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Poland
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[edit] Understand[edit] HistoryPoland was first united as a country and baptized in 966 AD. It experienced its golden age beginning in the 16th century, under the reign of the Jagiellonians, whose rule extended from the Baltic to the Black and Adriatic Seas. In the 16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the biggest country in Europe. The country attracted significant numbers of foreign migrants, such as Germans, Jews, Armenians and the Dutch, thanks to the freedom of confession guaranteed by the state and the atmosphere of religious tolerance (rather exceptional in Europe at the time of the Holy Inquisition). During the 17th and the 18th centuries, the nobility increasingly asserted its independence of the monarchy; combined with several exhausting wars, this greatly weakened the Commonwealth. Responding to the need for reform, Poland was the 1st country in Europe (and the 2nd in the world, after the US) to pass a constitution. The constitution of May 3rd, 1791 was the key reform among many progressive but belated attempts to strengthen the country during the second half of the 18th century. With the country in political disarray, various sections of Poland were subsequently annexed by its neighbors, Russia, Prussia and Austria, in three coordinated "partitions" of 1772 and 1793, and 1795. After the last partition and a failed uprising, Poland ceased to exist as a country for 123 years. However, this long period of foreign domination was met with fierce resistance. In the Napoleonic Wars, a semi-autonomous Duchy of Warsaw was created before being erased from the map again in 1813. The 29 November uprising of 1830-1831 (mainly in Russian Poland), the 1848 Revolution (combat mostly took place in Austrian and Prussian Poland) and the 22 January 1863 were clear indicators that Poland showed very little tolerance of subjugation to any of these three equally autocratic powers. Figures such as Józef Chłopicki, Michał Gedeon Radziwiłł, Jan Zygmunt Skrzynecki and Józef Bem and Wincenty Konstanty Kalinowski led Poland during these troublesome times. Poland regained its independence on November 11th, 1918 with the end of the World War I. Soon, in 1920-21, the newly-reborn country was urged to fight for its borders again, this time defending itself from a Soviet invasion. The communist attack on Warsaw was defeated on August 10th-15th, 1920 in what is remembered today as the Miracle at the Vistula (Polish: Cud nad Wisłą) effectively ending major warfare, even though the truce was only signed the next March.  After a period of relative peace and development, just as it was recovering from the great economic crisis of the 1920s, Poland was overrun by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in what became World War II. After the war it was forced to become a Soviet ally country, following the Yalta and Potsdam agreements between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. To this day these events are viewed by many Poles as an act of betrayal. The Soviet Union and the rest of Eastern Europe were the first to immediately recognise Poland's newly imposed 1945 frontiers, which are virtually the same as when the country was born in c. 966 AD. As a result of the new frontiers, the native German popluation in the west and the north was expelled. Most western countries, in particular, West Germany, did not recognize this new frontier until 1970 and as a united nation in 1990. After the brief but sometimes bloody Stalinist era of 1945-1953, Poland was comparatively tolerant and progressive in comparison to other Eastern Bloc countries. Strong economic growth in the post-war period alternated with serious recessions in 1956, 1970, 1976, resulting in labour turmoil over dramatic price rises of several goods. Another protest in the summer of 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" (Polish: Solidarność) [2] that over time became a political force, and by 1989 had swept the first Warsaw Pact State parliamentary elections and the presidency. A shock therapy program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Nowadays, Poland is a democratic country with a stable economy and a not-so-stable political scene. Poland has been a member of NATO since 1999 and the European Union since May 2004, when it joined with 9 other countries. [edit] CountrysideThe countryside throughout Poland is lovely and relatively unspoilt. Poland has a variety of regions with beautiful landscapes and small-scale organic and traditional farms. Travellers can choose different types of activities such as bird watching, cycling or horseback riding. Culturally you can sight-see at many churches, museums, ceramic and traditional basket-making workshops, castle ruins, rural centers and many more. A journey through the Polish countryside gives you a perfect opportunity to enjoy and absorb local knowledge about its landscape and people. [edit] Holidays
[edit] Regions[edit] Cities     [edit] MetropolesThere are a lot of big cities in Poland that are worth seeing. Most of them have a flourishing medieval history.
