Poland holidays
"Cultivation, old civilization, beauty, history! Whoever speaks of Paris has never seen Warsaw."
Novelist Cynthia OzickPoland may not be the most obvious holiday destination…
...but this resilient country has a fine collection of elegant cities rich in culture, as well as many lovely national parks to explore. Battered by the events of the 20th century, Poland is a fascinating place for history buffs, particularly those with an interest in the events of World War ll. There are many museums and monuments dedicated to this dramatic era, as well as castles, palaces and churches paying testament to around a thousand years of history before it. Kraków and Warsaw rival any European city for the grandeur and quality of their architecture, while the cuisine tempts with hearty home-cooked fare and an abundance of cream cakes and strudel - visit Poland and be prepared to loosen your waistband!
Our holidays in Poland
Culture and history |
Though Poland claims to have no official religion, the vast majority of the Polish population is Roman Catholic and the country even has a TV channel dedicated to the Pope! Famous Poles include composer Frederick Chopin, Karol Józef Wojtyla (better known as Pope John Paul ll), novelist Joseph Conrad, art deco artist Tamara de Lempicka, and the co-founder of Marks and Spencer, Michael Marks. If you want to get a flavour of the country, read Olga Tokarczuk’s award-winning House of Day, House of Night, tales weaved around a small village in the countryside, or Stefan Chwin's novel Death in Danzig about a German doctor who stays on in Gdansk at the end of World War ll. When greeting someone in Poland, a good handshake, eye contact and a smile goes a long way. Among the golden generation, kissing a woman's hand in greeting is considered very courteous. Local dishes include pierogi, which are delicious little dumplings filled with potato and cheese, meat, mushroom or sauerkraut, blueberries or cherries. Or try bigos, a meat stew, or Golabki, cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice. For the sweet-toothed, a belt-busting variety of pastries - including fawoki, twists of fried pastry sprinkled with sugar - are available. Looking back in time, Poland has its origins in the Slavic tribes of the Middle Ages, and eventually united as a kingdom around the middle of the 11th century. Surrounded on all sides by powerful neighbours, Poland has had a tumultuous time throughout the centuries, attacked and taken over (to varying degrees) by Prussians, the Teutonic Knights of Germany, and later the Ottomans, the Tatars and Russia. Despite such hostilities, Poland remained strong, and the 16th century heralded something of a renaissance in the country, with sciences, arts and music flourishing. Fortunes dipped with invasions from all sides when Austria, Prussia and, most significantly, Russia seized control and occupied Poland for well over 100 years. With the onset of World War I, the country's fortunes changed again, and as the war drew to a close Poland became a republic. Despite signing nonaggression pacts with Germany and the Soviet Union, Poland was invaded by German troops in 1939, and World War II was set in motion. Just a few short weeks later the Soviet Union invaded Eastern Poland. The war was catastrophic for Poland, its cities lay in ruins and around six million Poles had lost their lives. Soviet control ensued, then after the fall of communism across Eastern Europe the road to democracy and a free market began. Poland joined the European Union in 2004. |
Things to do |
Book a Baltic cruise and stop off in the picturesque medieval town of Gdańsk, or travel along the Oder River, cruising through the Szczecin lagoon and onwards into Germany. Explore the pristine Old Town of Warsaw, or the 14th century Wawel Castle and elaborate Cloth Hall in Kraków. See chandeliers carved from salt at UNESCO-listed Wielickza, take in the impressively turreted Malbork Castle, or tour the many islands of Swinoujscie on the sea border with Germany. |
Flight time |
It takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes to fly from London to Warsaw. |
Currency |
Zloty - The currency is the Polish zloty, meaning ‘golden’, which is broken down into 100 groszy. |
Passports and visas |
If you’re a British citizen visiting Poland and have a valid passport, you don’t need a visa. Visit GOV.UK for more advice on passports and visas. |
Phrases |
Polish your Polish… Hello - Cześć (tch-esh-ch) Goodbye - Do widzenia (do vee-dze-nya) Please - Proszę’ (pro-she) Thank you - Dziękuję (jenkoo-yeah) Yes - Tak (tahk) No - Nie (nye) Good morning - Dzień dobry (jean dough-bree) Good evening - Dobry wieczor (doh-brih vee-etch-oo-r) Good night - Dobranoc (doh-brah-nots) |
Timezone |
Poland is one hour ahead of GMT. |
Electricity |
Mains voltage in Poland is 230 volts AC (50 Hz). European style plugs with two round parallel pins are used, so you will need an adapter for British appliances. |
Language |
Polish - Polish is the official language. However German, Byelorussian, Kashubian and Russian are also spoken throughout the country. You’ll find English is often spoken in tourist areas. |
Tipping |
If you’re happy with the service, then a 10-15% tip is good but wait for your change back before you tip: if you pay and say thank you at the same time this can be interpreted as ‘keep the change’. |
Climate |
Poland has a moderate climate not unlike ours. Summers tend to be mild and warm and temperatures drop a few degrees below freezing during the winter months. It’s also home to one of Europe’s few deserts and while the rainfall might not put it in the Sahara’s league, the sand and sparse vegetation create a barren landscape. |
Health |
Tap water in Poland is safe to drink although bottled mineral water is widely available. It’s advisable to carry the name, address and telephone number of your local GP, as if you become unwell, your insurance company may require this information. As health information can change at any time, we’d advise you to consult your GP at least 12 weeks before departure. Country-specific information and advice on possible health risks is also published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office provides important health and safety information for British nationals travelling abroad. |
Population and size |
