What you need to know before visiting Poland

A coffee break is all it takes to learn everything you need to know before visiting Poland. Traveling around the country is generally a breeze, and you won’t encounter many tricky obstacles in an EU country set to welcome record tourist numbers in the next few years.

But there are a few things worth knowing before touching down. We’ve pulled together a list of the ones that matter and will make your landing in Poland a little smoother.

Once tagged an underrated slow travel gem, Poland has emerged as a popular tourist destination in recent years. Leading the way are Krakow – named as the best value European city break destination 4 times – and the bustling capital, Warsaw. 

There is also plenty to excite travelers outside its current and former capital. Bordered by 7 countries in Central Europe, the country has been at the heart of regional and international events for centuries and is dotted with castles and medieval old towns, exemplified by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Malbork and Torun.

Poland boasts 15 other UNESCO landmarks, including Auschwitz-Birkenau and the historic centers of Krakow and Warsaw. With museums aplenty in the major cities and the legacy of national icons like Chopin and Copernicus to explore, cultural and historical diversions abound.

Polish food is another hit for travelers. A colorful gastronomic heritage that goes way beyond sausages and iconic pierogi, with central European flavors at the fore but with lots of Polish individuality. The nightlife also caters to all moods, with cozy cafes and lively bars easy to find in cities.    

When dialing down the tempo, there are 23 national parks, including the Tatra Mountains and Bialowieza National Park, home to Europe’s largest bison population. There are even beaches if you want to holiday like a local.

Sealing the deal for those planning slow travels around the country is a solid public transport network in and between cities.

While lower costs in hotels and restaurants, at least compared to many European countries, are a big incentive for all visitors, in the tourist capitals.  

While it is impossible to bottle the Polish travel experience into a few words (we tried, at least), it is easy to pinpoint what travelers need to know before visiting Poland.

Easy because Poland is an uncomplicated country. Although these nuggets of info are something every visitor should prepare for.

Unless you’re eager to take a crash course in a notoriously tricky language, you’ll be reassured to know that English is widely spoken in Poland, especially where tourists frequent.

Deploying a few polite words in Polish will rarely go unappreciated.

The Polish currency is the Zloty (PLN). Change up Euros and other currencies at an exchange or from an ATM. Ready your brain for quick mental conversions if you want to appreciate how inexpensive Poland can be.

Tipping is optional in Poland. That’s the only rule that matters.

However, tipping at restaurants is common (10% is a starting point for good service), but check for included gratuities at higher-end venues. Hotels and bar staff are also routinely tipped.  Otherwise, it is not customary for other services, including taxis and personal care. 

Sitting in central Europe, Poland’s moderate climate ranges from snowy winters to warm, often hot, summers.

The country enjoys four (or six) distinct seasons, which may affect travel plans.

Cold often snowy winters are the time for sparkling Christmas markets or winter sports and thermal spas in Zakopane. Subzero temperatures are possible from November to March, so it won’t be for everyone. Rains and rising temperatures render Poland’s national parks picturesque in spring when temperatures gradually rise from 4°C to 18°C. Summer sees Krakow and Warsaw swell with tourists, but visitors are rewarded with long days and temperatures averaging 19°C, peaking in July. These are also the rainiest months in Poland, so pack an umbrella. 

For the ultimate mix of good weather and uncrowded attractions, the shoulder months on either side of summer can’t be beaten, as highlighted in our tips on when to visit Krakow.

Polish hospitality in the home is renowned for its warm welcome, where no visitor is left hungry and guests swap shoes for slippers. 

For the everyday visitor experience, polite efficiency is the customer service norm in shops and restaurants.

If you get invited for dinner, expect to leave with a full stomach. And don’t forget your shoes.

Poland is in Central Europe. Culturally and geographically.

East and West might have had meaning during the Cold War. But Central Europe consists of 9 countries, with a history and geography distinct from the rest of Europe, influencing everything from the cuisine to the architecture, language to history.

Don’t plan any shopping on Sundays. Supermarkets, malls, and other shops are closed on Sundays after a trading ban in 2018.

Restaurants, cafes, and attractions are unaffected by the ban. Although opening hours may be reduced on Sundays.

Budget airlines and tempting prices make Poland attractive for weekend city breaks. But you might be caught off guard by just how much there is to see.

Just calculating how long to spend in Krakow, you’ll want 5 days to include daylong activities like Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mine and enough time to leisurely explore the city.

You might not need less time in other Polish cities. But one thing is for sure, a short weekend is rarely enough to scratch the surface.

This leads neatly to our final thought on what you should know before visiting Poland. If you have the time, look for slow travel escapades beyond Krakow and Warsaw.

Krakow and Warsaw steal all the headlines and most of the international visitors. But there are enticing destinations near both cities and further afield. 

A couple of hours by train out of Warsaw could take you to the medieval streets of Toruń or Malbork Castle, the world’s largest castle.

Outside Krakow lies Ojcow National Park, the Tatra Mountains, and 25 castles along the Trail of the Eagle’s Nests.

Zoom the map out and consider staying in vibrant cities like Wroclaw, Poznan, and Gdansk. Or, head off the grid to locations like the Baltic sand dunes of Slowinski National Park or Masurian Lake District.

We could go on. But you get the picture. Krakow will always be our first recommendation. But if you have the time, some memorable experiences wait beyond its biggest cities.

However long you stay, this reassuringly short list of things to know before visiting Poland illustrates that it won’t take long to find your rhythm and discover why Poland has become such a popular destination.