their hubs in the Middle East, which allows connecting to their rich international networks. Most European airlines offer a connection to Warsaw, allowing you to take advantage of connecting flights via their hubs.

Warsaw is the only city in Poland that has two international airports - Modlin Airport ( WMI  IATA ), a converted former military airfield, is close to Warsaw and normally used by low-fare carriers.

Other major airports serviced by airlines providing intercontinental connections include Kraków ( KRK  IATA ), Katowice ( KTW  IATA ), Gdańsk ( GDN  IATA ), Poznań ( POZ  IATA ), Wrocław ( WRO  IATA ), Rzeszów ( RZE  IATA ), Łódź ( LCJ  IATA ) (due to proximity to Warsaw Chopin Airport, there are no flights to Warsaw from Łódź)

Smaller regional airports offering international flights include:

• Bydgoszcz ( BZG  IATA )
• Szczecin ( SZZ  IATA ) (intercontinental connections via Warsaw)
• Lublin ( LUZ  IATA ) opened in late 2012, serviced by Wizz Air and Ryanair

All of the above airports are also served by low-fare point-to-point carriers, flying to European destinations. The most popular connections out of Poland's regional airports are to the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Norway, where sizeable Polish minorities generate sustainable demand for air traffic. Flights are thus frequent and one can purchase a ticket at a very favorable rate.

You can also enter Poland coming from alternative airports:

• To the west: Berlin ( BER  IATA )
• To the south-west: Dresden ( DRS  IATA ) and Prague ( PRG  IATA )
• To the south: Ostrava ( OSR  IATA ) and Košice ( KSC  IATA )
• To the north-east: Vilnius ( VNO  IATA ), Kaunas ( KUN  IATA ) and Kaliningrad ( KGD  IATA )

By train [ edit ]

Poland uses the west European railway gauge and trains rattle across the border from Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia, with no formalities as these are all Schengen countries. On these routes look out for split-ticket deals, as you may be able to take a cheap local train to a border town then transfer to another (and see the border regions of Śląskie , Dolnośląskie and Opolskie for example). The main direct routes are:

• Berlin - Frankfurt (Oder) - Rzepin - Swiebodzin - Zbaszynek - Poznań - Konin - Kutno - Warsaw , 4 a day, 6 hr.
• Berlin - Frankfurt (Oder) - Rzepin - Swiebodzin - Zbaszynek - Poznań - Gniezno - Inowroclaw - Bydgoszcz - Tczew - Gdansk - Gdynia , one a day, 6 hr.
• Berlin - Frankfurt (Oder) - Rzepin - Zielona Gora - Glogow - Lubin - Legnica - Wrocław - Opole - Gliwice - Zabrze - Katowice - Kraków , one daytime and one overnight, 7 hr 30 min.
• Berlin - Szczecin has two direct services, 2 hr, but usually you change between local trains at Angermünde.
• Budapest - Vac - Visegrad - Szob - Bratislava - Breclav - Ostrava - Bohumin - Chalupki - Wodislaw - Rybnik - Katowice - Sosnowiec - Dabrowa Gornicza - Zawiercie - Wloszczowa Polnoc - Opoczno Poludnie - Warsaw , one daytime train (10 hr) which continues to Terespol (for Belarus), and one overnight (14 hr) terminating in Warsaw. At Katowice a portion of the daytime train splits for Kraków and Przemyśl (for Ukraine).
• Vienna - Breclav then the same route via Ostrava and Katowice to Warsaw, 7 hr 40 min, one daytime train continuing to Gdansk and Gdynia , and one overnight terminating in Warsaw. There are other connections via Kraków.
• Prague - Pardubice - Olomouc - Ostrava - Bohumin - Chalupki - Wodislaw - Rybnik - Katowice - Myslowice - Jaworzno Szczakowa - Kraków - Miechow - Wloszczowa Polnoc - Opoczno Poludnie - Warsaw , one daytime (8 hr 30 min) and one overnight (11 hr).
• From Paris or Amsterdam travel via Berlin.

The countries to the east all use the broader (Russian-style) gauge, so there is a change of trains and border formalities to factor into the timetable. A western gauge Rail Baltica is being built through the Baltic states and might, just might, be completed some time in the 21st century.

• Vilnius - Kaunas - Białystok - Warsaw - Krakow trains run daily: you change at the border but it's a seamless connection.
• Kyiv - Dorohusk - Chelm - Rejowiec - Trawniki - Swidnik - Lublin - Naleczow - Pulawy Miasto - Deblin - Pilawa - Warsaw , 16 hr overnight, with daytime connections via Lviv and Przemyśl .
• Trains from Kaliningrad, Moscow, Smolensk and Minsk no longer cross into Poland.

Stations in Poland are relatively small and easy to navigate, though signage is just in Polish. Write down your destination and preferred time to show to ticket clerks, as trains have different prices, and your attempts to pronounce "Wrocław" will likely get you sent to Rouen. They'll show you the price on their calculator or till display, easier to grasp than their reply of trzydzieścipięćzłotychczterdzieściproszę! Credit cards are usually acceptable. See individual cities for which station to use: "Główny" means main station, but in Warsaw you want Centralna.

By car [ edit ]

You can enter Poland by one of many roads linking Poland with the neighboring countries. Since Poland's entry to the Schengen Zone, checkpoints on border crossings with other EU countries have been removed.

However, the queues on the borders with Poland's non-EU neighbors, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, are still large and in areas congested with truck traffic it can take up to several hours to pass.

By bus [ edit ]

The principal long-distance bus operator to Poland is Flixbus . As of 2021, their direct international routes are:

Flixbus and similar big operators are franchises, with real buses with real drivers run by subsidiary local firms. Others are Eurolines , Ecolines and Sindbad .

By boat [ edit ]

• From Sweden : Ystad (7–9 hours, 215 zł) by Unity Line ; Karlskrona (10 hours, 140-220 zł) by Stena Line ; Nynäshamn (18 hours, 230-270 zł), Visby (13½ hours, 170 zł), Ystad (9½ hours, 230 zł) by Polferries
• From Germany : Rostock (~15 hr) by Finnlines
• With your own boat: many Baltic estuaries have marinas, with the largest in Szczecin , Łeba , Hel , Gdynia and Gdańsk . Gdańsk has two yacht docks: one next to the old market square ( [1] ), which is usually quickly overloaded, and one in the national sailing center next to the city center, close to the Baltic sea. The newest yacht dock is on the longest wooden pier in Sopot . Although there are many sailors in Poland, marine infrastructure still needs to be improved.

Get around [ edit ]

Polish road infrastructure is extensive but generally poorly maintained, and high speed motorways in place are insufficient. However, public transport is quite plentiful and inexpensive: buses and trams in cities, and charter buses and trains for long-distance travel.

LOT Polish Airlines offers domestic flights between Warsaw Chopin Airport and the airports of Kraków, Katowice, Wrocław, Poznań, Szczecin, Gdańsk, Olsztyn (only in summer season), Zielona Góra, Rzeszów and on the route between Kraków and Gdańsk. The best prices are available in booking 60 days in advance. Prices are 60-130 zł. Ryanair offers daily flights from Warsaw Chopin to Gdańsk, Wrocław and Szczecin and on route between Kraków and Gdańsk. Prices start from 9 zł. Connections from Radom to Wrocław and Gdańsk are operated by Sprint Air . There are no domestic flights to or from Warsaw Modlin, Łódź, Bydgoszcz and Lublin airports.

Every Wednesday, LOT holds a 24 hours ticket sale for return flights originating at Warsaw airport and often some other Polish airports, also including some domestic connections. The discounted flights offered are usually a few months away from the date of sale, and the number of tickets and available dates is restricted, but if you are planning ahead on visiting Poland or other European countries, you may find this offer attractive.

Inter-city routes are operated by PKP (Polskie Koleje Państwowe). Local routes are operated by Polregio, the brand name of Przewozy Regionalne, hived off from PKP in 2008 and now owned by the local city or regional governments. The principal rail corridors lie on international routes as described in Get in:

• From Germany to Poznań - Konin - Kutno - Warsaw - Terespol and Białystok (for Lithuania and Belarus).
• Gdynia - Gdansk - Bydgoszcz - Inowroclaw - Poznań - Wrocław - Katowice (for Czech Republic) - Kraków .
• Gdynia - Gdansk - Warsaw - Kraków .
• Kraków - Tarnów - Rzeszów - Przemyśl (for Ukraine).

For example Warsaw-Kraków (every two hours) and Warsaw-Gdansk (hourly) both take under 3 hours.

Tickets are cheap by west European standards. A day-trip between Warsaw and Kraków, three hours each way, in 2021 might be 100 złoty or €22. This means limited scope for discounts, but see below.

Inter-city trains are modern, comfy and fairly punctual. On local lines there are still a few gnarly O-class trains that look like escapees from a heritage tramway, with old codgers in flat caps sitting on bench seats around the brake handle.

Train types [ edit ]

• EIP (Express Intercity Premium), EIC (ExpressInterCity), EC (EuroCity), and IC (Intercity) - express trains between metro areas, and to major tourist destinations. Reservations are usually required. Power points for laptops are sometimes provided next to the seat. Company: PKP Intercity.
• TLK (Twoje Linie Kolejowe) - discount trains, slower but cheaper than the above. Not many routes, but a very good alternative for budget travelers. Reservations are mandatory for 1st and 2nd class. It uses older carriages that are not always suited to high-speed travel. There are also several night trains connecting southern Poland with the north. Company: PKP Intercity.
• RE (RegioEkspress) - cheaper than TLK and of an even higher standard, but only 3 of these type are running: Lublin - Poznań, Warsaw - Szczecin and Wrocław - Dresden. Company: Przewozy Regionalne.
• IR (InterRegio) - cheaper than TLK and RegioExpress but most routes are supported by poor quality trains. Company: Przewozy Regionalne.
• REGIO/Osobowy - ordinary passenger train; usually slow, stops everywhere. You can also buy a weekend turystyczny ticket, or a week-long pass. Great if you are not in a hurry, but expect these to be very crowded at times. Company: Przewozy Regionalne; other.
• Podmiejski - suburban commuter train. Varying degrees of comfort and facilities. Tickets need to be bought at station ticket counters. Some companies allow you to buy a ticket on board from the train manager, in the very first compartment. A surcharge will apply.
• Narrow gauge - Poland still retains a number of local narrow-gauged railways. Some of them are oriented towards tourism and operate only in summer or on weekends, while others remain active as everyday municipal rail. See Polish narrow gauge railways .

Tickets [ edit ]

It's probably easiest to buy InterCity tickets on-line (see links below). You can also buy tickets on-line for Regio, RE, IR and TLK.

Tickets for any route can generally be purchased at any station. For a foreigner buying tickets, this can prove to be a frustrating experience, since only cashiers at international ticket offices (in major cities) can be expected to speak multiple languages. It is recommended that you buy your train tickets at a travel agency or on-line to avoid communication difficulties and long queues.

It may be easier to buy in advance during peak seasons (e.g. end of holiday period, New Year) for trains that require reserved seating.

Tickets bought for E-IC, EC, EXpress, etc. trains are not valid for local/regional trains on the same routes. If you change trains between InterCity and Regional you have to buy a second ticket.

• Timetable search [2] ( in English, but station names of course in Polish )
• PKP information: +48 22 9436, international information +48 22 5116003.
• PKP Intercity serves express connections ( tickets can be bought on-line and printed or shown to the conductor on a smart-phone, laptop or similar devices)
• Polregio (Przewozy Regionalne) tickets for Regio, RE and IR.
• Koleo domestic route and ticket search engine across all operators. Smartphone app is available. Tickets can be shown in the app or exported as PDF for storage on other devices or printing. As of April 2022 it is not possible to book sleeper or couchette cars, get those from PKP intercity.
• Polrail Service offers a guide to rail travel in Poland and on-line purchase of tickets and rail passes for Polish and international trains to neighbouring countries. There's a fee of around 22 zł for every ticket.
• PolishTrains allows to search, book and buy train tickets to numerous Polish and European destinations. Comparison of many train carriers allows to choose the best travel solution and purchase ticket online in the best price.
• Traffic info about all moving trains [3] - check, if the train has a delay

If you travel in a group with the Regional, you should get a 33% discount for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th person (offer Ty i 1,2,3 ).

If you are a weekend traveller think about weekend offers, which are valid from Friday 19:00 until Monday 06:00:

• for all Intercity trains (E-IC, Ex, TLK) Bilet Weekendowy (from 154 zł, reservation not included)
• for TLK Bilet Podróżnika (74zł) + Regio Bilet Plus (from 17 zł)
• for all Regional trains (REGIO, IR, RE) Bilet Turystyczny (from 79 zł)
• only for Regio trains Bilet Turystyczny (from 45 zł)

If purchased for a long weekend due to a national holiday, the ticket will also valid for the whole long weekend.

Travellers under 26 years of age and studying in Poland are entitled to 26% discount on travel fare on Intercity's TLK, EX and IC-category trains, excluding the price of seat reservation.

Poland has a very well developed network of private charter bus companies, which tend to be cheaper, faster, and more comfortable than travel by rail. For trips under 100 km, charter buses are far more popular than trains. However, they are more difficult to use for foreigners, because of the language barrier.

There is an on-line timetable available. It available in English and includes bus and train options so you can compare: e-podroznik.pl . Online timetables are useful for planning, however, there are multiple carriers at each bus station and departure times for major cities and popular destinations are typically no longer than thirty minutes in-between.

Each city and town has a central bus station (formerly known as PKS ), where the various bus routes pick up passengers; you can find their schedules there. Bus routes can also be recognized by signs on the front of the bus that typically state the terminating stop. This is easier if picking up a bus from a roadside stop, rather than the central depot. Tickets are usually purchased directly from the driver, but sometimes it's also possible to buy them at the station. If purchasing from the driver, simply board the bus, tell the driver your destination and he will inform you of the price. Drivers rarely speak English, so often he will print a receipt showing the amount.

Buses are also a viable choice for long-distance and international travel; however, long-distance schedules are usually more limited than for trains.

Flixbus (ex-PolskiBus) takes a more 'western' approach - you can only buy tickets through the Internet and the prices vary depending on the number of seats already sold. They have bus links between Warsaw and most of the bigger Polish cities (as well as a few neighbouring capitals).

While the road network in Poland still lags behind many of its western neighbours, in particular Germany , there has been continued significant improvement since the 2010s with the opening of many new motorway segments and refurbishments of some long-neglected thoroughfares that were used far above capacity. There are, however, still quite a lot of roads that are not up to snuff for the traffic they are supposed to carry. Some sections of motorways A1, A2 and A4 are tolled.

Travelling east–west is now generally much easier than a decade prior, with Poznań , Łódź and Warsaw connected to Polish-German border (direction Berlin ) with the A2 (E30), and the southern major metropoles – Wrocław , Katowice , Kraków and Rzeszów – connected to Polish-German border (direction Dresden ) and Polish-Ukrainian border (direction Lviv ) by the A4 (E40).

