At a glance:

EU membership: from 1 May 2004
Language: Polish
Other popular languages spoken: English, German, Russian, French
Time: GMT/UTC plus one hour
Electricity: 220 volts, 50 Hz AC Euro socket style
Weights & measures: Metric
Currency: 1 zloty = 100 grosz

Index:

• General
• Travel to Poland by air
• Travel to and in Poland by road and rail
• Passports & Visas
• Weather
• Clothing
• Money
• Tourist Card - Poland
• Customs
• Driving
• Time
• Health & Vaccination
• Language
• Dialing
• Border Crossing
• Public holidays
• English language papers
• Polish consulates in the UK and Ireland
• UK and Irish Embassies in Poland
• Tourist Information
   

Current time in Poland

Current weather in Warsaw - Krakow - Gdansk - Poznan - Wroclaw - Szczecin

Current exchange rates

General:

National colours

The Republic of Poland

Poland is located in the heart of Europe and covers an area of 312,700 square kilometres. Its boundaries are formed by the Baltic Sea to the north, Germany to the west, the Czech and Slovak Republics to the south and Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia to the east. Click to download a zipped version of a full scale map of Poland (NOTE: FILE SIZE 923 KB).

Although Poland's topography is characterised mainly by lowland plains, its variable landscape includes important mountain chains, such as the Sudety and Tatra Mountains. Hundreds of freshwater lakes are hidden away in the northern part of the country: the Pomeranian and Mazurian Lake Districts are set amidst picturesque hills and primeval forests. Touching the Baltic Sea in the north, Poland offers 528 km of coastline with sandy beaches.

Poland has 38 million inhabitants, 1,650,000 of whom live in the capital city of Warsaw (Warszawa) and other major cities, such as Cracow (Krakow), Gdansk, Poznan, Lodz, Szczecin, Wroclaw. The population is largely of Polish descent.

The official language is Polish. Here you will find the national anthem and national emblem. (Click here to download a 200 dpi zipped EPS image file - 2.14MB)

Poland is a parliamentary republic and is divided into 16 administrative provinces (województwa). Since 1989, the country has been undergoing an important transformation into a market economy.

On 1 May 2004 Poland joined the European Union.

If you fly into Poland, you are likely to arrive at Okecie Airport in Warsaw, Balice Airport in Krakow, Pyrzowice Airport in Katowice or one several other local airports. Warsaw's Okecie International Airport stands testament to Poland's renewed economy: it claims to be the most modern and safe airport in Central Europe and offers all sorts of useful services (car rental, travel agencies, a post office, a bank, restaurants, and shops). The other international airports in Poland are: Poznan, Wroclaw, Szczecin, Katowice, Bydgoszcz, Lodz & Rzeszow.

Low cost airlines offer a wide choice of schedules and destinations,so tha t you can travel to Poland from all over Europe. Click here to find out more about AIRLINES FLYING TO POLAND FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND.

Travel to and in Poland by road and rail:

While you can travel to and within Poland by air, land or sea, many travellers take advantage of the numerous possibilities to arrive in Poland by road or rail to see the country en route.

Poland is covered by a dense network of rail and coach services which provide easy access to almost any place you can find on the map. To find out more about train schedules, look at the Polish State Railway interactive timetable.

Using public transport in major cities is another convenient method of getting around. In most cases you can use a one day travel card which gives you access to the city integrated transport network. Please remember to punch your ticket on your first trip during the day.

Passport and
visas:

EU visitors should carry a passport or another valid identity document confirming the nationality of the bearer.

Nationals of certain non-EU countries also do not need a visitor's visas: click here for a full list

For visa requirements regarding non-EU nationals, please reads this consular information

For further information please visit the site of the Polish Embassy in London and the Polish Consulate General in London.

