Poland guide book
Following is some information that can help you out.
The official Polish currency is zloty polski - zl (PLN). One zloty consists of 100 groszes.
1 Euro=3,8 zl
1 US Dollar=3,3 zl
For more up-dated exchange rates click hier click hier
There are 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 20-, and 50 groszy coins and 1-, 2-, and 5 zloty coins. The bank notes have 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 zloty nominal. You may exchange your money in banks, exchange bureaus (called Kantors,and which do not charge commission fee) in main hotels and travel offices. Banks open from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm. Some banks are also open on Saturdays between 9 am and 1 pm. Cash machines (ATM) are widely available.
Credit cards are in common use in big cities. You can pay by card in shops, restaurants, pubs.
Some prices of goods and services:
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milk (1l)
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2.5 zł
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pasta (0,5 kg)
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4 zł
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yoghurt
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1.5 zł
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apples (1 kg)
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3 zł
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mineral water (1,5 l)
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2 zł
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chocolate
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2-4 zł
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tea
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2-10 zł
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beer (0,5 l)
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2-10 zł
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coffee
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5-15 zł
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chips
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1-4 zł
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bread
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2 zł
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cinema ticket
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10-20 zł
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butter
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4 zł
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theatre ticket
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20-200 zł
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ham (1 kg)
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25 zł
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haircut
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20-80 zł
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cheese (1 kg)
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25 zł
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In Poland Central European Time (CET) is used. The metric system is applied for measurements of distances (kilometres - km), velocity (kilometres per hour - km/h), and capacity (litres - 1l = 1 dm3). The voltage in a socket is 230 volts; a plug has got two round pins.
Shops are usually open from early morning till late evening. In major cities you may also do shopping during the weekends. Many, such as TESCO and other local ones, are open 24 hours.
Offices open between 8-10 a.m. and close between 3 and 5 p.m., although there are many exceptions to this rule.
Restaurants, bars, cafes, bistros and pubs usually open at around noon and close at 10 -11 p.m. Many restaurant and pub owners, however, meet the clients' expectations and do not impose any closing time limits – what simply means even till 5 – 6 in the morning.
Having dinner in medium to high class restaurants may cost about 50-100 zl (12-25 euro) or even more. Going out for a pizza you will usually spend in the region of 20-25 zl per person. Bar Mleczny, which offers low prices and non alcoholic drinks affers also different types of food, with prices varying from 10 to 15 zl (2.5-3.5 euro).
In Poland there are three GSM operators:
If you want to buy a starter pack you can do this with just 10 zl. The simlock can be unlocked for 30 zl.
To make a phone call you need to buy a magnetic telephone card. Tokens are rarely used. The cards are sold in 25, 50 or 100 units and are available from newspaper stands and post offices. Prior to using the card you have to break one corner away. Public phone boxes are easily accessible since these are located at many different places including train stations, post-offices, universities and along the streets.
For cheaper international calls you have to buy a calling card destined for tone-dialling phones: home, hotels, mobile phones and public phone-booths.The average call rate is 0,33 PLN per minute (incl. VAT) for the stationary phones and are available in denominations of: 10 zl, 20 zl and 50 zl.
You can visit commercial Internet cafes which are rather common especially in major cities. Price for an 1 hour vary between 2-4 zl.
TV Channels
There are different television stations which either have a country wide or regional cover. Certain television stations are also privately held. These include:
Other international stations are available on the satellite reception.
What is funny is that.….there is no like dubbed or subtitled films! Nearly all films have a voice-over!
Radio
One of the best ways to practice your Polish! There are many polish radio stations, and all of them are in Polish. The most popular country-wide:
Post offices open from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 6 or 8 pm. In the cities post offices are open 24 hours a day. A stamp for a post card or a letter to Europe costs 2,40 – 3 zł (prices as at March 2006). From the post office you can also make phone calls through phone-card telephone and buy phone-cards.
Polish State Railways
Passengers are serviced by PKP – the Polish State Railways .There are three types of trains available: intercity, eurocity and express. Passengers can choose to travel in either first or second class. To travel in eurocity, intercity and express trains, passengers must purchase the so called miejscówka, which entitles them to take a given seat on a train. Trains operating on long distances frequently have additional buffet cars and sleeping cars. Foreigners cannot take advantage of discounts for students and school children, and EURO 26 or ISIC are not accepted.
Public Transport
In Poland, there are different means of public transport: buses, trams, trolley-buses and the underground (called metro - in Warsaw only).
Buses offer a normal and fast means of transport. Night routes are also available.
Tickets can be bought from KIOSK, from selected shops and from the bus driver. Tickets should be validated in a dater or punched immediately on boarding the bus. Ticket prices vary from town to town and they are binding only within the area of a given town or city. Passengers can choose from: day single trip and night single trip tickets, one-day tickets, hour tickets, one-day group tickets and weekend tickets. The transport of bigger luggage (each piece) is subject to an additional fare. The fare for transporting a dog is the same as for luggage. For unauthorised trip or transport of luggage, passengers must pay high cash penalties. Foreigners cannot take the advantage of discounts.
Prices in cities vary, but on average:
Normal ticket: 2,5 zl
Night ticket: 5 zl
Monthly ticket: 80 zl
National Coach
Intercity coach lines are services by PKS - the Polish Car Transport Company, as well as a number of private transport companies, whose coaches or microbuses leave from coach stations. Some transportation companies recognise international student’s discount cards, e.g. Euro 26 and ISIC, although this is not always the case.
Example of prices
Krakow - Katowice – 15 zl
Krakow – Krosno – 12 zł
For other prices please click on:
TAXI
Cabs await passengers at designated taxi stands, e.g. near railway stations, airports, hotels. They are marked with TAXI sign and a telephone number of the corporation for which they work. Another way of getting a taxi is to order one by phone. Taxi fares are higher at night (10 pm to 6 am) and outside city boundaries, but you still pay by the meter. Fare for transport between cities should be negotiated with the driver.
Taxi fare is 2,30 during the day and 3,5 during the night.
Carpooling opportunity
If you want to travel cheaper you may find a driver who takes the same way as you and who gets payment from you.
For more info click click hier
Air transport
Domestic flights are serviced by Polish Airlines LOT. International airports are available in:
The places where these cards are accepted are limited. Please click on the following link:
Poland is a land of lakes, mountains, deserts, islands, rivers and full of beautiful historical and architectural places to visit. You may spend your holiday in lovely cities as well as in the countryside. You are more than welcome. Click here to start exploring.
The lodges of Polish Tourist and Country Lovers’ Society (PTTK) await travellers, especially in the mountain and lake regions. The sign WOLNE POKOJE on a house means free rooms for rent. There are rooms for rent in any tourist resort. Local accommodation offices and tourist agents mediate at room hire. In summer, the Travel and Tourism Office Almatur Polska offers cheap lodging in student hostels. Holders of the International Tourist Card ISIC receive 25% discount. Additionally in summer there are 200 economy youth hostels available. To IYHF holders (International Youth Hostel Federation) 25% discount is offered.
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