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18 BASICS
Facts & Figures
Territory
Poland covers an area of 312,685 square kilometers
and is the ninth biggest country in Europe. It borders
the Baltic Sea and seven countries, namely the Baltic
Sea (528km), Belarus (416km), Czech Republic (790km),
Germany (467km), Lithuania (103km), the Russian
exclave of Kaliningrad (210km),Slovakia (539km) and,
Ukraine (529km).
Longest River
The river Vistula (Wisła) is Poland’s longest river at
1,047km and flows through Kraków and Warsaw before
reaching the Bay of Gdańsk (Zatoka Gdańska). Gdańsk
sits on the Motława river which reaches the Baltic via
the Martwa Wisła.
Highest Point
The highest peak in the country is Rysy (2,499m above
sea level) which can be found in the Tatry mountains in
the south of the country.
Population (2010)
Poland - 38.200.037
Warsaw - 1.720.398
Kraków - 756.183
Łódź - 737.098
Wrocław - 632.996
Poznań - 551.627
Gdańsk - 456.967
Katowice - 306.826
Sopot - 38.141
Local time
Poland is in the Central European (CET) time zone
(GMT+1hr). When it’s 12:00 in Warsaw it’s 11:00 in
London, 12:00 in Paris and Berlin and 19:00 in Tokyo.
Polish summer time (GMT+2hrs) starts and ends on the
last Sundays of March and October.
Electricity
Electricity in Poland is 230V, 50Hz AC. Plug sockets are round
with two round-pin sockets. Therefore if you are coming from
the UK or Ireland you are definitely going to need a plug
convertor. The best place to pick these up is at home as our
residents Brits will testify although if you do arrive without
a covertor you can try your hotel concierge or reception. If
they don’t have one the best place to pick one up is at one
of the big electrical outlets often situated on the edge of
town. Our advice is save yourself the hassle and get one in
the airport as you leave.
Health & Emergency
In case of an emergency those dialling from a land line or
public payphone should use the following numbers: 999
for an ambulance, 998 for the fire brigade and 997 for the
police. Mobile phone users should call 112 to be forwarded
to the relevant department. English speaking assistance
is not necessarily guaranteed, and rests on the linguistics
capabilities of the call operator.
Between June 1st and September 30th however, English,
German and Russian speakers have the option of using a
separate line specifically designed for foreigners in distress:
dial 800 200 300 from a land-line or 608 599 999 from a
mobile phone for troubles during high-tourist season.
Market values
Prices in Poland are still fairly competitive despite
increases over the last couple of years particularly in
the prices of cigarettes. Here are some typical everyday
products and prices.
Market values as of 8th May 2012 based on
€1 = 4.15zł
Product Price (zł) Price (€)
McDonald's Big Mac 8.60 zł € 2.07
Snickers 1.49 zł € 0.36
0.5ltr vodka (shop) 22.99 zł € 5.54
0.5ltr beer (shop) 2.79 zł € 0.67
0.5ltr beer (bar) 8.00 zł € 1.93
Loaf of white bread 1.59 zł € 0.38
20 Marlboros 12.80 zł € 3.08
1 ltr of unleaded petrol (98) 6.01 zł € 1.45
Local transport ticket (1 journey) 2.80 zł € 0.67
Further help can be provided by embassies and consulates,
of which a comprehensive list can be found in the directory
section. If you’ve run out of money, however, then silly you.
No embassy will bail you out, and and your hopes will rest
on a Western Union money transfer. Most banks and many
exchange bureaus (kantors) can now carry out such transactions,
just keep an eye out for anywhere displaying the
Western Union logo.
For a list of clinics and hospitals check the directory section
at the back of this guide.
Internet
Internet access is typically free and widely available in
Poland, with practically every café and restaurant offering
wi-fi to customers with laptops and smartphones. Getting on
the network often requires nothing more than a password,
which you can request of your favorite bartender or barista
with a simple, “Poproszę o hasło do internetu?” If you don’t
have your own gadgets we offer a few Internet cafe options,
which are plentiful.
Jazz ‘n’ Java B-4, ul. Tkacka 17/18, tel. (+48) 58 305
36 16.QOpen 10:00 - 22:00.
Sopnet M-4, ul. Pułaskiego 7a, Sopot, tel. (+48) 58
710 69 96. QOpen 12:00 - 20:00. Closed Sun.
Websites N-3, ul. Świętojańska 135, Gdynia, tel.
(+48) 58 662 33 10, www.websites.prv.pl. QOpen
09:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 10:00 - 20:00.
Law & Order
In general Gdansk is safer than most cities. Petty crime
does exist, and travellers should be on guard against
pickpockets working tram and bus routes by the train
station. If you’re out keep your wallet inside your pocket,
not inside a jacket casually lying around. Those travelling
by car are advised to use a guarded car park. Avoid being
ripped off by opportunistic taxi gits by using clearly marked
cabs. Areas to be particularly careful in are the Lakowa and
Biskupia Gora districts. While we wouldn’t wish to insult the
local residents these districts are rather rundown and not
particularly well lit in places.
Staying on the right side of the law is significantly easier for
tourists who accept that Polish beer and vodka are rocket
fuel and drink accordingly. If you’re determined to make an
idiot of yourself then make sure it’s not in front of the law.
Those who do may well visit Gdańsk’s premier drunk tank (ul.
