Poland can be visited all year round and has plenty to offer in all seasons. Interestingly, there are six natural seasons. In addition to typical four calendar ones, there’s also pre-spring and Indian summer, known as Polish Golden Fall.
The best time to travel to Poland is in late spring, summer and early fall. However, as it’s also prime tourist season (May to October), hotels and flight prices will reflect that. The summer months (June, July and August) are the warmest, and winter (December to February) is usually cold with shorter days and cool, crisp air. But if you like the snow, you may find Polish scenery delightful. For those, we especially recommend seeing Polish mountains in the wintertime.
The Polish Zloty (zl, PLN) is the currency of Poland. 1 zloty =100 groszy (gro-sh-ee). In circulation there are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 groszy coins as well as 1, 2, and 5 zloty coins. The banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200.
You can find numerous ATMs (called “bankomat”) in towns and travellers can also exchange their money in banks, exchange kiosks (called “kantors”) and in main hotels.
Banks are usually open Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm; with only selected few open on Saturdays between 9am and 1pm.
Most shops and restaurants accept credit cards. The most popular ones are VISA, MasterCard and Maestro. Beware that American Express and Diners may not be widely accepted
Generally, visa is not required for stays up to 90 days. Poland is a Schengen area country, a zone without controls on internal borders which comprises of 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. There are also 3 smaller countries that, though not part of Schengen areea, also do not require any control at the borders: Monaco, San Marino, Vatican.
Four members of the EU that are not members of the Schengen Agreement: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania.
Third-country nationals may enter Poland if they are in possession of a valid travel document and a visa (if required).
Your passport should be valid for at least three months (90 days) beyond the period of stay.
Source: https://www.msz.gov.pl/en/travel_to_poland/entering_poland/visa_free/visa_free_countries
For further information on visas and entry requirements to Poland please visit: https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/visas
The quality of medical care is generally high in Poland.
In case of an emergency/accident/ sudden disease, patient should either call an ambulance (“karetka” or "ambulans") or go directly to the nearest hospital, to the A&E department.
Foreign visitors without medical insurance will have to pay a standard fee for medical services. Information about medical services is available 24 hours at the country-wide number 94 39. Polish pharmacies are well-provided, but prescriptions are necessary for most medications. In every larger Polish city, there is at least one all-night pharmacy.
Free emergency treatment is available to visitors from the European Union and several countries with which Poland has signed international agreements (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia). EU nationals are required to produce a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
If you are not a national of any of the countries listed above, you will need to make your own arrangements. You are strongly advised to obtain a suitable medical insurance cover before traveling.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 1 January | Sunday | New Year's Day |
| 6 January | Friday | Epiphany |
| 9 April | Sunday | Easter Sunday |
| 10 April | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Monday | State Holiday/Labour Day |
| 3 May | Wednesday | Constitution Day |
| 28 May | Sunday | Pentecost Sunday/Whit Sunday |
| 8 June | Thursday | Corpus Christi |
| 15 August | Tuesday | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| 1 November | Wednesday | All Saints' Day |
| 11 November | Saturday | Independence Day |
| 25 December | Monday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Tuesday | Day after Christmas Day/Boxing Day |
The official language of Poland is Polish. English, German and Russian are also commonly spoken, especially in larger cities.
Shoppers will be happy to find world known brands, and an abundance of local products within easy reach. City centers and shopping malls have lots to offer. From splendid antique shops, upmarket boutiques and cafe-bookshops, to mouthwatering confectionery stores and traditional bakeries. Grab a pastry and a coffee from Blikle in Warsaw, Wentzl in Cracow or Elite in Poznan. You’ll thank us later!
Shop ‘til you drop
Malls such as Arkadia in Warsaw, the Dominican Gallery by the old town in Wrocław, or the Krakow Gallery by the main railway station, offer the best in fashion, luxury retail, dining, leisure and entertainment. All under one roof.
