Where to Start When Planning a Trip to Poland
Transportation:
Trains
If you are wanting to travel to different areas in Poland, using the train system is incredibly affordable and convenient. Omio is my favorite site to use when purchasing tickets. Their website is so user friendly. Rail.Ninja is another one I have used in the past and have had great success with.
Bus
Another option from getting to different areas is by bus. Using the buses are about the same price as a train, maybe a couple of dollars cheaper depending on the time you choose to travel. When purchasing tickets I have used Omio as well or another favorite of mine is Flixbus. Both great, reliable sites.
Krakow
Getting around Krakow is pretty straight forward. GoogleMaps works great in Poland, directing you to what bus or tram line that would be best for your destination. You can buy single use tickets when visiting. Which can be bought at a kiosk at most stops. Make sure to validate the ticket once on the bus or tram.
Things to Consider:
Currency: Polish Zloty (PLN)
Best Time to Visit: May-June or September-October
Language: Polish
Drinkable Tap Water: Yes
Haggling: Yes, only in markets and bazaars
Tip: No
Flush Toilet Paper: Yes
Cash or Credit Card: Mostly credit card
Cultural Tips:
Do not smoke and drink in public. It is not only considered rude, it is also against the law and if caught you can be fined.
Do not point using your index finger, it is considered rude. You can use your whole hand or nod your head in the direction you are wanting to indicate.
What We Wish We Knew:
- Don’t forget to try traditional Polish food, Very underrated. Here is a list of some very yummy food to try (my personal favorite are the dumplings).
- Go to Auschwitz. I can not emphasize this enough. Learning about the history and actually seeing one the largest concentration camps is eye opening and sobering. The set up of Auschwitz is great, very organized and has a lot of signage explaining the history and displays. We took a tour and I personally like listening to the information and being guided around, however, my parents would have liked to have gone without a tour so they could set their own pace and read all the information displayed.
- Poland is an overlooked country. It’s one of those places we wish we had spent some more time in to explore different areas and learn more about the culture.