Customs and Visas

To enter Poland you need a passport valid for three months beyond date of arrival, however, if you are a EU citizen you can enjoy your right to travel freely and all you need is your ID. Unfortunately, travellers from outside the EU may need to apply for a Polish visa. You can do that in a Polish embassy or consulate in your home country.

We assume that, as nobody would like to be accused of smuggling, it’s good to know that you are allowed to bring in the following:

800 cigarettes
200 cigars
1kg smoking tobacco
10 litres of spirits
20 litres of wine
110 litres of beer

Please take notice that under-17 teens are not allowed to bring in any of these!!!
But absolutely everyone can bring a pet! Your pet will need a pet passport (after all they are travellers too!) certifying recent rabies vaccinations.
What may be of importance to antique lovers is a fact that there are some restrictions concerning export of antiques bought in our country if they date back to before 1945. This does not mean that they cannot be taken out of Poland at all – with the help of DESA Antiques and Works of Art Ltd we can try to obtain an export permit.

If you are taking electronic appliances you might need a plug adapter - the voltage used in Poland is 230V. We are of help in this matter as well – we have some adapters available for our clients. Thus, should your laptop, camera or mobile start flickering alarmingly, contact us and we’ll provide you with one.


Healthcare

Before you set off for Cracow (and any other destination, as a matter of fact) you’d better consider taking a travel insurance. Due to strict sanitary regulations, omnipresence of security guards and our care of you Cracow is generally a safe place, but it’s always better to be on the safe side, we all know that unfortunate accidents may occur to even the most experienced travellers. That’s why it’s reasonable to take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. Well, that’s probably all you need to know. As it is our job to assist you on your stay in Cracow, we are available for you 24 hours a day to provide you with professional aid and support in case of any emergency.


Weather and Climate

Regardless of season or weather Cracow always has an atmosphere; it is full of charm and magic, and every season brings out a different face of the city.

You can tell that spring has come when with the first warm sunrays outdoor cafes spring up on the main square. Cracow’s florists flood the square with a splash of colours and intoxicating scents of cut spring flowers, and tourists from all over the world arrive in their hundreds.

In summer the temperature often soars up to 30ºC or more. Then, life seems to slow down in Cracow - tempting with cold drinks cafes and restaurants thrive, swimming-pools are filled with crowds and juicy green Planty gardens (a ring of parkland that encircles the Old Town) invite us to casually stroll in the shade. It’s not difficult to guess what happens after sunset – the city wakes up to a party! On hot summer nights the town gets even hotter and it is not a bit less crowded than at daytime. Hundreds of pubs, restaurants and nightclubs are open till early morning.

Then comes autumn – Polish golden autumn! When the green gives way to bronze, red and yellow Cracow flickers with red and gold – truly royal colours! Gossamer in your hair and shiny chestnuts at your feet - in this scenery it is easy to find quiet in a hectic life and get into a romantic or pensive mood, whichever you prefer.

In winter our city is often covered by a thick coat of snow. The temperature drops to between 4 to 10ºC below zero, however it may go down to -25ºC!!! It’s good to bear it in mind when packing for a winter city break.


Money

The unit currency in Poland is Polish z³oty (PLN) which is made up of 100 grosz. Notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 PLN, while coins are
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 grosz and
1, 2, 5 z³oty.
Portraits of Polish kings can be seen on all banknotes and an eagle wearing a crown (the national emblem) on the reverse of every coin.

It’s relatively easy to exchange money in Cracow (in the centre there are over a dozen of bureaux de change) but the exchange rates may vary dramatically so we recommend that you consult us for help in finding the best possible options.

Check current exchange rates.

Credit and debit cards are becoming more and more popular in Poland. Most hotels, restaurants and major shops take plastic but it’s wise to make sure your card is accepted before you sink your teeth in the steak - otherwise you may find yourself in a very embarrassing situation! We think it’s always useful to have some cash on you - you can always get rid of change tipping numerous buskers or other street performers.

Emergencies

We are giving you the emergency phone numbers but at the same time we ask you to call us immediately having called the police, ambulance or fire brigade. This shouldn’t be difficult as we will equip your group (no matter how small) with a mobile with a Polish SIM card and our number in the phone book.
In case of emergency dial:

997 to call the police,
999 to call an ambulance,
998 to call the fire brigade.

The single European emergency number - 112
- also works in Poland (your call will be directed to the nearest police or fire station).