[edit] Little Pearls
[edit] Other destinations[edit] UNESCO World Heritage list
[edit] Spas in Poland
[edit] MountainsPoland has the northern part of the Carpathians and the Sudetes. Also the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, the Polish Jura belong to Poland. Smaller postglacial hills are in the North-East of Poland in the Suwałki, Masuria and Kashubia regions. The highest mountains are the Carpathians in Śląskie, Malopolskie, and Podkarpackie. They consist of several mountain chains:
The Sudetes in Dolnośląskie and Opolskie consist of several mountain chains:
The most important mountain resort in the Polish Jura in Malopolskie and Śląskie is Skała. The most important mountain resort in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains in the Świętokrzyskie is Święty Krzyż [edit] Baltic CoastAlong Poland's 500 km long coast in the Pomorskie and the Zachodniopomorskie, with sandy beaches as well as the highest dunes in Europe. The most important sea resorts along the Polish Coast are:
[edit] Lake districtsJust after Finland, Poland has the largest number of lakes relative to its area worldwide. The lakes of glacial origin are in the north of the country.
[edit] National parksAbout 2 % of the Polish ground is protected in 23 national parks, most of them are in the South and East of the country, especially in Malopolskie (six) and Podlaskie (four).
[edit] Get in Map of Poland [edit] VisasPoland is a member of the European Union and has joined the Schengen Agreement, which means that you can enter on a European Union Schengen visa and there are no longer any ID/passport controls on the EU borders. Beside the countries outlined above, citizens from the following countries may travel to Poland for tourism and business purposes with a valid passport and without a visa if their planned stay does not exceed 90 days: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Uruguay, Vatican and Venezuela. Citizens of all other countries must obtain a visa in order to enter and stay in Poland legally. Always check with the local Polish Embassy or on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for updates as this can change. Regular visas are issued for travellers going to Poland for tourism and business purposes. Regular visas allow for one or multiple entries into Polish territory and stay in Poland for maximum up to 90 days and are issued for the definite period of stay. When applying for a visa, please indicate the number of days you plan to spend in Poland and a date of intended arrival. Holders of regular visas are not authorized to work. Downloadable Visa Application Form Ukrainian citizens do not require a separate visa for transit through Poland if they hold a Schengen or UK visa. [edit] By planeMost of Europe's major airlines fly to and from Poland. Poland's national carriers are LOT Polish Airlines, and a low cost airline Centralwings (owned by LOT). There are several low cost airlines that fly to Poland including WizzAir, SkyEurope, EasyJet, Germanwings, Norwegian and Ryanair. Apart from direct air connections from many European cities, there are also direct flights from United States and Canada. LOT operates direct flights from Toronto, New York and Chicago; however, tickets for those flights are far from cheap and most people with limited budgets fly with other airlines which stopover in major European airports. International airlines fly mainly to Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW) in Okęcie. Other major airports in Poland are: Kraków-Balice (KRK), Katowice-Pyrzowice (KTW), Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN), Poznań-Ławica (POZ), Wrocław Copernicus Airport (WRO), Szczecin-Goleniów (SZZ), Rzeszów-Jasionka (RZE), Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport (BZG) and Łódź-Lublinek (LCJ). Domestic flights operated by LOT (under Eurolot brand) connect Warsaw with Bydgoszcz, Katowice, Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznan, Łódź, Szczecin Wrocław and Zielona Góra. Other smaller cities don't have airports with facilities that would allow commercial airlines to operate internationally; however, there are often charter flights available - of course, these are for people with thick wallets. As the number of flights and passengers has significantly increased since 1990, a new terminal has been opened at the Okęcie airport which will significantly increase the airport's capacity. Also airports in Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław have been expanded to increase their standards and capacity. [edit] By trainDirect connections [3] with:
[edit] By carYou can enter Poland by one of many roads linking Poland with the neighboring countries. Since Poland's entry to the Schengen Zone, checkpoints on border crossings with other EU countries have been removed. However, the queues on the borders with Poland's non-EU neighbors are still large and in areas congested with truck traffic it can take up to several hours to pass. You can check the current waiting times on Polish Border Guard page (wjazd - entry, wyjazd - exit, osob. - passenger cars, autob. - coaches, ciężar. - lorries). [edit] By busThere are many international bus lines that connect major Polish cities, with most of major European ones.
