Poland has snowy winters and warm summers, though all weather can be unpredictable. Tourist season runs from late May to early September, except in mountain areas, which also have a winter high-season (Dec.-Mar.). Though rain is a risk in the late spring and early autumn, these months are mild, so travelers may want to consider visiting in late April, September, or early October. Many attractions are closed from mid-autumn to mid-spring.
Embassies And Consulates. Foreign embassies to Poland are in Warsaw and Kraków. For Polish embassies and consulates abroad, contact: Australia, 7 Turrana St., Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600 (☎02 62 73 12 08; www.poland.org.au); Canada, 443 Daly Ave., Ottawa, ON K1N 6H3 (☎613-789-0468; www.polishembassy.ca); Ireland, 5 Ailesbury Rd., Ballbridge, Dublin 4 (☎01 283 0855; www.dublin.polemb.net); New Zealand, 51 Granger Rd., Howick, Auckland 1705 (☎09 534 4670; www.polishheritage.co.nz); UK, 47 Portland Pl., London W1B 1JH (☎870 774 2700; www.polishembassy.org.uk); US, 2640 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 (☎202-234-3800 ext. 2140; www.polandembassy.org).
Visa And Entry Information. Citizens of Australia, Canada, and the US need a visa for stays of over 90 days. EU citizens do not require a visa but will need to apply for temporary residence after 90 days. Visas for US citizens are free. Processing may take up to two weeks, but express visas can be processed within 24hr. You must be ready to present ample documentation concerning your stay, including verification of accommodation reservations, sufficient funds, and confirmation of health insurance coverage.
Tourist Offices. City-specific tourist offices are the most helpful and generally provide free info in English. Most have reliable free maps and sell more detailed ones. Orbis, the state-sponsored travel bureau, operates hotels in most cities and sells transportation tickets. Almatur, a student travel organization with offices in 15 major cities, offers ISICs. The state-sponsored PTTK and IT bureaus, found in nearly every city, are helpful for basic traveling needs. Try Polish Pages, a free guide available at hotels and tourist agencies.
Money. The Polish currency is the złotych (zł), plural is złoty (zwah-tee). Inflation is around 2%. ATMs (bankomaty) are common, and generally offer the best rates; MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted at ATMs. Budget accommodations rarely accept credit cards, but some restaurants and upscale hotels do. Tipping varies, but generally a few additional złoty is acceptable.
Medical clinics in major cities have private, English-speaking doctors. Expect to pay at least 50zł per visit. Pharmacies are well-stocked, and some stay open 24hr. Tap water is theoretically drinkable, but bottled mineral water will spare you from some unpleasant metals and chemicals. Crime rates are low, but tourists are sometimes targeted. Watch for muggers and pickpockets, especially on trains and in lower-priced hostels. Cab drivers may attempt to cheat those who do not speak Polish, and “friendly locals” looking to assist tourists are sometimes setting them up for scams. Women traveling alone should take the usual precautions. Those with darker skin may encounter discrimination due to long-standing prejudice against Roma (gypsies). There may be lingering prejudice against Jews, despite governmental efforts; casual anti-Semitic remarks are often heard. Like many Eastern European nations, Poland is not widely wheelchair-accessible but special-interest groups, newly armed with EU funds, are working to change that. Warsaw in particular, with its many steep, winding steps, is difficult to access. Homosexuality is not widely accepted; discretion is advised. GLBT travelers might find www.gaypoland.pl a useful resource.
By Plane. Warsaw’s modern Okęcie Airport ( WAW; ☎22 650 4220; www.lotnisko-chopina.pl) is the hub for intl. flights. LOT (☎080 170 3703; www.lot.com), the national airline, flies to major cities in Poland.
By Train And Bus. Trains are preferable to buses, since buses are slow and uncomfortable. For a timetable, see www.pkp.pl. Odjazdy (departures) are in yellow, przyjazdy (arrivals) in white. InterCity and ekspresowy (express) trains are listed in red with an “IC” or “Ex” in front of the train number. Pośpieszny (direct; in red) are almost as fast and a bit cheaper. Low-priced osobowy (in black) are the slowest and have no restrooms. If you see a boxed “R” on the schedule, ask the clerk for a miejscówka (reservation). Students and seniors should buy ulgowy (half-price) tickets instead of normal tickets. Beware: foreign travelers are not eligible for discounts on domestic buses and trains. Eurail is not valid in Poland. Look for Wasteels tickets and Eurotrain passes, sold at Almatur and Orbis for discounts. Stations are not announced and are often poorly marked. In the countryside, PKS markers (yellow steering wheels that look like upside-down Mercedes-Benz symbols) indicate stops. Buses have no luggage compartments. Polski Express (☎022 854 02 85; www.polskiexpress.pl), a private company, offers more luxurious service, but does not run to all cities.