The country’s population clocks in at 38.3 million, which makes it the sixth most populous country in the EU. At 312,685 square kilometers, Poland is nearly 2.5 times bigger than England. It shares its borders with no less than seven countries: Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, Slovakia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Germany. One third of the country is covered with forest, 50% of the land is farmed, there are 9,300 lakes, 23 National Parks and one desert. |
Smoking |
Smoking is banned in all public places in Poland but there are designated smoking areas available. Don’t be tempted to have a sneaky puff as you could be fined if you’re caught. |
Culture and historyThough Poland claims to have no official religion, the vast majority of the Polish population is Roman Catholic and the country even has a TV channel dedicated to the Pope! Famous Poles include composer Frederick Chopin, Karol Józef Wojtyla (better known as Pope John Paul ll), novelist Joseph Conrad, art deco artist Tamara de Lempicka, and the co-founder of Marks and Spencer, Michael Marks. If you want to get a flavour of the country, read Olga Tokarczuk’s award-winning House of Day, House of Night, tales weaved around a small village in the countryside, or Stefan Chwin's novel Death in Danzig about a German doctor who stays on in Gdansk at the end of World War ll. When greeting someone in Poland, a good handshake, eye contact and a smile goes a long way. Among the golden generation, kissing a woman's hand in greeting is considered very courteous. Local dishes include pierogi, which are delicious little dumplings filled with potato and cheese, meat, mushroom or sauerkraut, blueberries or cherries. Or try bigos, a meat stew, or Golabki, cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice. For the sweet-toothed, a belt-busting variety of pastries - including fawoki, twists of fried pastry sprinkled with sugar - are available. Looking back in time, Poland has its origins in the Slavic tribes of the Middle Ages, and eventually united as a kingdom around the middle of the 11th century. Surrounded on all sides by powerful neighbours, Poland has had a tumultuous time throughout the centuries, attacked and taken over (to varying degrees) by Prussians, the Teutonic Knights of Germany, and later the Ottomans, the Tatars and Russia. Despite such hostilities, Poland remained strong, and the 16th century heralded something of a renaissance in the country, with sciences, arts and music flourishing. Fortunes dipped with invasions from all sides when Austria, Prussia and, most significantly, Russia seized control and occupied Poland for well over 100 years. With the onset of World War I, the country's fortunes changed again, and as the war drew to a close Poland became a republic. Despite signing nonaggression pacts with Germany and the Soviet Union, Poland was invaded by German troops in 1939, and World War II was set in motion. Just a few short weeks later the Soviet Union invaded Eastern Poland. The war was catastrophic for Poland, its cities lay in ruins and around six million Poles had lost their lives. Soviet control ensued, then after the fall of communism across Eastern Europe the road to democracy and a free market began. Poland joined the European Union in 2004. |
Things to doBook a Baltic cruise and stop off in the picturesque medieval town of Gdańsk, or travel along the Oder River, cruising through the Szczecin lagoon and onwards into Germany. Explore the pristine Old Town of Warsaw, or the 14th century Wawel Castle and elaborate Cloth Hall in Kraków. See chandeliers carved from salt at UNESCO-listed Wielickza, take in the impressively turreted Malbork Castle, or tour the many islands of Swinoujscie on the sea border with Germany. |
Flight timeIt takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes to fly from London to Warsaw. |
CurrencyZloty - The currency is the Polish zloty, meaning ‘golden’, which is broken down into 100 groszy. |
Passports and visasIf you’re a British citizen visiting Poland and have a valid passport, you don’t need a visa. Visit GOV.UK for more advice on passports and visas. |
PhrasesPolish your Polish… Hello - Cześć (tch-esh-ch) Goodbye - Do widzenia (do vee-dze-nya) Please - Proszę’ (pro-she) Thank you - Dziękuję (jenkoo-yeah) Yes - Tak (tahk) No - Nie (nye) Good morning - Dzień dobry (jean dough-bree) Good evening - Dobry wieczor (doh-brih vee-etch-oo-r) Good night - Dobranoc (doh-brah-nots) |
TimezonePoland is one hour ahead of GMT. |
ElectricityMains voltage in Poland is 230 volts AC (50 Hz). European style plugs with two round parallel pins are used, so you will need an adapter for British appliances. |
LanguagePolish - Polish is the official language. However German, Byelorussian, Kashubian and Russian are also spoken throughout the country. You’ll find English is often spoken in tourist areas. |
TippingIf you’re happy with the service, then a 10-15% tip is good but wait for your change back before you tip: if you pay and say thank you at the same time this can be interpreted as ‘keep the change’. |
ClimatePoland has a moderate climate not unlike ours. Summers tend to be mild and warm and temperatures drop a few degrees below freezing during the winter months. It’s also home to one of Europe’s few deserts and while the rainfall might not put it in the Sahara’s league, the sand and sparse vegetation create a barren landscape. |
HealthTap water in Poland is safe to drink although bottled mineral water is widely available. It’s advisable to carry the name, address and telephone number of your local GP, as if you become unwell, your insurance company may require this information. As health information can change at any time, we’d advise you to consult your GP at least 12 weeks before departure. Country-specific information and advice on possible health risks is also published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office provides important health and safety information for British nationals travelling abroad. |
Population and sizeThe country’s population clocks in at 38.3 million, which makes it the sixth most populous country in the EU. At 312,685 square kilometers, Poland is nearly 2.5 times bigger than England. It shares its borders with no less than seven countries: Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, Slovakia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Germany. One third of the country is covered with forest, 50% of the land is farmed, there are 9,300 lakes, 23 National Parks and one desert. |
SmokingSmoking is banned in all public places in Poland but there are designated smoking areas available. Don’t be tempted to have a sneaky puff as you could be fined if you’re caught. |