[edit] By boat
[edit] By yachtAlthough there are many ports along Polish coast, at least at every river mouth, don't expect high standards there. Bigger marinas are located in Szczecin, Łeba, Hel, Gdynia and Gdańsk but some of them are still lacking basic facilities. Although there are many sailors in Poland, overbloated bureaucracy still inhibits growth of sea sailing tourism. [edit] Get aroundPolish road infrastructure is well-developed but poorly maintained and lacks badly-needed highways. Public transport is quite plentiful, both buses and trains. Some local trains are considered dangerous at night. [edit] By car Polish road network contains fewer highways, and more standard two-lane roads, than is common in western European countries; some of these roads are far below capacity for the volume of travel they're experiencing. Roads are generally well-signed but various surface defects, most notably ruts, are commonplace. Travel between large cities is usually quite comfortable; as long as you keep by the main roads, you should get to where you want fairly easy. When travelling between smaller cities or towns, not on the main highways, you will routinely encounter slow moving vehicles, and will have to overtake them. Poles drive aggressively: they assert their right-of-way, routinely disrespect speed limits, and overtake at less-than-safe distances. When driving in the countryside, other drivers may expect you to facilitate overtaking, by evading slightly towards the edge of the pavement (whether they're overtaking you, or sometimes when approaching from the opposite direction). This is a custom, not a law, so you are not obliged to follow it. Before you do it, make sure there is a hard shoulder and it is safe to do so. Some peculiarities of driving in Poland include:
Some drivers flash their headlights to warn those approaching from the opposite direction of a police control nearby (you are likely to encounter this custom in many other countries). So if you see somebody flashing their headlights, it doesn't necessarily mean there is something wrong with your car. In Poland you can encourage three ways of saying "thank you". More common, and what may be misleading for foreigners is using hazard lights (all indicators simultaneously) once or twice. It is beeing slowly phased out by flashing right/left/right indicator sequence or similar. Third way of saying "thank you" mainly used when letting someone do a left turn is by showing right hand. Be aware about hazard lights - Drivers also use them as a way of showing, that vehicle is rapidly slowing down, or alredy stopped in a traffic jam on a highway. [edit] By trainIn Poland, the national railway carrier PKP has recently been divided into several different companies, among them are: PKP InterCity (Intercity, Express, Night Express, TLK), PKP Przewozy Regionalne (pospieszny and osobowy) and PKP Cargo (which incidentally owns all the locomotives). There are also some local competitors emerging (KM Koleje Mazowieckie). Tickets are valid for trains operated by the issuing company only. Tickets are quite cheap, but travel conditions reflect the fact that majority of railworks and wagons are from few decades ago. Unfortunately, sometimes it's not very safe to travel by train (although this can be equally true in some other European countries as well), especially on some non-express suburban routes - it is recommended to travel close to the front of the train (where train staff are more likely to provide assistance), and to avoid traveling by night. Express and InterCity routes are much safer than slower connections. However, Poland is generally a non-violent country. With sensible precautions (for example, making sure the door of your compartment on a night train is locked securely while you are sleeping), Poland does not present a greater danger to travellers than travelling at night elsewhere. You can expect a fast connection on modernized routes, such as the Warszawa - Katowice, the Warszawa - Kraków and the Warszawa - Poznań lines. [edit] Train types
[edit] TicketsTickets for any route can be purchased at any station. For a foreigner buying tickets can prove to be a frustrating experience as many employees at the railway ticket offices do not understand anything but Polish. It is recommended that you buy your train tickets at a travel agency. Also, trying to pronounce your destination will often not be understood. Polish railways' ticket salespersons are not known for any service minded attitude. The long queues in front of the ticket sales offices is another good reason for foreign travellers to choose a travel agency. Be also aware that it may be easier Buying in advance and it may be necessary for peak seasons (eg. end of holiday period, New Year, etc.) for those trains where place reservation is obligatory. If you change trains between InterCity and Regional you have to buy two tickets. It connects all major cities, but it is also good choice to get to many small towns on internal routes.