Weather:

Poland has a temperate changeable climate. Spring starts in March with temperatures varying from the mid 30's to the low 60's °F (-1 to -15 °C), until about May or June. July is the hottest month, but the rest of the summer is also quite warm with temperatures ranging from the mid 70's into the low 90's °F (21 to 32 °C). Initially warm and balmy, September marks the beginning of Poland's autumn. Thereafter, the days become more damp and foggy until December, when winter arrives and the temperature drops to a few degrees below zero. Characterised by abundant snowfall, Poland's winter season caters for winter sports of all types.

To check current weather conditions for Poland, click Weather
 

Clothing:

It is best to assume that the weather will be changeable and pack a variety of layers appropriate to the season.

Money:

Poland is not a member of the Euro currency system. The Polish currency is Zloty = 100 Groszy. To find out about the crrent exchange rates, please click here.

Credit cards & ATM.
Most hotels, restaurants, shops, travel agencies, airlines and petrol stations accept payments with credit cards. Stickers on the doors and windows of businesses usually indicate which credit cards will be accepted for payment.

There are over 8.500 automatic teller machines (ATM) in Poland. Warsaw has over 850 of them, Cracow - 300, Poznan - 280, Wroclaw 244, Lodz 238. Jelenia Gora has 31 and bottoms the list. They accept the following cards: Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS, Eurocard/MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express, Diners Club, PolCard, PolCard Bis, PolCard Tempo

Cash:
May be obtained with the use of credit cards in ATMs or through banks. Click to see the banknotes and coins currently in circulation.

Foreign exchange:
Major foreign currencies may be exchanged for Polish Zlotys at banks or exchange counters, identified by the name KANTOR, operated by larger hotels, at border crossings or across towns and cities. Banks in larger cities are usually open from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays and until 1 pm on Saturdays. Banks in smaller towns or villages have more limited business hours, usually from 5 am to 1 pm. KANTORS are usually open from 9 am to 7 pm weekdays and until 2 pm on Saturdays. 24-hour services are usually available in larger major tourist centres such as train stations, border crossings and airports.

You can import and export foreign currency without any restrictions up to €10,000.

Travellers Cheques:
Major travellers cheques can be exchanged (for a commission) at most of the locations above, with the exception of KANTORS. Eurocheques are accepted in accordance with standard international practice.

Tipping:
It is customary to leave a tip of l0 to 15 % in restaurants and cafes. Tips for porter’s services in hotels and train stations are customary, but amounts for services rendered are at the traveller’s discretion.

Tourist Card - Poland:

Popular all over Europe, are also available in almost every major city in Poland.

The Polish Tourist Organization has introduced a discount card called Polish Card. The Polish Card is a programme offering a system of discounts and incentives while paying for accommodation, tourist services, at restaurants and many other places all over Poland.

The card and the catalogue may be obtained free of charge from any of the participating outlets in Poland. For more information please contact the Polish National Tourist Office.

Customs:

On arrival:
There is no customs checks for EU nationals.

Customs information regarding import of foreign currency and products manufactured outside the EU and/or in quantities exceeding personal use can be found on the Ministry of Finance website.

Queries related to specific customs & excise matters can be addressed to:
CUSTOMS INFORMATION SERVICE
e-mail: Informacja.celna@mofnet.gov.pl
phone number: (48 22) 694 31 94

Driving:

To drive a motor vehicle in Poland, EU nationals need a valid ID, vehicle registration documents (log book) and a driving licence. If you are driving someone else’s car, it is useful to be able to show that you have the owner’s permission to use the borrowed car. As for the driver's licence, a valid EU licence is accepted. Here are the basic traffic regulations to be observed in Poland. Click here to learn about fuel prices.
 

Time:

Poland runs on GMT plus 1 hour. So, you lose time if you fly from the west: 1 hour if departing from London. You gain time if you fly from the east: 7 hours if from Hong Kong, 3 if from Moscow, and 2 if from Israel.

