Poland

1. Small local feasts, fairs and contests occur throughout Poland, with a pleasing glut in early summer and early autumn. You are lucky to if you get to see that.

2. Forget about flying within Poland unless you're trying to launder money. The trains are pretty good and where they don't go the buses do.

3. Rural Poland is quite conducive to cycle touring, being mostly flat and relatively quiet, but the urban areas are bike-unfriendly with few dedicated paths and many hostile motorists.

4. Poland is still a cheap country for travelers. Your money will generally be safe while you're travelling in Poland. Cheques are reasonably easy to exchange wherever you go, but you'll get a slightly better rate with cash. Credit cards are becoming more useful - you can use them to pay for up-market hotels and restaurants, car rentals and long-distance transport. You can also get cash advances with the major cards.

5. If you intend to remain in Poland for a period up to three months, you do not require visas.

6. While driving, or taking a cab, if you are flagged down, do not stop but continue to the nearest police station to report the matter.

7. Extra caution should be exercised when traveling on the buses or trams to and from Warsaw Airport as thieves target these routes.

8. Poland is a major east-west transit route for heavy vehicles. Even major roads can be narrow, crowded and the surfaces crinkled and rutted. Driving long distances at night out of the main centres is not recommended.

9. Make sure you are fully covered for medical treatment.

10. Ensure that you are covered for unexpected losses or expenses (eg. cancelled flights, lost luggage, lost passport, stolen cash or credit cards).

11. Check with Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice before traveling.

12. Keep passport, money, tickets and valuables in a safe place.

13. Check Polish customs regulations before bringing in or taking out funds in excess of 5,000 Euros (approximately £3,000). Declare the currency to Customs on arrival.

14. It is advisable to get a Customs declaration even if you are importing less than 5,000 Euros.

15. Some banks require a Customs statement when you are opening a bank account. Change money at banks or legal foreign exchange offices called Kantor.

16. Don't drink and drive. Permitted alcohol levels are very low and in practice equal zero tolerance.

17. Don't travel on public transport without a ticket. The ticket must be punched immediately after boarding the bus or tram. On the metro, ticket punchers are located on the wall before you cross the line ticket zone.

18. Book a hotel room prior to arrival. Increasing numbers of tourists are visiting Poland and the hotels in major cities are usually booked in advance.

19. Polish winters are long and hard. Summers can be extremely hot, so keep your cool and chill out in your own way!

20. You must try the food. Polish food is hearty and filling, with thick soups and sauces, abundant in potatoes and dumplings, rich in meat (but not in vegetables.) Characteristic ingredients are dill, marjoram, caraway seeds and wild mushrooms; favourite dishes include bigos (sauerkraut and meat) and barszcz (beetroot soup). There are four daily meals in Poland: an early breakfast, a light snack for second breakfast, a substantial lunch taken after work, and a small supper before bed. Tea and vodka are the favoured Polish beverages, both consumed with fervour, but to somewhat differing effect.

 

With a strongly Roman Catholic population, Christian celebrations are of huge importance. This is particularly evident during Christmas and Easter, but any Sunday is a good day for getting a taste of Polish devoutness and religious fervour. All the churches (and they are truly in good supply) fill up beyond their capacity during the Sunday masses.

Contacts-Poland

 

TIME ZONE

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 during the summer)

TELEPHONE SERVICES

Country Code: 48
IDD: International Direct Dialling is available
Outgoing Code: 00

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Police - 997; Fire - 998; Ambulance - 999.

LOCAL TOURIST INFORMATION

Warszawskie Centrum Informacji Turystycznej (Warsaw Information Centre); Zamkowy Square 1/13; 00-26 Warsaw Tel: (22) 635 1881 Fax: (22) 8310 464.

PASSPORT INFORMATION

Valid passport required by all. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.

VISA INFORMATION

Required by all except: Nationals of the UK for tourists or business visits not exceeding 6 months. Nationals of all other EU countries for periods not exceeding 90 days. Nationals of Andorra; Argentina; Bolivia; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Honduras; Iceland; Liechtenstein; Latvia; Lithuania; South Korea; Malta; Monaco; Nicaragua; Norway; San Marino; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Switzerland; Uruguay; and the USA for visits not exceeding 90 days. Nationals of Bulgaria; Cuba; Estonia Hungary; Macedonia; (FYROM); Mongolia; Romania; for visits not exceeding 30 days Nationals of CIS countries providing they hold an official invitation or vouchers from travel agencies (except nationals of Uzbekistan) who do require a visa.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Any work of art and antiques can not be exported from Poland.

AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX

US$ 10 levied on all international travel.

HEALTH MATTERS

Typhoid, Malaria, Yellow Fever.
Other Health Risks: Rabies, Tick-borne encephalitis.

FOOD AND DRINK

Water is untreated and not safe to drink.

CURRENCY

Zloty (Zl) = 100 grozy. Exchange: border crossing points; hotels.

NOTE: Import and export of local currency by non-residents is prohibited. All major credit cards and travelers cheques are accepted. Travelers cheques in German Deutschmarks are preferred.
ATM availability: Over 500 locations.

MONEY WIRING SERVICES

MoneyGram: Single location in the capital city. Western Union: (22) 636 5688

CREDIT CARD EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Amex: +44 1273 696933
Diners Club: (48) (22) 274513
Poland Visa: (1) 410 581 9091

TRAVELERS CHEQUES EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Poland Thomas Cook: +44 1733 318950 Poland

BANKING HOURS

0800 - 1800 Mon. to Fri.

COST OF LIVING

Not cheap.

LANGUAGES

Polish.There is a German-speaking minority. English and French may also be spoken.

WEATHER

Temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. Rain falls throughout the year.

RELIGIONS

Mainly Roman Catholic. The remaining speak mainly Polish Orthodox.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

2000: Jan 01. Apr 24. May 01; 03. Jun 22. Aug 15. Nov 01; 11.
Dec 25-26.
2001: Jan 01. Apr 16. May 01; 03. Jun 14. Aug 15. Nov 01; 11.
Dec 25-26.

POST 4 days. Poste Restante facilities are available throughout the country.

RADIO FREQUENCIES

BBC: 15.07 12.09 6.195 3.955 VOA: 9.670 6.040 5.995 1.197

WOMEN IN SOCIETY

Conservatism prevails among older women; but younger women have a liberal outlook on society. If traveling alone, take the usual precautions.

TRANSPORT

BUS: There are good regional bus and coach services.
CAR HIRE: Various car rental agencies operate and rental also available at the airport.