Travellers under 26 years are entitled to 33% discount on travel fare in Intercity, excluding the price of seat reservation. There is also an option of buying a cheap ticket for 27/59/69 PLN (regarding type of train) that allows you to travel on a selected route regarding the distance. Ticket must be bought at least one week ahead and is vaild for one train. [edit] By taxiUse only those that are associated in a "corporation" (look for phone number and a logo on the side and on the top). The unaffiliated drivers are likely to cheat and charge you much more. Be especially wary of these taxis near international airports and train stations (but then, shouldn't one be wary of them everywhere?). They are called the "taxi mafia". Because of travellers advice like this (and word of mouth), taxis with fake phone numbers can be seen on the streets, although recently this seems to have decreased, possibly the police have taken notice. Fake phone numbers are easily detected by locals and cater for the unsuspecting traveller. The best advice is to ask your Polish friends or your hotel concierge for the number of the taxi company they use and call them 10-15 minutes in advance (there's no additional cost). That's why locals will only hail taxis on the street in an emergency. You can also find phone numbers for taxis in any city on the Internet, on municipal and newspaper websites. There are also stands, where you can call for their particular taxi for free, often found at train stations. Never negotiate the fare with the driver as you will probably end up paying more than you should. Just make sure that the driver turns the meter on and sets it to the appropriate fare (taryfa):
When crossing city limits (for example, when traveling to an airport located outside the city), the driver should change the tariff at the city limit. Every taxi driver is obliged to issue a receipt when asked. You can ask the driver for a receipt (rachunek) before you get into cab, and resign if his reaction seems suspicious or if he refuses. [edit] By bicycleBicycling is a good method to get a good impression of the scenery in Poland. The roads can sometimes be in quite a bad state, but mostly they are ok. The cars drivers are not as careless as they are said to be. Especially in the south you can find some nice places for bicycling; e.g. along the rivers Dunajec (from Zakopane to Szczawnica) or Poprad (Krynica to Stary Sacz) or Lower Silesia (Zlotoryja - Swierzawa - Jawor). [edit] By thumbHitchhiking in Poland is (on average) OK. Yes, it's slower than its Western (Germany) and Eastern (Lithuania) neighbors, but your waiting times will be quite acceptable! Not necessarily a thumb but waving an extended hand is a much better recognized sign that you need a lift in Poland. Use a cardboard sign and write the city name on it. Do not try to catch a lift where it is forbidden to stop. Look on the verge of the road and there should be a dashed line painted there, not a solid one. As in any country, you should be careful, there are several reports of Polish hitchhiking trips gone awry, so take basic precautions and you should be as right as rain. [edit] TalkThe official language of Poland is Polish. Non-Polish speakers will find that most of the younger generation (35 and under), speak, or at least understand, English reasonably well. Since English is taught at a very young age (some start as early as 4 years old), only Poles who grow up in isolated towns or communities will not be given English lessons. Older Poles, however, especially those outside the main cities, will speak little or no English at all. Most people, however, will know German or Russian and can speak them more fluently, the latter more so being a Slavic language. A few phrases go a long way in Poland. Contrary to some other tourist cities where natives will often scoff at how bad a foreigner's use of the native language is, Polish people generally love it when foreigners learn Polish, even if it's only a few phrases. Younger Poles, however, will jump at the chance to practice their English as well. Do your homework and try to learn how to pronounce the names of places. Polish has a very regular pronunciation, so this shouldn't be a problem. Although there are a few sounds unknown to most English speakers, mastering every phoneme is not required to achieve intelligibility. It's rather about catching the spirit: practice asking for driving directions to Szczebrzeszyn. Poland's history has made it a very homogenous society today, in stark contrast to its long history of ethnoreligious diversity; almost 99% of the population today is ethnic Polish; before World War II it was only 69% with large minorities, mainly Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Germans and less than two-thirds Roman Catholic with large Orthodox and Protestant minorities as well as having the largest Jewish community in Europe that composed 10% of Poland's population of the time. Outside of the very touristy areas of the major cities, you'll find that there are few, if any, foreigners. Most of the immigrants in Poland (notably Ukranians and Vietnamese) stay in the major cities for work. Be advised that if you are heard speaking English in a public setting you will get looks; many people will listen in to practice their understanding of English. However, speaking English loudly in public also marks you immediately as a tourist, which can be dangerous in certain areas of the cities. Foreign visitors should be aware that almost all written and spoken information will usually be in Polish only. Signs in English, Russian, or German and other foreign languages are typically found only in popular touristey parts. Tickets for buses and trains, public signs and information posters generally have no English on them. Even information displayed at museums, churches, etc. will usually only be in Polish, while important messages broadcast through loudspeakers at a railway station will not be followed by a translation. [edit] Buy [edit] PayingThe legal tender in Poland is the Polish złoty (zł, PLN). Poland is expected to adopt the common European currency Euro (€) in ca. 2010 but it can be used to pay in many bigger shops ("hypermarkets") even now. Remember to always check the conversion rates though!
