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Border & Customs | Do's and Don'ts | Languages
Precautions & Awareness | When to Go

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General information

The passport must be valid for at least 3 months from the date of arrival in Poland. Visa requirements vary depending on the source country. Please contact the nearest Polish diplomatic mission to check if you need a visa. Visa is issued by an embassy or consulate abroad. The visa may be also purchased upon arrival (not recommended). Approx. fees: entry visa for stay of up to 90 days - 25-35 US $, transit visa for up to 48 hours (necessity to hold documents and tickets with confirmed reservation to next country) - ca. 5 US $. No vaccination is required to enter Poland.

Customs information

Travelers entering Poland may bring in the following items duty free:

• Alcohol and tobacco - 1/2 liter of high proof spirits or 2 liters of wine or 1 liter of beer 250 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco.
  
• Food - 2 kg of meat or meat products, 1 kg of dairy products, 1 kg of chocolate, 1 kg of fat, 200 g of coffee.

The following items maybe brought to Poland duty free (for personal use):

• 1 portable electronic equipment (such as notebook)
• 1 portable typewriter
• 1 tape recorder
• 1 radio
• 1 TV receiver
• 1 bicycle
• 1 wind surf board
• 1 boat
• 1 tent
• 1 pair of skis
• 2 photo cameras and 10 rolls of film
• 1 non-professional video camera and 10 video cassettes
• 1 video recorder
• 1 pair of binoculars

Import of  certain weapons, ammunition, plants and animals (except common pets) is restricted. Firearms may be brought in for hunting and other licensed purposes, subject to appropriate permits. For more details on customs duties contact the Customs Tariff Information Office in Warsaw, Tel: 48-22-694-3587. 

Import of drugs (narcotics), poisons, explosives and radioactive materials is prohibited. 

So far visitors to Poland do not get reimbursed for value added taxes (VAT) paid on their purchases in Poland, but on
March 10 the government submitted a bill on the reimbursement of the value added and excise tax.  

Foreign currencies may be brought to Poland without limitations, provided that they be declared to a customs officer upon arrival. Tourists are not required to exchange their currencies into Polish zlotys.  

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What To Do & What Not To

Do try to experience Polish folk music and dance—it’s among the most distinctive in Europe. The mazurka and polonaise of central Poland were popularized by Chopin—the polonaise more stately and ceremonial than the lively mazurka. (The polka is claimed by both Poland and the Czech Republic). Don’t expect your credit card to be accepted in most places. Do not be tempted by public pools, even on a hot day. Sanitation standards in Poland are not what they are at home. Don’t walk around parks at night. Try to only drink bottled water. Do take some cash with you. Banks close relatively early in the afternoon, and private exchange offices (kantors) don’t accept traveler’s checks. Also, you may have difficulty changing traveler’s checks if you arrive in the country in mid-afternoon and if you go beyond the bigger cities. Don’t change money on the street—you’ll only be ripped off. Don’t expect to see a Western-style economic system in action throughout Poland, even though the Communists have been out of power for years. Much of the old system remains, and you will still encounter bureaucratic hassles and unmotivated service workers. Do look for the Warsaw Voice and the Gazeta International. Published weekly in English, they offer a local slant on politics. Do carry your passport with you at all times. It’s also essential to have it if you’re taking a domestic flight. Don’t expect all hotel desk services to be available from noon to 1:30 pm (in some hotels), as there’s a long lunch hour. Do expect to pay a premium if you get into a taxi with an Orbis sticker on the windshield (or a sticker with your hotel’s name on it). The fare will be at least twice that of normal taxis (you’re paying for its return to your hotel). Even worse, you may have to pay the amount on a preprinted form, an amount that may come to as much as four times the normal fare. Do wrap packages in strong paper and string if you’re shipping them home from Poland. 

Tipping: Tip taxi drivers 10%, but do not tip in restaurants—a 10% service charge is normally included in the bill. 

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General information

The Polish language belongs to the group of Slavic languages and it's the official language of Poland. About 98.9% of Poland's population speak Polish. The most common languages in Poland besides Polish are English and German. In many hotels, restaurants and shops, the personnel speak foreign languages, especially in big cities. If you have questions, look for young people. There is a good chance that they have studied either English, German or French in school.

Before you travel to Poland, we recommend for you to purchase some sort of Travel or Tourist Guide from a local book store. 

Precautions & Awareness

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Pickpocketers

Be careful in crowds, especially in buses, and when entering trains or trams. Do not keep all your money in one place. It is better to leave some money in a hotel safe or with trusting people that are not going to be with throughout the day. Pretend that you are not a foreigner when you are alone. Keep away from young people with coats on their hands in the middle of the summer. 

Car thefts

Never leave your car unattended with the engine on. Never leave the keys inside. Always close the doors even at a fuel station. Always take precautions, anything could happen especially when you least expect it! You will draw more attention the cleaner the car is. If possible, try parking your car in a well lit and supervised area. These areas may be found in vicinities near most hotels and motels. 

Note: When a car is stolen it is immediately transferred abroad or dismounted into parts. It is worth to remember that the police don't take immediate action in car thefts because of the slim chance of locating the vehicle.

In the street

Unfortunately, guns are popular among bandits. So when it happens that you are surrounded by some aggressive people that demand your money, don't be hero! Try to remember them as accurately as possible and immediately inform the nearest police station or just stop a police car. To avoid these situations, here some useful tips:

• do not dress like a tourist, try to blend in
• do not speak loudly on the streets, shops, etc.
• avoid dangerous areas (ask receptionists in hotels, in tourist offices, etc. for guidance)
• do not wear expensive jewelry in public
• be relaxed when in public, don't be fidgety 

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General information

The best time to visit is between May and September. Summer days can be hot, but take a sweater for evenings. Winters are wet, cold, dreary and not a great time to visit unless you’re interested in skiing (December-April). In May and June, the fields are overrun by wildflowers: poppies, cornflowers and daisies. October is also a good time to go, because the weather is mild and there are no crowds.