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Poland travel guide: all you need to know

VISITEZ LA POLAND

With medieval cities, sobering history, and natural wonders, Poland is a country of contrasts. 

Monnaie

PLN - Złoty (1PLN ≃ 0,2€ ≃ 0,3$ ≃ 0,2£)

POPULATION

38 millions

LANGUE

Polish

SUPERFICIE

312,696 km²

FUSEAU HORAIRE

UTC+1 / UTC+2

DRAPEAU

🇵🇱

Pick a Polish destination

Kraków

Poland’s cultural capital, with a well-preserved medieval core and poignant WWII history.

Warsaw

Capital of Poland, rebuilt from wartime ruins, now a dynamic mix of history and modernity.

Prepare your trip to Poland

Poland is a country of rich history, resilient spirit, and diverse landscapes. From the vibrant old town of Kraków and the sobering sites of World War II history to the Baltic beaches, Tatra mountains, and lively cities like Warsaw and Gdańsk, Poland offers incredible variety and value. Visitors come for its culture, nature, cuisine, and warm hospitality.

Poland is part of the Schengen area. Citizens of the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, some nationalities do require a visa. It’s best to check with the nearest Polish embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information specific to your situation.

INFORMATION IMPORTANTE: Les informations ci-dessous sont fournies à titre indicatif et s'appliquent uniquement aux visas de tourisme de courte durée. purposes only. Before your trip to Poland, or if you are planning to come to Poland for another purpose (work, studies, …), check the official information on the European Commission website’s page about Schengen visa application: https://www.home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/

⏳ Visa-free but limited to maximum 90 days for a period of 180 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albanie; Andorre; Antigua-et-Barbuda; Argentine; Australie; Autriche; Bahamas ; Bahreïn ; Barbade ; Belgique; Bosnie Herzégovine; Brésil; Brunéi ; Bulgarie; Canada; Chili; Chine; Colombie; Costa Rica; Croatie; Chypre; Tchéquie ; Danemark; Dominique ; Le Salvador; Estonie; Finlande; France; Géorgie; Allemagne; Grèce; Grenade ; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Hongrie; Islande; Irlande; Israël; Italie; Japon; Kiribati ; Koweit; Lettonie; Liechtenstein ; Lituanie; Luxembourg, Macao ; Malaisie; Malte; Iles Marshall; Maurice ; Mexique; Micronésie; Moldavie; Monaco; Monténégro; Pays-Bas; Nouvelle-Zélande; Nicaragua; Macédoine du Nord; Norvège; Oman; Palaos ; Panama; Paraguay ; Pérou; Pologne; Le Portugal; Qatar; Roumanie; Saint-Christophe-et-Niévès; Sainte-Lucie; Saint-Vincent-et-les-Grenadines; Samoa ; Saint Marin; Serbie; Les Seychelles; Singapour; Slovaquie; Slovénie; Iles Salomon; Corée du Sud; Espagne; Suède; Suisse; Taïwan; Timor oriental ; Tonga ; Trinité-et-Tobago; Turquie; Tuvalu; Emirats Arabes Unis; Royaume-Uni; États-Unis d'Amérique; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Vatican; Venezuela

🛂 Visa required if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan ; Algérie; Angola; Arménie; Azerbaïdjan; Bahreïn ; Bengladesh ; Biélorussie ; Bélize ; Bénin ; Bhoutan; Bolivie; Bostwana ; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodge; Cameroun; Cap-Vert; République centrafricaine; Tchad; Chine; Comores ; Congo; Congo (Rép. Dém.); Côte d'Ivoire (Côte d'Ivoire); Cuba; Djibouti; République dominicaine; Équateur; Egypte; Guinée Équatoriale; Érythrée ; Eswatini ; Ethiopie; Fidji ; Gabon; Gambie; Ghana; Guinée; Guinée-Bissau ; Guyane; Haïti; Inde; Indonésie; Iran; Irak; Jamaïque; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Koweit; Kirghizistan ; Laos; Liban; Lesotho; Libéria; Libye; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritanie ; Mongolie; Maroc; mozambicain ; Birmanie ; Namibie ; Nauru ; Népal; Niger; Nigeria; Corée du Nord; Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Papouasie Nouvelle Guinée; Philippines ; Qatar; Russie; Rwanda; Sao Tomé et Principe ; Arabie Saoudite; Sénégal; Sierra Leone; Somalie; Afrique du Sud; Soudan du sud; Sri Lanka; Soudan; Surinam ; Syrie; Tadjikistan ; Tanzanie; Thaïlande; Togo; Tunisie; Turquie; Turkménistan; Ouganda; Ouzbékistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam ; Yémen; Zambie; Zimbabwe