The main north–south routes A1, S3, S5, as well as the Warsaw–Rzeszów connection by the combination of S17 and S19, are opened to traffic on their primary sections as of 2022. However, S7 (linking Gdańsk, Warsaw, Kraków and the Polish-Slovak border) is notably not completed despite carrying high traffic volumes, and one needs to expect large traffic jams near Warsaw and Kraków if driving it during the rush hours or bank holidays. Some major roads, most notably DK1 Tychy–Bielsko Biała (part of the Silesia – Slovakia connection) and parts of DK7 north of Warsaw, south of Warsaw and south of Kraków are non-motorway-standard dual carriageways with at-grade intersections and pedestrian crossings.

Most large and medium-sized cities have ring roads allowing you to bypass them, as do some of the smaller towns that are by the major roads. Some of the city bypasses are already past their capacity and large traffic jams form on them when the traffic in the city reaches high volumes. Most notably, in the rush hours one needs to expect large delays on A4 near Kraków and Wrocław, S6/S7 near Gdańsk and S8 near Warsaw.

National roads are indicated by 1- or 2-digit numbers (prefixed with letter A or S in case of highways) on the red background and they are predominantly in good shape. Voivodeship roads are indicated by 3-digit numbers on the yellow background and their condition varies by region. Local roads are indicated by numbers that are used only for administrative needs, therefore are not placed on road signs. GPS navigations are notorious for leading through 'shortcuts' using such local roads in order to save several minutes compared to the main route. Unless there are traffic jams justifying changing the route, it is typically better to stick to the national or voivodeship roads rather than following the GPS, as numbered roads are often purposefully lead along slightly longer but higher-quality routes.

By taxi [ edit ]

Use only those that are associated in a "corporation" (look for phone number and a logo on the side and on the top). There are no British style minicabs in Poland. Unaffiliated drivers are likely to cheat and charge you much more. Like everywhere, be especially wary of these taxis near international airports and train stations. They are called the "taxi mafia".

Because of travelers' advice like this (and word of mouth), taxis with fake phone numbers can be seen on the streets, although this seems to have decreased - possibly the police have taken notice. Fake phone numbers are easily detected by locals and cater for the unsuspecting traveler. The best advice is to ask your Polish friends or your hotel concierge for the number of the taxi company they use and call them 10–15 minutes in advance (there's no additional cost). That's why locals will only hail taxis on the street in an emergency.

You can also find phone numbers for taxis in any city on the Internet, on municipal and newspaper websites. Some taxi companies, particularly in larger towns provide for a cab to be ordered on-line or with a text message. There are also stands, where you can call for their particular taxi for free, often found at train stations.

If you negotiate the fare with the driver you risk ending up paying more than you should. Better make sure that the driver turns the meter on and sets it to the appropriate fare ( taryfa ):

• Taryfa 1: Daytime within city limits
• Taryfa 2: Nights, Sundays and holidays within city limits
• Taryfa 3: Daytime outside city limits
• Taryfa 4: Nights, Sundays and holidays outside city limits

The prices would vary slightly between the taxi companies and between different cities, and there is a small fixed starting fee added on top of the mileage fare.

When crossing city limits (for example, when traveling to an airport outside the city), the driver should change the tariff at the city limit.

Every taxi driver is obliged to issue a receipt when asked (at the end of the ride). You can inquire driver about a receipt ( rachunek or paragon ) before you get into cab, and resign if his reaction seems suspicious or if he refuses.

Ride-hailing is available in Poland and the following are the most anticipated providers:

• Bolt . Includes many towns. ( updated Jul 2020 )
• Uber . Works in Warsaw. ( updated Jul 2020 )

By bicycle [ edit ]

Cycling is a good method to get a good impression of the scenery in Poland. The roads can sometimes be in quite a bad state and there is usually no hard shoulder or bicycle lane. Car drivers are careless but most do not necessarily want to kill cyclists on sight which seems to be the case in some other countries.

Rainwater drainage of both city streets is usually in dreadful condition and in the country it is simply non-existent. This means that puddles are huge and common, plus pot-holes make them doubly hazardous.

Especially in the south you can find some nice places for bicycling; e.g. along the rivers Dunajec (from Zakopane to Szczawnica) or Poprad (Krynica to Stary Sącz) or Lower Silesia (Złotoryja - Swierzawa - Jawor). Specially mapped bike routes are starting to appear and there are specialized guide books available so ask a bicycle club for help and you should be just fine. Away from roads which join major cities and large towns you should be able to find some great riding and staying at agroturystyka (room with board at a farmer's house, for example) can be a great experience.

Bike sharing systems ( system roweru miejskiego ) exist in all Polish major cities in which there is a growing net of bicycle segregated cycle facilities (bike lanes and bike paths are the most common). It is a self-service system in which you can rent a bike on 24/7 basis from early spring to the end of autumn, with rental fees charged according to local tariffs. First 20 minutes of a rent is usually free of charge. Charge for next 40 minutes is 1-2 zł, then every consecutive hour 3-4 zł. The major system operator in Poland is Nextbike . You should register online to get an account, make pre-payment (usually 10 zł) and then can rent bikes in all cities in which this system exists (including towns in Germany and other Central European countries).

By thumb [ edit ]

Hitchhiking in Poland is (on average) OK. Yes, it's slower than its Western (Germany) and Eastern (Lithuania) neighbors, but your waiting times will be quite acceptable! The best places to be picked up at are the main roads, mostly routes between Gdańsk - Warsaw - Poznań and Kraków.

Use a cardboard sign and write the desired destination city name on it.

Do not try to catch a lift where it is forbidden to stop. Look on the verge of the road and there should be a dashed line painted there, not a solid one.

As in any country, you should be careful, there are several reports of Polish hitchhiking trips gone awry, so take basic precautions and you should be as right as rain.

See [ edit ]

Ever since Poland joined the European Union , international travellers have rapidly rediscovered the country's rich cultural heritage, stunning historic sites and just gorgeous array of landscapes. Whether you're looking for architecture, urban vibes or a taste of the past: Poland's bustling cities and towns offer something for everyone. If you'd rather get away from the crowds and enjoy nature, the country's vast natural areas provide anything from dense forests, high peaks and lush hills to beaches and lake reserves.

Most of the major cities boast lovely old centres and a range of splendid buildings, some of them World Heritage sites. Many old quarters were heavily damaged or even destroyed in WWII bombings, but were meticulously rebuilt after the war, using the original bricks and ornaments where possible. Although remains of the Soviet Union and even scars of the Second World War are visible in most of them, the Polish cities offer great historic sight seeing while at the same time they have become modern, lively places. The capital, Warsaw , has one of the best old centres and its many sights include the ancient city walls, palaces, churches and squares. You can follow the Royal Route to see some of the best landmarks outside the old centre. The old city of Kraków is considered the country's cultural capital, with another gorgeous historic centre, countless monumental buildings and a few excellent museums. Just 50 km from there is the humbling Auschwitz concentration camp which, due to the horrible events it represents, leaves an impression like no other World Heritage site does. The ancient Wieliczka salt mine is another great daytrip from Kraków.

Once a Hanseatic League-town, the port city of Gdańsk boasts many impressive buildings from that time. Here too, a walk along the Royal Road gives a great overview of notable sights. Wrocław , the former capital of Silesia , is still less well-known but can definitely compete when it comes to amazing architecture, Centennial Hall being the prime example. Its picturesque location on the river Oder and countless bridges make this huge city a lovely place. The old town of Zamość was planned after Italian theories of the "ideal town" and named "a unique example of a Renaissance town in Central Europe" by UNESCO. The stunning medieval city of Toruń has some great and original Gothic architecture, as it is one of the few Polish cities to have escaped devastation in WWII. Other interesting cities include Poznań and Lublin .

Natural attractions [ edit ]

With 23 national parks and a number of landscape parks spread all over the country, natural attractions are never too far away. Białowieża National Park , on the Belarus border, is a World Heritage site for it comprises the last remains of the primeval forest that once covered most of Europe. It's the only place where European Bisons still live in the wild. If you're fit and up for adventure, take the dangerous Eagle's Path (Orla Perć) in the Tatra Mountains , where you'll also find Poland's highest peak. Pieniński National Park boasts the stunning Dunajec River Gorge and Karkonoski National Park is home to some fabulous water falls. The mountainous Bieszczady National Park has great hiking opportunities and lots of wild life. Wielkopolski National Park is, in contrast, very flat and covers a good part of the pretty Poznań Lakeland . The Masurian Landscape Park, in the Masurian Lake District with its 2000 lakes, is at least as beautiful. Bory Tucholskie National Park has the largest woodland in the country and has a bunch of lakes too, making it great for bird watching. The two national parks on Poland's coast are also quite popular: Wolin National Park is on an island in the north-west, Słowiński National Park holds some of the largest sand dunes in Europe.

Castles & other rural monuments [ edit ]

The Polish countryside is lovely and at times even gorgeous, with countless historic villages, castles, churches and other monuments. Agrotourism is therefore increasingly popular. If you have a taste for cultural heritage, the south western parts of the country offer some of the best sights, but there's great stuff in other areas too. The impressive Gothic Wawel Castle in Kraków may be one of the finest examples when it comes to Poland's castles, but most of the others are in smaller countryside towns. The large, red brick Malbork castle (in northern Poland) is perhaps the most stunning in the country, built in 1406 and today the world's biggest brick Gothic castle. The castle of Książ in Wałbrzych is one of the best examples in historic Silesia, which also brought forward the now semi-ruined Chojnik castle , on a hill above the town of Sobieszów and within the Karkonoski National Park . After surviving battles and attacks for centuries, it was destroyed by lightning in 1675 and has been a popular tourist attraction since the 18th century. The picturesque Czocha Castle near Lubań originates from 1329. A bit off the beaten track are the ruins of Krzyżtopór castle, in a village near Opatów. The Wooden Churches of Southern Lesser Poland are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage, just like the Churches of Peace in Jawor and Swidnica . The Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa and the beautiful, World Heritage listed Kalwaria Zebrzydowska monastery are famous pilgrimage destinations. The lovely Muskau Park in Łęknica , on the German border, has fabulous English gardens and is a UNESCO listing shared with Germany . Poland also shares a world heritage site with Ukraine; the Wooden tserkvas of the Carpathian region . 8 of 16 of these churches are in southeastern Poland, in the Lubelskie , Podkarpackie and Małopolskie regions.

Countryside [ edit ]

The countryside throughout Poland is lovely and relatively unspoiled. Poland has a variety of regions with beautiful landscapes and small-scale organic and traditional farms. Travelers can choose different types of activities such as bird watching, cycling or horseback riding.

Culturally, you can visit or experience many churches, museums, ceramic and traditional basket-making workshops, castle ruins, rural centers and many more. A journey through the Polish countryside gives you a perfect opportunity to enjoy and absorb local knowledge about its landscape and people.

Do [ edit ]

• Travel one of the European Cultural Routes that cross Poland: for example Cisterian Route
• Watch football: Ekstraklasa is the top tier of soccer in Poland, with 16 teams representing all the major cities. The playing season is July to April with a long winter break. The national team usually play home games at Stadion Narodowy (National Stadium) in Warsaw.
• Cycle racing: the premier event is the Tour de Pologne , held over a week in August.

Learn [ edit ]

Education is taken very seriously in Poland, and the country is home to many of Europe's oldest universities. Poles typically attain excellent results at international competitions around the globe, and the country's educational system is often considered to be one of the best systems in the world.

It is obligatory for every Pole to receive an education until they are 18 years old. At the end of compulsory schooling, all Poles have to sit for the matura , an end of school exam that will determine their futures. Superstitions about the exam are common.

The Jagiellonian University , founded in 1364, is one of the oldest universities in the world.

The University of Warsaw , founded in 1816, is widely regarded as the most prestigious institution of higher education in Poland.

Work [ edit ]

Citizens of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland can work in Poland without having to secure a work permit. Everyone else, however, needs to apply for a work permit.

Although Poland has one of the best-performing economies in the world, finding a job can be challenging. A lot of job-related information is in Polish, and there are so many highly educated people in Poland that it has become a problem for the labour market. Furthermore, salaries are low compared to neighbouring countries and for this reason, many Poles emigrate to other countries in search of better opportunities.

TEFL courses (that's Teaching English as a Foreign Language) are run in many cities across Poland. Even if you don't have a working visa or Polish citizenship, it should be no problem for you to offer private lessons. In general students, private and in classes, are very friendly toward their teachers, inviting them for dinner or drinks, and sometimes acting quite emotional during their last lesson. Post your services on telephone poles and bus stops with an email or phone number.

Ekorki is good if you're looking for longer term teaching gigs. It is a little bit like Monster.com in the US.

Buy [ edit ]

Money [ edit ].

The legal tender in Poland is the Polish złoty , pronounced zwoty . It is denoted by the symbol " zł " (ISO code:: PLN ). The złoty is divided into 100 groszy (see infobox for details).

In 1995, 10,000 old złoty were replaced by one new złoty. When it joined the EU, Poland committed to adopting the euro, but this is opposed by the current government.

Coins come in denominations of 1 grosz, 2 grosze, 5, 10, 20 and 50 groszy, 1 złoty, 2 złote and 5 złotych. Banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 złotych.

Money exchange [ edit ]

Private currency exchange offices (Polish: kantor ) are very common, and offer euro or US dollar exchanges at rates that are usually comparable to commercial banks. Exchanges in tourist hot-spots, such as the train stations or popular tourist destinations, tend to overcharge. Avoid "Interchange" Kantor locations, easily recognized by their orange color; the rates they offer are very bad.

ATMs [ edit ]

There is an extensive network of cash machines or ATMs (Polish: bankomat ).

The ATMs of Santander do not charge a fee for withdrawing money with a foreign Visa or Mastercard. Decline the currency conversion as there is a big markup fee. Silesa Bank/PlanetCash lets you choose between 9 zł or 11%. Most of the other banks, if not all, charge a fee of about 15-18 zł and/or about 12-14% conversion fee. (updated July 2022)

Credit cards [ edit ]

Credit cards can be used to pay almost everywhere in the big cities. Even single bus ride tickets can be paid for by cards in major cities provided the passenger buys them in vending machines at bus stops. The exception would be small businesses and post offices where acceptance is not completely universal. Popular cards include Visa , Visa Electron , MasterCard and Maestro . AmEx and Diners' Club can be used in a few places (notably the big, business-class hotels) but are not popular and you should not rely on them for any payments. In some merchants you will be given an option to have the card bill you in złoty or your home currency directly. In the former, your bank will convert the transaction for you (subject to the foreign exchange charges it sets) whereas in the latter, the rates set are usually worse than what your bank uses; hence choose to be charged in złoty.

Cheques [ edit ]

Cheques are not used. Local banks do not issue cheque books to customers and stores do not accept them.

Tipping [ edit ]

When you're paying for drinks or a meal in restaurants or bars and you are handed a receipt, you should give the amount you have to pay and wait for the change. If you give the money and say "thank you" it will be treated as a "keep the change" type of tip. This also goes for taxis. The average tip is around 10% of the price. It's polite to leave a tip, but it's not uncommon to ignore this practice. You can tip tour guides and drivers too, but only if you are happy with the service they have provided.