Private exchange offices in Poland usually offer better rates than commercial banks. They are called Kantor and are very common, especially in places like railway stations. Be cautious about those in tourist hot-spots, such as the Warsaw Old Town, since they may overcharge. Cards can be used to pay almost everywhere in the big cities. Popular cards include Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard and Maestro. AmEx and Diners' Club can be used in a few places (notably the big, business-class hotels) but are not popular and you should not rely on them for any payments. There is an extensive network of cash machines (ATMs). Cheques were never particularly popular in Poland and they are hardly used nowadays. You're likely to accumulate several hundred single grosz (1/100th of a złoty), while the grosz is legal tender some vendors and stores will refuse to accept them, but they have no problem giving you grosz as change. You'll want to be sure to always have larger groszy coins to satisfy the vendors that refuse the single grosz coin. Other vendors will seem to become irate if you cannot pay exact change. [edit] GoodsIt is illegal to export goods older than 55 years that are of ANY historic value. If you intend to do so you need to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage [edit] Shopping[edit] Super and hypermarketsHypermarkets are dominated by western chains: Carrefour, Tesco, Auchan, Real. Usually located in shopping malls or suburbs. However Poles shop very often at local small stores for bread, meat ,fresh dairy, vegetables and fruits - goods for which freshness and quality is essential. [edit] EatPoles take their meals following the standard continental schedule: a light breakfast in the morning (usually just a coffee and perhaps a pastry), then a lunch at around 1pm or 2pm, then a supper at around 7pm. It is not difficult to avoid meat, with many restaurants offering at least one vegetarian dish. Most major cities have some exclusively vegetarian restaurants, especially near the city center. Vegan options remain extremely limited, however. Restaurants and other types of food service are generally inexpensive for those accustomed to price in Western Europe or the United States. Finer restaurants are on par with the best in those regions but cost two or three times less. [edit] Traditional Local FoodTraditional Polish cuisine tends to be hearty, rich in meats, sauces, and vegetables; sides of pickled vegetables are a favorite accompaniment. Modern Polish cuisine, however, tends towards greater variety, and focuses on healthy choices. A dinner commonly includes the first course of soup, followed by the main course. Among soups, barszcz czerwony (red beet soup, a.k.a. borsch) is perhaps the most recognizable: a spicy and slightly sour soup, served hot. It's commonly poured over dumplings (barszcz z uszkami or barszcz z pierogami), or served with a fried pate roll (barszcz z pasztetem). Other uncommon soups include zupa ogorkowa, a cucumber soup made of a mix of fresh and pickled cucumbers; zupa grzybowa, typically made with wild mushrooms; also, flaki or flaczki, a kind of spicy tripe. Pierogi are, of course, an immediately recognizable Polish dish. They are often served along side another dish (for example, with barszcz), rather than as the main course. Golabki are also widely known: they are large cabbage rolls stuffed with a mix of grains and meats, steamed and served hot. Bigos is another unique, if less well-known, Polish dish: a "hunter's stew" that includes various meats and vegetables, on a base of pickled cabbage. Bigos tends to be very thick and hearty. Similar ingredients can also be thinned out and served in the form of a cabbage soup, called kapusniak. Some Austro-Hungarian imports have also become popular over the years, and adopted by the Polish cuisine. These include gulasz, a local version of goulash that's less spicy than the original, and sznycel po Wiedensku, which is a traditional shnitzel, often served with potatoes and a selection of vegetables. When it comes to food-on-the-go, foreign imports tend to dominate (such as kebab or pizza stands, and fast-food franchises). An interesting Polish twist is a zapiekanka, which is an open-faced baguette, covered with mushroooms and cheese (or other toppings of choice), and toasted until the cheese melts. Zapiekanki can be found at numerous roadside stands and bars. Poland is also known for two unique cheeses, both made by hand in the [Podhale] mountain region in the south. Oscypek is the more famous: a hard, salty cheese, made of unpasteurized sheep milk, and smoked. It goes very well with alcoholic beverages such as beer. The less common is Bryndza, a soft cheese, also made with sheep milk (and therefore salty), with a consistency similar to spreadable cheeses. It's usually served on bread, or baked potatoes. Both cheeses are covered by the EU Protected Designation of Origin (like the French Roquefort, or the Italian Parmegiano-Reggiano).
