FAQ's

Is Poland Safe country?

Poland is a safe country - police statistics show that life in Poland is more secure than in many other countries in Europe. The millions of tourists visiting the country every year can confirm that the Polish people are friendly and have big hospitality towards foreign visitors.
Nevertheless, to get the best of your holidays in Poland, it is always advisable to take the usual precautions. When visiting a town for the first time, for your own comfort it is best to follow the established tourist routes, where there are more people to ask for directions and help.
Do not be afraid too much, just take the usual precautions, such as carrying your valuables as unreachable as possible, avoiding lonely streets out of hours or only using registered taxis. It's also better to park your car in supervised or other public car parks and to avoid leaving your possessions in full view inside your car. Poland is free from domestic terrorism and the threat level from international terrorism is relatively low.
Please bear in mind that in the event you fall victim to petty crime or in any other emergency you should at once contact the local police on the telephone number 997 or the Municipal Wardens (Straż Miejska) on the number 986. Municipal Wardens is an auxiliary law and order support service, whose uniformed officers can be found patrolling the streets of major Polish cities.

Can I use ATM in Poland?

There are almost ten thousand ATMs(called Bankomat) which are connected to all international networks. It is convenient way of dealing with your money during your stay in Poland.

Where can I pay by credit card?

In Poland the use of credit cards is widely accepted, particular in major towns and tourist attractions. You can use credit cards in supermarkets and most shops. It is quite handy as they do not need to exchange money before coming to Poland. The most widely used cards are Europay International, MasterCard International, Visa International, and American Express, both embossed and electronic versions. Electronic cards (Maestro, Visa Electron) can be used only in cash dispensers and at points of sale equipped with electronic card readers. Embossed cards (Eurocard/Mastercard, VISA) are not subject to such restrictions.

How about prices in Poland ?

In restaurants, much depends on the type of menu and the standard of the venue. The cost of a decent meal is between PLN 10 and 30 (€ 3 - 8) for a single course, or PLN 15 to 80 ( ~€ 4 - 22) for a three course meal.

Shops and markets
Food prices are relatively low in Poland - particularly for locally produced goods. It is even cheaper to do your shopping at farmers' markets. You will not only buy directly from the producer, but also you will be able to haggle, as asking for a good price is the accepted thing to do.

Entertainment
Here everything depends on how you want to spend your time and money. Most pubs and cafés with live music and disco bars sell different type of drinks and appetisers, thus catering for a wide variety of tastes and wallets. A 0,5 l glass of excellent Polish beer, depending on the type of place, will cost between PLN 5-12 (~€ 1,5- € 3 ). Cocktails are usually priced at 10-15PLN (€ 3 -4). Cinemas, theatres, aqua-parks and game arcades are relatively inexpensive, too.

Transport
The cost of public transport in Poland is generally low. Within towns, it is best to travel by bus and trams. While trams in large cities offer quick and easy travel. Buses during rush hours may be crowded and slow, thus planning ahead is advised. Tickets for cost between PLN 2-3 (~ € 1) /per person
If you do not know the place well you may prefer to take a taxi. Compared with other European countries, Polish taxis are relatively cheap. Fares range PLN 2,5 per kilometre. After 20hrs and during weekend it is more expensive. For long taxi trips you should negotiate the fare in advance.

If you plan to travel by train, make sure to calculate in advance the cost of your journey - fares depend on the type of train (regular, fast, express) and class. The comfort of first-class travel is not very different from second-class, while ticket prices may vary significantly. Some trains require booking a seat.