Sunday shopping ban
The opening hours of offices and shops are not formally set and may vary. Shopping centers are open Monday – Saturday. On Sundays most shops are closed, except for several Sundays in a year when shops are opened on their usual working hours. Usual business hours are 10am to 9pm. Local shops open early in the morning (7-8am) and close at around 6-7 pm. Restaurants tend to open between around 11am to 11pm. Bars stay open until late at night, especially on weekends.
Your trip to Poland is, above all, an opportunity to rest, relax and have fun. Poland in general is a safe country, however, as a precaution, please see below some basic information with useful numbers in case of unforeseen events. To call an emergency service using a landline or a public phone, please dial:
999 – Ambulance
998 – Fire Brigade
997 – Police
986 – Municipal Wardens (Straz Miejska)
To call an emergency service using a mobile phone, please dial 112 for all services
As soon as the call is connected, you will be transferred to the appropriate service. You may also use 111 in case you're unsure which of the three emergency numbers (997, 998, 999) should be alerted.
By Train
The railway network in Poland is well organized, offering a convenient and comfortable way of traveling.
Types of trains in Poland:
Express InterCity Premium train—Pociag EIP. This new class of high-speed "Pendolino" trains serve are found on the main routes linking Warsaw with Krakow, Katowice, Wroclaw and Gdansk/Gdynia. All seats are reserved in both classes, and all trains are fully air-conditioned and carry a buffet car. Passengers in all classes receive a complimentary drink, and first class passengers also receive a meal at their seat.
Express Inter-City train—Pociag EIC. EIC trains feature comfortable equipment (newer, air-conditioned cars are found on these trains), few stops, and high speeds. The train will have first and second class cars. Often there will be a full-service restaurant car, and there is always at least a buffet car. Passengers in all classes receive a complimentary drink, and first class passengers also receive a snack. Seat reservations are mandatory in both classes. Some trains now have free Wi-Fi internet.
IC train—Pociag IC. This class of train is the same as the TLK category, but with newer, recently-refurbished equipment. Most carriages will be air-conditioned, and many IC services now carry a buffet car. Some trains now have free Wi-Fi internet.
TLK train—Pociag TLK. This class of train serves as a faster way to travel between regions. It will still stop at most moderate-size stations, but does not stop at every station. All of these trains have first class carriages, and there may be a refreshment trolley. Seat reservations are mandatory in both classes.
Regio or Local train—Pociag Regio (osobowy). These are local trains that usually make a stop in each town as you travel down the line. This is definitely the slow way to travel, but a good way to meet the local population. Such trains will have only second class cars.
Train standards
Polish trains have very diverse standards. Express trains are of the highest standard, regional or the slower trains are of the lowest standard. All trains, except for the slower ones, are divided into first and second class carriages. Inter-city trains and many express trains have a separate restaurant car. Some trains also have special smoking compartments. Long-distance trains are often equipped with additional sleeping-cars.
The Polish State Railway has designated seats for disabled passengers. But bear in mind that lifts are not always available.
By Taxi
Taxis are easily available and not overly expensive. As a rough guide, a 5 km taxi trip will cost around 30 zł.Taxi fares are higher at night (10pm to 6am), on Sunday and outside the city limits. The number of passengers (usually up to four) and the amount of luggage doesn’t affect the fare.
Avoid unmarked private taxis usually recognizable with a small ‘taxi’ sign on the roof, and no name or phone number visible.
You can flag down cabs on the street or order them by phone. We recommend ordering by phone.
Remember to carry small bills to pay the exact fare. If you don’t, it’s hard to get change from a driver!
By Bus, Tram & Trolleybus
Polish cities offer excellent public transport. Every large and medium-sized city will have a comprehensive bus (“autobus”) network, while some cities will also have tram (“ tramwaj”) and trolleybus (“trolejbus”) systems. Warsaw is the only city with a metro.
Public transport normally operates daily from around 5am to 11pm. However, service is less frequent on weekends.
Trams and buses are likely to be crowded during rush hour (7am to 9am and 4.30pm to 6.30pm Monday to Friday).
Timetables are usually posted at stops, but don’t rely too much on their accuracy.