Poland lies in the central part of the European continent, the geometrical centre of which is near Warsaw. This is where the lines from Nordkyn in Norway to Matapan in Greece, and from Cabo da Roca in Portugal to the central Urals intersect. The boundary between the East and West European continental masses also runs through Poland.
The total length of the borders of the country is 3 056 kilometers, of which 416 kilometers is the common border with Belarus, 790 kilometers is shared with Czech republic, 467 kilometers with Germany, 103 kilometers with Lithuania, 210 kilometers with Russia (Area of Kalinigrad), 541 kilometers with Slovakia and the border with Ukraine stretches on 529 kilometers.
Basic information:
Geographical information
52´00'' N
20´00'' E
Population: 38 518 241
Density of population: 123 per sq kilometer
Capital city: Warszawa (1 700 000 inhabitants)
Area: 312 685 square kilometers
Time: Central European Time / 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Climate: The territory of Poland has a mild continental climate with four seasons.
Language: Official language is Polish. Other languages are English, German, Russian, French
Currency: Polish zloty (PLN) / (credit cards are useful)
How to get to Poland?
You can choose from followings:
A dense and modern traffic net of Poland allows a quick and comfortable traveling within the whole territory. The variability of chosen means of transport is also important - cars, buses, bikes, bicycles, trains or express trains, aeroplanes or ships.
By plane
Most of Europes major airlines fly to and from Poland. Polish national carriers are LOT Polish Airlines, and a low cost airline Centralwings (owned by LOT). There are several low cost airlines that fly to Poland including WizzAir, SkyEurope, EasyJet, Germanwings, Norwegian and Ryanair.
Apart from direct air connections from many European cities there are also direct flights from United States and Canada. LOT operates direct flights from Toronto, New York and Chicago, however tickets for those flights are far from cheap and most people with limited budgets fly with other airlines which stopover in major European airports.
International airlines fly mainly to Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW) in Okęcie. Other major airports in Poland are: Kraków-Balice (KRK), Katowice-Pyrzowice (KTW), Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN), Wrocław Copernicus Airport (WRO), Poznań-Ławica (POZ), Szczecin-Goleniów (SZZ), Rzeszów-Jasionka (RZE), Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport (BZG) and Łódź-Lublinek (LCJ).
Domestic flights operated by LOT (under Eurolot brand) connect Warsaw with Bydgoszcz, Katowice, Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznań, Łódź, Szczecin Wrocław and Zielona Góra. Other smaller cities don't have airports with facilities that would allow commercial airlines to operate internationally, however there are often charter flights available - of course, these are for people with thick wallets.
As the number of flights and passengers has significantly increased since 1990, a new terminal has been opened at the Okęcie airport which will significantly increase the airport's capacity. Also airports in Kraków, Wrocław and Poznań have been expanded to increase their standards and capacity.
By train
Direct connections with:
- Berlin, EuroCity "Berlin-Warszawa-Express (BWE)", 3 trains per day, 6 hours, EuroCity "Wawel", everyday, 10 hours
- Hamburg, InterCity "Wawel", everyday but saturday, 13 hours
- Frankfurt, EuroNight "Jan Kiepura", everyday, 15 hours
- Vilnius, Nighat Train "Balti", 10 hours - temporary operated by bus
- Kiev, Night Train "Józef Chełmoński", 16 hours
- Vienna, Night Train "Chopin", everyday, 9 hours, EuroCity "Sobieski", everyday, 6 hours, EuroCity "Polonia", everyday, 8 hours
- Prague, Night Train "Chopin", EuroCity "Praha", everyday, 9.5 hours
- Moscow, Night Train "Ost-West", everyday, 20.5 hours
In Poland, the national railway carrier PKP has recently been divided into several different companies, among them are: PKP InterCity (Intercity, Express, Night Express, TLK), PKP Przewozy Regionalne (pospieszny and osobowy) and PKP Cargo (which incidentally owns all the locomotives). There are also some local competitors emerging (KM Koleje Mazowieckie). Tickets are valid for trains operated by the issuing company only.
Tickets are quite cheap, but travel conditions reflect the fact that majority of railworks and wagons are from few decades ago. Unfortunately, sometimes it's not very safe to travel by train (although this can be equally true in some other European countries as well), especially on some non-express suburban routes - it is recommended to travel close to the front of the train (where train staff are more likely to provide assistance), and to avoid traveling by night. Express and InterCity routes are much safer than slower connections.
However, Poland is generally a non-violent country. With sensible precautions (for example, making sure the door of your compartment on a night train is locked securely while you are sleeping), Poland does not present a greater danger to travellers than travelling at night elsewhere.
