FIRST TIME IN POLAND?

Poland, without the confusion.

The practical things nobody explains before your trip: how to pay, what stays open on Sunday, whether you can drink the tap water, how public transport works and what to say when English is not enough.

Start with the essentials I just landed in Gdańsk

No account. No language course. Just useful answers.

START HERE

First time in Poland? Read these first.

Four questions that solve a surprising number of small travel problems.

01 💳

Can I pay by card? Contactless, cash, DCC, choosing PLN and BLIK.

→ 02 💱

What currency does Poland use? PLN, euros, exchange offices and ATMs.

→ 03 🛒

Are shops open on Sunday? 2026 trading Sundays, Żabka and what stays open.

→ 04 🚰

Can I drink tap water? Yes, generally — plus the few caveats worth knowing.

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🇵🇱 POLAND ESSENTIALS

How Poland works

Money, shops and everyday customs — the useful details that are easy to get wrong on a first visit.

💳 Money

Paying by card in Poland

Contactless is everywhere. Learn why you should usually choose PLN on a payment terminal and what BLIK is.

Read guide → 💱 Money

Polish złoty & exchange

PLN, euros, kantor buy/sell rates, ATMs and Polish cash.

Read guide → 💰 Etiquette

Do you tip in Poland?

Tipping is optional. Around 5% is reasonable; 10% is generous.

Read guide → 🐸 Shopping

Sunday shopping & Żabka

Trading Sundays, useful exceptions, what Żabka is and the cashierless Żabka Nano.

Read guide → 🚰 Everyday

Tap water in Poland

Is it safe in Gdańsk, Kraków and Warsaw? Usually yes.

Read guide →

📍 GDAŃSK

Land, move, explore.

Our first city guide starts with the two questions visitors need immediately after arrival.

Arrival guide

Gdańsk Airport → City Centre

Compare bus 210, the PKM train via Wrzeszcz and Uber/Bolt with example prices.

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Getting around

Public transport in Gdańsk

ZTM tickets, trams, buses, FALA, SKM and PKM without the ticket-system confusion.

→

🗣 POLISH SURVIVAL

Say only what you need.

You do not need a language course for a weekend trip. A handful of situation-specific phrases gets you surprisingly far.

Restaurant mode

Polish Restaurant Phrases

Ordering, drinks, allergies, paying, splitting the bill and full-screen phrases you can simply show to staff.

Open Restaurant Mode

At a restaurant Rachunek, proszę. The bill, please.

Paying Czy można zapłacić kartą? Can I pay by card?

Need help Potrzebuję pomocy. I need help.

WHAT POLAND ESSENTIALS IS

Not another travel encyclopedia.

Every page should answer one real question quickly, then give you the few extra details that stop you making an annoying mistake while travelling.

✓ Practical ✓ Mobile-first ✓ Checked against current sources