Planning a trip to Poland? Great choice! But before you dive into pierogi, colorful old towns, vibrant cities, rich history, and spectacular landscapes, you should know a few things. As with every country, Poland has its unique customs, quirks, and surprises that can sometimes catch you off guard! But don’t worry, your visit will be smooth, enjoyable, and unforgettable with our guide. Read on and discover everything you need to know before visiting Poland.
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Things to know before visiting Poland
Central, not Eastern!
First things first – Poland is located in Central Europe, not Eastern. Remember this if you don’t want to get on any Pole’s nerves!
Poland is bigger than you might think
Poland is one of the biggest countries in Europe by area. It ranks 9th and is almost as big as Norway, Finland, or Germany! So while planning your time in Poland don’t underestimate travel times between cities – for example, getting from Krakow to Gdansk (two popular, distant ends of Poland) by car takes around 6 hours!
Pay with card
Złotówki (zł) is the currency in Poland, and payments by Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. You won’t have problems paying by card in supermarkets, shops, or restaurants – we can’t even remember the last time we used cash! Although, just in case, it’s always good to have some with you, especially if you’re planning to visit more remote places.
Learn a little bit of the language
The official language is Polish. Even though you’ll be able to communicate easily in English, especially in the big touristy cities, it’s good to learn a few basic words. We know it’s a hard language but knowing a few words will help you break the ice and make interactions nicer.
Learn words like “dzień dobry” (good morning), “cześć” (hi/bye), “dziękuję” (thank you), “przepraszam” (I’m sorry, excuse me), “proszę” (please), “do widzenia” (goodbye), or “nie mówię po polsku” (I don’t speak Polish).
It’s not cheap anymore
Many foreign visitors say that Poland is one of Europe’s most affordable travel destinations. From our experience, we can say that indeed it’s a bit cheaper compared to Western EU countries like Spain, Portugal, Germany, or France, but the difference isn’t that big anymore. As digital nomads, we’ve spent almost the same amount of money in each of those countries. But if you want to save a buck or two, Poland for sure will help you with that a bit.
It’s rude to be late
Punctuality is a huge thing for Poles – we don’t like latecomers. So if you have a meeting with someone, be sure to turn up on time.
No midday break or siesta
Most businesses open early in the morning (around 7 AM for supermarkets, 9 AM for smaller shops or shopping malls, and 12 PM for restaurants) and usually close late in the evening. So you don’t need to worry about midday breaks, and you’ll always buy what you need.
Shops are closed on Sundays
Shops, supermarkets, and shopping malls (except small convenience stores like Żabka, gas stations, or souvenir shops in major cities) are closed on most Sundays. So plan wisely your shopping.
Don’t smile at strangers on the street
We’re nothing like Spaniards or Italians so really… don’t do that. In Poland, unnecessary smiling can seem strange, insincere, and in the worst case misinterpreted as flirting or mocking. But don’t take it personally – Poles usually aren’t rude, it’s just a cultural thing.
Internet connection is great
Of course, the quality of Internet connection will depend on the place but overall in most places in Poland, it’s really good with optic fiber as a norm.
If you need Internet on your mobile phone, you can easily use roaming (if you’re an EU citizen, prices are not that bad for occasional use), use eSIM, like Airlo, or buy local prepaid SIM card (look for providers like Play, Orange or T-Mobile).
Public transport is pretty good
Poland is quite easy to travel around by public transport, especially between major cities. The network of trains and buses is well developed and very affordable (although not always reliable and punctual). To search for train connections and to buy online tickets visit rozklad-pkp.pl or portalpasazera.pl. For long-distance bus connections, it’s best to visit FlixBus.
In cities, you also won’t have any problems moving around by buses, trams, or even the metro (depending on the city). There are also taxis, and often bikes or electric scooters available to rent. To quickly find connections you might need just use jakdojade.pl website or app – it works in all big cities!
Use car for Poland’s off-the-beaten-path destinations
Beyond all the most popular hotspots, in Poland, you’ll find some hidden gems too (look at places like Zalipie, Kazimierz Dolny, Książ Castle, Bieszczady Mountains, Moszna Castle, Błędów Desert, Łódź, Katowice, Fort Srebrna Góra, or Czocha Castle). And the easiest way to get to them will be by car – you can easily rent the best one for your needs through the Rental Cars website.