3 Maja 6), a chastening experience that will cost 250zł for a
Gdańsk In Your Pocket gdansk.inyourpocket.com
National Holidays
Poland has a series of public holidays spread throughout
the year. These for the most part will fall on a precise
date meaning you could find yourself here in the middle
of an otherwise busy week to find the city bolted shut.
While more restaurants and bars have appreciated
the opportunities of staying open when the rest of the
country is taking a free day, do not expect very much
open on important religious holidays such as All Saints’
Day (November 1) or Easter Sunday.
May 1 Labour Day
May 3 Constitution Day (May 3, 1791)
May 27, 2012 Pentecost Sunday
June 7, 2012 Corpus Christi
6-24 hour stay. In return for your cash expect a strip search,
some blue pyjamas and the company of a dozen mumbling
vagrants. Refreshment comes in the form of limitless coffee,
though the mug sometimes comes with a smell of urine for
a reason. Credit cards not accepted.
The other well-known ways tourists can cross cops is by
jaywalking. You’ll undoubtedly be surprised to see a crowd
of people standing obediently at a crossing; this peculiarity
has extra effect if you are aware of how little Poles respect
the rules of the road in a vehicle. Local police will quite freely
give you a 100zł fine for crossing at a place where no crossing
is marked or when the light is red. And don’t think you are
exempt by being a visitor; In fact your non-residency means
you will need to pay the fine on the spot (the helpful chaps
will even accept foreign currency).
Money
Thinking of paying for your tram ticket with one of the
100zł notes in your pocket? Think again. Small shops,
newsagents, public toilets, even the occasional fast food
franchise and bar, will refuse to break a large note for you.
As annoying as coins can be, do carry small change for such
moments. Notes come in denominations of 200, 100, 50,
20 and 10 złotys, and there are 1, 2 and 5 złoty coins. One
złoty equals 100 groszy which come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and
50 groszy coins.
Quick currency convertor
PLN US$ Euro Pound
3.18zł = $1 4.15zł = €1 5.14zł = £1
1 zł $0.31 € 0.24 £0.19
2 zł $0.63 € 0.48 £0.39
3 zł $0.94 € 0.72 £0.58
4 zł $1.26 € 0.96 £0.78
5 zł $1.57 € 1.20 £0.97
6 zł $1.89 € 1.45 £1.17
7 zł $2.20 € 1.69 £1.36
8 zł $2.52 € 1.93 £1.56
9 zł $2.83 € 2.17 £1.75
10 zł $3.14 € 2.41 £1.95
20 zł $6.29 € 4.82 £3.89
50 zł $15.72 € 12.05 £9.73
100 zł $31.45 € 24.10 £19.46
150 zł $47.17 € 36.14 £29.18
200 zł $62.89 € 48.19 £38.91
250 zł $78.62 € 60.24 £48.64
1 000 zł $314.47 € 240.96 £194.55
gdansk.inyourpocket.com
City Card
BASICS
Those looking to take
advantage of as much
as the city has to offer
should seriously
consider picking up a
Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot-
Plus tourist card. The
card works on a number
of levels depending what you are looking to get out of the
city. The basic card costs 13zł and gets you discounts
at over 200 partners of the local tourist organisation
until the 30th May 2013. You can then add either or
both a Sightseeing or Transport option to this basic
card depending on your needs. The Sightseeing option
gives you entry to 22 museums and the zoo while the
transport option buys you unlimited travel on the city’s
public transport network including the local SKM (local
commuter train).
The Sightseeing and Transport packages are available
in 24-hour or 72-hour options with prices as follows so
that a normal 72-hour card with both Sightseeing and
Transport options will cost 88zł:
Sightseeing 72-hour 24-hour
Normal 35zł 25zł
Reduced 25zł 15zł
Transport 72-hour 24-hour
Normal 40zł 20zł
Reduced 20zł 10zł
You can pick a Tourist Card up from any of the following
venues:
• Lech Wałęsa Airport, ul. Słowackiego 200
• Gdansk Main Railway station (A-2, the tunnel), ul.
Podwale Grodzkie
• Gdańsk Tourist Infomation Centre, (C-5) ul. Długi
Targ 28/29
• PTTK Gdańsk Tourist Information, (C-5) ul. Długa 45
• Pomorskie Centrum Informacji Turystycznej, (B-4) ul.
Wały Jagiellońskie 2a
• Sopot Tourist Information, (M-4) Pl. Zdrojowy 2
• Gdynia Tourist Information Centre, (N-1) ul. 10 Lutego
24
We have marked those places listed in this guide which
accept the Tourist Card with the following symbol. Y
Currency can be exchanged at airports, hotels, banks and
anywhere with a sign proclaiming it to be a Kantor and you
will also be able to withdraw currency at a bankomat using
your ATM card. A Kantor will often provide better value than
the banks in your home country or the ATM although for
obvious reasons be very wary of Kantors in the airports,
bus stations and close to tourist sights. Shopping around
will reward you with the best rate. The Polish currency has
been exceedingly strong in recent years and the value of
the dollar has nearly halved while you will be getting 25-
40% less złoty for your euros and sterling than a couple of
years back. Having said that prices for food, drink, cultural
venues and transport still remain comparatively cheap
in contrast to Western Europe. A ticket to the theatre or
cinema will rarely cost more than 20zł while admission to
most museums costs around 5-10zł.
May - July 2012
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