Exports [ edit ]

It is illegal to export goods older than 55 years that are of any historic value. If you intend to do so you need to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Shopping [ edit ]

Prices in Poland are among the lowest in Europe.

Hypermarkets are dominated by western chains: Carrefour, Auchan, Real, although the Polish-founded Biedronka chain is also quite widespread. Some are open 24 hours a day, and are usually in shopping malls or suburbs.

However, Poles shop very often at local small grocery stores for bread, meat, fresh dairy, vegetables and fruits - goods for which freshness and quality is essential. The Żabka chain of convenience stores is extremely widespread - in most places you can find a Żabka within walking distance.

Many towns, and larger suburbs, hold traditional weekly town markets , similar to farmers' markets popular in the West. Fresh produce, baker's goods, dairy, meat and meat products are sold, along with everything from flowers and garden plants to Chinese-made clothing and bric-a-brac. In season wild mushrooms and forest fruit can also be bought. Markets are held on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays and are a great way to enjoy the local colour. Prices are usually set though you can try a little good-natured bargaining if you buy more than a few items.

Eat [ edit ]

Poles take their meals following the standard continental schedule: a light breakfast in the morning (usually some sandwiches with tea/coffee), then a larger lunch (or traditionally a "dinner") at around 13:00-14:00, then a supper at around 19:00.

It is not difficult to avoid meat, with many restaurants offering at least one vegetarian dish. Most major cities have some exclusively vegetarian restaurants, especially near the city centre. Vegan options remain extremely limited, however.

Traditional local food [ edit ]

Traditional Polish cuisine tends to be hearty, rich in meats, sauces, and vegetables; sides of pickled vegetables are a favourite accompaniment. Modern Polish cuisine, however, tends towards greater variety, and focuses on healthy choices. In general, the quality of "store-bought" food is very high, especially in dairy products, baked goods, vegetables and meat products.

A dinner commonly includes the first course of soup, followed by the main course. Among soups, barszcz czerwony (red beet soup, also known as borscht) is perhaps the most recognizable: a spicy and slightly sour soup, served hot. It's commonly poured over dumplings ( barszcz z uszkami or barszcz z pierogami ), or served with a fried pâté roll ( barszcz z pasztecikiem ). Other uncommon soups include zupa ogórkowa , a cucumber soup made of a mix of fresh and pickled cucumbers; zupa grzybowa , typically made with wild mushrooms; also, flaki or flaczki - well-seasoned tripe. The most common in restaurants is the żurek , a sour-rye soup served with traditional Polish sausage and a hard-boiled egg.

Pierogi are, of course, an immediately recognizable Polish dish. They are often served alongside another dish (for example, with barszcz), rather than as the main course. There are several types of them, stuffed with a mix of cottage cheese and onion, or with meat or even wild forest fruits. Gołąbki are also widely known: they are large cabbage rolls stuffed with a mix of grains and meats, steamed or boiled and served hot with a white sauce or tomato sauce.

Bigos is another unique, if less well-known, Polish dish: a "hunter's stew" that includes various meats and vegetables, on a base of pickled cabbage. Bigos tends to be very thick and hearty. Similar ingredients can also be thinned out and served in the form of a cabbage soup, called kapuśniak . Some Austro-Hungarian imports have also become popular over the years, and adopted by the Polish cuisine. These include gulasz , a local version of goulash that's less spicy than the original, and sznycel po wiedeńsku , which is a traditional schnitzel, often served with potatoes and a selection of vegetables.

When it comes to food-on-the-go, foreign imports tend to dominate (such as kebab or pizza stands, and fast-food franchises). An interesting Polish twist is a zapiekanka , which is an open-faced baguette, covered with mushrooms and cheese (or other toppings of choice), and toasted until the cheese melts. Zapiekanki can be found at numerous roadside stands and bars. In some bars placki ziemniaczane (Polish potato pancakes) are also available. Knysza is a Polish version of hamburger, but it's much (much) bigger and it contains beef, variety of vegetables and sauces. Drożdżówka is a popular sweet version of food-on-the-go, which is a sweet yeast bread (sometimes in a form of kolach) or a pie filled with stuffing made of: poppy seed mass; vanilla, chocolate, coconut or advocaat pudding; baked apples; cocoa mass; sweet curd cheese or fruits.

Poland is also known for two unique cheeses, both made by hand in the [Podhale] mountain region in the south. Oscypek is the more famous: a hard, salty cheese, made of unpasteurized sheep milk, and smoked (or not). It goes very well with alcoholic beverages such as beer. The less common is bryndza , a soft cheese, also made with sheep milk (and therefore salty), with a consistency similar to spreadable cheeses. It's usually served on bread, or baked potatoes. Both cheeses are covered by the EU Protected Designation of Origin (like the French Roquefort, or the Italian Parmegiano-Reggiano).

Polish bread is sold in bakeries ( piekarnia in Polish) and shops and it's a good idea to ask on what times it can be bought hot (in a bakery). Poles are often very attached to their favourite bread suppliers and don't mind getting up very early in the morning to obtain a fresh loaf. The most common bread ( zwykły ) is made of rye or rye and wheat flour with sourdough and is best enjoyed very fresh with butter alone or topped with a slice of ham. Many other varieties of breads and bread rolls can be bought and their names and recipes vary depending on a region. Sweet Challah bread ( chałka in Polish) is sold in many bakeries.

Polish cake shops ( cukiernia ) are also worth mentioning, as there's a big tradition of eating cakes in Poland. They can be found in every city and quite often sell local specialties. The standard cakes and desserts which can be found in every region of Poland are: cheesecake ( sernik ), applecake ( jabłecznik ), yeast fruit cakes ( drożdżówka ) - especially with plums or strawberries, a variety of cream cakes ( kremówki ), babka which is a plain sweet cake, sometimes with an addition of cocoa, mazurek , fale dunaju , metrowiec , ciasto jogurtowe which is a sponge filled with yoghurt mousse, doughnuts ( pączki , singular: pączek) which are traditionally filled with wild rose petals marmalade and eaten on Fat Tuesday, pszczółka - a yeast cake with coconut pudding and many others.

Polish sausages ( kiełbasy ) are sold in grocery shops or in butcher's shops ( rzeźnik ). There are tens of different types of sausages; most of them can be enjoyed without any further preparation. Therefore, there are sausages like biała kiełbasa (traditionally enjoyed in żurek or barszcz biały soup) which are raw and need to be boiled, fried or baked before eating. Some sausages are recommended to be fried or roasted over a bonfire (which is probably as popular as barbecuing). Different local sausages can be found in different regions of Poland (like Lisiecka in Kraków area).

Polish fish & chips ( smażalnia ryb ) can be found in most cities on the Baltic Sea coast. On the coast and in the Masuria you can also find extremely valued in Poland fish smokehouses ( wędzarnia ryb ) which sell many types of smoked local fish (mostly marine fish on the coast, freshwater fish in Masuria). Smokehouses might turn out very difficult to find, as they don't usually display advertisements and are sometimes in some remote areas. It is a good idea to do some investigation and to ask local people for directions and help with searching. Among smoked fish offered for sale you can find: salmon ( łosoś ), cod ( dorsz ), flounder ( flądra ), rose fish ( karmazyn ), herring ( śledź ), halibut ( halibut ), pollock ( mintaj ), hake ( morszczuk ), mackerel ( makrela ), skipper ( szprotki, szprot ), trout ( pstrąg ), brown trout ( troć ), eel ( węgorz ), zander ( sandacz ), carp ( karp ), vendace ( sielawa ), tencz ( lin ), bream ( leszcz ), sturgeon ( jesiotr ), asp ( boleń ) and others. You should be careful with smoked butterfish ( maślana ) as despite being very delicious it can cause diarrhea in some people and shouldn't be eaten by children and elderly people.

In the whole Poland territory you can buy some smoked fish, among which the most popular is mackerel (it is advised to buy it in a busy shop for full, fresh flavour as it deteriorates quickly; for example in a local market). Also anywhere in Poland you can buy herrings in vinegar or oil marinade. One of the Polish favourites is battered herring or other fish in a vinegar marinade.

Milk bars [ edit ]

If you want to eat cheaply, you should visit a milk bar ( bar mleczny ). A milk bar is a very basic sort of fast food restaurant that serves cheap Polish fare. Nowadays it has become harder and harder to find one. They were invented by the communist authorities of Poland in mid-1960s as a means to offer cheap meals to people working in companies that had no official canteen. Its name originates from the fact that until late 1980s the meals served there were mostly dairy-made and vegetarian (especially during the martial law period of the beginning of the 1980s, when meat was rationed). The milk bars are usually subsidized by the state. Eating there is a unique experience - it is not uncommon that you will encounter people from various social classes - students, businessmen, university professors, elderly people, sometimes even homeless, all eating side by side in a 1970s-like environment. Presumably, it is the quality of food at absolutely unbeatable price (veggie main courses starting from just a few złoty!) that attracts people. However, a cautionary warning needs to be issued - complete nutjobs do dine at milk bars too, so even if you're going for the food, you'll end up with dinner and a show. Curious as to what the show will entail? Well, each show varies, but most of them will leave you scratching your head and require the suspension of disbelief.

Drink [ edit ]

Poland is on the border of European "vodka" and "beer culture". Poles enjoy alcoholic drinks but they drink less than the European average. You can buy beer, vodka and wine. Although Poland is known as the birthplace of vodka, local beer seems to have much more appeal to many Poles. Another traditional alcoholic beverage is mead. Polish liqueurs and nalewka (alcoholic tincture) are a must.

You must be over 18 years old and be able to prove it with a valid ID to buy alcohol, and this is strictly enforced.

Beer [ edit ]

Poland's brewery tradition began in the Middle Ages. Today Poland is one of the top beer producing countries in Europe.

Although not well known internationally, Poland traditionally sports some of the best pilsner-type lagers worldwide. The most common big brands include:

• Żywiec (pronounced ZHIV-y-ets )
• Tyskie (pronounced TIS-kyeh )
• Okocim (pronounced oh-KO-cheem )
• Lech (pronounced LEH )
• Warka (pronounced VAR-kah )
• Łomża (pronounced Uom-zha )

Micro-breweries and gastro-pubs are on the rise, in particular in the larger cities, and many delicatessen or supermarkets carry smaller brands, including hand-crafted beers of many types.

Pubs usually offer one or two varieties of draught beer (draft beer), usually only pilsner-type lagers. When ordering a beer, you can choose between "big one" ( duże ; 0.5 liter) or "small one" ( małe ; 0.3 liter). You can also ask for "beer with juice" ( piwo z sokiem ), then a barman will add a bit of sweet syrup (raspberry or ginger). The most popular snack ordered with beer is potato chips.

Vodka [ edit ]

Common brands are:

• Żubrówka (Zhoo-BROOF-ka) - vodka with flavors derived from Bison Grass, from eastern Poland.
• Żołądkowa Gorzka (Zho-wont-KO-va GOSH-ka) - vodka with "bitter" ( gorzka ) in the name, but sweet in taste. Just like Żubrówka, it's a unique Polish product and definitely a must-try.
• Wiśniówka (Vish-NIOOF-ka) - Cherry vodka (very sweet).
• Krupnik (KROOP-nik) - Honey and spices vodka, a traditional Polish-Lithuanian recipe (very sweet). During winter, many bars sell Grzany Krupnik (warm Krupnik), where hot water, cinnamon, cloves, and citrus zest or slices are added.
• Żytnia (ZHIT-nea) - rye vodka
• Wyborowa (Vi-bo-RO-va) - One of Poland's most popular rye vodkas. This is also one of the most common exported brands. Strong and pleasant.
• Luksusowa (Look-sus-OH-vah) "Luxurious" - Another popular brand, and a common export along with Wyborowa.
• Starka "Old" - A vodka traditionally aged for years in oak casks. Of Lithuanian origin
• Biała Dama (Be-AH-wa DAH-ma) is not a vodka but a name given by winos to cheap rectified spirits of dubious origin, best avoided if you like your eyesight the way it is.
• Sobieski - rye vodka, one of the most commonly chosen by Polish people.

Deluxe (more expensive) brands include Chopin and Belvedere . Most Poles consider these brands to be "export brands", and usually don't drink them.

There are also dozens of flavoured vodkas. Apart from Polish traditional flavours like: Żubrówka, Żołądkowa, Wiśniówka and Krupnik, you can easily buy some less obvious flavours like: pineapple, pear, blackcurrant, cranberry, grapefruit, apple, mint, lemon, herbs and others. The availability of different brands can vary in different regions of the country.

Wine [ edit ]

Poland makes wines around Zielona Góra in Lubuskie , in Małopolskie , in the Beskids and in Świętokrzyskie in central Poland. Polish wines are available in retail stores.

As for imported wine, apart from the usual old and new world standards, there is usually a choice of decent table wines from central and eastern Europe, such as Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, the Balkans, and Georgia.

It winter, many Poles drink grzaniec (mulled wine), made of red wine heated with spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. A similar drink can be made with beer, although wine is the more popular method.

Mead [ edit ]

Mead - miód pitny is a traditional and historical alcohol drink in Poland. Mead is brewed from honey and has excellent unusual taste similar to wine. Original Polish mead contain 13-20% alcohol. Sometimes it can be very sweet. Today Poles have a strange relationship with mead. All of them have heard of it, almost none have ever tried it.

Cocktails [ edit ]

Poles are very keen on beer and vodka, and you'll find that cocktails are often expensive but can be found in most bars in most major cities. One of the best known native to Poland drinks is Szarlotka made of Żubrówka vodka and apple juice.

Tea and coffee [ edit ]

Throw stereotypes out the door. For Poles, one of the most important staples to quench their thirst is not wódka or beer, but rather tea and coffee. The traditional hot drink is tea ( herbata ) while coffee ( kawa ) although known in Poland since close contacts with Turkey in 17th century, became more popular in last twenty five years. It is very common behaviour that if you visit friends at home or start a formal meeting you will be firstly asked: "coffee or tea?". Refusing a hot drink in this situation may be seen as impolite. It is rather unusual to talk or to meet with somebody without drinking one of those hot drinks.

When ordering a coffee, you'll find that it is treated with respect reminiscent of Vienna, rather than, say, New York. Which is to say: you'll get a fresh cup prepared one serving at a time, with table service that assumes you'll sit down for a while to enjoy it. Mass-produced to-go coffee remains highly unpopular, although chains such as Coffee Heaven have been making inroads. Curiously, there are still only a few Starbucks shops in the whole country, which are occupied mostly by teenagers.

There are four basic types of coffee which you will be offered in Poland. In small bars, fast food or at friends home (where usually they haven't coffee makers) you can choose between instant coffee ( rozpuszczalna ) or Turkish coffee ( kawa po turecku or kawa sypana ). The second one is a very specific Polish style, not known abroad. It is simply two teaspoons of ground coffee poured with boiling water. A traditional way is to serve it in glasses. In restaurants you can additionally order "a coffee from a coffee maker" ( kawa z ekspresu ). It may be a very small and strong, Italian-style espresso or bigger one (200 ml) americano . During order a waiter or a barman always will ask you whether you want "black one?" ( czarna? ; without milk) or "with milk?" ( z mlekiem? ).