Learn the rules of the road
You’ll need a valid EU or international driving license and valid international insurance. On roads there is right-hand traffic, safety belts are mandatory, headlights must be on regardless of the time of day, and it’s forbidden to use mobile phones while driving (hands-free kits are permitted).
What’s more – the car must be equipped with a fire extinguisher and a warning triangle, you have to let pedestrians pass on the crossing, and the legal blood-alcohol limit for driving is 0.2 milligrams of alcohol per milliliter of blood.
But to be honest, we find Polish drivers one of the worst and we don’t like driving in the country. Mostly thanks to the terrible driving culture and high speeds.
Local dishes are delicious
Poland is an amazing destination for food lovers. There, you’ll find a mix of hearty local, traditional food, and international flavors. Traditional Polish dishes include pierogi (dumplings), bigos (hunter’s stew), barszcz (beetroot soup), żurek (sour rye soup), placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), and gołąbki (cabbage rolls).
Street food lovers have to try zapiekanka (baguette-style pizza) and obwarzanek (crunchy pretzel rings). While in Zakopane try oscypek (smoked cheese) and gingerbread in Toruń. Do you have a sweet tooth? Don’t miss pączki (donuts), cheesecake, and apple pie.
Heaven for vegetarians/vegans
Vegetarians and vegans will be very pleased in Poland as the choice of plant-based options is spectacular (both in restaurants and supermarkets) and includes creative takes on traditional dishes too!
Tipping is not expected
There is no tip culture in Poland and giving it isn’t a must, but of course is welcome. So if you find the service and food amazing you might consider leaving a tip – 10% is a good practice. You can either leave some coins on the table or ask to add Xzł to your card payment.
Don’t visit during winter
Thanks to awful air quality, short days, lack of sun, and overall gray and sad vibe, visiting Poland during winter is a bad choice.
Our recommendation? Try to plan your visit during the shoulder season months – in May, June, and September. In some years October is nice too, but it’s a lottery. The weather should be great, prices lower, and cities less crowded.
Considering July or August? Places along the Baltic Sea coast or Zakopane will be very pricey and full of Polish holidaymakers so you might want to avoid them then.
Remember the emergency numbers
The emergency telephone number in Poland (and all of Europe) is 112. When you call 112, the operator diverts you to the relevant emergency service. 112 is free to call. Just in case, other numbers are: ambulance – 999, fire brigade – 998, police – 997.
Take the European travel plug adapter if you need one
The plugs in Poland are type C and E and the standard voltage is 230 V. So if your electronics have different plugs don’t forget to pack a compatible universal travel adapter.
Follow general safety rules
Poland is generally a safe country to visit, ranking high on global safety indexes. Crime rates are low, public transport is safe, pickpocketing can happen in touristy areas but isn’t a major issue, and locals are rather friendly. Just keep in mind standard safety precautions, and you should be all right!
As locals, we’ve never experienced or witnessed any theft attempt, we also feel safe in public transport. For us, walking after dark and very early morning hours isn’t the most pleasant experience as it’s a time when many drunk, homeless, nagging, and possibly aggressive people like to walk the streets.
Always have travel health insurance
If you’re from one of the EU countries you can use a free EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) to receive treatment in public-health facilities for free or at a reduced cost, if that treatment becomes necessary during your visit.
Unfortunately, EHIC doesn’t cover a lot of things and is not available to everyone so even more important is to have travel insurance. We highly recommend buying good insurance as you never know when you’ll get sick or something bad will happen.
Things to know before visiting Poland – Summing up
Hopefully, with all the mentioned insights and tips now you feel more prepared and less stressed about your upcoming trip to Poland. You have nothing to worry about! Sure, Poland has its own set of customs you need to keep in mind but overall it’s an interesting country with a rich history, delicious food, and plenty of amazing places to discover. Enjoy your time in Poland!
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Lots of extremely helpful tips here for someone like me who hasn’t been to Poland.
I was particularly interested in hearing that vegetarian food is available and your suggested times to visits.
Your point on smiling made me smile, it’s always great to share something only a local will know !