❄️ December – February: Winters are cold and snowy, especially in the mountains. It’s a magical time to visit cities lit up for Christmas or go skiing in Zakopane.

🌱 March – May: Spring brings blossoming parks, fewer tourists, and pleasant weather, ideal for city breaks and countryside exploration.

☀️ June – August: Summer is warm, with temperatures between 20°C and 30°C (68°F to 86°F). It’s the peak tourist season, with festivals, beach time on the Baltic coast, and outdoor activities in full swing.

🍂 September – November: Autumn is crisp and colorful, especially in the forests and mountains. It’s a quieter time to visit and enjoy local culture and hearty Polish cuisine.

Poland has a good transportation system with several ways to explore:

🚌 Buses: Intercity and local buses are affordable and reach most destinations. FlixBus and local companies connect major cities and smaller towns.

🚂 Trains: PKP Intercity operates a wide and efficient network. High-speed trains connect Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, and Gdańsk, while regional trains serve smaller areas.

🚗 Car Rental: Renting a car is a good option for exploring the countryside, national parks, or lesser-known villages. Roads are generally in good condition. Traffic drives on the right-hand side, and an IDP is not needed if your license is in Latin script.

Bank cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted, even for small purchases. Contactless payment is common. That said, it’s a good idea to carry some cash in Polish złoty (PLN) for small shops, local buses, or markets.

Poland uses two plug types: C and E. They have two grounding holes. Most European plugs work, but check compatibility before you go. Poland operates on a tension d'alimentation de 230V et une fréquence de 50Hz.

If needed, you can order an universal travel plug adapter here.

Tipping is appreciated. In restaurants, a 10% tip is customary if service is not already included. In cafés or taxis, rounding up the bill is polite if you appreciated the service.

Tap water is safe to drink in most cities and towns in Poland. However, in older buildings, locals may prefer filtered or bottled water due to plumbing concerns.

Dimanche is a closing day for many stores in Poland. National holidays in Poland include:

  • New Year’s Day (January 01)
  • Easter Monday (date varies)
  • Labour Day (1er Mai)
  • Journée de la Constitution (May 03)
  • Corpus Christi (date varies)
  • Assumption Day (15 Août)
  • All Saints’ Day (1er Novembre)
  • Independence Day (November 11)
  • Christmas Day (December 25)

Ces jours-là, la plupart des entreprises et des bureaux seront fermés, et de nombreuses attractions peuvent être fermées ou avoir des heures d'ouverture limitées.

In Poland, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows:

  • 50 kph / 30mph in urban areas
  • 90 kph / 56 mph on open roads
  • 100-120 kph / 62-75 mph on expressways
  • 140 kph / 87 mph on motorways

During adverse weather (rain, fog, etc.), the speed limits are lowered.

  • Hello (informal) = Cześć
  • Good day = Dzień dobry
  • Goodbye = Do widzenia
  • Yes = Tak
  • No = Nie
  • Thank you = Dziękuję
  • Please = Proszę
  • You’re welcome = Nie ma za co
  • Excuse me = Przepraszam
  • Day = Dzień
  • Night = Noc
  • Good evening = Dobry wieczór
  • Goodnight = Dobranoc
  • Mister = Pan
  • Ma’am = Pani
  • Street = Ulica
  • Goodnight = Droga

💡 Tip: With the GoogleTranslate app, you can download the Polish language to use it even offline!

Poland is generally very safe. Violent crime is rare, and public spaces are well-patrolled. Standard precautions apply, especially in busy tourist areas:

  • Secure Your Belongings: Pickpocketing can happen in crowded places like train stations.

  • Emergency Numbers: Dial 112 for police, fire, or medical emergencies throughout the country.

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