– Introduction to Poland | Things to know when planning to visit Poland
Located in central Europe, and bordered by no less than seven other countries, Poland is becoming more popular with travelers from other countries wishing to visit Poland since its joining of the EU. In the 16th century, Poland joined with its neighbour Lithuania and became one country. However, through wars it became weakened and at the end of the 18th century was divided up between Prussia, Austria, and Russia. It was reinstated after the First World War, but was attacked again at the start of the Second World War and soon after became communist. In 1989 Poland became a republic and the communist party was dissolved the following year.
Being a very religious country, one of their most famous sons is Karol Wojtyla from Krakow, known better as Pope John Paul II.
With a variety of landscapes from the snowy mountains to the Baltic Sea, Poland is a home for some of Europe’s endangered species, including European Bison, lynxes, brown bears, and wolves.
– What can you expect from Poland?
A large variety of geographical territories, some stunning old cities such as Krakow, and a country which has rebuilt itself time and time again after centuries of wars and invasions.
For our gallery of Poland please click here.
– How we got to Poland
We arrived in Poland through Krakow, and it was easy to get through the airport. It’s not a very large airport and its easy to navigate your way around it.
Poland comes under the Schengen agreement so if you have a visa for Europe you can travel here.
For visa information please click here;
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com
– Map of Poland & places we were
Places we visited;
- Busko-Zdroj – Where we were based for our trip
- Krakow – To see the old town
- Oswiecim – More famously known as the location of Auschwitz Concentration Camp
– Where to stay
Poland has a number of hotels and hostels to choose from. A few years ago they were much cheaper than they are now, but due to Poland becoming a bit more of a destination that people are going to prices have risen slightly.
– Car hire
Hiring a car in Poland is a straight forward task. The driving is organized and places are well signposted.
However, do be careful of the pedestrian crossings which crop up regularly in rural areas when you least expect it! They can come up just when you think that is not going to be any around and you need to make sure to slow down just in case when you come to them. These can be especially dangerous at night time so keep your vigilance at all times.
Be ready to navigate many roundabouts also, these seem to be favored instead of junctions in the areas we were travelling at least.
Petrol stations are plentiful and you will see signs on the motorways telling you the distances to the various ones coming up.
All in all, driving in Poland is enjoyable and a good way for you to get around the country.
– Activities and sights
The following items are some of the things that are recommended to see and do in Poland;
- Visit the beautiful Wawel Castle in Krakow
- See the palaces in Warsaw
- Walk the streets of Gdansk
- Witness how Poland rebuilt itself in Wroclaw
- Relax on a boat in the Masurian Lakes
- See one of Europe’s endangered Bison in Bialowieza Forest
- If you’re brave enough do some sunbathing on the Baltic beaches
- Visit the Gothic town of Torun
- Marvel the sunset in Malbork Castle in the town of Malbork
- Sample the atmosphere in Auschwitz-Birkenau
– Food and drink
Polish food is rich in meats usually, and they also have a large variety of sausages. With a lot of traditional dishes to choose from, below we list some of them to know what to expect when trying Polish food.
Foods to try
– Bigos is made up of finely chopped meats mixed with sauerkraut and shredded cabbage.
– Pierogi are dumplings which can be filled with either savory or sweet fillings. These can be potato, sauerkraut, meat, or cheese.
– Kielbasa are a type of sausage meat similar to a salami.
– Golabki are cabbage rolls stuffed with mince meat, onions, and gravy.
– Placki ziemniaczane is a potato pancake with a meat sauce.
Drinks to try
– Vodka is a popular drink and can be found on all tables during a wedding or function.
– For the beer drinkers, Zywiec, Tyskie, and Lech are the most common.
– Additional information
Plugs and electricity: Poland uses the type C and the type E plugs. The type C has two round pins, and the type E is the same but also has a hole in the plug for the earthing pin which is attached onto the socket itself.
Vaccines: There are no vaccine checks at the border but it is recommended to have your Hep A, Hep B, and Rabies vaccines still in date before traveling.
COVID: For information about any restrictions or other information please click here.
Currency: The currency is the Polish Zloty (zl). For current conversion rates check http://www.xe.com/ before you go. We didn’t find any issue finding ATM machines, and almost all places we went to accepted cards. However, for smaller stores its advisable to carry cash with you.
Language: The main language of the country is Polish. Some people will speak a small bit of English but don’t rely on that. If possible have a pocket book with useful phrases or an online translator on your phone.
Security: There is no security risk in Poland.