[edit] Unique places: Milk barsIf you want to eat on the cheap, you should visit a milk bar (bar mleczny). A milk bar is very basic sort of fast food restaurant that serves cheap Polish fare. Nowadays it has become harder and harder to find one. It was invented by the communist authorities of Poland in mid-1960s as a means to offer cheap meals to people working in companies that had no official canteen. Its name originates from the fact that until late 1980s the meals served there were mostly dairy-made and vegetarian (especially during the martial law period of the beginning of the 1980s, when meat was rationed). The milk bars are usually subsidized by the state. Eating there is a unique experience - it is not uncommon that you will encounter people from various social classes - students, businessmen, university professors, elderly people, sometimes even homeless, all eating side-by-side in a 1970s-like environment. Presumably, it is the quality of food at absolutely unbeatable price (veggie main courses starting from €0.50!) that attracts people. However, a cautionary warning needs to be issued - complete nut jobs do dine at milk bars too, so even if you're going to for the food, you'll end up with dinner and a show. Curious as to what the show will entail? Well, each show varies, but most of them will leave you scratching head and require the suspension of reality. [edit] DrinkPoland is on the border of European "vodka" and "beer culture". Poles enjoy alcoholic drinks at least as much as other Europeans. You can buy beer, vodka and wine. Although Poland is known as the birth place of vodka, local beer seems to have much more appeal to many Poles. Another traditional alcoholic beverage is mead. Polish liqueurs and nalewka (alcoholic tincture) are a must mention. Officially, in order to buy alcohol one should be over 18 years old and be able to prove it with a valid ID (which is loosely enforced). [edit] BeerPoland's brewery tradition comes from far middle ages. Today Poland is one of TOP beer countries in Europe. Although not well known internationally, Poland traditionally sports some of the best pilsner-type lagers worldwide. The most common brands include:
[edit] Vodka
Deluxe (more expensive) brands include Chopin and Belvedere. Expect to pay about 100 złoty a bottle (2007 prices). Most Poles consider these brands to be "export brands", and usually don't drink them. [edit] WinePoland does make a few quality wines around Zielona Góra, the Southeast, in the Beskids and Central Poland. You usually can buy them only at the places where they are produced or at wine festivals, like in Zielona Góra. There are also popular Polish fruit wines. They are sold in much of shops, also actively exported. As for imported wine, apart from the usual old and new world standards, there is usually a choice of decent table wines from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania or Moldova available. It the winter time, many Poles drink "grzaniec"(loosely translated as something that warms), a beverage consisting of hot red wine, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. It can also be made using beer, although wine is the most popular method. [edit] MeadMead - Miód Pitny is a traditional and historical alcohol drink in Poland. Mead is brewed from honey and has excellent unusual taste similar to wine. Original Polish mead contain 13-20% alcohol. [edit] CocktailsPoles are very keen on beer and vodka, and you'll find that cocktails are often expensive but can be found in most bars in most major cities. [edit] Tea and coffeeThrow stereotypes out the door. For Poles, one of the most important staples to quench their thirst is not wódka or beer, but rather tea and coffee. As such, you'll likely come across dozens and dozens of cafés. There aren't any Starbucks in Poland yet, but Poland does have its own version – Coffee Heaven [4], but, unfortunately, its coffee products can be a let down compared to the heavenly delights of Frappucinos. No worries, though, AmRest [5] is slated to start opening Starbucks in Eastern and Central Europe. For those that believe pouring boiling water on to a tea bag is the way to make a good cup of tea, beware! When ordered in a cafe or restaurant, it is common practice in Poland (and some other mainland European countries) to receive a cup of hot (not boiling) water, with a tea bag on the side. Perhaps also accompanied by a small carton of lemon juice. It is then the customer's job to make the tea. Add to this that the majority of tea bags are weaker than the UK equivalents, and this can be one area of Polish 'tradition' that the average UK tea drinker may be not be taken aback by. Still, fortunately, Poland has a great deal more to offer than this. For the most part, a good coffee can be had for 5 - 10 zł a cup, while a cup of tea can be purchase for the same, unless you happen to order a small kettle, in which case you'll probably pay something between 20 - 30 zł. [edit] WaterMost Polish people will tell you not to drink the tap water in Poland, regardless of where you are. Almost all Poles drink bottled spring water or boil water to filter it. In some places (Warsaw) you can find "studnia oligoceńska" - a public deep-drilled well that serves water from Oligocene period - water from those should be safe to drink (boil it if unsure). Foreigners should note that drinking water with a meal is not a Polish tradition; you will almost always have to ask for water with your meal. Some Westerners will be surprised to discover that most Poles drink carbonated water, although non-carbonated bottled water is generally widely available. The phrase "woda niegazowana" ("non-carbonated water") works well. Poland is known for its mineral waters. You can buy it in every shop, or try real mineral water with salts in "pavilions of water" (Pijalnia wód) in mountain resorts, where this water is produced. For example, Szczawnica or Krynica. [edit] SleepWith