Poland
Warsaw · PLN (Polish Złoty) · Polish
Hub airports: WAW, KRK, GDN · Suggested stay: 5–8 days
Poland gives you immense history (good and harrowing), beautiful old towns, dramatic Tatra mountains, and the lowest prices in Schengen. Kraków is the standout; Warsaw is a phoenix-from-WWII story; Gdańsk is an underrated Baltic port.
Kraków main square + a sobering day at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Where to go
Best time to visit
May–September for cities and mountains. December for Christmas markets in Kraków and Wrocław. February for skiing in Zakopane.
Score combines weather, crowds, and price (1–5). See the full matrix across all countries.
US-citizen tips
Currency is złoty (PLN), not euros. ATMs everywhere; avoid Euronet. Cards widely accepted. Tipping 10% in restaurants. Bolt cheaper than Uber.
Local etiquette
Take shoes off in homes. Older generation may speak Russian/German rather than English. Vodka straight, not in cocktails.
Getting around
PKP Intercity trains; book on intercity.pl or Trainline. FlixBus connects everywhere cheaply.
Daily budget (USD)
Common pitfalls
- ⚠Old Town restaurants in Kraków: tourist markups; walk 5 min away.
- ⚠Auschwitz tours sell out 3+ weeks ahead in summer — book first.
- ⚠Money exchanges (kantor) at airports are scams; use ATMs in town.
🆘 Emergency reference
Works from any phone (locked, no SIM), free, multilingual operators, dispatches police/fire/medical.
Consulate General in Kraków for southern Poland.
Lost passport, arrested, hospitalized, victim of a crime → contact embassy first, then home insurer. After hours: the main line routes you to a duty officer.
🗣️ Essential phrases
Polish