Poland Travel Guide

Full Name

Republic of Poland

Former Name

Capital City

Warsaw

Government Type

Republic

Area Size

312,685 sq km 120,728 sq miles

Time Zone

UTC/GMT +1 hour

Climate

The climate is temperate. The climate is oceanic in the north and west and becomes gradually more continental as one moves south and east. Summers are generally warm, with average temperatures between 20° C and 27° C. Winters are cold, with average temperatures around 3° C in the northwest and –8° C in the northeast. Precipitation falls throughout the year, although, especially in the east, winter is drier than summer.

Geography

Poland’s territory extends across five geographical regions. In the northwest is the Baltic seacoast, which extends from the Bay of Pomerania to the Gulf of Gdansk. This coast is marked by several spits, coastal lakes and dunes. The largely straight coastline is indented by the Szczecin Lagoon, the Bay of Puck, and the Vistula Lagoon. The centre and parts of the north lie within the Northern European Lowlands. Rising gently above these lowlands is a geographical region comprised of four hilly districts of moraines and moraine-dammed lakes formed during and after the Pleistocene ice age. These lake districts are the Pomeranian Lake District, the Greater Polish Lake District, the Kashubian Lake District, and the Masurian Lake District. South of the Northern European Lowlands lie the regions of Silesia and Masovia, which are marked by broad ice-age river valleys. Farther south lies the Polish mountain region, including the Sudetes, the Cracow-Częstochowa Upland, the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, and the Carpathian Mountains, including the Beskids. The highest part of the Carpathians is the Tatra Mountains, along Poland’s southern border.

Languages

Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

Culture

Polish culture has a rich thousand-year history influenced by both West and East. Today, these influences are evident in Polish architecture, folklore, and art. Poland is the birthplace of many world famous people, including Pope John Paul II , Marie Skłodowska Curie, Kazimierz Pułaski, Tadeusz Kościuszko, Nicolaus Copernicus, Frederic Chopin, and others.

History

Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment, underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure, and a poor rural underclass. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly active member of European organizations.

Travel Information

Poland’s national airline is LOT Polish Airlines (LO). Warsaw Fryderyka Chopina Airport (WAW) is 10km southwest of the city. Buses and taxis are available. Facilities: Post office, banks, bureaux de change, bars, restaurants, left luggage, tourist information services, car hire and duty-free shops. Kraków (KRK) (Balice John Paul II) is 14km west of the city centre. Buses, trains and taxis are available. Facilities: Bar, restaurant, bureau de change, car hire and duty-free shops. Wroclaw (WRO) (Strachowice/Copernicus) is 8km from the city centre. Buses and taxis are available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, bar, restaurant, car hire. Katowice (KTW) is 34km from the city. Buses and taxis are available. Facilities: Bank, bureaux de change, duty-free shops, restaurants and car hire. Gdansk (GDN) (Lech Walesa Airport) is 10 km southwest of Gdansk. Buses and taxis are available. Facilities: Bureau de change, duty-free shops, post office, tourist information, restaurant and car hire. Main ports: The Port of Gdansk is not only a major Baltic Sea port to enter Poland, but is also where Lech Walesa started the Solidarity movement with the ship workers. The Port of Gdynia, just north of the Port of Gdansk, also welcomes ships, containers and cruiseliners. Polferries operates between Poland and Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Polskie Koleje Państwowe (Polish State Railways) operates EuroCity trains between Poland and a number of major European cities. All services from Western Europe to Poland pass through the Czech Republic, Germany or the Slovak Republic. Poland is best reached from the Czech Republic and Germany. The E30 connects Warsaw to Berlin. The main coach service connecting dozens of European cities to Poland is Eurolines.

Accommodation

Most major international hotel chains are represented in Poland. International Student Hotels offer better facilities than youth hostels and are inexpensive, comfortable and pleasant.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA for touristic stays of up to 90 days. All visitors entering Poland must possess sufficient funds (at least Zl300 per day) to cover medical expenses (or a valid insurance policy or official invitation is acceptable instead) and Zl100 per day for accommodation and sustenance. Nationals of countries not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals of countries referred to above except: EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.

Getting Around

Domestic flights are operated by LOT Polish Airlines and Centralwings. There is a comprehensive network linking all major cities. Cheap and efficient InterCity trains are operated by Polskie Koleje Państwowe and link all parts of the country in a network radiating from Warsaw. Traffic drives on the right, and standard international traffic signs are used. There are good regional bus and coach services operated by Polish Motor Communications (PPKS). Self-drive cars are available at the airport or through various car hire offices in town centres. Taxis are available in all main towns. They are usually found at ranks or can be ordered by phone. There is a surcharge from 2300-0500 and for journeys out of town, as well as at weekends. Taxi drivers may insist on payment in hard currency. Tipping is welcomed.

Health & Safety

There are few health risks associated with travel to Poland. Those visiting forested areas are advised to seek medical advice about inoculations for tick borne encephalitis. It is safest to drink bottled water to avoid stomach upsets. There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK and most EU countries, whose citizens are entitled to low-cost emergency medical treatment on presentation of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), but full health insurance cover is still advised. Medical facilities and standards of health care are good, but not many nurses or doctors speak English. Tourists should be alert to the risk of robbery in tourist areas in large cities, particularly in the vicinity of hotels, markets and banks. Vigilance against theft should also be exercised at central railway stations in Poland, as well as on overnight long distance trains, and when travelling on public transport between Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport and central Warsaw. Avoid walking alone at night.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 9 Apr - Easter Monday. 1 May - Labour Day. 3 May - National Day. 7 Jun - Corpus Christi. 15 Aug - Assumption. 1 Nov - All Saints' Day. 11 Nov - Independence Day. 25-26 Dec - Christmas.

Currency

ZÅ‚oty (PLN)

Electricity

230V 50Hz

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am - 5.00pm.

Emergency Numbers

Ambulance: 999, Fire: 998, Police: 997