Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for Poland depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for PolandEmergency Numbers
- General
- 112
- Police
- 997
- Ambulance
- 999
- Fire
- 998
Currency
- Name
- Polish Zloty
- Code
- PLN
- Symbol
- zl
ATMs widely available in cities. Cards accepted almost everywhere. Cash preferred at markets and smaller restaurants. The zloty is not in the Eurozone.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type C, Type E
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
Time Zone
CET (UTC+1) — CEST (UTC+2) in summer
Best Time to Visit
May–September is the best season — warm and pleasant for Kraków's Old Town (UNESCO, Royal Wawel Castle, Kazimierz Jewish Quarter), Auschwitz-Birkenau (book tickets in advance), Gdańsk's Baltic seafront, Warsaw's rebuilt Old Town, and the Tatra Mountains.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10–15% | Say the amount to the waiter when paying — don't leave it on the table |
| Taxis | Round up | — |
Dress Code
- Casual throughout
- Smart casual for Warsaw and Kraków's better restaurants
- Respectful attire at Auschwitz-Birkenau — no shorts or sleeveless tops
Social Etiquette
- Poland's Jewish heritage and WWII history are central to understanding the country — Warsaw was 85% destroyed and the Jewish community (3.3 million before the war) was almost completely annihilated
- Auschwitz-Birkenau is the most visited Holocaust memorial in the world — book tickets months in advance
- Kraków is one of the best-value great cities in Europe — world-class restaurants, nightlife, and culture at a fraction of Western European prices
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- LGBTQ+ rights: legal protections exist but the political climate has been hostile in recent years; attitudes vary significantly between cities and rural areas
- Alcohol: standard EU laws
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Polish) | Dzien dobry / Czesc | DJEN DOH-breh (formal) / CHESHCH (informal) |
| Thank you (Polish) | Dziekuje | DJEN-koo-yeh |
| Please (Polish) | Prosze | PROH-sheh — also 'here you are' and 'you're welcome' |
| Cheers! (Polish) | Na zdrowie! | nah ZDRO-vee-yeh — 'to your health' |
| Sorry / Excuse me (Polish) | Przepraszam | psheh-PRAH-shahm — the most useful Polish word for tourists |
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