See what the experts are saying about Poland. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Introduction
Poland is coming into its own as a vacation destination. During the first years after the 1989 democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe, it seemed Prague and Budapest grabbed all the headlines. Now, travelers are looking for something farther... Continue reading »
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Planning a trip
Poland is a mostly flat, sprawling country, covering some 312,000 sq. km (around 100,000 sq. miles). Its historical position, between Germany in the west and Russia in the east, has caused no end of hardship. Following World War II, the count... Continue reading »
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Fast facts
American Express -- Warsaw Lim Center, Al Jerozolimskie 65/79 (tel. 022/630-69-52; open Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm). Business Hours -- Stores and offices are generally open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. Banks are open Monday to Friday 9a... Continue reading »
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When to go
Poland's climate is characterized by hot summers and dark, cold winters. Unless you're heading to the Tatras to ski, avoid travel from January to March. Many of the attractions are closed for the season, and the cold and snow make getting aro... Continue reading »
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Getting there
By Plane -- Warsaw remains the major air gateway to Poland, with extensive connections throughout Europe, and some nonstop flights to North America. See Warsaw, "Getting There," below for more details. Kraków's Jan Pavel II Airport is also ea... Continue reading »
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Entry requirements & customs
There are no special requirements for entering Poland. Passport holders from the U.S., Canada, and Australia can enter the country without a visa and stay for 90 days. Passport holders from E.U. member countries, including the U.K., do not ne... Continue reading »
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Getting around
By Car -- Car travel offers flexibility but can be slow and highly frustrating. Most Polish highways -- even those connecting major cities -- are of the narrow, two-lane variety and are usually clogged with trucks, buses, tractors, and even o... Continue reading »
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Money
The main unit of currency is the zoty (z), which is divided into 100 groszy (gr). Bills come in denominations of 10 z, 20 z, 50 z, 100 z, and 200 z. The most useful coins are the 5 z, 2 z, and 1 z. You'll also see coins of 50 gr, 10 gr, 2 gr,... Continue reading »
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Regions in brief
Warsaw, the capital, lies in the easterly center of the country, the main city of a relatively flat region known as Mazovia. To the northeast, an interconnected series of rivers and lakes, known as the Mazurian lakes, stretches out to Kalinin... Continue reading »
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Tips on accommodations
The past decade has seen a boom in hotel construction, but most of that has come in the high and high-middle ends of the market in order to cater to the growing amount of business travel to Poland. That means rates will probably be higher tha... Continue reading »
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Tips on dining
Restaurant meals have greatly improved in the past decade. It used to be nearly impossible to find decent food outside of a private home, but entrepreneurs have seized on the growing numbers of businessmen and tourists. In addition to standar... Continue reading »
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Suggested itineraries
Poland is a large country with small roads and generally slow trains. That means it's hard to cover ground quickly and best to keep travel plans relatively modest. The following itinerary is laid out for car travel but with a little effort ca... Continue reading »
Poland Travel Experiences
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Kraków, Krakon
Saturday we left Budapest by bus for Kraków, Poland. To get there we had to drive through Slovakia. Border crossings still take a while (... Continue reading »