Poland's recent accession into the European Union the accommodation landscape is changing. Many hotels are now catering to business people and EU citizens taking advantage of the favorable Euro-Zloty and Sterling-Zloty exchange rates. This means that hotels are charging more than they would a few years ago. For non-EU citizens, the situation may be a tad more painful as many hotels, especially larger ones, post their rates in Euro, rather than in Zloty. For budget travellers, the news isn't much better. Hostels affiliated with the national hostelling association are often horrid options for backpackers because of imposed curfews. Additionally, Hostelling International (HI) affiliated hostels are frequently used by large school groups, which means young children may very well be screaming their heads off and running around the halls. Some private Hostels are clean and welcoming, but others can be even more dangerous than HI hostels. One example of a chain to avoid is the "Goodbye Lenin" hostel chain. There have been reports of guests being beaten up and robbed by the staff, and the manager of one of the hostels was recently convicted of the rape and murder of a female guest. [edit] LearnStudying in Poland can be an incredible experience for foreigners. Foreign students can finance a B.A. education for as low as 24,000 zł and a M.A. education for as low as 20,000 zł. There are many international schools and great universities in Poland and of them the Jagiellonian University [6] in particular is renowned as member of the Coimbra Group and is also a core member of the Europaeum. The University of Warsaw is the top ranked public university in Poland. National Film School in Łódź is the most notable academy. Private universities are a recent invention, but have been successful enough where several private schools are competing with the major public universities in terms of quality. Private schools may actually be cheaper for foreign students, who are not entitled to a free education at one of Poland's public universities. [edit] WorkAt the moment Poland is one of the best places around the world to find a job as an English teacher. TEFL courses (that's Teaching English as a Foreign Language) are run in many cities across Poland. The demand for TEFL teachers is enormous and teaching language is a brilliant way to fund your travel and earn as you go. [edit] Stay safeThe European unified emergency number 112 is being deployed in Poland. By now, it certainly works for all mobile-phone calls and most landline calls. There are also three "old" emergency numbers that are still in use. These are:
[edit] TheftPickpockets operate in larger cities, including in public transportation, rail station areas, and clubs/bars. The Warsaw bus route 175 running between the airport and the city center is notorious for pickpockets operating there. Immediately check you pockets if someone bumps into you in a large crowd. Even if it may seem harmless at the time, your cell phone might be missing minutes later. 
Walking around is usually safe, particularly in city centers. It may be unsafe to walk in the suburbs, depending on the time of day, your dress and behavior (that is, how obvious it is that you are a foreigner) and other factors. Again, use common sense. Watch out for the Polish equivalent of thugs, called dresiarze -- young people with shaved heads, usually dressed in counterfeit Adidas tracksuits (and sometimes with a leather jacket on top of that). These are the young generation of the Polish underclass, whose sole purpose is to fight, especially foreigners. If you get into some sort of discussion or altercation with these thugs, run away as fast as possible and call the police. Do not expect help from roaming security guards or passersby if you're attacked. Fighting should absolutely be avoided so you are not arrested or seriously injured. [edit] GLBTGLBT issues remain very controversial, still very much taboo (although decreasingly so), and routinely exploited by conservative politicians. Polish culture also has a long tradition of chivalry and strong, traditional gender roles. That said, in larger, cosmopolitan areas, gays and lesbians shouldn't have a hard time fitting in, although trans visitors will immediately attract attention. [edit] Stay healthyAvoid drinking tap water in older areas of major cities and in the countryside, without boiling it first. Locals routinely drink teas and coffee, and sometimes bottled water. Restaurants do not usually provide a complimentary glass of tap water; bottled water must be ordered separately.
[edit] EtiquetteSome men kiss (rather than shake) women's hands to greet them or fare them well. Kissing a woman's hand is considered to be more chivalrous, but of course be sure as not to insult the woman you're greeting if she prefers you not kiss her hand. Alternatively, women may greet men with a kiss on the cheek. The preferences are not universal, so you can extend your hand for a handshake just to be safe. A fairly common practice is for people to greet each other with a dzień dobry when entering elevators, or, at the very least, saying do widzenia (Good bye) when exiting the elevator. [edit] The HolocaustThere's much more to Poland than just the German Nazi concentration camps and World War II monuments. Likewise, avoid bringing up Nazi war crimes and the Soviet intervention in Poland during the early part of the war; millions of Polish people were killed during this bleak period and they are painful topics to the often-patriotic and proud Poles. They are less constrained when talking about the Communist period, which many show a love-hate relationship through its many different phases and often get nostalgic over it. Jan Gross, a Polish-American-Jewish historian, authored Neighbors, which alleges many Poles willingly participated in the Holocaust and were thus responsible, at least in part, for the destruction of Poland's Jewish community. Mentioning