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Poland Practical information Poland

 
 
Area : 120727  sq.mi - Population 38518241 hab.
Poland

Our expert Poland

map

map Poland

Weather

  • Warsaw  22°C 23°C 23°C 22°C
  • Katowice  21°C 22°C 22°C 23°C
  • Krakow  21°C 22°C 23°C 23°C
  • Poznan  22°C 23°C 23°C 19°C
  • Szczecin  22°C 22°C 22°C 16°C
  • Gdansk  19°C 17°C 21°C 13°C
  • Wroclaw  24°C 24°C 24°C 24°C
  • Lublin  22°C 22°C 23°C 22°C
  • Rzeszow  21°C 21°C 23°C 24°C

Practical information Poland

superficie

Area

120727  sq.mi
vol

Flights

2 hrs 30 mins. Warsaw is 900 mi from London.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

38518241 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

Okecie international airport is located 7 miles southwest from Warsaw. To get to the city centre, there are several available possibilities: a shuttle runs every 2 hours and drives to the major hotels (fare: PLZ 20, £4), or there is the n° 175 bus which runs every 20 minutes (fare: PLZ 2, 30p) or a taxi (fare: PLZ 20 to 35, £4 to £7).
securite

Security

Since the road network is of unreliable quality, avoid driving at night time. As in all other European countries, luxury cars can attract ill-intentioned people, so it is preferable to leave them in car parks with surveillance cameras. Also be aware of pickpockets in the towns and cities and never hail a taxi, call one of the many radio-taxi companies instead.
langue

Languages

The official language is Polish. Russian, French and German are also spoken. English is spoken at all tourist sites.
formalites

Requirements

Following its entry into the European Union on 1st May 2004, European citizens only need to show a valid identity card when going through customs. A valid passport is also sufficient.
religion

Religion

95% of the Poles are Catholics. Before World War II, 3.5 million Jews lived in Poland, but over 90% were killed under the German occupation. A great number of the survivors moved to the United States, Western Europe or Israel.
monnaie

Currency

Although the country joined the European Union on 1st May 2004, the transition to the Euro has not yet taken place. The local currency is still the Zloty (PLN), which is split into 100 Groszy. There are no limits on currency imports. Money can be changed in banks or in foreign exchange offices (kantor). Visa, American Express, Eurocard, Mastercard, Access and JCB credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and in some shops. You can make cash withdrawals with your Visa card in most banks. Bank opening hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays.
transports

Local transportation

Taxis: there are many taxis in the towns and cities and they are cheap, on the condition that you call the official radio-taxi companies.
Tramways and buses: they are a very low cost means of transport and most of them do not have conductors on board, so you have to get some tickets from the press kiosks. Beware of tramways in the cities: they have absolute priority!
Trains: Poland has an excellent railway network. The Polrailpass is a good option for those wanting to visit Poland by train as it gives unlimited trips within a period of 8, 15, 21 or 30 days on all the Polish network trains.
Cars: all major car rentals are present in the cities and the prices are set on a daily basis, plus mileage. An international driving license is required and the minimum age is 21. B
Flights: LOT has a domestic air service (www.lot.com). However, in the winter, due to the fog, regional airports may temporarily be closed.
sante

Health

No particular vaccine is required to enter Poland, but it is recommended that you have the DT polio booster done. Tap water is drinkable and hospital structures in Warsaw are satisfactory.
electricite

Electricity

Voltage of 220 V. An adapter is unnecessary.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

Poland welcomed 15.2 million visitors in 2005.
taxe

Taxes and tips

The marked prices include taxes and service. It is custom to leave a tip in restaurants and for taxi drivers.
telephone

Telephone

To call the UK from Poland, dial: 00 + 48 + city code (Warsaw: 22; Krakow: 12) + number you are trying to reach.
To call from Poland to the UK, dial: 00 + 44 + number you are trying to reach.