Planning your vacation in Poland? Read this and you sure will know a thing or two more about traveling both – to and in – Poland!

Transportation

Due to the fact that Poland is a member of the Schengen Agreement, borders are not controlled between those countries that have signed this treaty. Most of the European Union countries have signed Schengen Agreement, however, don’t get confused, because not all of them have done so, and some of the countries that are not in EU still have signed this agreement.

If you are flying to Poland by airplane you should know that Poland’s national airline is LOT Polish airlines, but, of course, there are many others you can use – Ryanair, WizzAir, EasyJet etc.

If you are going to travel Poland by train, it is a great choice, if you are looking for cheap traveling choices – train tickets in Poland are very cheap, compared to other European rails. Nevertheless, be aware – cheapest trains are not in very good condition and has quite old infrastructure.

Consider buying tickets in advance online, because most of the cashiers at stations know little English, except maybe some major cities, where knowing more languages is a requirement. Also, buying tickets online is wise choice, if you are planning your vacation during high season, when there are going to be a lot of travelers around.

Despite the fact that train tickets are quite cheap, some of the bus companies are not only cheaper, but also faster and more pleasing rather than traveling by train.

If you are considering renting a car, you should know your streets. In the last few years infrastructure of Poland’s roads have become far better than before, however there are other things that could prevent you from having a nice, peaceful roadtrip around Poland. There are a lot of aggressive drivers in Poland, who are very impatient and rather rude sometimes. If driver behind you is flashing his headlights, you better let him pass. Be aware of drunk pedestrians or bicycle riders!

Many Polish people work long hours, so you should know that traffic is going to be quite busy till 7-8 pm.

You should have essentials like valid driving license, proof of insurance and ID with you at all times. If you are from UK, a valid license from there is accepted, if you are staying in Poland up to 6 months. If you are driving a car, your speed limit should be 50 km/h in built-up areas and from 11pm till 5am it could rise up to 60 km/h. In motorways speed limit can go up to 140 km/h, and in dual carriageway – 100 km/h. Drunk driving is illegal, and only if your BAC limit isn’t bigger than 0.02%, you won’t be prosecuted by law.

If you will be using taxi services, be very careful. Choose only legit taxi drivers, many of others may be cheaters, so be aware of that. To avoid being cheated, don’t negotiate fare with the taxi driver, just ask him to turn on taxi fare calculator.

Communication

If you are planning communicating with Polish people in English, there are several thing you should know. First of all, ask a teen! Why? Most of the teenagers and young people in Poland know English pretty good, because English is taught from very young age. However, if you are going to visit some rural regions of Poland, be aware that elders that are living there, know very little English or not at all. But if you understand German or Russian, there is a possibility that you will understand each other, due to the fact that these languages were taught in schools until the very 90s.

As many local people of other nations, also Polish people will appreciate your efforts, if you are going to try and speak Polish. Learn some basic phrases of Polish, as well try to learn pronunciation of destinations, you are about to visit – it will not only make you look better, but also you will get better directions from local people. Consider learning these basic phrases:

• Do you speak English? – Czy mówisz po angielsku?
• please – Proszę;
• you are welcome – Nie ma za co;
• thank you – Dziekuję;
• good morning/afternoon – Dzień dobry;
• good night – Dobranoc.

Also, be careful, when discussing Polish history with Polish people. Some subjects like WWII, Russia and communism might be touchy topics for some people.

Food and drinks

Food

Polish people have really traditional cuisine, so prepare yourself for embracing really exquisite tastes. Local food mostly is very hearty, but you must try it! Some of the popular dishes are bigos, pierogi and golabki. First of all – bigos is somewhat unknown, but very unique dish, which includes meat and vegetables. A must-try, for sure! Pierogi are better known and they are delicious, too! If you have tried Russian pelmeni, they are something like that, but maybe even better. There are various types of pierogi – some of them are stuffed with meat, some with cottage cheese – all you have to do is choose which marvelous Polish dish you are going to have today! Polish bread is excellent, as well!

Don’t be scared to visit Poland if you are a vegetarian, many of Polish restaurants offer at least one main vegetarian dish. You’ll find many great vegetarian restaurants in major cities! If you are on tight budget, try visiting a milk bar, which is a form of cafeteria and it serves pretty cheap food. Also, there are some great sandwich shops.

Beverages

Most popular alcoholic beverages in Poland are beer and vodka, however vodka is mostly for special occasions. Wine is popular, too.

Also, don’t forget – you can’t drink and purchase alcohol, if you are under 18. Remember that drinking alcohol in public places is highly illegal, and don’t be fooled by locals, who sometimes are ignoring this law.

If you are used to have a glass of water with your meal, you should know that in Polish restaurants they serve bottled water instead of tap water, so water drinking in Polish restaurants might turn out very expensive. Tea and coffee is more popular with your meal.

What else?

For great quality products and food go to some local stores and buy some fresh meat, vegetables and fruits. Also, visit weekly markets, there you will get freshest products of all and great local experience, too!

Warmest weather in Poland is from June to August, Less crowded in September and October, and if you plan skiing in wonderful Tatra Mountains, go there from December till March.

Poland has some brilliant natural resource based resorts, which offers you thermal and mineral waters. Visiting Spa in Poland is a must!

Zloty is currency of Poland, and 1 zloty is divided in 100 groszy.

The official language in Poland, of course, is Polish.

Almost all of the information like street signs and directions are in Polish, except maybe major cities like Warsaw and Cracow, and other popular traveler destinations.

If you are using Visa, MasterCard or Maestro, you should be able to pay almost everywhere.

You can’t export things, which are older than 55 years old and have any historical value.

Public toilets for men are marked with triangle and for women – with circle on the door.

You can tip 10% of the whole service amount in restaurants, for taxi and tourist guide services. For bartenders just round it up!