Poland Quick Guide

Poland is a compact country located within Central Europe, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the foothills of the Alps. It is bordered on one side by the Czech Republic and on the other by Germany. It is separated into 16 administrative states, covering a distance of 314,694 kilometers. The country's people are known for their love for learning, thrift, good food and, of course, skiing.

In your Polish travel guide you will find that there are many historical cities in Poland which are worth visiting. These include Krakow, Wroclaw, Prague and Warsaw. Each city plays a major role in determining the contour of Polish society. You can visit these cities during summer or winter, and during either time you will be able to take in some of the best sights of Poland. Some of the cities are particularly interesting during certain times of the year.

In your Polish travel guide you will learn that while most of the cities in Poland are relatively peaceful, some of them have sections which are especially popular with tourists. Two cities in particular, Krakow and Wroclaw, are filled with excitement and history. Krakow, the largest city of Poland and formerly known as Kiezmia Gora, was one of the few Polish cities to experience a period of occupation by the Germans during World War II. Today it is one of the most popular destinations for German tourists.

Wroclaw, the capital of Poland and a beautiful city in itself, is a great place to go sightseeing. Some of the cities in Wroclaw that you will want to see are Wadowowski castle and Tarnopil Castle, which were destroyed during World War II. Another attraction worth seeing is the famous Wroconda Castle, which was built centuries ago by the Grand Duchesses of Russian aristocracy. Tourists interested in ancient history and culture will be drawn to the magnificent Castle on the Wroclaw River.

The second thing that you should take a look at in your Poland Travel Guide is the cities surrounding Krakow. Krakow is one of the largest cities in Poland and is home to around two million people today. There are many different cities to visit in the surrounding area, and most of them are within a few hours of Krakow. Some of the more popular cities include: Wadowowski, Bartos, Cerkno, Zakon, Gorloch, Pozna, Sawada, Marmaris, Sieradzki and Jozefoniec. Most of these cities are easily accessible by both road and express intercity trains, which will get you where you want to be.

While you are in these cities, you will also need to make sure that you have access to international flights. Warsaw International Airport, for example, can take you almost anywhere in the world. Other than that, however, the major cities in Poland are all connected to each other by either trains or buses. Most people prefer trains because it's much easier to get around, especially for tourists who don't speak much polish. Buses, on the other hand, can sometimes be crowded and can take an hour or so to get to the other side of the city.

Finally, after visiting all of these attractions and resources, you will need to decide where you would like to stay. If you are looking for a nice and cozy place to stay, you will probably be pleased with staying in one of the many guesthouses that are available in and around Krakow. You may also want to look into renting a holiday home in one of the many beautiful towns around the country. For something more interesting, there are some great bed and breakfast hotels, as well as self-catering cottages, available in many of the towns and villages of Poland.

As you can see, even after taking everything above, your Poland travel guide still won't be complete without describing the awesome historical cities of Wroclaw and Prague. These two cities, which were parts of larger former Eastern European empires, have some of the best architecture and most interesting history in Europe. While you are in Wroclaw, you should also make it a point to visit the many museums that are part of this historic city. The Osteria Warsaw (The Old Town) is one of the most famous museums in all of Poland. It houses hundreds of priceless objects, including some of the oldest known Polish paintings, which date back to the 12th century.

What vaccinations do I need?

Up to date information for vaccinations before you travel to Poland are available from the NHS Fit for Travel website.

Is it safe to travel?

Best time to visit?

The best time to visit Poland is during spring (March-May) and fall (September-November). This country has a typical European temperate climate with six distinctive seasons where summers are mostly hot and wet while winters are frigid.

Do I need a Visa?

If you hold a British Citizen passport, you don't need a visa to enter Poland.

See which forms you may need for entry into Poland.

What currency do i need?

The official currency of Poland is the Zloty (PLN). If you're looking to transfer or spend money in Poland you can grab amazing Zloty deals via Wise.com (GBP to PLN).

What about the wildlife?

Poland is quite famous for several wild animals including wild bear, European wolf, European bison, white stork, roe deer, European elk, wild hedgehog, white-tailed eagle, and polish fox.

What is the traditional food?

Polish food? Bigos stew is the national dish of Poland. It can be made with any kind of meat from pork to rabbit or venison, but should always have spicy Polish sausage.

What Languages are spoken?

Polish is by far the most common language in Poland. Other languages used in Poland include German, Ukrainian, Russian, Lithuanian, Armenian, and Romani languages. The vast majority of Poland's population (97%) speaks Polish. You can learn some basic Polish before you travel to Poland and really impress the locals!

How much do you tip?

The currency in Poland is the Zloty (In Poland tipping is expected for good service in restaurants, especially in touristy areas such as Krakow or Warsaw. The norm is to tip around 10% of the bill. You can tip 15% if the service was exceptionally good.).

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Useful Numbers

  • Police: 997 or 112
  • Ambulance: 999 or 112
  • Fire: 998 or 112
  • UK Embassy: +48 22 311 00 00

Time Difference

The GMT time difference is 1 hours

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Learn Polish

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Poland Guidebook

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