Ordering a tea, on the other hand, will usually get you a cup or kettle of hot water, and a tea bag on the side, so that the customer can put together a tea that's as strong or as weak as they like. This is not uncommon in continental Europe, but may require some adjustment for visitors. Drinking tea with milk is not popular, traditionally Poles add a slice of lemon and sugar ( herbata z cytryną ), unless they drink flavored tea. Tea houses with large selection of good quality teas and a relaxing atmosphere are gaining popularity. In such places you will get rather a kettle with brewed leaf tea. Funnily, drinking tea with milk is commonly believed in Poland to enhance women's lactation.

For the most part, a good coffee can be had for 5 - 10 zł a cup, while a cup of tea can be purchased for the same, unless you happen to order a small kettle, in which case you'll probably pay something between 15 - 30 zł.

Water [ edit ]

Drinking water with a meal is not a Polish tradition; having a tea or coffee afterwards is much more common. If you want water with a meal, you might need to ask for it - and you will usually get a choice of carbonated ( gazowana ) or still ( niegazowana ) bottled water, rather than a glass of tap water. As a result, water isn't free, and is pretty expensive too compared to the average price of a meal (up to 4zł for one glass). Beware that sometimes even "still" bottled water, while not visibly bubbly, might still contain some carbon dioxide.

You can ask for a glass of tap water or a glass of hot water and receive it for free in most places. Therefore, drinking tap water is considered to be rather weird in Poland. On the bright side, it is safe, due to the water safety standards being at EU level.

Carbonated mineral waters are popular, and several kinds are available. Poland was known for its mineral water health spas ( pijalnia wód ) in the 19th century, and the tradition remains strong - you can find many carbonated waters that are naturally rich in minerals and salts. You can also travel to the spas such as Szczawnica or Krynica , which are still operational.

Many varieties of bottled mineral water that can be purchased originate from underground sources (since domestic spring waters are almost unavailable). Bottled mineral water usually has a neutral taste, unlike mineral water bought in water health spas which can have a very distinctive flavour. Some bottled mineral waters are regarded as very healthy due to their high content of minerals, like for example Muszynianka , Kryniczanka or all mineral waters sold in brown bottles.

Prices [ edit ]

Poland is still one of the cheapest countries in the European Union and its prices for food, beverages and tobacco are among the lowest.

Sleep [ edit ]

Poland is catching up with Western Europe when it comes to availability and standards of lodging. Many smaller towns and locations less frequented by tourists still offer very little choice of accommodation and the existing providers make use of it rather by offering low standards than charging extortionate prices. In large cities, both in hotels and hostels, you can expect staff to have reasonable command of English, and often other foreign languages. In less frequented locations, the language barrier may be a problem.

Lodging prices are no longer the bargain they used to be several years ago; now they're comparable to standard European prices. For the bargain hunter, standard tactics apply: if hotel prices are too much, look on the Internet for private rooms, pensions, or apartments for rent, which can sometimes be found for a very reasonable price. Best deals are usually offered off-season.

Hotels [ edit ]

The only major hotel chain with decent coverage of the entirety of the country is Accor , who have taken over the former state-owned provider Orbis. A selection of hotels ranging from the affordable ibis through business-oriented Novotel and Mercure and prestigious Sofitels can be found throughout the country. Do note that while almost all ibis-hotels have been purpose-built in the 2000s, Novotels and Mercures are often converted old Orbis hotels and may not be the best hotels those brands have to offer in Europe. Even Accor has gaps in coverage in less tourist-frequented areas.

The most popular global hotel chains (Intercontinental, Marriott, Hilton, Carlson) have some presence in Poland, but none can really boast full coverage of even the most important cities. There is a number of Best Western-affiliated hotels, but they do not cover the entire country as well. Of particular note of the motorized travellers on a budget is the presence of another French chain, Campanile.

Hostels [ edit ]

Hostels affiliated with the national hosteling association are often horrid options for backpackers because of imposed curfews. Additionally, Hosteling International (HI) affiliated hostels are frequently used by large school groups, which means young children may very well be screaming their heads off and running around the halls. Some private hostels are clean and welcoming, but others can be worse than HI hostels.

Agritourism farms [ edit ]

Rural tourism has become extremely popular in Poland in the last few decades. Due to social and economic changes in the Polish countryside, many farms have changed their focus from intensive food production to tourism. Under the notion of "agritourism farm" ( gospodarstwo agroturystyczne or simply agroturystyka ) you may find a real farm in which hosts are real farmers working on their fields and additionally hosting tourists, letting them peek into their everyday country life. Usually, however, you will encounter countryside pensions for whom tourism is the basic source of income.

Stay safe [ edit ]

The European unified emergency number 112 is being deployed in Poland. By now, it certainly works for all mobile-phone calls and most land-line calls.

There are also three "old" emergency numbers that are still in use for land-lines. These are: Ambulance (Pogotowie): 999, Firefighters (Straż Pożarna): 998, and Police (Policja): 997.

Municipal Guards (Straż Miejska), dial 986, is a kind of auxiliary Police force found only in large cities. They are not armed and their role is primarily to cope with parking offences and minor cases of antisocial behaviour.

Theft [ edit ]

Poland is generally a safe country. In fact, you are much less likely to experience crime in places like Warsaw or Kraków than in Paris or Rome. Overall, just use common sense and be aware of what you're doing.

In cities, follow standard city travel rules: don't leave valuables in the car in plain sight; don't display money or expensive things needlessly; know where you're going; be suspicious of strangers asking for money or trying to sell you something.

Pickpockets operate, pay attention to your belongings in crowds, at stations, in crowded trains and buses, and clubs.

In any case, do not be afraid to seek help or advice from the Police ( Policja ) or the Municipal Guards ( Straż Miejska ).

One worrying trend is theft at airports. Tourists have reported pick-pocketing attempts at Polish airports. Always keep an eye on your belongings, especially at security checks.

Security on trains [ edit ]

On sleeper trains, bag robberies happen between major stations. Ask for ID from anyone who asks to take your ticket or passport and lock backpacks to the luggage racks. Keep valuables on you.

Violence [ edit ]

Violent behaviour is relatively rare and if it occurs it is most likely alcohol-related. While pubs and clubs are generally very safe, the nearby streets may be scenes of brawls, especially late at night. Try to avoid confrontations.

Racism [ edit ]

Poland was a homogeneous society in the second half of the 20th century, but the situation has changed. There are some national minorities like Ukrainians, Belarusians, Germans, and ethnic minorities like Silesians, Cashubians, Lemkos, Jews, and Lipka Tatars who have been a part of Poland for years. Since 1990s, there have been small waves of migration from Africa and East Asia, including Vietnam, who have settled in the larger cities. Between 2014 and 2022, there was a mainly economic migration from Ukraine. Since the outburst of the Russian aggression on Ukraine, Ukrainian refugees may be spotted in all major cities.

A lot of villages in Poland rarely have any foreign visitors, so most African or Asian people would get curious looks there - generally not because of racism, but only from pure curiosity. There are some people who don't accept foreigners, like the relatively small numbers of neo-Nazis or football hooligans, nationalists or chauvinists. Except for the radical views of those kinds of people who you can meet almost anywhere, Poles are generally a polite and tolerant nation. As a traveller you will likely be treated in a friendly way here (see "polska gościnność" - Polish hospitality). A common Polish adage says: "gość w dom, Bóg w dom" - guest at home: God at home.

LGBT [ edit ]

LGBT issues remain very controversial, still very much taboo, and routinely exploited by conservative politicians (including the governing party until 2023) and media. Polish culture also has a long tradition of chivalry and strong, traditional gender roles. In larger cosmopolitan areas, however, gays and lesbians shouldn't have a hard time fitting in, although trans visitors will immediately attract attention.

As of Jan 2020, around 80 different so-called "LGBT ideology-free zone declarations" have been made in Poland, including four voivodeships in the south-east and central parts of the country: Małopolskie, Podkarpackie, Świętokrzyskie, and Lubelskie. While unenforceable and considered symbolic, LGBT travellers in these zones may face increased hostility in smaller towns and villages.

Driving conditions [ edit ]

The Poles' aggressive driving behaviour is legendary, but the reputation quite exaggerated. While you may find drivers unreasonably impatient, speed traps have calmed down the situation since the wild days when roads were open and cars few. Another factor that hinders speeding is the often poor quality of secondary roads and simply congestion - Poles own more cars per capita than some Western European nations. Always allow some extra time for possibly unfavourable driving conditions.

Strip clubs [ edit ]

If you are approached by a stranger trying to get you to enter a strip club (sometimes presenting it as a cabaret or whiskey bar), refuse. It is not uncommon got strip clubs to fleece customers, especially foreigners. Some have taken to using spiked drinks to do so. Authorities have taken steps to shut down establishments engaging in such practices, but have not succeeded in eliminating it fully.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Opinions regarding the safety of tap water vary: odds are it's OK, but most residents opt to boil or filter it anyway. In Warsaw as well as in Łódź , the tap-water in the city centre is usually suitable for drinking.

Respect [ edit ]

Etiquette [ edit ].

Poles are generally old-fashioned about gender etiquette. It is customary to hold doors and chairs for women. Some men, particularly older men, may kiss a woman's hand when greeting or saying goodbye. Kissing a woman's hand is considered to be chivalrous by some, but is more and more often seen as outdated. Handshakes are acceptable; although some believe that men should not offer their hand to a woman - a handshake is only considered polite if the woman offers her hand to the man first. For a more heartfelt greeting or goodbye, some will hug and kiss three times, alternating cheeks, although this custom is pretty rare these days, particularly among the younger people.

An occasional practice is for people to greet each other with a dzień dobry (good day) when entering elevators. You can also encounter people saying the same to tourists on mountain trails. Men should not wear hats indoors, in particular when entering a church (quite the opposite in case of synagogues, where men are required to wear headgear). Most restaurants, museums, and other public buildings have a cloakroom, and people are expected to leave bags and outerwear there.

It is usual to bring a gift when invited to someone's home. Flowers are always a good choice and florists' kiosks are ubiquitous. Poles will often bring vodka or whisky, but this depends on the level of familiarity and the hosts' preference towards alcohol, so tread carefully. People's attitudes towards alcohol range from jolly and enthusiastic enjoyment in both practice and word to taking offence at the notion that Polish people would somehow be more prone to alcohol consumption.

When visiting someone's home, it's polite to ask if you should take off your shoes. Many hosts won't care, but will appreciate you asking.

It is advisable to refer to Poland (as well as to some other countries like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or Hungary) as Central (+"and Eastern", if needed) Europe, and not only "Eastern Europe". Although not very offensive, "Eastern Europe" is old fashioned, harking back to the Iron Curtain times, thus some folks will be extra happy if you stick to "Central Europe", which is also used in scientific literature.

As for the language matters: Poles cherish their language as they had to struggle hard to protect it during the long spells when under the foreign yoke: the Partitions of Poland and WWII. For example, do not use the Russian 'spasibo' or German 'danke' for 'thank you' just because you thought it was Polish or you didn't care. If you're not sure if your terms are actually Polish, ask about these first. Calling Polish towns and places by their (former) German names, when asking for directions (e.g. referring to Breslau instead of Wrocław) may cause confusion and may be regarded as intentionally offensive and disrespectful by the Polish people.

Sensitive issues [ edit ]

Politics [ edit ].

Domestic politics are both highly sensitive and polarised. Many Polish people have very strong feelings about the conservative, Christian government (the Law and Justice, or PiS, party) and the more liberal, but divided, opposition. Tread carefully when expressing support or criticism of the government, as debates can become quite heated.

The display of Soviet or communist symbols is illegal in Poland, with the exception of those located in the grounds of World War II cemeteries. Promotion of Communist, Nazi, Fascist or "other totalitarian" governments and their symbols is illegal under article 256 of the Polish penal code (Kodeks Karny), although there is a narrow range of possible exemptions.

The majority of Poles are quite supportive of the EU, although exceptions can be found, particularly among supporters of the conservative government.

National issues [ edit ]

Given Poland's history of enduring turbulent events, the Poles exhibit sensitivity towards various historical occurrences.

You should avoid discussing the following topics as they can quickly unsettle people:

• World War II — every Polish family had some member among the 5–6 million people who perished in the conflict, and the conflict resulted in Poland losing nearly 30% of its population. Polish society has not forgotten and forgiven the atrocities and horrors of the war. Remember that the display of Nazi symbols or denial of the Holocaust is illegal in Poland.
• The Soviet Union's role in the Katyn Massacre , during which approximately 22,000 Poles were massacred by the Soviets during World War II.
• Anything regarding the Polish People's Republic — thousands of Poles were arrested, imprisoned, tortured, exiled, and mistreated by the pro-Soviet communist government.
• The Smolensk air disaster that resulted in the death of Lech Kaczynski, the former president; his wife; and several other high-profile Polish government officials — in some circles, people believe it was orchestrated by Russia.
• The Volhynia Massacre , during which approximately 100,000 Poles were massacred by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II.
• The Russia–Ukraine war — most Poles are supportive of Ukraine in the conflict.
• Poland's relationship with Russia — due to a history of domination by the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, many Poles express feelings of antipathy and distrust towards Russia; therefore, it's wise to avoid being overly enthusiastic about Russia.
• Poland's relationship with Ukraine — although relations have improved in the past few years, especially in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, many Poles express feelings of antipathy towards Ukraine. In particular, Ukraine's veneration of Stepan Bandera as a national hero deeply angers many Poles.
• Poland's relationship with Belarus — the relationship between the two countries is profoundly tense.
• Poland's relationship with Germany — although both countries are members of the European Union and NATO, many Poles feel that Germany has not done enough to acknowledge the harm it caused to Poland during World War II. In particular, Germany's refusal to compensate Poland for the damages and atrocities inflicted by the Nazis during World War II upsets many people.

Religion [ edit ]

Poland is one of the most religious countries in Europe and has often been referred to as "Rome's most faithful daughter". Most Poles are adherents of Roman Catholicism, and the Catholic Church enjoys a high level of social prestige and political influence in the country.

Poles regard Roman Catholicism as a repository of Polish heritage and culture — during the Communist years, the Catholic Church played a big role in challenging the repressive nature of the Communist government.

Certain topics such as abortion, sexuality, LGBT rights, or the use of soft drugs can evoke strong emotions and debates in Poland.

Poland, by law, is a secular country and is among the few rare examples of religious tolerance and religious harmony. Younger Poles are more likely to be irreligious than their seniors.

As ever, dress conservatively and behave appropriately when visiting a place of worship.

LGBT travellers [ edit ]

LGBT issues are controversial in Poland, and Poland is often ranked as one of the most homophobic countries in the European Union .

