• Introduction
• Reports (13)
• Useful information

  Identity card

  Know before you go

  Driving in Poland

  Practical A to Z

• History and culture

  Nature

  History

  Art and Culture

  The Region Today

• Eating out
• Electricity
• Embassies and consulates
• Health
• Money
• Museums
• Post
• Public holidays
• Safety
• Shopping
• Telephone

---

Eating out

Opening hours

As a general rule, restaurants are open continuously from 11am-noon until 10pm.

Tips

Service is not included and it is customary to add a 10% tip.

Meals

Breakfast is generally very filling (eggs, cold meat, dairy products) and will keep you going for a large part of the day. Most people often eat a snack at midday and the second main meal of the day, roughly equivalent to lunch, is eaten in the afternoon, around 4pm. The third meal of the day, dinner, is traditionally a light meal and is eaten around 7pm. In large towns, this tradition is, however, rarely upheld and it is possible to dine quite late.

Where to eat

Mleczny bars (milk bars), authentic Polish institutions left over from the Communist era, are self-service cafeterias that cater to small budgets and serve traditional meals. You will have no problem understanding the menu: everything is displayed behind the counter - just point at what you would like to eat!

---

Electricity

The voltage in Poland is 220V, but plugs are standard two-pin continental plugs, so you will probably need an adaptor.

---

Embassies and consulates

British Embassy –ul. Kawalerii 12, 00-468 Warsaw – t 22 311 0000 – http://ukinpoland.fco.gov.uk/en/

Irish Embassy – ul. Mysia 5, 6th Floor, 00-496 Warsaw – t 22 849 6633 – http://www.embassyofireland.pl/

---

Health

Also see Know before you go.

Emergencies

Universal European emergency number: t 112.

Police: t 997. Fire brigade: t 998. Medical emergencies: t 999.

Doctors and hospitals

Poland’s doctors are extremely competent, whatever the establishment. However, state hospitals are less well equipped than private clinics.

---

Money

Currency

The currency of Poland is the Złoty (abbreviated locally to ZŁ;international abbreviation PLN).

Banks / exchange

Banks are open Monday-Saturday from 8am to 6pm.

Exchange offices are available more or less everywhere, in post offices, big hotels, airports and shopping streets. They are generally open on weekdays from 9am-6pm and until 12noon on Saturdays. They do not accept traveller’s cheques.

Credit cards

The major international credit cards are accepted in most parts of the country. While you will have no problem paying bills by credit card in large hotels and restaurants, this is less often the case in smaller establishments.

Budget / cost of living

Poland remains a relatively cheap destination for Western tourists. A comfortable double room in a good hotel will cost a minimum of PLN300 per night in Warsaw or another large town and PLN200 in a smaller establishment. Guesthouse accommodation costs around PLN150.

A full meal in a restaurant will cost between PLN15 and 50 and a single dish between PLN6 and 25.

---

Museums

Museums are generally closed on Mondays. Opening hours are often variable, particularly out of season and in less touristy districts. Knock on the door, the caretaker may well open and let you in.

---

Post

Post offices are open on weekdays from 8am-7pm and on Saturday mornings.

---

Public holidays

1 January

Easter Monday

1 May

3 May – Anniversary of the Constitution

Corpus Christi – General Prayer Day

15 August – Assumption Day

1 November – All Saints Day

11 November – Independence Day

25 and 26 December

---

Safety

Poland is a safe country and providing you respect a few basic rules, among which, avoid walking around very late at night, particularly outside the city centres, or around railway stations or in parks, you shouldn’t encounter any mishaps. Night trains are relatively notorious in terms of security, so it is advisable to keep an eye on your luggage at all times. Never leave anything of value in your vehicle, because thieves are quick to pick out rental and foreign cars.

---

Shopping

Opening hours

Shops are open Monday-Friday 10am-6pm; they generally close earlier on Saturdays.

Tax-free purchases

You can claim a VAT refund for purchases over PLN200 made in “Tax free” shops. The latter will provide you with a purchase certificate in your name that is valid for 3 months.

---

Telephone

Calling Poland from abroad

00 + 48 (country code for Poland) + area code + number of the person.

Calling home from Poland

00 + country code. For the United Kingdom: 44; for Ireland: 353.

National calls

Dial the full number of the person (including the area code). The first three digits indicate the geographic zone.