You can expect a fast connection on modernized routes, such as the Warszawa - Katowice, the Warszawa - Kraków and the Warszawa - Poznań lines.
Tickets for any route can be purchased at any station. For a foreigner buying tickets can prove to be a frustrating experience as many employees at the railway ticket offices do not understand anything but Polish. It is recommended that you buy your train tickets at a travel agency. Also, trying to pronounce your destination will often not be understood. Polish railways' ticket salespersons are not known for any service minded attitude. The long queues in front of the ticket sales offices is another good reason for foreign travellers to choose a travel agency. Be also aware that it may be easier Buying in advance and it may be necessary for peak seasons (eg. end of holiday period, New Year, etc.) for those trains where place reservation is obligatory.
If you change trains between InterCity and Regional you have to buy two tickets. It connects all major cities, but it is also good choice to get to many small towns on internal routes.
By car
You can enter Poland by one of many roads linking Poland with the neighbouring countries. Since Poland's entry to the EU, queues on border crossings with other EU countries have been greatly reduced. In most cases, it doesn't take more than a few minutes to cross the border.
However, the queues on the borders with Poland's non-EU neighbours are still large and in areas congested with truck traffic it can take up to several hours to pass. You can check the current waiting times on Polish Border Guard page (wjazd - entry, wyjazd - exit, osob. - passenger cars, autob. - coaches, ciężar. - lorries).
Polish road network is below par by Western European standards, but quite functional and dense. The biggest problem is that there is no intercity highway system and most of the country is linked only with single-carriageway roads, which are not suitable for the traffic volume they are experiencing. The roads are generally well-signed but various surface defects, most notably ruts, are commonplace.
As long as you keep by the main roads, you should get to where you want fairly easy. But estimate twice as much time and exhaustion compared with driving in countries like Germany or France. When traveling between cities or towns, you should always add about 30 minutes for every 100 km that you travel to leave time for getting stuck behind slow moving vehicles.
By bus
There are many international bus lines that connect major Polish cities, with most of major European ones.
By boat
- From Sweden: Ystad (7-9 hours, 215 zł) by Unity Line; Karlskrona (10 hours, 140-220 zł) by Stena Line; Nynäshamn (18 hours, 230-270 zł), Visby (13.5 hours, 170 zł), Ystad (9.5 hours, 230 zł) by Polferries
- From Denmark: Copenhagen (9-11 hours, 220 zł), Bornholm/Rønne (5 hours, 125 zł) by Polferries
By yacht
- Modern yacht port in Łeba
… and now something about bath spa in Poland…
The tradition of Polish health bath spa dates back to the 13th century. Deposits of therapeutic mineral waters and therapeutic mud allow many disorders to be treated in Poland. Polish batj spas are not only for people with health problems, but also for those who seek peace and quiet for resting.
Presently Poland has as many as 40 health bath spa municipalities and 70 health resorts. Though, most of these are located in the southern part of Poland. Amidst the mountainous ranges of the Carpathians and the Sudetens, some bath spas and health resorts are strewn on the Baltic Coast and in other beautiful locales in the heartland.
Operating all round the year, these rehabilitation centers and sanatoriums offer package treatments that include accommodation, foodstuff, medical care, physiotherapy and recreation as well.
These modern-day bath spa resort sanatoriums have guest-rooms with attached sanitary facilities, balcony and radio/TV sets. Meals are prepared as per the needs of individual patients undergoing treatments. Other facilities like common cafes, gymnasiums, Jacuzzi baths, libraries, sauna, swimming pools, etc. offer the tourists healthy engagement. From time to time, special events such as excursions, hiking trips, and cultural shows are arranged by the Spa/Resort authorities.
Medical services include diagnosis and treatment. While diagnosis and treatment prescription are undertaken by renowned names in Polish medicine and therapeutics, trained nursing staff and therapists manning the Sanatoria, undertake the actual therapy-application. The medical facilities fitted with state-of-the-art medical and rehabilitation equipments are fully modernized.
In the balneologic bath spas it's possible to treat circulatory complaints, digestive tract disorders, gyneacological diseases, endocrine problems, metabolic system diseases, rheumatological diseases, skin diseases, urinary tract diseases, throat problems. The climatic bath spa are very crowded, since due to the climate influences of the sea, illnesses that cause respiratory and allergic problems, both in the children and in the adults, can be treated.
The bath spa resorts are mainly situated in southern part of the country. Some of them are in the middle and some in north parts. These bath spas provide every type of balneal and physical therapy. Throughout history bathing and spa tourism has always played an important role in Poland.
BALNEOLOGIC BATH SPAS: