10 things to know before you travel to Poland

Last Updated on August 20, 2020

Until recently, Poland hasn’t been viewed as a destination, but people’s curiosity in my homeland has been on the rise. More and more people travel to Poland and marvel at its beauty. To some, the things they discover come as a big surprise, as their perception of my country was quite different from what they found. So if you are thinking about visiting Poland one day ( and if you are not, you should! ), but still have doubts and questions, I’m to here to clarify a few things. Here are some interesting facts about Poland, and things you should know before you travel there.

There is much more to Poland than Warszawa and Krakow

Every time someone shares with me, they’ve been to Poland, and I ask the standard follow up question ” where in Poland ? “, 90 % of the time I already know the answer. Warszawa and Krakow are the two cities on most people’s itineraries. Not to knock them down, as they are sure worth the visit ( especially Krakow ), but there’s so much more to see in Poland. I almost make it my mission to convince people, not to limit themselves to visiting just these two places.

I always encourage people to look beyond Warszawa and Krakow, because there are other cities, one might argue ( ME!:)) even more beautiful. Among the best places to visit in Poland are Wroclaw and Gdansk. Poznan in Greater Poland is lovely, so is Torun, the birthplace of Copernicus and pierniki. If you head south to the Tatra mountain region, you will find Zakopane with a whole different vibe than the rest of the country. I could keep going, but this is a good start.

Yes, people speak English

I can almost guarantee you, that on an off chance you don’t speak fluent Polish 🙂 , you will get by on using English just fine. Especially in big cities and in the hospitality business. Most people speak English very well, in addition to another foreign language ( like German ). Sure, if you venture out and end up in a small village, your chances of striking up a conversation in English will be considerably lower. Especially with the older generation. Other than that, you will be fine.

This, of course, shouldn’t stop you from learning a few phrases in Polish, which is always well received. Dziekuje ( thank you ), Dzien Dobry ( Good morning ) or the classic Na zdrowie ( Cheers ! ) will be appreciated.

Poland does not use Euro

Poland is in the European Union, but retained its own currency, which is Zloty. Obviously the exchange rate fluctuates here and there , but at the time of writing this the conversion rate is $1 – 3.79 PLN , 1 Euro – 4.31 PLN. Which brings me to the next point …

It will be affordable

Compared to other European countries, your trip to Poland will be a bargain. Prices will of course be dictated by where you go, which restaurants you dine at etc. Some cities will be more expensive than others, especially the popular ones in season i.e. Gdansk in the summer or Zakopane all year round. But generally speaking, you will find Poland affordable. You will be able to eat and drink for the fraction of the cost in comparison to other European countries.

Taking a train is better than driving

No matter where you want to go in Poland, you will be able to get there by train. It will be faster and cheaper ( gasoline in Poland is expensive ). In recent years, Polish railway system introduced many high speed lines, making it possible to go across Poland in record time. Significantly faster than it would take you to drive. In addition, cities in Poland have excellent public communication, so there is absolutely no need for a car.

Polish highways are still work in progress, which makes driving in Poland inconsistent. Depending where you’re going, you might be lucky and the route will be mostly highway. But often, you might end up for at least part of the journey on a slower, one way road. It will sure be very scenic, but could get slow. If you get stuck behind a horse drawn cart without the possibility to pass it for a while, you are in for a real treat.

Poland isn’t gray and sad

Many people who visit Poland for the first time are quite surprised at what they discover. Many picture the country as dark and depressing, but what they find it’s quite the opposite. I guess you can blame the sad history of Poland, which clearly did quite a number on people’s perception of the country.

So no, Poland is not all gray and sad. Quite the opposite, actually. It’s lively and colorful, and cities like Wroclaw are often mentioned as some of the most colorful destinations in Europe. Historic buildings in Market Squares are painted vibrant colors and once warm weather arrives, many streets are decorated with beautiful flowers.

It isn’t cold all year round

I get asked a lot about the weather in Poland, and more often than not, people are surprised to find out, that there are in fact 4 seasons in Poland. And just as it gets really cold in the winter, it does get really hot in the summer. The best time to visit Poland, weather wise, would be from late spring to fall.

Poland has a very diverse landscape

Whatever landscape you are into, you will find it in Poland. Sea, mountains, forests, lakes : Poland has it all ! There is such a variety as you move around the country, which means there are countless opportunities for different activities. The north has over 500 km of the Baltic coast, with many sandy beaches and resort cities! Mazury ( Masuria ) is a beautiful region with over 2,000 lakes. Tatra mountains in the south are a perfect destination for winter enthusiasts, but also an amazing spot for hiking during other parts of the year. Now something not many expect : Poland even has a desert. Pustynia Bledowska ( Bledow desert ) might not be Sahara, but still.

Not a place to be on a diet

If you are about to go on a diet, just wait till you get back from Poland. Sure, you can find any cuisine you desire, especially in big cities, but you probably didn’t go to Poland to eat sushi. If you want to sample traditional Polish food, it won’t be very diet friendly, to say the least.

Polish cuisine is pretty meat heavy and most meals come with a generous portion of potatoes with gravy. Then there are : pierogi , golabki ( stuffed cabbage ), bigos ( Hunter’s stew ), paczki ( Polish donuts ) and the list goes on and on. Have you even been to Poland if you didn’t eat your share of pierogi ?

We don’t all drink vodka

People think Polish people just walk around all day long drinking vodka. Which is not true, because some of us drink beer instead 🙂 . While vodka is an important beverage in Poland, beer is not far behind. Zywiec, Okocim, Warka and Tyskie are among the most popular polish beers. Also, the craft beer scene is definitely on the rise, with a good number of smaller breweries opening regularly.

Don’t be surprised to be offered syrup in your beer. It’s not unusual to see people drinking beer with a bit of raspberry or cherry syrup added to it. Not to be one to generalize, but it’s mostly common among women. Poland is actually the only place where I will drink beer with a bit of raspberry syrup in it. It just doesn’t make sense anywhere else:)

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