About a 100 municipalities (encompassing a third of the country) have declared themselves as "LGBT-free zones", drawing strong condemnation from the European Union and other third-party governments. Such measures have been promoted and encouraged by the ruling party and the government, as they believe it is necessary to defend and protect traditional values.

Although attitudes have been changing since the 2000s, public displays of same-sex affection, cross dressing, or openly discussing LGBT topics are likely to be met with disapproval or hostility in certain circles. Younger Poles are less likely to show hostility.

Miscellaneous [ edit ]

Under Polish law, people promoting Nazi-era slogans, symbols or gestures are liable up to 3 years in prison, a fine or both. The same penalty applies for Holocaust denial and promotion of similar totalitarian systems.

It is illegal to drink alcohol in public outside of venues serving alcohol. Although often done by the locals, especially in parks and in some less congested city streets, the local police take a very strict approach to enforcement of this law. Drinking alcohol in any public place puts you at risk of a small fine (from 50 to 100 zł), being scoffed at by the City Guards, detained, and losing your booze. It's worth mentioning that some cities have zones where public drinking is legal e.g. schodki ( stairs ) on the west bank of the Vistula River in Warsaw.

It is illegal to be drunk in public. If you are drunk and disorderly, you may be taken to a drunk tank ( izba wytrzeźwień ), where you will be treated as an alcoholic and won't be released until sober. You'll have to pay 250 zł for the experience.

Possession of any amount of drugs is illegal and a criminal offence. This also applies to cannabis, with the sole exception being the owners of a medical prescription for it.

Prostitution is legal, but any form of profiting from another person's prostitution or acting as an intermediary is illegal.

Smoking is forbidden in bars and restaurants and generally in public buildings. It is also forbidden to smoke at or near bus stops. This rule, made to protect non-smokers, doesn't apply to smoking rooms. If you break the rule, you may have to pay 500 zł.

Connect [ edit ]

Mobile phones [ edit ].

There are numerous mobile phone operators in Poland: Plus , T-Mobile , Orange and Play are the most popular ones, with the offer enhanced by many virtual operators, usually cheaper, including free calls in a monthly package. LTE is available in every town and 5G is being implemented as of 2021. Domestic call rates are roughly the same across all services.

Prepaid starter kits with SIM card (called pakiety startowe ) are widely available for reasonable prices (5–20 zł) in most shops, supermarkets and news agents. Accounts are valid for outgoing calls for few days, so it is good to fill them up for, lets say, 20 zł ("doładowanie" [do-wa-do-vanye] in Polish, be sure to give the value you want). Prepaid SIM cards must be registered with an ID card or passport to operate. This can be done in the majority of prepaid SIM card retailers, or in gas stations, post offices and cellular stores. Ask a local for help.

Just about every shopping centre has at least one independent cellphone shop, the guys who run them are usually knowledgeable and have a range of cheap handsets.

If you have an existing subscription with an EU-based mobile provider , you should be able to use at least some of your bundled minutes, SMS, and data in Poland at no extra cost. This should save you the hassle of purchasing another SIM and a prepaid bundle. See European Union#Connect and check with the provider of the SIM.

Polish telephone numbers [ edit ]

All telephone numbers in Poland are 9 digits long, and never start with 0 — although they used to do so. Sometimes numbers are written the old way , that is often only the last 7 digits are listed, in which case you need to prefix the now obligatory area code (e.g. 22 — Warsaw, 61 — Poznań, 12 — Kraków) or a 0 is included in the beginning, in which case it must be skipped. It does not matter whether you call from a land-line or a mobile.

There are some special numbers, notably:

• 800 xxxxxx — toll–free call from a land-line phone and from a phone booth, but may still cost something from a mobile phone
• 801 xxxxxx — reduced fare, costs as much as a local call from a landline phone at most (but will cost more from a mobile phone)
• 70x xxxxxx — premium fare, can be very expensive — read the fine print in that advert you've got the number from. On the other hand, cheap international calls can often be made through numbers beginning with 708.

Also, texting (sending SMSes) to:

• 7xyy(y) and 9xxyy(y) — Premium SMS, x is cost in złoty plus 23% tax, e.g. 72yy costs 2.46 zł, 70yy is 0.50 zł + 23% VAT = 0.62 zł, 910yy = 12.30 zł.
• 8xxx — is toll–free

When calling abroad, use 00 , or + , and then country code.

International calls [ edit ]

To call abroad from Poland:

• From a landline phone: 00 Country code Local number.
• From a mobile phone: + Country code Local number.

To call to Poland from abroad, dial 48 , then the number without the leading 0 , as if calling from a domestic mobile phone.

International and roaming calls are expensive. To reduce your bill you can:

• buy "phone cards" for international calls.
• activate a Polish pre-paid account to make or receive calls (the cost can be as little as 15 zł).
• talk over the Internet.

Skype and other free internet communicators are also massively popular in Poland.

Internet [ edit ]

If you're bringing a laptop, Wi-Fi Hot-Spots are available in distinct places, sometimes free, otherwise not very cheap. Best chances of finding one are at airports, railway stations, in cafés, shopping malls, libraries, some universities, or central spots e.g. the market places, paid and maintained by the local governments. You can also ask in your hotel, but be prepared to pay. Most coffee shops and restaurants have Wi-Fi available for customers – usually password-protected.

Mobile LTE/UMTS/HSPA is available in the cities, see section Mobile phones above for details or the short list below.

• T-Mobile - Blueconnect Starter - cost: 25 zł [4]
• Plus - iPlus simdata - cost: 15 zł
• Orange - Orange free na kartę - cost: 20 zł
• Play - Play Online na kartę - cost: 19 zł

Cope [ edit ]

Digits [ edit ].

• In Poland a comma is used as a decimal point, and the space to group numbers. So, for example, 10 500,46 zł is ten thousand five hundred złoty and 46 groszy . That said, the period is increasingly often used as the decimal point, especially on price tags and bills. Occasionally a dot is also used as a grouping character.

Toilets [ edit ]

The situation is not much different from most other European Union countries.

In large cities, particularly centres, one should have no problem finding accessible public toilets. It can become tougher in smaller towns and away from tourist destinations. While standards may vary in terms of quality and age of fittings and cleanliness, there is always a sit-down flush toilet (squat toilets, prevalent in many post-Soviet countries, are almost unheard of in Poland), a basin with running water, toilet paper, soap/hand detergent and something to dry your hands with (paper towels or electric dryers). In some places with extremely heavy traffic or little maintenance, supplies may run out – it is best to have a pack of tissues handy, as any prudent traveller would.

Some public toilets require a small fee, 1 or 2 złoty, but more publicly accessible toilets are free of charge than in some other European countries. Some toilets have an attendant collecting the payment.

There are toilets at larger train stations and larger bus terminals, but they are often not very clean, in poor condition and, despite all that, will generally charge fees for use. Toilets at airports are generally free, both air- and landside, and in much better condition than at train or bus stations. Toilets can be found on board all long-distance and some modern local trains, as well as on board of some long-distance buses, e.g. those operated by Polski Bus. In older train cars, toilets have often not been modernized since the cars went into use, but provide an acceptable experience (and toilet paper, soap and paper towels, except for very long routes when the train can run out of them before the staff gets a chance to restock at the end of the line).

All sit-down eating places are required to provide a toilet for their patrons, and most do so without any extra charges. While signs usually clearly indicate those are for (paying) customers only, the staff would usually make no problems if you inquired politely if you could use it without ordering anything. In some popular places, like McDonald's, you may need a key or a code to access the toilet. Ask the staff for either (in fast food outlets, the code is often at the bottom of your bill). There are also free public toilets in large shopping centres and hypermarkets, but smaller establishments (supermarkets, street-level shops) do not provide such facilities at all.

In case of larger events, organizers provide so called Toi-Toi portable toilets (from one of companies that service them). They are narrow plastic booths, usually blue, not very comfortable, often not very clean, and hardly ever with water or paper.

There are also toilets at all but the smallest gas stations. Whether they are free of charge, as well as their standards, may vary greatly, but on the road those may be your only option.

There are relatively few free-standing public toilets in cities. A better bet is to look for any of the above establishments. Usually you can also use a toilet in cafes, pubs, libraries or any other buildings open to the public. You should ask for permission (if there is anybody to ask) and in many cases will be guided to the right door.

Toilets for women are marked with a circle on the door, and toilets for men are marked with a triangle. The Polish word for "toilet" is toaleta (t'o-ah-let-ah), and most people would understand the word "toilet" anyway. Also, the abbreviation WC is commonly used.

Go next [ edit ]

The land border can be crossed to Germany , Czechia , Slovakia , Ukraine , Belarus , Lithuania and Kaliningrad Oblast .

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Poland Travel Guide

Your ultimate poland travel guide, with tips, and things to see and things to do in poland. great for first-time and returning travelers..

What’s the first thing you think about when you think about Poland? Did you say vodka?! Poland’s roots go back to the turn of the first millennium, leaving a thousand years to explore from energetic cities like Warsaw, chic medieval spots like Krakow or amber shopping meccas like Gdansk.

Once you finished sight seeing and have put down that glass of flavoured vodka (try z ubrówka  with some apple juice), Poland is renowned for its good home cooking, just like your grandmother used to make, with local and fresh products topped off with a delicious and palate teasing dessert. What else could you want?

This Poland travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.

Popular Guides

Top 10 Things to Do in Poland

• Polish Cuisine – Must-Try Traditional Polish Foods

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Table of contents

Table of Contents

Fast Facts about Poland

• Polish power voltage is 230 V 50Hz;  Plug C & E
• The Polish currency is the Polish Zloty  and is around 3.70 PLN to 1 USD
• Outside of the very touristy areas of the major cities, you’ll find that there are few, if any, foreigners. So if you plan on heading off the beaten path, make sure to bring along a Polish language dictionary as many people in rural areas will speak little to no English.
• Refer to people you don’t know well as “pan” (Mr.) or “pani” (M’am).
• When conversing with Poles, World War II, communism, religion, and relations with Germany and Russia might be touchy subjects to some. Approach with caution.
• Eat, eat and eat!  Polish food is largely meat-and-potato style, however travellers should definitely not leave Poland without trying ruskie pierogi — ravioli-like dumplings with an assortment of fillings from cheese and potatoes to mushroom and meat – they even have dessert pierogies filled with fruit! They can be boiled or fried, and sometimes served with sautéed onions.

Things to See and Do in Poland

• Bike Green Velo  – This is the longest cycling trail in all of Poland and you can decide how far you want to go.
• Explore a National Park  – There are over 20 different national parks in Poland where you can hike, bike, or kayak.
• Learn about the Holocaust  – You can visit a variety of museums to learn about the Holocaust such as the Warsaw Rising Museum or Schindler’s Factory.
• Pope John Paul II’s family home  – Learn how “Lolek” became Pop John Paul II.
• Visit Warsaw’s Old Town  – While most of Warsaw was destroyed in the war, the majority of the buildings have been restored and are full of shops and restaurants.
• Wieliczka Salt Mine  – This salt mine has been around since the 13th century and has 9 different levels you can visit.

Accommodation

Budget  – You can stay in Polish budget hotels for around 25 Euros. They often include free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, and a small continental breakfast.

Mid Range  – Mid-range hotels start at 50 Euros and can include a restaurant, fitness center, and are close to city centers.

High End  – You can get a luxury hotel in Poland starting at 100 Euros and have access to a pool, fitness center, and lounge.

Check out our favorite booking platforms  Booking.com ,  Tripadvisor  and  VRBO for the best deals on accommodation in Poland.

• Pierogi   – One of the most popular dishes in Poland is this snack that’s similar to a dumpling stuffed with potatoes or meat.
• Burning rose  – Dessert lovers will enjoy this raspberry parfait with cotton candy on top.
• Steak tartare  – Poland chefs make some amazing steak tartare, so go into dinner hungry.
• Bison grass vodka  – If you love vodka, make sure to try this unique vodka when in Poland that has a vanilla flavor to it.
• See our full Polish Cuisine – Must-Try Traditional Polish Foods guide.

The Best Ways to Get Around Poland

Getting to poland:.

Flights:  You can fly direct to Poland from several cities in North America, such as New York , as well as many different European airports. Some of the most common airports to fly into include Warsaw Chopin Airport and John Paul II Kraków-Balice International Airport.

You can check for the best flights to Poland on  Skyscanner .

Transportation:

Buses : There are buses available all over the country. You can take intercity buses as well as buses from city to city for as low as 20z?.

Taxis / Uber : Taxis start around a base rate of 8.00 z?. Uber is also available in the larger cities.

Car Rental:  Compact cars start at 20 z? and go up depending on the amenities you get.

When to go To Poland

• The best time to visit Poland is from June to August. You’ll get warm, sunny weather, which is great for exploring the national parks.
• The pleasant weather makes it perfect for sitting at the outside patios and enjoying a Polish meal.

Where to Stay in Poland

Q Hotel Plus Kraków   – You can stay at a luxurious hotel at an affordable price in Krakow. Upgraded rooms include balconies with a view, and everyone has access to a fitness center and an upscale lobby bar.

Hotel Polonia Palace  – This Warsaw hotel has two-bedroom apartments available as well as a spa that has massages available. The hotel is also close to a train station and Old Town.

Monopol  – This historic Katowice hotel in Roclawa has bathrooms with heated floors, a pool, and is near numerous restaurants. You’ll also have access to a fitness center, restaurant on-site, and parking spots.

Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com , Tripadvisor and Air B&B for the best deals on accommodation in Poland.

Poland Accommodation Poland

What to pack for poland.

The climate of Poland is temperate with warm (sometimes very hot) summers, crisp and sunny autumns and cold winters. Snow covers the mountainous area in the south of  Poland  (mid-December to April).

• Layer up  – Layering is key during spring and fall months. Poland is a country that gets four distinct seasons, so there’s a chance it could be both warm and cold during your time there. During the winter months make sure to pack warm layers – a coat, gloves, a warm hat and scarf. For extra warmth pack a pair of long thermal underwear. Don’t forget the boots!
• Shoes  – In the winter months it is likely to be either snowing, frosty or wet on the ground in Poland so take a quality pair of warm boots that have a sturdy grip on the soles. The grip also helps for the cobblestone streets which are frequent in Poland. Cobblestone means that if you want to pack a pair of fancy shoes, opt for wedges instead of flimsy stilettos.
• Pashmina  – not only is it a versatile piece that can dress up any outfit, if you plan on visiting any religious site, it also can be used to cover up your shoulders. Remember that both genders must cover shoulders and legs out of respect when visiting Catholic Churches.
• Check out more at Packing for Europe – Tips That Will Make Your Travel Life Easier

See our packing tips:  packing tips

Poland Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources

Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.

We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.

• Booking.com : This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
• Trip Advisor :  What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
• VRBO : is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
• Hostelworld :  With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
• Skyscanner : This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
• Rome 2 Rio :  If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
• Get Your Guide:  For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
• World Nomads Insurance:  When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.

Poland Travel Guide: Related Articles

14 Interesting Facts About Poland

Traditional Polish Foods to Try in Poland and at Home

Introducing Poland

About poland.

