Facts about Poland

European Union 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

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)

From 1 May 2004 Poland is a member of the European Union.

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.

Travel to and in Poland:

You can travel to and within Poland by air, land, or sea. Most travellers arrive by air, and then take advantage of the numerous possibilities to see the country by land. If you fly into Poland, you will land either at Okecie Airport in Warsaw, Balice Airport in Krakow or Rebiechowo Airport in Gdansk. 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 minor airports in Poland are: Poznan, Wroclaw, Szczecin, and Katowice. LOT Polish Airlines runs connecting flights between Warsaw and other major cities, but relatively few between those cities. Call ahead to confirm your flight schedule.

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: http://www.rozklad.pkp.pl/cgi-bin/new/query.exe/en

City transport

Buses, trams, trolleybuses, and the underground (only in Warsaw) make up the public transport system in Poland. Buses run on ordinary, fast and night lines. Tickets may be purchased at news-stands, some shops, sometimes from bus-drivers; they should be validated immediately upon boarding. Fare rates are different in different cities and tickets purchased in one city cannot be used in another.

Various tickets are in use: one-fare day or night tickets, one--day, one-hour, or one-week passes, one-fare city or weekend group passes. Each piece of bulky luggage or a dog needs an additional ticket, the equivalent of a normal passenger fare. Steep on the spot fines are given fines for travelling or transporting bulky luggage without valid tickets.

Passport and visas:

EU visitors should have a passport valid at least for the duration of the intended stay in Poland or another officially recognised proof of identity confirming the nationality of the holder.

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

For more information on visa requirements, please go to http://www.polishconsulate.co.uk/_eg/visareq.php 

Weather:

Poland has a temperate changeable climate. In winter the temperatures vary from the mid 30's to the low 60's °F (-1 to -15°C). Spring starts in March with temperatures varying from 5 to 20°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 but with plenty of sunshine, Poland's winter season caters for winter sports of all types.

To check current weather conditions for Poland, click http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PLXX0005.html

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 current exchange rates, please click http://www.xe.com/ucc/

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.

In 2003 there were almost 7200 automatic teller machines (ATM) in Poland. Warsaw had over 800 and Cracow 300. They accepted 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, banks and some hotels.

Foreign exchange:

Major foreign currencies may be exchanged for Polish Zlotys at the airport, banks, larger hotels and border crossings in unlimited amounts. Throughout the entire country there are also numerous private currency exchange offices identified by the name KANTOR.
Banks in larger cities are usually open from 9am to 4pm on weekdays and until 1pm on Saturdays. Banks in smaller towns or villages have more limited business hours, usually from 5am to 1pm. KANTORs are usually open from 9am to 7pm weekdays and until 2pm on Saturdays. 24-hour services are usually available in larger major tourist centres such as train stations, border crossings and airports.

Travellers Cheques:

Major travellers cheques can be exchanged (for a 1% commission) at most of the locations above, with the exception of KANTORS, who do not accept them. Travellers cheques are also accepted as payment for goods and services in larger cities, though not as widely as cash. Eurocheques are accepted in accordance with standard international tourism agreements.

Shopping

Grocery shops are generally open on weekdays from 6 or 7 am till 6 or7 pm, on Saturdays from 7am till 1pm; some of them stay open on Saturdays and Sundays. Certain shops, predominantly groceries, stay open till 9 or 10pm and some are open 24 hours. Shops with industrial goods and services operate from 10 or 11 am till 6 or 7 pm. Super markets in big cities usually stay open till 9 pm.

Post & Communications

Post offices are usually open from 8am till 8pm. In bigger cities at least one post office stays open 24 hours.

Tipping:

It is customary to leave a tip of 10 to 15% in restaurants and cafes. Tipping in self-service restaurants is not expected. 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 Tourist Card - Poland:

Tourists' cards, very popular all over the Europe, are now available in almost every major city in Poland.

The Polish Tourist Organization has introduced a discount card called Polish Card. The main purpose of the card is to promote Poland' tourist attractions and facilitate their availability.

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 email the Polish National Tourist Office info@visitpoland.org 

Customs:

On arrival there are no customs checks for EU nationals.

Here are the quantities of certain goods that may be legally imported to Poland from EU countries free from excise duty:

- cigarettes - up to 800 pieces.
- cigars - up to 200 pieces.
- cigarillos - up to 400 pieces.
- raw tobacco - up to 1 kg
- spirit - up to 10L
- wines (high proof)- up to 20L
- wines (ordinary & sparkling) - up to 90L

Driving:

If you decide to drive into Poland, you will need a valid driving licence. If you are driving someone else's car, it is useful to bring along a letter permitting you to use the borrowed car. As for the driver's licence, a valid EU licence is accepted. Click here for a summary of traffic regulations.

Roadside Assistance (24 hours) 981
Municipal Guard in Warsaw 986

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 usually counts time on a 24 hour clock, and the week starts on Monday. So 1pm is 1300, 2pm 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 3PM).

Health and vaccinations:

EU nationals are eligible to free of charge medical treatment. Medical standards are similar to those found in other European countries. In major ciities hospitals can offer all forms of treatment and modern diagnostic equipment. Private clinics are also available, but you will be charged for treatment. Polish pharmacies are well supplied, but prescriptions are necessary for the majority of medications. In every bigger Polish city there is at least one pharmacy on night duty.

Emergency phone numbers (free and valid nationwide):

Police 997
Fire Brigade 998
Ambulance 999
from mobile phones 112

Vaccinations:

No special requirements - just what you would have at home.

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 learn some basic Polish words and phrases. Click here for our guide to useful Polish words and phrases.

Telephone calls:

Information telephone numbers:

Local Directory Enquiries 913
Directory Enquiries 912
Domestic Area Dialling Codes 912
Inter-national Area Dialling Codes 908
Local Information 911
International Operator 901
Telegrams 905

Long Distance Dialling:

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 dialling 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 dialling 00, then 48 + city code (without 0) and phone number (without having to wait for any dial tones).

Dialling local numbers in Poland:

Remember, when dialling from inside Poland, first dial 0 followed by the area code and number.

Mobile phones:

Most of Poland's mobile service suppliers offer roaming facilities. Network coverage in is generally good. Expect patchy reception only in rural areas far away from large cities.

Border crossings:

Although there are no restrictions for EU nationals to move across national borders, entering and exiting Poland is permitted only through officially designated border crossing points. Most of these points are open 24 hrs and can be used by drivers. 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 newspapers:

The Warsaw Voice is the most popular daily published in English in Poland. All international press titles are also available from major hotel news stands and major newsagent shops.
www.warsawvoice.com.pl

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

Easter

27 & 28 March 2005
16 & 17 April 2006
8 & 9 April 2007
23 &24 March 2008
12 & 13 April 2009

Ascension

5 May 2005
25 May 2006
17 May 2007
1 May 2008
21 May 2009

Corpus Christi

26 May 2005
15 June 2006
7 June 2007
22 May 2008
11 June 2009

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
5 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