Polen

Top 5 Orte

1. Main Market Square and Wawel Castle · Kraków

   Medieval square with St. Mary's Basilica and the royal castle on the river.

2. Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial · Oświęcim

   Former Nazi German death camp, now a memorial and museum; book entry or a guided tour well ahead.

3. Wieliczka Salt Mine · Wieliczka (near Kraków)

   Centuries-old mine with chapels and statues carved from salt.

4. Warsaw Old Town · Warsaw

   Old Town rebuilt after WWII, a UNESCO site, plus the Warsaw Uprising Museum.

5. Gdańsk Main Town · Gdańsk

   Hanseatic port with colourful merchant houses and the European Solidarity Centre.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Jakdojade

  Popular app for routes and tickets on city transport in Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk and other cities. Paper tickets must be validated on board; inspectors fine hundreds of zloty.

• Fahrdienst-App

  Bolt

  Widely used in big cities and regional capitals; often the cheapest option. Avoids unlicensed drivers at stations and airports.

• Fahrdienst-App

  Uber

  Operates in major cities with upfront prices.

• Taxi

  FREENOW / licensed taxis

  Use taxis with the company name, phone number and rate card on the car, or book by app or phone. Unlicensed drivers near stations can charge many times the normal fare.

• Züge

  Koleo / PKP Intercity

  Koleo sells tickets for almost all train companies. PKP Intercity runs long-distance and high-speed (EIC Premium) trains; book early for cheaper fares. Polregio runs regional trains.

• Busse

  FlixBus

  Cheap intercity buses between major cities.

• Bikesharing

  Veturilo / Lime / Bolt

  City bike share (e.g. Veturilo in Warsaw) and e-scooters in most cities (varies).

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: PLN · Polish zloty

Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and most taxis. Carry a little cash for markets, small bars and rural places. Kantors (exchange offices) in town centres usually beat banks, but avoid those at airports and stations. Always choose to be charged in PLN.

Wechselkurs nach PLN prüfen

Trinkgeld

Tipping about 10% is customary in sit-down restaurants for good service; in cafes and bars people round up. One important custom: saying 'dziękuję' (thank you) when handing over money means the server can keep the change.

Nützliche Sätze

• Poproszę rachunek. The bill, please.
• Reszty nie trzeba. Keep the change.
• Proszę o resztę. My change, please.

Umgangsformen

• Greet with 'Dzień dobry' in shops, offices and lifts.
• Drinking alcohol in public places (streets, parks) is illegal and fined.
• Jaywalking is fined, including for tourists; wait for the green light.
• Take off shoes when entering a home.
• Dress modestly in churches, which are active places of worship; keep quiet at Auschwitz-Birkenau and other memorials.
• Validate paper tickets as soon as you board trams and buses.

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Bar invitation scam

  Wo: Kraków Old Town, Warsaw nightlife

  So funktioniert’s: Attractive women invite tourists to a club where drink bills are huge, sometimes with card overcharging or spiked drinks.

  So vermeidest du es: Decline invitations to a stranger's chosen bar; check prices, check card amounts before entering your PIN.

• Unlicensed taxis

  Wo: Airports, railway stations (e.g. Kraków Główny)

  So funktioniert’s: Unofficial 'transport services' charge many times the normal rate; some have been linked to assaults.

  So vermeidest du es: Use Bolt, Uber, FREENOW, or official taxis with company name, phone number and rate card.

• Exchange office tricks

  Wo: Kantors at stations, airports and tourist streets

  So funktioniert’s: Poor spreads or rates displayed with hidden digits so you receive far fewer zloty.

  So vermeidest du es: Ask for the amount you will receive in writing first, use town kantors or ATMs.

• Fake hotel 'card verification' calls

  Wo: Hotels

  So funktioniert’s: A late-night call claims to be reception and asks for your card details to 'confirm' the booking.

  So vermeidest du es: Never give card details by phone; go to reception in person.

• Card overcharging in bars

  Wo: Nightlife areas

  So funktioniert’s: Staff enter a higher amount on the terminal, often when guests are drunk.

  So vermeidest du es: Check the amount on the terminal before paying; pay by drink if needed.

• Dynamic currency conversion

  Wo: Euronet ATMs and card terminals

  So funktioniert’s: You are offered a charge in your home currency at a poor rate.

  So vermeidest du es: Always choose PLN.

Sicherheit

• Serious crime against foreigners is rare; watch for pickpockets in crowded tourist sites, trams and railway stations.
• Drink spiking linked to robbery has been reported in bars and clubs; do not leave drinks unattended.
• Take care after using ATMs and avoid isolated areas late at night.
• Unlicensed taxis have been linked to overcharging and assaults; use apps or official taxis.
• Public drinking is illegal and police do fine tourists.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

Most young people speak decent English; older people, especially outside big cities, often speak little or none. German is fairly common in the west.

Quellen

• GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: Poland, safety and security
• Wikivoyage: Poland
• Wikivoyage: Kraków

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