Social Conventions
Poles are friendly, industrious people and foreigners are usually made very welcome. There are vast contrasts between urban and rural life and the Polish peasantry is very religious and conservative, maintaining a traditional lifestyle. Roman Catholicism plays an important role in daily life and criticism or jokes about religion are not appreciated, despite the general good humor of the people. Music and art are also important aspects of Polish culture. Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Normal courtesies are observed when visiting private homes and it is customary to bring flowers. Fairly conservative casual wear is the most suitable attire, but dress should be formal when specified for entertaining in the evening or in a smart restaurant. Smoking is restricted in some public buildings.
Photography: Military installations such as bridges, ports, airports, border points etc should not be photographed.
Tipping
10 to 15 per cent is customary in restaurants and cafes. Tipping in self-service restaurants is not expected. Tips for porter’s services in hotels and train stations are customary but amounts are at the traveller’s discretion.
International Travel:
Air
Poland’s national airline is
LOT Polish Airlines (LO). Other airlines serving Poland include
Aeroflot,
Air France,
Austrian Airlines,
British Airways,
Easyjet,
El Al,
Lufthansa,
Ryanair,
SAS and
Swiss.
Approximate flight times
From Warsaw to
London is two hours, to
Frankfurt/M is one hour 50 minutes, and to
Prague is one hour 20 minutes.
International airports
Warsaw (WAW) (Okecie) is 10km (6 miles) southwest of the city (travel time – 20-40 minutes by bus; 20-30 minutes by taxi). Full duty free facilities are available. Airport facilities include post office, banks and bureaux de change, bars and restaurants, left-luggage facilities, tourist information services and car hire (
Avis,
Budget,
Hertz,
National and
Thrifty).
Kraków (KRK) (Balice John Paul II) is 16km (10 miles) west of the city center. Buses and taxis are available. Airport facilities include bar, bureau de change and car hire (Ann, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz). There are duty free facilities in the departure hall.
Wroclaw (WRO) (Strachowice) is 8km (5 miles) from the city center. Airport facilities include a bank, duty free shop, post office, restaurants and shops. Buses, taxis and car hire are also available. There is a daily connection to Frankfurt/M and twice weekly (Thurs and Sun) to Düsseldorf. Katowice (KTW) is 34km (21 miles) from the city. There are connections to Copenhagen, Frankfurt/M and Munich daily.
Gdansk (GDN) is the most common entry point into northern Poland.
Departure tax
None.
Rail
Polish State Railways (PKP) operates
EuroCity trains between Poland and a number of major European cities. All services from Western Europe to Poland pass through the Czech Republic, Germany or the Slovak Republic. The main routes link Warsaw with Berlin and Cologne, Budapest, Prague and Vienna. There is a car-sleeper service from the Hook of Holland to Poznan/ Warsaw.
Road
Poland is best reached from the Czech Republic and Germany or the car-sleeper rail service from the Hook of Holland to Poznan/Warsaw. There are extensive
bus and
coach services.
Eurolines, departing from Victoria Coach Station in London, serves destinations in Poland. For further information contact
Eurolines.
Duty Free
The following items may be imported into Poland by persons of 17 years of age and over without incurring customs duty:
250 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco;
1l of wine and 1l of spirits;
goods up to the value of &Euro;70.
Prohibited items
The export of all articles of artistic, historical or cultural value is subject to special regulations. Parrots, although in special cases permission is obtainable from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Abolition of duty free goods within the EU
On June 30 1999, the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on May 1 2004, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are now no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another (with the exceptions of Denmark, Finland and Sweden, where limits
are imposed). Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use
only.
Internal Travel:
Rail
Cheap and efficient
InterCity trains are operated by
Polish State Railways (PKP) and link all parts of the country in a network radiating from Warsaw. There are two classes of travel. The
Polrailpass (and
Junior Polrailpass for travelers under 26) is available for eight, 15, 21 or 30 days. This pass is available from travel agents and international rail ticket outlets, as well as from railway stations and travel agents within Poland. Children under four years of age travel free. Children aged four to 10 pay half fare.
Road
Traffic drives on the right. Poland has a dense network of filling stations. Unleaded petrol is available in most of the petrol stations. Most filling stations located along international routes are open 24 hours a day. The Polish Automobile and Motorway Federation
Polski Zwiazek Motorowy (PZM) can be called on 9637 nationwide for assistance. Starter emergency breakdown service can be called on (0801) 122 222. For further information, contact Polski Zwiazek Motorowy, ul Kazimierzowska 66, 02-518 Warsaw (tel: (22) 849 9361; fax: (22) 848 1951;
Bus: There are good regional bus and coach services operated by Polish Motor Communications (PKS) as well as the Polski Express connecting most towns.
Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at the airport or through various car rental offices in town centers. The minimum age is 21. Charges are usually based on a daily rate plus a kilometer charge.
Regulations: Speed limit is 60kph (40mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (57mph) on major roads and 110kph (69mph) on motorways. Seat belts and warning triangles are compulsory. Trams have the right of way. From 1 October to 1 April, all vehicles should have their lights switched on at all times.
Documentation: Tourists traveling in their own cars should have car registration cards, their national driving license (driving licenses of EU nationals are accepted) and valid Green Card motor insurance. An International Driving Permit is also required.
Urban
Bus: There are good services in all towns, with additional trams and trolleybuses operating in a dozen of the larger urban areas. Warsaw has bus, tramway and rail services. A flat fare is charged and there are pre-purchase tickets and passes.
Tram: Weekend and seven-day tourist tickets can be purchased. Most public transport operates from 0530-2300.
Taxi: These are available in all main towns. They are usually found at ranks or can be ordered by phone. There is a surcharge from 2300-0500 and for journeys out of town, as well as at weekends. Taxi drivers may insist on payment in hard currency.
Tipping is welcomed.
Travel times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from
Warsaw to other major cities/towns in Poland.