Poland counts time on a 24 hour clock, and the week starts on Monday. So 1 PM is 1300, 2 PM is 1400, and so on. If confused, just subtract 2 from the second digit to quickly calculate what hour is it (e.g. 1500 - 2 is 3 PM).
 

Health
and
vaccination:

Emergency:
As an EU national you are entitled to receive medical care should you become ill or have an accident in Poland. It is recommended to carry with you the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Most hospitals can offer all forms of treatment and modern diagnostic equipment. Private clinics are also available.

IMPORTANT:

The E111 form for travellers to Europe is changing to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). As of 31st December 2005 the E111 becomes invalid and all travellers to Europe must hold an EHIC.

Vaccination:
Not required, but you might want some form of health insurance.

Drugs:
Drugs generally available in the UK can be also obtained in Poland. If you need repeated prescription drugs, consult your GP to obtain the neccessary prescriptions before departure.
 

Language:

English, German and Russian are among the better known foreign languages spoken in Poland, especially in the larger urban centres and hotels. English (and also German) is particularly popular among the younger generation (older people prefer German). Most tourist facilities employ at least one English speaker. But to make your visit to Poland even more rewarding we would encourage you to lear some basic Polish words and phrases.

For a quick translation of common words, please use this on-line dictionary:

Dialing:

Long Distance Dialing:
If calling long distance within Poland, dial a '0' and wait. Eventually, you'll hear a faint tone; that's your signal to then dial the city code and phone number. If dialing outside of Poland, do the same thing, but dial '0' again when you get the second tone followed by the country code, and then the rest of the number. Poland can be reached from the UK by dialing 00, then 48 + city code (without 0) and phone number.

Dialing local numbers in Poland:
Remember, when dialing from inside Poland, first dial 0 followed by the area code and number. For other major cities, see the list of local dialing codes.

Mobile phones:
Most of Poland's mobile service suppliers offer roaming facilities. Netwok coverage in is generally good. Expect patchy performance only in rural areas far away from large cities.

Border crossing:

Altough there are no restrictions for EU nationals to move across national borders, entering and exiiting Poland is permitted only through officially designated border crossing points. Most of these points are open 24 hrs and can be used by drivers. Click for the attached list of border crossings. There are also minor, local border crossing points which can be crossed only on foot or by train (find out in advance before you choose the wrong route).

At most border crossing points you will find Polish Motoring Association (PZM) branch offices selling guide books, maps and accessories, vehicle insurance (for non-EU drivers) and also offering information brochures and advice for motorists.

English
language
papers:
 

Warsaw Voice

Warsaw Insider

There are two popular English language dailies published in Poland. All international press titles are also available from major hotel news stands and major newsagent shops, such as EMPiK

Public
holidays:

• 1 January - New Year's Day
• 1 May - May Day
• 3 May - Constitution Day
• 15 August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• 1 November - All Saints Day
• 11 November - Independence Day
• 25 & 26 December - Christmas Days

Moveable Feasts:

Polish
consulates
in UK and Ireland:

Consulate General in London
73 New Cavendish Street
London W1N 4HQ
tel: +44(0)20-7580 0476
fax: +44(0)20-7323 2320
 

Consulate General in Edinburgh
2 Kinner Road
Edinburgh EH3 5PE
tel: 0131-552 0301
fax: 0131-552 1086

Poland's Honorary Consuls in the UK

Consular Section, Polish Embassy in Dublin
% Ailesbury Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
tel: (01)283 0855
fax: (01)269 8309

UK and Irish Embassies
in Poland:

British Embassy
al. Roz 1
00-555 Warsaw
tel. +48 (0)22 628 10 01-05
fax: +48 (0)22 621 71 61

Irish Embassy
ul. Humanska 10
00-789 Warszawa
tel: 0-22-849 6633/8496655
fax: 0-22-849 8431
e-mail: ambasada@irlandia.pl

TI:

Local Tourist Information outlets in Poland

© Polish National Tourist Office in London, 1999-2007