Practical Information for visiting Poland

Poland uses the złoty (PLN), not the euro, despite being in the European Union. Euros are occasionally accepted in tourist areas at poor rates — use złoty.

Card and contactless payment is accepted almost everywhere, including buses, market stalls and milk bars, and Poland is close to cashless. A little cash is useful in rural areas and at some church and museum donations.

ATMs are widespread. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and choose to be charged in złoty — the offered rate is consistently poor. Avoid standalone Euronet machines in tourist areas.

Tipping is expected at around ten per cent in restaurants. Note that saying thank you when handing over money is traditionally taken to mean keep the change, which catches visitors out in both directions.

Coverage for mobile networks is very good across the country, with 5G in the cities and 4G nearly everywhere else, from Orange, Play, Plus and T-Mobile. Gaps are limited to the deeper Tatra valleys and parts of the eastern forests.

Poland is in the European Union, so EU roaming applies for visitors from member states. Local prepaid SIMs are inexpensive and sold in supermarkets, kiosks and phone shops.

Free Wi-Fi is standard in hotels, cafes, on intercity trains and in many city centres. Fixed speeds are high and Poland has a large technology sector.

Most museum and Auschwitz bookings are made online and in advance; do not rely on turning up.

Poland is a safe country with low violent crime, and visitors rarely encounter serious trouble.

• Pickpocketing around Kraków’s main square, Warsaw Centralna station and on trams in the cities.
• Taxi and nightlife scams in Kraków and Warsaw: unlicensed taxis with inflated rates, and bars where the bill arrives far higher than expected. Use apps rather than hailing, and check prices before ordering.
• Driving. Poland’s road fatality rate is above the EU average. Rural roads carry slow farm vehicles, overtaking can be aggressive, and the alcohol limit is effectively zero and enforced with random checks.
• The Tatras are small but genuinely alpine. People die there every year, usually through inadequate equipment, sudden weather or ignoring avalanche warnings. Check conditions with the mountain service, TOPR.
• The border with Ukraine. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, projectiles from the conflict have passed through Polish airspace and debris has landed in areas near the Ukrainian border. Stay aware of your surroundings there in particular, follow the instructions of local authorities and keep to trustworthy news sources.
• Theft on the move. Thieves work the buses, trains, stations and airports, the busy markets and the areas around hotels. On the road, be especially alert at traffic lights: thieves on scooters or on foot snatch bags from passenger seats, so keep windows closed, doors locked and bags out of reach. On overnight trains, lock the compartment door from the inside.
• Spiked drinks and inflated bills. Card and ATM fraud occurs particularly at bars and nightclubs, and cybercriminals compromise public Wi-Fi to steal card and personal data. Be wary of venues that lure customers with promises of discounts: people have been served spiked drinks and then overcharged on their cards while intoxicated. Snacks, drinks, gum and cigarettes may contain drugs putting you at risk of sexual assault and robbery — do not accept them from new acquaintances. Carry limited cash, check the price list before ordering and the bill before paying.
• In the mountains. The southern ranges can turn severe even in summer, and lightning strikes are particularly common in the Tatra region, along with sudden storms and avalanches. The Mountain Volunteer Rescue Service publishes conditions and avalanche warnings and the Tatra Rescue Foundation issues region-specific alerts.
• Report it before you go. The loss or theft of a passport must be reported to the local police, and a police report is required to issue a new one. Report any crime to the local police before leaving the country, because a report cannot be completed after you have left Poland.
• Winter air quality in Kraków and Silesia can be hazardous on still, cold days.
• The Belarusian and Ukrainian borders have restricted zones; check current advice.

The reflective-clothing rule for rural roads, the ticket that has to match the zone and the mode, and the rest of the practical side of moving around are on Getting Around.

Healthcare is of a reasonable standard, and private clinics in the cities are inexpensive, fast and English-speaking. EU and UK visitors are covered for necessary state treatment with a valid EHIC or GHIC; others pay privately, and costs are modest by western European standards.

Poland is also a substantial destination for medical and dental tourism, with prices well below western Europe.

Vaccinations: routine cover is sufficient. Tick-borne encephalitis is worth considering — ticks are present in forests and long grass across the country, particularly in the east and north-east, and Lyme disease occurs. Check yourself after any walk in woodland.

Winter smog is a genuine problem for anyone with asthma or a respiratory condition; the daily index is published and masks are widely available.

Cold in winter is a real consideration — temperatures below −15°C require proper clothing.

Pharmacies (apteka) are widespread with an out-of-hours rota posted on the door. Tap water is treated and safe, though many Poles drink bottled.

Take your shoes off on entering a Polish home. Slippers are usually offered, and keeping shoes on is genuinely rude.

Use pan and pani with anyone you have not been invited to address informally, and use titles where you know them.

Flowers as a gift should be given in odd numbers — even numbers are for funerals — and chrysanthemums are strictly for graves.

Toasting. Na zdrowie, eye contact, and vodka drunk in one. Refusing every round is noticed, though nobody will press if you explain.

Drinking in public is illegal, and the consequence is specific: if you are found intoxicated in a public place you may be detained and taken to a sobering-up centre, where you may have to spend the night — and you pay for the stay. The vodka belongs indoors.

Auschwitz-Birkenau requires appropriate dress and behaviour. Do not take selfies, do not sit on the railway tracks, and respect the areas where photography is prohibited.

Driving. Headlights on at all times is a legal requirement. The blood alcohol limit is 0.02 per cent — low enough that one drink can exceed it — and convicted offenders face heavy fines and prison. Cycling under the influence is also an offence, and carries detention and fines.

Discussing the Second World War requires care with terminology: the camps were German camps in occupied Poland, and calling them Polish is both wrong and, since 2018, a legal matter.

Emergency numbers: 112 for everything, with English-speaking operators. Separately, 997 is police, 998 fire and 999 ambulance.

Mountain rescue in the Tatras is provided by TOPR and reached on 601 100 300 or through 112. It is free at the point of use and staffed by an organisation with a formidable reputation; check conditions with them before going up in winter.

Medical. Public hospital emergency departments treat anyone; for non-urgent problems, private clinics such as Lux Med and Medicover are quick and cheap. Carry your EHIC or GHIC if eligible.

Pharmacies post the nearest out-of-hours one on the door.

Keep an offline copy of your passport and insurance. Most embassies are in Warsaw, with consulates in Kraków and Gdańsk.