Poland Travel Guide

Poland has been a hub for disputes since the Twentieth century. The First World War, followed by the territorial disputes and then by the Second World War, has sucked this nation dry. From then, Poland has picked itself up. Now it is a champion among European countries.

There are many destinations for a traveler to visit. You will fall in love with the breath-taking countryside of the country. It has a beautiful atmosphere for you to commune with nature. It has a vibrant coastline in the north, which is surrounded by the Baltic Sea. This area is known as Pomerania. Then comes Greater Poland which has Germany on the west. This place has many sites for birdwatchers. On the eastern side of Pomerania lies Warmia-Masuria. It has some best camping grounds in the country.

Silesia is to the south of Greater Poland, bordered by the Czech Republic on the southwest. It is known to be the hottest area of the country. Masovia is the central part of the country, both literally and economically. Northeast of Masovia lies Podlachia, a diverse area of natural vegetation.

Southeast of the nation has Lesser Poland with historical cities of Krakow and Lublin. It shares a boundary with Slovakia and Ukraine. The lush countryside and colorful culture beckon visitors from around the world.

Warsaw is the capital city. It has risen from the ruins to become a growing economy. Krakow is the old cultural center of the country, with a rich history and gorgeous architecture. Wroclaw is the Venice of Poland. Szczecin offers busy harbors and massive monuments. Zakopane is a heaven for winter activities enthusiasts.

It also has many World Heritage sites you cannot miss like the Bialowieza national park, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (Monastery), Auschwitz (Nazi camp), the Malbork Gothic castle, the Wieliczka salt mine and Zamosc (Renaissance town). 

Catholicism used to play a major role in Polish history, politics, and culture. There are lots of magnificent churches left, although less attended nowadays, in different architecture styles and from different periods. You won’t find many of them in Warsaw, as it was almost completely devastated during the World War II (around 80% of the city was lying in ruins). On the other hand, Krakow will delight you with many architectural pearls. 

Transportation is efficient. Flights connect all the important cities. Warsaw is one of the major hubs for famous European low-cost airline Ryanair, which will take you to over 20 other destinations in Europe. The prices for some flights start from 10 euro (2 euro inside the country), which will be a real gift for budget travelers. 

For getting around cities, metros are fast and cheap; tickets can be bought online. Buses and trams can be another nice option. You may have a problem communicating, though. With a driving license (international) you can drive around on the expressways without worrying. It is the best way to explore Poland. You need to be careful because the Polish drivers are a bit rash, however.

One Polish Zloty is equal to 0.24 USD. You can exchange foreign currency at all border crossing points, some hotels, and bureaux de change (kantors), some of which are open 24 hours. US Dollars, Euros and Pounds Sterling are the easiest currencies to exchange. All major credit cards are easily acceptable and ATMs are available widely. However, Visa and MasterCard are preferable for ATM withdrawals. 

Polish is spoken all around the country. People here know English. However, residents of the countryside and the older generation might not.

As for electricity, Poland uses type E sockets. You need to bring a travel adapter to fit the proper socket type. Check out the above-linked page to see the photos and other useful information. The standard voltage is 230 V.  Many of your devices may need a step-up transformer to match the electrical voltage.

November is a great time to come to Poland, as there is a “Free November” program, which allows you to enter major tourist places for free. These include Wawel Castle in Krakow, Krolewskie Lazienki and the Royal Castle of Warsaw, etc. 

August 10, 2016 12:00 am Published by Neha Rizal Leave your thoughts