Theft frequently occurs on overnight trains; avoid night trains, especially Kraków-Warsaw and Prague-Kraków.
By Car And Taxi. Rental cars are readily available in Warsaw and Kraków. Road conditions are poor and drivers can be aggressive and reckless. For taxis, either arrange the price before getting in (in Polish, if possible) or be sure the driver turns on the meter. Arrange cabs by phone, if possible.
By Bike And By Thumb. Roads in Poland can be difficult for bikes to navigate. For more information on cycling, see www.rowery.org.pl. Though legal, hitchhiking is rare and dangerous for foreigners. Hand-waving is the accepted sign. Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking.
Email And Internet. Internet access is available for about 5-15zł per hr.
Telephone. You can purchase a long distance phone card at many places, including grocery stores. To operate the phone, start dialing the numbers you’re given or insert the magnetic card. International access numbers include: AT&T Direct (☎00 800 111 111); Canada Direct (☎0 800 111 4118); MCI (☎00 800 111 2122); Sprint (☎00 800 11 3115).
Mail. Mail in Poland is admirably efficient. Airmail (lotnicza) takes two to five days to Western Europe and seven to 10 days to Australia, New Zealand, and the US. Mail can be received via Poste Restante. Address mail as follows: First name, LAST NAME, POSTE RESTANTE, post office address, Postal Code, city, POLAND. Letters cost about 2.40zł. To pick up mail, show a passport.
Language. Polish is a West Slavic language written in the Latin alphabet, and is closely related to Czech and Slovak. The language varies little across Poland. The two exceptions are in the region of Kaszuby, where the distinctive Germanized dialect is sometimes classified as a separate language, and in Karpaty, known for highlander accents. In western Poland and Mazury, German is the most common foreign language, although many Poles in big cities, especially young people, speak English. One more thing: the English word “no” means “yes” in Polish. For basic Polish words and phrases, see Phrasebook: Polish, .
Hostels (schroniska młodzieżowe) abound and cost 30-60zł per night. They are often booked solid by tour groups; call at least a week ahead. PTSM is the national hostel organization. University dorms become budget housing in July and August; these are an especially good option in Kraków. The Almatur office in Warsaw arranges stays throughout Poland. PTTK runs hotels called Dom Turysty, which have multi-bed rooms and budget singles and doubles. These hotels generally cost 80-180zł. Pensions are often the best deal: the owner’s service more than makes up for the small sacrifice in privacy. Private rooms (wolne pokoje) are available most places, but be careful what you agree to; they should only cost 20-60zł. Homestays can be a great way to meet locals; inquire at the tourist office. Campsites average 10-15zł per person or 20zł with a car. Campgrounds may also rent out bungalows; a bed costs 20-30zł. Polska Mapa Campingów, available at tourist offices, lists campsites. Almatur runs a number of sites in summer; ask them for a list. Camping outside of official campsites is illegal.
Polish cuisine derives from French, Italian, and Slavic traditions. Meals begin with soup, usually barszcz (beet or rye), chłodnik (cold beets with buttermilk and eggs), ogórkowa (sour cucumbers), or kapuśniak (cabbage). Main courses include gołąbki (cabbage rolls with meat and rice), kotlet schabowy (pork cutlets), naleśniki (crepes), and pierogi (dumplings). Kosher eating is next to impossible, as most Jewish restaurants are not actually kosher. Poland offers a wealth of beer, vodka, and spiced liquor. Żywiec is the most popular beer. Even those who dislike beer will enjoy sweet piwo z sokiem, beer with raspberry syrup. Wyborowa, Żytnia, and Polonez are popular wódka (vodka) brands, while Belweder (Belvedere) is a major alcoholic export. Żubrówka vodka, also known as “Bison grass vodka,” comes packaged with a blade of grass from the Bialowieża forest. It’s often mixed with z sokem jabłkowym (apple juice). Miód (beer made with honey) and krupnik (mead) are old-fashioned favorites; as is nalewka na porzeczce (black currant vodka).
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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