the pogroms in Jedwabne or Kielce might bring about heated exchanges. Professor Gross later wrote Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz, which further expanded upon Polish anti-Semitism. Both books have been highly controversial. Some Poles consider the books not reliable, yet, IPN (Institute of National Remembrance), which is tasked with investigating crimes committed in Poland during the Nazi occupation and crimes committed by the nascent communist regime, found much of Gross' statements in Neighbors to be true, although, IPN did reduce the number of Jews murdered by Polish inhabitants of Jedwabne by roughly four times the figure Gross cited. The books have opened up Polish-Jewish dialogue, but, much of the discussion is still yet to take place. The Holocaust, as many historians note, is the genocide of European Jewry. However, it would be wise for you to understand that the number of people murdered by the Nazis did not end at six million Jews, of which 3 million were Polish nationals. In fact, the number is much higher, especially in Poland, where over 3 million Catholic Poles were also murdered by, 85% of whom by Nazis. Many other members of minority groups, intelligentsia, and political philosophies were murdered too. Poles will appreciate it if you understand that not only were roughly six million Poles were killed during this period, but, also that 50% of that figure were Polish Jews and the other 50% were Polish Catholics. [edit] Touchy topics
[edit] Cope
[edit] ToiletsPublic toilets run by cities were popular during the communist era, but most of them were closed down after transformation as expensive. From another point of view, most of them were in such poor condition that using them was a challenge. Some of them (often built underground) were rented out and now serve as restaurants or pubs. Some toilets available to the public are decrepit, but those that require you to pay are often clean since they are normally tended to by attendants who regularly clean the toilets, sinks, and fill soap and toilet paper. Expect to pay 1 - 2 zł to use restrooms that charge for use. If there isn't any toilet paper in a stall ask the attendant. Toilets for women are marked with a circle on the door, and toilets for men are marked with a triangle. All restaurants and bars are forced by law to have toilets inside (but not all comply). It's not a common practice to use their toilet without ordering (at least coffee), but if you ask a waiter, he wouldn't mind in most cases. Sometimes you have to get a key to the toilet at the counter. If there seems to be a lack of public toilets you may want to try to visit McDonald's (or another place) just to use the toilet, however, some places have implemented policies, such as requiring people to show the receipt before you can use the restroom, because of scale of that phenomenon. In case of larger events, organizers provide so called toi-toi toilets (from one of companies that service them). They are narrow plastic booths, usually blue, not very comfortable, often not very clean, and hardly ever with water or paper. [edit] Contact[edit] Landline phonesThere is the de facto monopoly operator for landline phones - TP (Polish: Telekomunikacja Polska), a subsidiary of France Telecom, renowned for its leaving-much-to-be-desired services. There is also a number of smaller operators (Dialog, Netia, NOM, Energis). They are mainly serving the business market. [edit] Mobile phonesThere are four mobile phone operators in Poland: Plus GSM (code 260 01), Era (260 02), Orange (260 03) and Play. The last one is mainly using Plus GSM coverage network. About 98% of the country's surface is covered by the standard European GSM 900/1800 MHz network, the remaining 2% are wildlife reserves or high mountains. UMTS is available in some bigger cities. Due to the introduction of virtual brands, some operators now have two names for their pre-paid services: Plus has Sami Swoi and Simplus, Era has Heyah and Tak Tak, while Orange operates Pop and Orange Go. Domestic call rates are roughly the same across all services. [edit] Polish telephone numbersAll telephone numbers in Poland are 10 digits long and start with 0, though many numbers are written the old way, that is often only the last 7 digits are listed, in which case you need to prefix the number with 0 and the area code.
There are some special numbers, notably:
Also, texting (= sending SMSes) to:
[edit] International callsTo call abroad from Poland:
To call to Poland from abroad, dial the Polish country code,48, then the number without the leading 0, as if calling from a domestic mobile phone. International and roaming calls are expensive. To reduce your bill you can:
[edit] InternetIf you're bringing a laptop, Wireless LAN Hot-Spots are available in distinct places, sometimes free, otherwise not very cheap. Best chances of finding one are at airports, railway stations, in cafés, shopping malls and universities. You can ask in your hotel, but be prepared to pay. For those who need to connect at an internet cafe, fear not, because Poland's major cities have internet cafes. With your mobile phone you can use: CSD, HSCSD, GPRS or EDGE, but the cost may be unattractive. UMTS is only available in some bigger cities. If your phone is not SIM-locked, you may consider purchasing a pre-paid SIM card designed for data access. Inquire for one at the mobile operators' points of sales (hint: check PlusGSM's SimDATA). With Polish pre-paid plans the cost may be down to 0.3 PLN/1MB. If you want to communicate with Poles, you'll need two programs - Gadu-Gadu [7], a Polish language instant messenger program, or Skype [8]. Gadu-Gadu will be difficult to use for non-Polish speaking people, but alternatives such as Adium [9] (Mac OSX), Kadu [10] (Mac OSX/Linux), and Pidgin [11] (Linux, Windows), all of which can be used in English, can be helpful.
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