STUDY IN  Poland - Living in poland

Social Scene    |    Local Customs and Culture    |    Transportation

Accommodation    |    Health Care    |    Emergency Contacts

Social Scene

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.

Local Customs & Culture

Food & Drink:
Poland has a distinctive cuisine, with typical ingredients being dill, marjoram, caraway seeds, wild mushrooms and sour cream, which is frequently added to soups, sauces and braised meats. The national dish of Poland is bigos, made with sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, onions and any variety of leftover meat. Polish meals start with przekaski (starters), such as pike in aspic, marinated fish in sour cream, salted and rolled herring fillets with pickles and onions, kulebiak (a large mushroom and cabbage pasty) or Polish sausages such as the long, thin and highly spiced kabanos or the hunters’ sausage (mysliwska) made with pork and game. Soups play an important part at mealtimes and are usually rich and very thick. Soups such as barszcz (beetroot soup, excellent with sour cream) or rosol (beef or chicken bouillon) are often served in cups with small hot pasties stuffed with meat or cabbage. Popular dishes include zrazy zawijane (mushroom-stuffed beefsteak rolls in sour cream) served with boiled kasza (buckwheat) and pig’s knuckles. Poland is also a good country for fish (ryba) such as carp served in sweet-and-sour jellied sauce, and poached pike with horseradish in cream. Herring (sledz) is particularly popular and is served up in countless different ways. Pastries (ciastka) are also very good. Table service is the norm in restaurants.

Vodka (wódka), the national drink, is drunk chilled. Wyborowa is considered the best standard vodka, but there are many flavoured varieties such as zubrowka (bison grass), tarniowka (sloe plum), sliwowica (prune) and pieprzowka (vodka with ground white pepper). Western drinks, such as whisky, gin or brandy, can be obtained in most bars but are expensive. Wine is available but, again, is imported and expensive. The best bottled beer is zywiec, a fairly strong lager-type beer. Bars have table and/or counter service. Coffee shops are very popular in Poland and are the favourite places for social meetings from early morning to late at night. They do not close during the day and have the same function as do pubs in the United Kingdom. Alcoholic drinks are available throughout the day.

Nightlife:
Warsaw also reflects the strong theatrical and musical traditions of Poland, with about 17 theatres and three opera companies. Cinemas in Poland show both Polish and foreign films. There are some discos in Poland, as well as a growing number of nightclubs and music bars in Warsaw.

Shopping:
Special purchases include glass and enamelware, handwoven rugs, silverware, handmade jewellery with amber and silver, dolls in regional costumes, woodcarvings and clay and metal sculptures. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0600-1800/1900, shorter hours on Saturday and Sunday. ‘Night shops’ open 2000-0800. Supermarkets and department stores open Mon-Sat 0900-2000. Bookshops open Mon-Fri 1100-1900.

Special Events: For a full list, contact the Polish National Tourist Office

Note: The Cultural Information Centre publishes Karnet, a bilingual cultural monthly publication with details of cultural events. Contact the tourist board for further information.

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 humour 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.

Transportation

AIR: All internal airlines are operated by LOT Polish Airlines (website: www.lot.com) and there is a comprehensive network linking all major cities.

RAIL: Cheap and efficient InterCity trains are operated by Polish State Railways (PKP) (website: www.pkp.pl) 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 travellers 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; e-mail: office@pzm.pl; website: www.pzm.pl). 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 centres. The minimum age is 21. Charges are usually based on a daily rate plus a kilometre 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 travelling in their own cars should have car registration cards, their national driving licence (driving licences 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.

Accommodation

HOTELS: Most major international hotel chains are represented in Poland. International Student Hotels offer better facilities than youth hostels and are inexpensive, comfortable and pleasant. Grading: Hotels in Poland are graded in five categories: luxury, 4-star, 3-star, 2-star and 1-star. In addition there are tourist hotels, boarding houses and motels, each graded into three or four categories. For further information, contact the Polish Hotel Association, Ul. Nowogrodzka 44 m 2, 00-695 Warsaw (tel: (22) 622 6991-3; fax: (22) 622 6992; e-mail: hotel@hotel.pl; website: www.hotel.pl).

GUEST HOUSES: Three categories are available in all towns and run by regional tourist boards. Reservations can be made from local offices.

CAMPING/CARAVANNING: There are many campsites in Poland, nearly 75 per cent of which are fitted with 220-volt powerpoints and several with 24-volt points for caravans. Facilities also include washrooms, canteens and nearby restaurants and food kiosks. The main camping season is June to August. Holders of an international camping card (FICC) qualify for a 10 per cent rebate on rates. Grading: There are two categories. Category I sites cover an area of 100 sq m (10,764 sq ft) and have 24-hour reception and lighting. For more information, contact the Polish Federation of Camping and Caravanning (Polska Federacja Campingui I Caravaningu), Ul. Grochowska 331, 03-838 Warsaw (tel/fax: (22) 810 6050; e-mail: biuro@pfcc.info; website: www.pfcc.info).

YOUTH HOSTELS: There are about 446 hostels in Poland. Addresses can be found in the Youth Hostel Handbook published by the Polish Youth Hostels Association. For further information contact the Polish Youth Hostels Association (Polskie Towarzystwo Schronisk Mlodziezowych), Ul. Chocimska 28, 00-791 Warsaw (tel: (22) 849 8128; fax: (22) 849 8354; e-mail: hostellingpol.ptsm@pro.onet.pl).

Health Care

There are reciprocal health agreements with most European countries for hospital treatment and medical expenses. The agreement with the UK allows free emergency medical treatment (including hospital treatment) and some free dental treatment on presentation of an NHS card. UK citizens must, however, pay a call-out charge as well as 30 per cent of the cost of prescribed medicines obtained at a public pharmacy.

Emergency Contacts