Home – Poland – Being there

Poland Being There

Poland being there

You are on vacation in Poland. Great! Do you have suitable clothes with you and which plugs can you use? Here you will find practical information on site.

Facts and numbers

Official name

Republic of Poland / Rzeczpospolita Polska

Resident

Pole (m), Polish (f)

State form

Republic
Poland is divided into 16 provinces (województwa).

Capital

Warsaw / Warszawa

European Union

Poland has been a member of the European Union since 2004.

Language

Polish

Population

2019: 38 milion

Surface

312.685 km²

Income per inhabitant per year

2018: $ 28.100 (NL: $ 50.200)

Average life expectancy

2016: 78 years (NL: 81 years)

Currency

zloty (PLN)

Country code license plate

Electricity

Voltage

230 volts

Adapter

Power outlets have two round holes and may have a protruding ground pin.
You do not need an adapter for earthed plugs with a hole for this earthing pin or flat plugs without earthing earth.
Grounded plugs without a ground pin hole may require a Europe adapter or a universal world plug.

Language

Most spoken language: Polish.
Polish belongs to the Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages.
Some German is understood and spoken in Silesia
You can usually also work with English.

Travel season

Spring and autumn can be pleasant, but summer is the best time to travel.
In winter, snow falls in the higher areas (Tatras), making winter sports possible.

Clothes

Bring light, but also warm clothing for changing weather conditions. A raincoat or poncho can come in handy. You need a (fleece) sweater or cardigan for the cool evenings.
In the winter months you need warm clothes, gloves, a scarf and a thick winter coat.
Bring comfortable walking shoes.
In churches and monasteries you have to adhere to the dress code. Women wear their skirts or pants below the knee and the arms are completely covered. Men wear long pants and the arms are covered to the elbow.

Health

The level of medical care in Poland is reasonable to good.
Travelers are advised to take out good travel insurance. Please note that cash payment may be required for the provision of medical care.
In case of hospitalization or when specialist medical care is required, travelers should contact their insurance company directly.

European health insurance card (EHIC)

The European health insurance card or EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) entitles you to essential medical care in the event of illness or an accident during a temporary stay in Poland. If you show your EHIC, healthcare providers know that you are insured and where they can declare the healthcare costs. It is often not necessary to advance healthcare costs yourself.
You will usually find the personal EHIC on the back of your health insurer’s health card or in your health insurer’s app. Consult your health insurer’s website for more information about the EHIC.

Medicines

Take plenty of special medicines with you (in the original packaging) or ask the doctor for a prescription.
It is advisable to bring your own travel pharmacy with regular medicines.

Medical statement

Travelers who bring medicines prescribed by a doctor or specialist may be required to carry a medical certificate. This applies in any case to medicines that fall under the Opium Act (such as certain sleeping pills, ADHD medicines and strong painkillers).

Health advice

Sign

Watch out for ticks when hiking or camping in the countryside, as they can transmit Lyme disease.
Tick-borne encephalitis also occurs in Poland. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain caused by a virus that can be transmitted by ticks. From April to November the ticks are most active and the risk of contracting this disease is greatest.

Mammals

Rabies occurs in Poland. Contact a doctor immediately if you are bitten by a mammal (for example, a dog, cat or bat).

Drinking water

The tap water is slightly chlorinated and is safe. However, it can cause stomach and intestinal complaints. These complaints can be prevented by drinking bottled water.