• Images of Poland
• History, language & culture
• Weather & geography
• Doing business & staying in touch

Plan your trip

• Travel to Poland
• Where to stay

While you’re there

• Things to see & do
• Shopping & nightlife
• Food & drink
• Getting around

Before you go

• Passport & visa
• Public Holidays
• Money & duty free

Book your flights

• Cracow John Paul II International Airport
• Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport
• Katowice International Airport
• Poznan-Lawica Airport
• Rzeszow-Jasionka Airport
• Warsaw Chopin Airport
• Wrocław-Copernicus Airport

Cruise Locations

Poland travel guide.

Underrated but increasingly popular, Poland offers a huge amount for travellers of all stripes – from the stunning old towns of Krakow, Zamość, Gdańsk and Wroclaw to the wilderness of the Białowieża National Park with its ubiquitous buffalos and epic vistas.

Home to Europe’s most infamous ghetto, Warsaw was almost totally destroyed during WWII, but the Polish capital is modernising fast. Today the city blends Soviet architecture and contemporary styles, with a painstakingly recreated old town and an upbeat, progressive population.

Perhaps the country's biggest draw, though, is Krakow. The country's former royal capital is a wonderfully preserved architectural marvel that has somehow managed to survive Poland’s many wars. Even the Nazis thought it was too beautiful to bomb. Jam-packed with churches, monasteries and abbeys in Gothic and Renaissance styles, the city became the first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 (an honour it shared with Quito, Ecuador).

Beyond Krakow are numerous signs of Poland’s proud cultural heritage: Łódź and its famous film school, from which Roman Polański and Krzysztof Kieślowski graduated; Toruń, the hometown of astronomer Nicholas Copernicus; and Warsaw, which lays claim to Marie Curie and Frederick Chopin. The country's biggest port and northern boomtown, Gdańsk, is best known as the birthplace of Lech Wałęsa's Solidarity movement, which led the country into democracy in 1989.

Poland's scenic beauty is as varied as it is extraordinary. The Baltic coast is pretty, while Słowiński National Park is all ethereal forests, bogs and sand dunes. The Great Masurian Lakes in the northeast are popular for kayakers, with hundreds of pristine lakes broken up by dense forest. The Krakow-Wielun Upland with its limestone caves and medieval castles is another highlight, while the Carpathian Mountains in the far south are unremittingly beautiful.

And the food? Polish cuisine is hearty and filling, rich in meat and game. Thick soups such as Zurek are delicious, as are pierogi, or Polish dumplings. And as for the Polish vodka, one of the finest types in the world, what better way to wash all that rich food down?

312,685 sq km (120,728 sq miles).

38,593,161 (UN estimate 2016).

123.3 per sq km.

President Andrzej Duda since 2015.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk since 2023.

Travel Advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Ukraine-Poland border

FCDO  advises against all but essential travel to the following western regions (oblasts) of Ukraine: 

• Zakarpattia 
• Ivano-Frankivsk 
• Chernivtsi 

FCDO advises against all travel to within 50km of the borders of Volyn, Rivne and Zhytomyr with Belarus and the rest of Ukraine.

For the latest information, check the Ukraine travel advice. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is ongoing. Russian military strikes have taken place in Ukraine within 20km of the Polish border. Access to the border is restricted. See  safety and security .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

• advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks
• information for women, LGBT+ and disabled travellers

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Poland set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact Poland’s embassy or consulate in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

Countries may restrict travel or bring in rules at short notice. Check with your travel provider for changes.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may need to stay where you are until you test negative. You may also need to get treatment there.

Read TravelHealthPro’s general COVID-19 advice for travellers .

Passport validity requirements

To travel to Poland, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements .

To enter Poland (and all Schengen countries) your passport must:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive. Passports issued after 1 October 2018 are now valid for only 10 years, but for passports issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added if you renewed a passport early
• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave

Contact the Polish embassy in the UK if your passport does not meet both these requirements.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document, or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual Nationals

If you are also a Polish national (dual nationality), you must enter and exit Poland using a Polish passport or Polish national identity card. There are regular cases of Polish border guards allowing dual nationals to enter on their British passport, but only allowing exit using a valid Polish passport or Polish ID card.

Children born to Polish national or British-Polish dual national parents in the UK are automatically granted Polish citizenship, regardless of the child’s place of birth, and the requirement to exit Poland using valid Polish documentation will apply.

Find more information on how to apply for a Polish passport in the UK before travelling to Poland from the Polish Embassy in London (in Polish). Check with the Polish Embassy in London if in doubt about your circumstances.

Passport stamping

Make sure you get your passport stamped.

If you’re a visitor, your passport must be stamped when you enter or leave the Schengen area (which includes Poland). Border guards will use passport stamps to check you haven’t overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for stays in the Schengen area. If your passport was not stamped, border guards will presume you have overstayed the visa-free limit.

If your passport was not stamped, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.

If you live in Poland, read our Living in Poland guide for passport stamping information.

At the Polish border, you may need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay

If you live in Poland, see our Living in Poland guide for entry requirements and the Polish Border Guards guidance .

Visa requirements

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area (including Poland) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

If you are travelling to Poland and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, you will need to meet the Polish government’s entry requirements. Check with the Polish Embassy what type of visa and/or work permit you may need.

If you are travelling to Poland for work , read the guidance on visas and permits.

If you stay in Poland with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Vaccination requirements (other than COVID-19)

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Poland guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Poland. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food and drink into the EU

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food needed for medical reasons.  Check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU  on the European Commission website.

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out more about the global threat from terrorism .

Terrorism in Poland

Terrorist attacks in Poland cannot be ruled out.

Ukraine border

For the latest information, check the Ukraine travel advice . There have been Russian military strikes in Ukraine within 20km of the Polish border. In 2022, there was an explosion in Przewodów near the Ukrainian border killing 2 Polish nationals.

The main border crossing points to enter Poland from Ukraine can be found on the  Ukrainian government website . Prepare for potential long delays at border crossings.

Access to within 15 metres of the Polish border with Ukraine is restricted. Follow this limitation at all times outside of designated border crossing points and follow the instructions of Polish authorities if you are in this area.

If you have arrived in Poland from Ukraine and are in need of assistance, call +48 22 311 0000 or +44 1908 516666 and select the option for ‘consular services for British nationals’. You can also send an enquiry using the  web contact form .

Other Polish borders

Border checkpoints may close or implement restrictions at short notice and other disruption is possible. Check the Polish Border Guards guidance (in Polish) and follow the instructions of the Polish authorities if you are in these areas.

Political situation and demonstrations

Public demonstrations are common. Marches and gatherings are mostly peaceful and well-policed, but take extra care in crowded places. Demonstrations can attract violence. Monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Racially motivated attacks

Most visitors do not experience any difficulties. Serious crime against foreigners is rare, but crimes do occur and in some cases attacks have been racially motivated.

Protecting your belongings

Be alert to street crime and petty theft. Foreigners can be seen as easy targets. Keep valuables and cash out of sight, especially:

• in crowded areas
• in tourist spots
• at main rail stations and on all train services and overnight sleeper trains

Unofficial taxi drivers

Unofficial taxi drivers often overcharge. Passengers have been attacked, including sexual assaults, in unofficial taxis and cars booked using ride share apps. See further advice from the Polish police (in Polish) .

Do not use unofficial taxis. Official taxis will:

• have the name and telephone number of the taxi company on the door and top of the taxi
• show a rate card on the window of the vehicle

Taxis with a crest but no company name are not official.

Take precautions, particularly at night or if you are alone.

Drink and food spiking

Victims of spiked drinks have been robbed in bars and clubs. Be careful about taking drinks from strangers or leaving your drink or food unattended.

Overcharging in bars

Check your bill carefully when buying drinks in bars and nightclubs. Visitors have been overcharged large amounts when paying for drinks by debit or credit card.

Sexual assault

There is advice for victims of rape or sexual assault in Poland .

Laws and cultural differences

Dual nationals.

Dual Polish-British nationals will be treated as a Polish national if arrested or detained by the Polish authorities.

Alcohol laws

It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places. If caught, you might be fined.

If you are drunk in a public place, you could be taken to a clinic to be medically assessed. You will have to stay there until you are sober, including overnight. You will have to pay for the cost of your stay.

LGBT+ travellers

Small towns and rural areas can be less tolerant towards LGBT+ travellers. There are gay and LGBT+-friendly restaurants, clubs and bars in many towns and cities including Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk and Sopot.

Same-sex relationships are legal and same sex partners can live together, but same-sex marriages and civil partnerships are not recognised under Polish law.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .

You could be fined if you are caught jaywalking.

Photography

Avoid taking photographs of military or other security installations and other buildings or items of national infrastructure where there are signs prohibiting photography.

Transport risks

Wear reflective clothing.

Walkers and cyclists must wear a reflective item at night in non built-up areas. You may be held responsible if you are involved in an accident and not wearing a reflective item. You could be fined 100 Polish zloty (around £20) if you don’t have a reflective item.

Public transport

Validate a public transport ticket at the start of a journey. You will be fined if you travel on an invalid or unvalidated ticket.

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in Poland, see information on driving abroad and read the RAC guide .

Poland is a major east-west transit route for heavy vehicles. The road network is being constantly upgraded, and roadworks are frequent, particularly in summer. Even some main roads between major towns and cities can be narrow and poorly surfaced, making driving after dark particularly challenging.

Most car rental companies will not allow you to take your hire car across the Poland/Ukraine border.

Licences and permits

You can drive in Poland with your UK photocard driving licence without the need for an international driving permit ( IDP ).

If you’re living in Poland, check the Living in Poland guide for information on the rules for residents.

When driving, always have your:

• driving licence
• car registration papers
• car ownership papers
• insurance papers

You will need to show these documents if you are stopped by the police or if you cross non-Schengen borders. This includes rental vehicles. If you do not have these papers the police may take your vehicle and charge you for this. If you drive a vehicle in Poland it must meet local technical requirements.

Driving a British car abroad

You may need a UK sticker to drive your car outside the UK. From 2021 UK stickers have replaced GB stickers. Check guidance on displaying number plates for more information on what to do if you are driving outside the UK.

You may need to pay a road toll on some parts of motorways, expressways and national roads. More information is available on the toll operator website .

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Telephone 112 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

For more information read guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe .

Vaccinations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on vaccinations and health risks in TravelHealthPro’s Poland guide
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro .

The NHS has information on whether you can take your medicine abroad .

Healthcare facilities in Poland

Public medical facilities in Poland are similar to those in the UK. Private medical facilities are less expensive than the UK.

You can view a list of English speaking doctors in Poland .

Health insurance cards

Apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card ( GHIC ) or European Health Insurance Card ( EHIC ) before leaving the UK. If you already have an EHIC , it will still be valid as long as it remains in date.

The GHIC or EHIC entitles you to state-provided medical treatment necessary during your trip. Any treatment provided is on the same terms as Poland nationals. If you do not have your card with you or you’ve lost it, contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team .

It’s important to take out appropriate travel insurance for your needs. A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and have both before you travel. A GHIC or EHIC does not cover all health-related costs, for example, medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment and non-urgent treatment. Read more about what your travel insurance should cover .

GHIC and EHIC cover state healthcare only, not private treatment. You will be responsible for the cost of any treatment provided by a private doctor or private clinic.

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro .

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Poland

Ambulance: 999

Police: 997

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans , including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers , funeral directors , and translators and interpreters in Poland
• dealing with a death in Poland
• being arrested in Poland
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you are affected by a crisis , such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

Help abroad in an emergency

If you are abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission .

You can also contact FCDO online .

FCDO in London

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

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Krakow Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 1, 2023

Krakow is Poland’s student city. Over 25% of the population here are students, which has led to Krakow becoming a hub for cheap food, cheap booze, and abundant bars and clubs.

But Krakow isn’t just one one-trick pony. It boasts beautiful medieval architecture, picturesque castles, and a handful of insightful (and sobering) museums and attractions.

While the city can feel rather touristy, it’s still pretty, interesting, and worth spending a few days exploring — especially if you want to learn about the grim history of World War II.

This travel guide to Krakow can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Krakow

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Krakow

1. Walk the entire Royal Road

The Royal Road (sometimes called the Royal Route) stretches from the Old Town to Wawel Castle. This was once the route Polish kings took as they made their way through the city center (coronations, parades, and receptions for foreign dignitaries also took this route). The route incorporates some of the most important historical landmarks in Krakow, making for a great place to start your visit as you admire the historic buildings.

2. Tour Auschwitz

Auschwitz-Birkenau is the site of a former concentration camp used by the Nazis during World War II. Approximately 1.3 million people were sent here and an astounding 1.1 million of them were killed. When the camp was liberated in 1945, there were just 7,000 people there, many of whom were incredibly ill or sick. A visit here is sobering but shouldn’t be missed. Admission is free, but the experience is much more meaningful with a guide who can provide context. Expect to pay around 550 PLN for a guide.

3. Explore Wawel Castle

Built in the 13th century, this site is home to an art museum featuring medieval tapestries, the former Polish crown jewels, and Ottoman empire treasures. It’s one of the biggest castles in the country and represents numerous architectural styles, including those of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Admission ranges from 5-46 PLN, depending on what you want to see. On Mondays in the summer, free tickets are available for the Crown Treasury and Armory. There are seasonal discounts from September to October as well for the Dragon’s Den, Sandomierska Tower, and the Church of St. Gereon.

4. Tour Schindler’s Factory

During World War II, German industrialist Oskar Schindler saved over 1,200 Jews during the war by employing them in his factory. His story was made famous by Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film, Schindler’s List . Located in the actual factory itself, this museum offers a sobering trip through the history of World War II. Admission starts at 10 PLN and there are limited free tickets available on Mondays.

5. Visit St. Mary’s Basilica

As the parish of Pope John Paul II, this iconic 13th-century church highlights the importance of religion in Polish society (93% of Poland identifies as Roman Catholic). The church itself is brick and designed in the Gothic style, looming over the Old Town. Every hour, a trumpeter plays from the tower in homage to a 13th-century trumpeter who was shot while sounding the alarm before a Mongol attack.

Other Things to See and Do in Krakow

1. take a free walking tour.

One of the best things you can do when you arrive in a new city is take a walking tour. It’s a great way to get the lay of the land and learn about the culture, people, and history of the destination. I always start my trips with one. Crakow Free Tours offers free tours in English with a variety of different focuses (such as the Jewish Quarter or Krakow at night). These tours provide much more insight than any guidebook. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. Explore the District of Kazimierz

South of the center of town is the former Jewish ghetto. It was forgotten for many years but is now the center of a vibrant artist and student population. You can visit the Jewish cemetery or take a walking tour of the neighborhood. While it’s a great place for a bite to eat, the real flavor of Kazimierz comes alive at night. Don’t miss the vodka bars for a guaranteed good time!

3. Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine

This mine produced table salt and was first used in the 13th century. It became one of Krakow’s main industries and was in use until 2007. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can marvel over the cavernous chambers, statues, chapels, chandeliers, and cathedrals — all carved out of salt and stone by the miners! The mines reach depths of over 300 meters (984 feet) and are also home to contemporary works of art. The mine is just 13 kilometers outside the city. Admission is 109 PLN.

