Poland Travel Notes
A place on my travel map. More of my story is still to come.
- Languages
- Polish · Some English
- Currency
- Polish Złoty · PLN
- Cash
- A Small Cash Backup Is Useful.
- Cards
- Yes. Widely Accepted.
- Tap To Pay
- Very Common.
- WiFi
- Available. Quality Varies.
- Mobile Data
- SIM Or eSIM · Check Coverage
- Small Shops
- Varies. Keep Cash Handy.
- Tipping
- Around 10% At Restaurants
What To Wear
What To Pack
For an airport connection, pack a warm cabin layer. A permitted Warsaw outing needs weather appropriate shoes and a coat in winter; a summer packing list is very different.
Money And Payments
Cash And Cards
Card and contactless payments are widely available in shops, hotels, and restaurants. Keep a small złoty backup for tips and occasional smaller purchases. Pay in złoty if a terminal offers a conversion into your home currency.
Travel Cards
Poland uses złoty rather than euros. If you enter during a layover, check the currency on the terminal before approving its conversion offer.
Tipping Culture
A restaurant tip of around 10% is customary. If paying cash, wait for your change before thanking the server unless you mean to leave it all. For a landside meal, a PLN 100 bill plus an optional customary 10% would be PLN 110. During an airside coffee stop, there is no need to invent a percentage tip.
Getting Around
Getting Around Locally
My Polish visit was an airport stop. Check the airport code on each ticket: Warsaw Chopin and Warsaw Modlin are separate airports. A transfer between them is a landside journey.
Traveling Between Stops
A flight from Poland to another Schengen country usually means entering Schengen in Poland. That is different from remaining in the international transit area between two non Schengen flights.
Staying Connected
Using T Mobile In Poland
Poland is listed for international roaming on eligible T Mobile plans. Data allowances, speeds, and call charges depend on your plan. Check before you travel.
Mobile Data For This Trip
Save boarding passes and the correct airport transfer information before arrival. If you remain airside, do not buy a city transport pass or data plan assuming you can leave the terminal.
Where To Stay
Choosing Your Area
Check which side of immigration your airport hotel is on and whether it matches your terminal and entry permission. I have no personal Polish city hotel review to recommend.
Before You Arrive
Before You Fly
An airport transit visa only permits the international transit area. It does not allow a city visit or every connecting itinerary. Check your passport and route with the Polish consulate and airline.
Sources And My Visit
Practical information was researched and checked on 22 October 2026. My reviews describe my own visits. Area comparisons are planning advice, not hotels I claim to have inspected. Entry advice must match your passport, residency, route, and travel date.
