Poland - At a Glance

Official Name: Republic of Poland / Rzeczpospolita Polska
Area: 312,685 km² (120,2728 mi²)
Geographical Location: Poland is located in Central Europe between the Baltic Sea in the north and the Carpathians in the south, between the Oder River in the west and the Bug River on the east. Lowland terrain dominates. 75% of the territory lies less than 200m (656.2ft) above sea level.
Climate: Changes between maritime climate and continental climate. There are predominantly moderate temperatures. Warm summers and cold winters are characteristic.
Capital: Warsaw with approx. 1.7 million inhabitants.
Form of Government: Parliamentary Republic
Independence: November 11, 1918
Population and Population Groups: 28.5 million inhabitants (as of July 2008). 3% of the overall population are ethnic minorities.
Language: Official language is Polish. 97.8% of communication is done in Polish.

Currency and Financial Institutions: Polish Zloty. 1 Zloty (Zl) = 100 Groszy (Gr). 1 Euro is equal to about 4.67 PLN (as of February 2009). Possibilities for exchanging foreign currency are available at banks and exchange offices (kantor). International credit cards can be used in most hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and in public intercity transport. Automated teller machines which accept EC cards are available.

Service Information / Recommendations for European Citizens:
Travel Documents and Visa: Since the entry of Poland into the European Union (EU) in 2004, citizens of the EU do not require a visa. For stays of longer than three months, a visa is required. Poland is a member of the Schengen Agreement.

Health: Currently there are no immunisations recommended. During the summer months, travelers in forested regions should consult their doctor in advance with regard to immunisations against tick bites (TBE).

Crime: It is recommended that valuable jewelry, watches, cameras, passports, and briefcases/wallets be kept out of sight as much as possible and that luggage is not left unattended. On busy streets and in large cities there may be cases of pickpocketing or auto theft. Be cautious of unsupervised parking areas, large supermarkets, and fake accidents (situations where people conspire to create a scene which looks like an accident in the hopes of preying upon people's kindness or inattention to personal belongings).

Duties: The export of objects such as books, works of art, jewelry, and furniture from the time prior to 1945 are subject to certain regulations.
Traffic: Should the driver of a motor vehicle not be the owner, it is essential that the driver have a notarised letter of permission. Otherwise, you will have to pay a fine. The legal alcohol limit is 0.2% (0.002 Blood Alcohol Content). Daytime driving legally requires the use of dimmed headlights all day long.

Emergency Number: From a landline or a public telephone - Police 997, Ambulance 999, Fire 998, from a cell phone - life-threatening situations 112, Water Rescue 0048 601 100 100, Mountain Rescue 0048 601 100 300.

Other Numbers: Directory Assistance 913 for local calls and 912 for long-distance calls.