4. Shop at the flea markets

Go shopping early on the weekend at the open-air flea markets at Plac Nowy in Kazimierz or in the Jewish Quarter. Expect an assortment of antiques, souvenirs, food, clothing, and more. It’s a fun way to do some people-watching and get a feel for local life in the city.

5. Visit the Underground Museum

This museum traces Krakow’s medieval past through well-preserved architectural foundations and artifacts from the city’s history. The museum incorporates 3D technology and videos to show how the city grew and changed over the centuries. Admission is 28 PLN and there are limited free tickets available Tuesdays.

6. Stroll through Nowa Huta

In the years following World War II, Nowa Huta was established by the Soviets as a separate town filled with industry workers and propaganda. Lose yourself in the forgotten communist-era apartment blocks as you try to imagine what would have been if this Soviet town experiment had succeeded. It was one of the largest examples of social engineering, built to be a “utopian” city example. Now, as a popular neighborhood outside the center, it’s interesting to see how much of the Soviet influence remains. Spend some time wandering about and take in just how different this area is from Krakow’s Old Town.

7. Visit the MOCAK

The Museum of Contemporary Art is one of Krakow’s most recent additions and has a vast and varied collection of contemporary art. Opened in 2011, it actually sits on a demolished section of Schindler’s factory. It focuses almost exclusively on modern art from the past couple of decades, and while modern art isn’t my favorite type of art, the museum is still worth a visit to get a sense of the Polish art scene. Check the website to see what rotating exhibits are on during your visit. Also, download their app for more information about the exhibitions on display. Admission is 20 PLN.

8. Visit Poland’s oldest university building

Located in Jagiellonian University, the Collegium Maius (Latin for “Great College”) has been a scientific hub for research and discovery for centuries. The building dates to the 14th century and taught many famous scientists, including Copernicus (the famous Polish astronomer who argued that Earth rotated around the sun and not vice versa). The museum has a vast collection of historic scientific instruments and artifacts, including maps, globes, tools, paintings, and more. Hour-long guided tours cost 15 PLN, though you can do a self-guided tour on Wednesdays for free between 1:30-4pm.

9. Walk around the Planty

Planty Park is a large park surrounding the Old Town. It was once the moat encircling the medieval city walls but is now a beautiful 4km park that spans just over 5 acres. It’s a great escape from the busy center and is home to one of my favorite restaurants in the city, Pod Wawelem (they serve up hearty Polish cuisine). In the summer, there are lots of stalls around the park where you can grab a snack or a drink as you lounge in the shade and lounge the day away.

10. Enjoy the Botanical Garden

Jagiellonian University’s Botanical Garden is an 18th-century garden near the Old Town. Spanning 24 acres, this is the oldest botanical garden in the country (it was founded in 1783). It’s home to over 5,000 species of trees, shrubs, orchids, and other flowers. The garden is only open from April-October and makes for a nice place to go for a summer stroll. Admission is 15 PLN.

11. Explore the Polish Aviation Museum

This museum has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the world. Opened in 1964, it’s situated at the former Kraków-Rakowice-Czyzyny Airport (which is no longer in operation). There are over 200 aircraft on display here, including 22 extremely rare planes that were evacuated from a museum in Germany during World War II (so they didn’t get bombed by the Allies). There are lots of interactive displays and insightful exhibits, making this a fun place for kids and adults alike. Admission is 27 PLN and there is free entry on Tuesdays.

12. Get Your Game on at the Krakow Pinball Museum

For die-hard pinball fans, this interactive exhibition of over 80 restored retro pinball machines and 35 arcade games is a must. Tickets costs 40 PLN and all the machines are included. They even have a bar inside, which gives the place more of a hangout and less of a museum feel. It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind place for your old-school arcade favorites and an off-beat thing to do in the city.

12. Have fun at Aquapark (Park Wodny)

Park Wodny is a water park in Krakow and a great place to go if you’re traveling with kids. There are water slides, paddling pools for kids, a lazy river, rock climbing walls, and a handful of jacuzzis. If you’re looking to relax or have a bit of fun, this is the place. One-hour tickets start at 42 PLN while a full-day pass costs 78 PLN.

  For more information on other cities in Poland, check out these guides:

• Warsaw Travel Guide

Krakow Travel Costs

Camping is possible outside the city (and there are plenty of campgrounds throughout the country as well). Expect to pay 40 PLN per night for a basic tent plot for two people without electricity.

Budget hotel prices – A two-star budget hotel with free Wi-Fi costs at least 200-220 PLN per night. Free breakfast is usually included as well as other basic amenities like a TV.

Airbnb is available in Krakow, with private rooms starting at 110 PLN per night (though they usually average double that). Entire homes/apartments cost at least 250 PLN.

Food – Polish meals are quite hearty, usually containing potatoes, meat (pork and chicken), and seasonal produce like beets or cabbage. Stews and soups (like borscht, a beet soup) are popular and can be found at most local restaurants. Pierogis are also a common staple and can be found everywhere for cheap. For some traditional Polish food, try beef tongue or pork knuckles. The country also has lots of traditional desserts too, like paczki (a Polish donut) and makowiec (poppy-seed cake).

Most cheap meals of traditional cuisine (served at local restaurants called bar mleczny or “milk bars”) cost around 35 PLN. For a three-course meal with a drink and table service, expect to pay 90 PLN. Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs 25 PLN for a combo meal.

A large pizza costs around 25-30 PLN while Chinese food costs around 15-20 PLN. Zapiekanki , a popular Polish street snack that’s like a pizza baguette, costs 5-6 PLN.

Beer costs 13 PLN, while a glass of wine is a minimum of 12 PLN. A latte or cappuccino is around 12.50 PLN. Bottled water is 4-5 PLN.

If you buy your own groceries and cook your meals, expect to pay around 150 PLN per week for basic staples like milk, pasta, eggs, cheese, seasonal vegetables, and some meat. The cheapest grocery store is Biedronka, which you can find almost everywhere. Outdoor markets are also a great and cheap place to get fresh produce and other local products.

Backpacking Krakow Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget of 155 PLN per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, cook all your meals, limit your drinking, take public transportation to get around, and do some cheap activities like free walking tours and visiting the free museums. If you plan on drinking, add 10-20 PLN to your budget per day.

On a mid-range budget of 350 PLN per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for all your meals at cheap milk bars, have a couple of drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like touring Auschwitz and the salt mine.

On a “luxury” budget of 625 PLN or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out anywhere you want, drink more, take more taxis, and do whatever guided tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in PLN.

Krakow Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Krakow is a very affordable city so there aren’t too many tips out there to help you save. Since this city is such a hot spot for partying, most people blow their budget on drinks. If you limit that, you’ll be able to visit without worrying about your budget too much. Here are some other ways to save money while you visit Krakow:

• Eat at milk bars – You’ll get a taste of Krakow at a mleczny (milk bars). Hearty pierogis, homemade soups, plenty of meat, and a local beer usually cost around 35 PLN. While they are a no-frills choice, the food is tasty and filling!
• Get the KrakowCard – This card provides free public transportation and access to all of the city’s main attractions (40 different sites are included). It’s a great deal if you plan on seeing a lot and it also includes public transit. It’s 265 PLN for a three-day pass and 240 PLN for a two-day pass.
• Be sure to pre-game – Krakow is known for its partying, pub crawls, and long nights out. Start off by grabbing your favorite drinks from a grocery store first whenever possible. You’ll save a ton that way.
• Take a free walking tour – Free tours from companies like Cracow Free Tours are a great way to explore the city while learning about the history, culture, and architecture. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Stay with a local – Couchsurfing is a great way to lower your accommodation costs. Not only will you save money by getting a free place to stay, but you’ll also be able to make a local friend and get insider knowledge about the city!
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water in Krakow is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Krakow

Krakow has plenty of hostels and they’re all comfortable and sociable. These are my suggested places to stay:

• Greg and Tom Hostel
• Let’s Rock
• Little Havana Party Hostel
• Ginger Hostel
• Greg and Tom’s Beer House Hostel

How to Get Around Krakow

Public transportation – Public buses and trams cost around 6 PLN for a one-way ride with a ticket that lasts one hour. 90-minute tickets are available for around 8 PLN while 20-minute tickets are 4 PLN.

Day passes cost between 17-22 PLN depending on the number of zones and 7-day passes are 56-68 PLN. The city also offers a tourism card called the KrakowCard which, in addition to museums and activities, includes public transportation around the city. It’s 265 PLN for a three-day pass and 240 PLN for a two-day pass. You can also buy the two-day KrakowCard at a lower price without public transportation for 156 PLN.

From the Krakow Airport, there is a convenient airport train that goes to the main station for 14 PLN and runs every half hour. There is also a slightly cheaper city bus for 6 PLN (included in the KrakowCard). The journey takes just under an hour.

Taxi – In general, taxis in Krakow start at 7 PLN and go up by 2.30 PLN per kilometer. Just make sure you use official taxis as there are often illegal taxis that try to take fares (and who will also overcharge you). Official taxis have the company logo and phone number on the car. They also use a meter.

To ensure you get a reputable company, have your hotel/hostel call a taxi before you go just to be safe.

Bicycle – Companies like KRK Bike Rental and Krakow Bike Tour, offer rentals for 50-60 PLN per day. For a guided bicycle tour that lasts a few hours, expect to pay closer to 90-115 PLN per person.

There are also scooter share programs like Hulaj that cost 2 PLN to start and then 0.55 PLN per minute after that.

Ridesharing – Uber is available in Krakow and it’s the cheapest option if you need to get somewhere and don’t want to take public transit.

Car rental – You don’t need a car to get around Krakow, however, if you plan on exploring the region you can find rentals for around 75 PLN per day for a multi-day rental. Drivers must have had their license for at least one year and an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required for citizens of certain countries.

When to Go to Krakow

The best (and most popular) time to visit Krakow is during the summer (June to August). Temperatures are hot and rain is infrequent with daily highs around 23°C (75°F). These are also the busiest months of the year for tourism, though and you’ll only really notice it in the Old Town and at some of the larger attractions.

The shoulder seasons (late April-May and September-October) are great times to visit as well. You’ll beat the crowds while enjoying milder temperatures. You’ll get more rain in the spring but also blooming flowers while the fall offers stunning autumn colors.

Winter in Krakow can be quite cold, with temperatures dropping to 0°C (32°F) during the day and down to -5°C (23°F) overnight. Snow is common, which can affect conditions if you’re traveling by car. In short, I wouldn’t recommend a winter visit unless you plan on leaving the city to go skiing or take part in other winter activities. That said, the Christmas market here in December is popular and worth spending a day at if you visit in the winter.

How to Stay Safe in Krakow

Poland is consistently ranked one of the safest countries in the world. Of course, you’ll still want to take some precautions while you’re here. Theft and pickpocketing are rare but they can still occur so keep your valuables out of sight in busy tourist areas and while on crowded public transportation.

Taxi scams in Krakow are rare, but always make sure your driver is using the meter. If they aren’t, ask them to stop and find a taxi that will.

Solo travelers (including solo female travelers) should find the city quite safe. However, you’ll still want to make sure you take the standard precautions when you’re out exploring (don’t accept drinks from strangers, don’t walk home alone at night while intoxicated, etc.).

ATM skimming can occur here, so always make sure you use verified ATMs. If you can, go into the bank to withdraw your money (as opposed to using outdoor ATMs that are easier to tamper with).

If you rent a car, don’t leave any valuables in it at night. Break-ins are rare but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

If you’re worried about getting ripped off, you can read about other common travel scams to avoid here .

There is no risk of any real natural disasters or terrorism in Krakow, so as long as you pay attention to your surroundings and follow the tips above you should be able to have a fun and safe trip.

If you experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Krakow Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Krakow Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Europe and continue planning your trip:

The Perfect 7-Day Croatia Itinerary

The 6 Best Hotels in Copenhagen

The 6 Best Hotels in Florence

The 7 Best Hotels in Madrid

The 6 Best Hotels in Vienna

The Best Walking Tours in Barcelona

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13 Best Poland Travel Guide Books

• Travel Gear
• 13 Best Poland Travel Guide…

Poland is an underrated travel destination among other European countries. However, with its incredible history, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and magical mountains and sea, this beautiful country is getting more and more popular. Travelers visiting Poland mostly come to the medieval city Krakow. Maybe spend a day or two in the capital city Warsaw or the unique Gdansk. With so much to see and do, from old historic cities, empty coastlines, or beautiful parks, you should spend more rather than just those places. To explore the country, you’ll want to have a travel guide to Poland. With the help of travel guide books, you can visit more than the usual tourist attractions and enjoy more Poland’s scenic beauty. Plus, you’ll get rewarded with a beautiful and culturally rich country.

How To Choose The Best Poland Travel Guide Books?

To get the most of your trip to Poland , you should plan carefully and prepare a detailed itinerary. To get well prepared, you can get plenty of information about Poland from travel books. So, it’s important to choose the best travel books Poland for your next trip. There are some aspects you could consider when choosing Poland’s travel guide books. Check the simple guideline that will help you find the best travel books about Poland.

Coverage areas

Are you planning to visit multiple destinations or only a specific city/region? If you’re traveling to a specific city, like Krakow or Warsaw, you can choose a particular guidebook like Lonely Planet Pocket Warsaw. The guidebook will give you comprehensive and thorough information or tips and trick about Warsaw.

Publishers/authors

You’ll find a wide choice of guidebooks from several publishers and authors. Also, you’ll want to get full insights from reputable and experts about the culture or how to get around. This way, you can get richer travel experience and knowledge on how to travel in Poland.

The old or new edition?

We recommend you to check which edition of travel books Poland you’re going to buy. Was it printed a few years back, or does it have the newest edition? The latest edition or publication date is surely the best option. It gives you up-to-date information about hotels, restaurants, and top sight’s opening hours.

What is the best month to visit Poland?

Actually, you can travel to Poland all year round, depending on your choice of seasons. However, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are considered the best time.

Is Poland dangerous to visit?

Absolutely not! In fact, Poland sits in the top 20 of the safest countries in the world. That said, you may encounter or experience some threats, like pickpocketing, overcharge, petty theft, and ATM scams. But that is just common in most places in the world.

Is Poland expensive to travel to?

Compared to many European countries, Poland is a more affordable travel destination. However, in recent years, prices have been on the rise. You could save costs if you travel during the low season and find discount hotel rates.

Culture Smart! Poland: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Culture Smart! Poland: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture can be the best travel books Poland for travelers who want to go deeper. It’s also perfect for those who want to have a more meaningful time while traveling in Poland. The book is the essential guide to the country through a better understanding of the local culture. Plus, the content of the book is unique and incredibly useful. The book includes Land and People, Customs and Festivals, even Business Briefing sections.

You’ll find plenty of information in this book. A brief history, ethnic groups, and geographical overview in Land and People are included. Other sections provide social and business etiquette. Not to mention some communication tips (both verbal and non-verbal) plus advice on how to be a good guest. This information helps you to understand the Poles. It’s either their value, hospitality, and behavior.

The book also includes places to sleep, how to travel in Poland, and tips for health and safety. So, you’ll be more confident while traveling. What’s more, the book provides useful maps of Poland.

General travelers, adventurers, historian travelers

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Berlitz Pocket Guide Poland

Berlitz has years of expertise in producing a wide range of travel products, including Berlitz Pocket Guide Poland . With this travel guide to Poland, you can explore Poland’s endless charms. From top tourist attractions in Krakow to the beauty of the Tatra Mountains. Even Zamosc, the hidden gems of Poland!

The book is small enough to fit in your pocket or handbag. Plus, it has a Kindle version for those who prefer digital travel books Poland. This pocket-sized guide gives you a quick reference to planning your trip. You can find comprehensive coverage of the country’s attractions with striking photos. It covers Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains, Krakow, Wilanów, Gdansk, Torún, Poznán, Warsaw, and Malopolska.

There is a history and culture section to give you a deeper understanding of the country. You’ll find info about the heritage, people, and contemporary life. Besides, reliable recommendations and expert travel advice on where to stay and dine out are provided. If you’re wondering how to travel in Poland, it also has a section on how to get around. What’s more, the book includes a quick-reference bilingual language guide. It helps you with basic vocabulary.

Backpackers, adventurers, and family/group travelers

Lonely Planet Pocket Warsaw

Are you on a business trip or staying temporarily in Warsaw? Or do you have plenty of time to explore the capital city? Whichever your reason is, you can get Lonely Planet Pocket Warsaw as your travel guide to Poland. The book is a perfect guide to the heart of Warsaw. With this book, you’ll get comprehensive info on things to do in Warsaw . Even the hidden places and gems of the urban city! Whether you’re visiting high-tech museums or splendid Royal Castel, this book is great for a short trip or weekend away.

It covers Warsaw Old Town, Warsaw New Town, Praga & Eastern Warsaw, Northern Srodmiescie, and more. The user-friendly layout is organized by neighborhood. So, you can pick the best spots and tailor trip itineraries to spend your time. Get insider tips and essential info, such as how to get around like a local. There are also tips on avoiding crowds, hours of operations, prices, etc. Besides, you can find a section on how to plan a trip for children.

What’s more, the book includes honest reviews of places to eat and the best hotels in Warsaw for all budgets. Plus, recommendation places for going out and shopping. This pocket-sized guide book even has a Survival Guide section. It provides information and travel tips for Poland, such as getting around. Last but not least, it includes full-color maps and images.

Business travelers, temporary residents, family travelers, and photographers

DK Eyewitness Krakow

If you’re looking for a travel guide to Poland, we recommend DK Eyewitness Krakow . It’s the best guide for travelers who are planning to visit Krakow. The book provides lots and practical tips, engaging stories, plus great pictures. This guidebook has everything you’ll need to discover the oldest city in Poland on any budget. Enjoy the scenic and charming cobblestone walks while exploring Krakow. Or, do you prefer the unique architecture and famous parks? Experience the stroll through the Historic Centre, take a trip to Main Square, and visit museums and galleries.

The book has detailed day-trip itineraries that help to make your own. Plus, there are ‘don’t miss’ destination highlights at a glance as well as the guided visitor information. You’ll also find the history and cultural insights. It helps you understand the stories, plus illustrated 3D drawings. What’s more, the book includes recommended hotels in Krakow. Also, places to eat, drink, and shop by area.

Like others DK Eyewitness guide books, it’s provided with plenty of colorful pictures. Plus, colorful and useful maps pull-out maps are provided. It’s marked with sights, public transit map, and practical information on getting around, as well as a distance chart for measuring walking distances. Meanwhile, the detailed city maps have a street finder index. So, you can navigate the city easily. It’s one of the best travel tips for Poland, especially for Krakow.

Backpackers, family travelers, adventurers, photographers, city-slickers travelers

100 MOMENTS POLAND: A Virtual Travel Guide

Are you studying or working in Poland? Or, are you a seasoned traveler looking for deeper adventures in Poland? For whichever, you should learn more about the country. So, you’ll need a personal travel guide to Poland. 100 MOMENTS POLAND may answer your questions about almost anything. Is it the history, the culture, the people, and how to travel in Poland? The book has the answer. It’s written by Christopher Skutela, Ph.D., a Doctor of Philosophy of Travel. He’s also a well-known, highly-awarded private guide and the owner of a travel company based in Krakow.

This interesting book gives you different insights into what to see and do in all Poland’s areas from personal views and knowledge. You may feel as you’ve hired a local tour guide! Here, you’ll find suggestions with ideas to enhance your travel experience. Also, getting the excitement to discover Poland’s gems. The book includes Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw , Proznan, and more.

Not only does it give you precious hints and suggestions for what to see, but this guidebook also gives you the answer to why you should visit the places. Plus, it gives you info on how to get to those places. Though it’s not available in e-book, the book is handy and easy to carry with you. Beautiful and meaningful pictures will enrich your experience along the way. What’s more, the book is easy to read and written informally. It even includes emoticons!

Adventurers, travelers who live temporary in Poland, business travelers, and photographers

Lonely Planet Polish Phrasebook & Dictionary

Gear up with important info on how to travel in Poland. We can assure you that you’ll have more confidence if you know some applicable Polish words and phrases, whether you’re traveling for few days or visiting Poland for work. The Lonely Planet Polish Phrasebook & Dictionary will help you learn and speak Polish. It’s very handy and convenient to carry when traveling.

The book covers basics, practical, social, safe travel, and food. With essential tips on manners and culture, you can order the right meals or avoid embarrassing situations. Plus, it covers a variety of practical topics, including directions and transports. Accommodations, shopping, and crossing the borders are also included.

What’s more, the book features many phrasing and phonetics that help you with pronunciation. There are vowel sounds, nasal vowel sounds, and consonant sounds.

Business travelers, travelers who live temporarily, and backpackers

Amazing Poland: 50 Things to See and Do

Amazing Poland: 50 Things to See and Do lets you learn about the many wonders of Poland and travel tips for Poland. From the big cities such as Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk, to more exclusive spots and lesser-known places. It provides a good introduction to other famous people in Poland’s history. The author, Neil Bennion, shares his experience on basic aspects of history, culture, language, and people.

This guide book covers World War II and communist history. The book is easy to read and arranged geographically. The sections consist of North, West, East, Center, South, and Everywhere. It helps you plan your itineraries. This book includes info on when to go, plus recommended accommodation and eateries. The section on getting around and modes of transports help you figure out how to travel in Poland.

Also, you’ll find numerous hints and tips, such as the free concerts which take place on Sundays in Lazienki Park. What we love most about the book is it has the correct pronunciation of Polish words. Plus, the recommended websites for further information. It’s a welcome bonus to experience the most of your trip.

Any types of travelers, including backpackers, adventurers, travelers who live temporary in Poland

The Rough Guide to Poland

When you’re planning a trip to Poland, you would want to have detailed and useful information. Hence, travel books Poland is a great help. It’s why the Rough Guide to Poland can be the most informative and concise guide on the market. Do you prefer to hike in the Tatra Mountains? Would you prefer relaxing on the Baltic Coast or wandering through the magnificent medieval Old Town? This book allows you to discover the fascinating country and makes the best of your time.

The book may only consist of three main chapters (Introduction, Basic, and Guide). But, it will show how to experience Poland your way. The introduction provides information on where and when to go. This chapter also includes things best sights and experiences. Plus, the carefully planned itineraries help you organize your trip based on your interest and budget. Also, you get independent, trusted reviews in the Basic section. Places to eat, sleep, and outdoor activities are among the reviews. Besides, you’ll find essential and practical pre-departure information as well as getting around.

Meanwhile, the detailed regional coverage offers lots of details for every city and region. It covers Torun, Lublin, Krakow, Warsaw, the Bay of Gdansk and the Wisla Delta. Whether you explore mainstream tourist destinations or off the beaten track, it gets you covered. Of course, we love the stunning photos for our inspiration. Plus, the full-color maps help you navigate places without needing to get online. You can’t skip the Contexts chapter! It gives you background information, including history, books, music, film, and language section.

Adventurers, long-time travelers, backpackers, and photographers

Fodor’s Krakow 25 Best

Fodor’s Krakow 25 Best is perfect for travelers looking for travel tips for Poland to visit only Krakow and the surrounding area. The book breaks into several areas, including Krakow, Kazimierz ( one of the most beautiful towns in Poland ), and Wawel Hill. Many of the areas show you sights, entertainment, and shops. In Essential Chapters, there is plenty of useful information. It includes where to eat, places to shop, and Krakow by night.

To make planning your trip easier, it includes short stay itineraries. Furthermore, you’ll find the top 25 essential top sights in Krakow. Also, there are lots of bright and vibrant beautiful color pictures. Need recommendations for you to stay while in Krakow? There are many types of accommodations in this book, from budget, mid-range, to luxury hotels.

Even before you arrive in Krakow, the book provides the information you’ll need. Getting there, getting around, language, and essential facts are among other things you can find in this book. On top of that, it provides full-color area maps and a large pull-out city map. You’ll find the detailed and beautiful pull-out laminated map of the streets of Krakow very useful. Though not available in e-book, but the book is small enough to tuck into a pocket or a travel purse. You’ll feel well prepared for planning and appreciate your visit to Krakow.

Every type of travelers, from backpackers, family travelers, photographers, to business travelers

Insight Guides Pocket Poland

Hassle-free traveling to Poland is any travelers’ wish. So it’s common to have plenty of questions on how to travel to Poland before leaving. Hence, Insight Guides Pocket Poland is something you should consider. It has essential information about what to do and where to go. Plan your perfect trip with this practical travel book! From the must-see Wieliczka Salt Mines to the magnificent Malbork Castle. Or, the beautiful Tatra Mountains? It’s the ideal on-the-go guidebook for your trip.

This pocket-sized travel guide to Poland features travel tips for Poland, including historical and cultural insights. So, you can learn about the country’s rich history and culture, art, people, and traditions. There’s a chapter about Poland’s Top 10 attractions. Plus, Where to Go, which covers Krakow, Malopolska, Gdanks, Poznan, and more. Get some ideas for your itinerary from its inspirational itineraries. It discovers the best sights and destinations.

Looking for a place to stay? There’s a hotel recommendation for several cities and regionals. Either it’s in Zakopane, Wroclaw, and Warsaw. Besides, the book includes tips and essential information. It includes opening times, transport, and tipping. The stunning color photos are very inspiring. Meanwhile, the full-color map and pull-out map offer practical and easy navigation while you’re exploring.

Photographers, adventurers, backpackers

Rick Steves Snapshot Kraków, Warsaw & Gdansk

If you’re planning to visit Krakow, Warsaw, and Gdansk, you should get travel books Poland that cover these best three cities. There are several reasons why Rick Steves Snapshot Kraków, Warsaw & Gdansk can be your best option. First, the area of Auschwitz-Birkenau and Pomerania are also covered in this book. This compact guidebook has three main sections. These sections make sure you get to see and experience everything you want during the trip.

Next, it provides firsthand advice on the best sights and experiences along the way. Whether you’re visiting Gdansk’s Main Town Hall or sip local wódka, you’ll get up-to-date info on things to do in Gdansk . Also, the book is filled with historical information for your great travel experience.

What’s more, the book includes good-value hotel and restaurant recommendations. There are also tips on arrival and transportation. All the information helps you plan an itinerary. Either you want to do independent walking tours or tour guides for another option, it has all the details. Last, the book provides maps to make the most of your trip. It’s available both in paperback and e-book.

Business travelers, family travelers, photographers, backpackers

Lonely Planet Poland

Get the most comprehensive travel guide to Poland from Lonely Planet Poland’s 2020 edition . The book gives you up-to-date and relevant advice on what to see and skip. You’ll also find what hidden discoveries await on your trip. The book covers all activities, whether you plan to learn dramatic history in Warsaw or wander around Gdansk’s medieval lanes. Want to sample Krakow’s nightlife? You’ll gave them covered, too! The book also provides hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, etc.

There are several main chapters. These include Plan Your Trip, On The Road, Understand, and Survival Guide. In the section of Plan Your Trip, you’ll find cultural insights about history and people. Plus, cuisine, music, landscapes, wildlife, and politics. Surely, this information gives you a richer, more rewarding travel experience. This chapter also includes itineraries you can use to make your own based on your personal interests and needs.

On The Road section covers plenty of cities. These include three big cities: Krakow, Gdansk, and Warsaw. Also, Mazovia and Podlasie, Pomerania, Malopolska, and the Carpathian Mountains are included. Each city gives you detailed activities and sights. You can even explore outside the cities, rivers, woods, lakes, and hills for fresh-air fun. Besides, you’ll find honest reviews on what to eat, where to sleep, where to shop, and more. Of course, we love the color images and useful maps. This one of the best travel books to Poland is available both in paperback and Kindle.

Backpackers, adventurers, family/group travelers, and photographers

DK Eyewitness Poland

What would you prefer when traveling to Poland? Is it the energetic urban Warsaw or chic medieval hot spots in Gdansk and Krakow? Or maybe the beautiful beaches of the Baltic Coast? Whichever you choose, DK Eyewitness Poland is your perfect travel guide to Poland. The book is easy to navigate and has everything of interest for travelers. With depth-area guides, it will make your travel around Poland easy. Also, you’ll get the very best that Poland has to offer. It covers every part of Poland, from Silensia to Gdansk, Mazovia to Krakow.

This guidebook will bring Poland to life and transport you there with expert advice and insights even before your trip starts. Plus, there’s detailed information on all the must-see sights. Wondering where to eat, drink, shop, and stay? Worry not! The book covers them all! You can even get some expert advice to get ready before traveling, how to get around, and how to stay safe.

The book includes selections of suggested itineraries. Those will fit your interests, whether you’re staying for few weeks or just a few days. Besides, it provides travel tips for Poland, such as how to entertain the kids. You’ll find information about how to appreciate Jewish heritage. Also, how to visit palaces and castles and discover natural wonders. On top of that, the detailed maps and walks help you navigate the country easily and confidently. You can get this guidebook in paperback or e-book.

Any type of traveler, from family travelers, solo backpackers, to adventurers

Author:  Adam G

As a travel enthusiast and experienced adventurer, I have spent years exploring the world and discovering hidden gems in every corner of the globe. From backpacking through Europe to trekking in the Himalayas, I have chased my passion for travel and embraced every opportunity to learn about different cultures and ways of life. Now, as a travel writer, I channel my love of exploration into creating informative and inspiring content for fellow travelers. Whether you're planning a solo trip to a remote destination or seeking family-friendly activities in a bustling city, I am dedicated to providing you with the tools and knowledge you need to make the most of your journey. With a keen eye for detail and a love of storytelling, I bring each destination to life through vivid descriptions and engaging narratives, highlighting the unique experiences and attractions that make each place so special. So join me on this journey of discovery, and let's explore the world together!

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