1. Business Hours
2. Electricity
3. Emergency Numbers
4. Food
5. Hospitals and Pharmacies
6. International Youth Cards
7. Living Costs
8. National Currency
9. Time Zone
10. Weather
11. Visas
12. Foreign Consulates in Krakow

BUSINESS HOURS in POLAND:

Polish office workers usually start at 8 a.m., have an eight-hour day without a normal lunch break, and leave at 4 p.m. Business pauses on weekends. Banking hours are different in different banks, yet most branches open at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. on workdays. Most of Krakow's downtown shops remain open till 7 p.m. and beyond on weekdays, while some grocery stores trade round the clock. A growing number of stores sells also on Sundays, usually till 3 p.m. Most shopping centers stay open between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday to Friday and till 3 p.m. on weekends. [TOP]

ELECTRICITY:

220 volts, 50 Hz AC, continental (two-prong or three-prong with built-in grounding plug) outlets. [TOP]

EMERGENCY NUMBERS in POLAND:

Poland's state police have launched a phone service in English and German for foreign visitors. Call toll-free 0800 200300 to get info on the country's public safety, safe travel, and to ask help if necessary. Those roaming with foreign-based cell phones should dial 22 601 55 55 instead. The service is available round the week from 8 a.m. till midnight. [TOP]

FOOD:

Food in Poland is very safe and quite tasty. Polish shops sell only pasteurized milk. Krakow is jam-packed with a whole range of eating establishments, from the rock-bottomed priced milk bars (bar mleczny) to the most sumptuous gourmet restaurants. Be prepared to try everything. Some of the most popular regional dishes are: pierogi, barszcz czerwony, oscypki and zurek.

WATER:

While tap water in Poland is drinkable, it is highly chlorinated and thus, bottled water is recommended for taste. [TOP]

HOSPITALS and PHARMACIES:

If you are a tourist and if you happen to fall ill in Poland it depends much whether your country has signed bilateral agreement regarding the rules of reimbursement of the costs. Only foreigners from the following countries have free medical care: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Russia, Sweden, Hungary, Great Britain and countries of the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia & Hercegovina, Yugoslav Federation, Chroatia, Macedonia and Slovenia). Others have to have added valid health insurance or have to pay for medical care (some countries, eg. Canada, reimburse health costs of their citizens even if they do not have travel insurance).

The following Krakow hospitals run around-the-clock, that is 7/24, emergency wards (called Szpitalny Oddzial Ratunkowy - SOR): Szpital im. Gabriela Narutowicza at ul. Pradnicka 35-37, Szpital im. Ludwika Rydygiera at os. Zlotej Jesieni 1, Szpital im. Stefana Zeromskiego at os. Na Skarpie 66, Szpital MSWiA at ul. Kronikarza Galla 25, Szpital Uniwersytecki at ul. Lazarza 14, and Wojskowy 5 Szpital Kliniczny at ul. Wroclawska 1-3.

If you wish, you may take advantage of private clinic medical consultation whilst in Krakow. The cost of such consultations in private practice in Cracow is 50-100 zl. For lab tests, you will pay separately.

If you do not need a doctor, but are in need of over the counter drugs, find a pharmacy (apteka). They are marked with a green cross on a white background. Many pharmacies stay open 24hr:

ul. Krowoderska 31 tel. 430-00-35
ul. Kronikarza Galla 26 tel. 636-73-65
ul. Komandosów 1 tel. 269-08-94
TESCO ul. Kapelanka 56 tel. 296-42-39
os. Centrum A 3 tel. 644-17-36

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INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CARDS:

Taking ISIC Card and Euro<26 Card is useful because most museums, cinemas, theatre accept them for reduced prices. There are not reduced prices with ISIC Card and Euro<26 for train tickets and public transport. [TOP]

LIVING COSTS (CURRENT MARKET VALUES IN PLN, EURO AND USD*):

*Exchange rate is approximate.

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CURRENCY in POLAND:

Poland's national currency is the zloty and is circulated in 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 notes and 1, 2 and 5 zloty coins. One zloty equals 100 groszy. Cash payments are still most popular in Poland. At the same time, major credit cards are accepted practically everywhere except the smallest outlets. But nobody pays by cheque.

The best way, to get Polish zlotys is to use a debit or credit card at one of the many ATM machines (bankomat). There are many exchange offices (kantor), where the currency can be exchanged or you can exchange your money in the bank.

Some finer establishments also accept USD and Euro. [TOP]

TIME:

CET as Berlin or Vienna, i.e. GMT/UTC plus one hour. [TOP]

WEATHER:

Weather during the summer period in Poland (June through August) is warm with temperatures usually between 20 C and 30 C (68 - 86 F). The amount of rain is moderate but carrying umbrella is advisable. Please note that the weather can be somewhat unpredictable. In recent years temperatures in summer were as as hot as 35 C (95 F). Also, given Krakow's close proximity to the mountains the weather can change within few hours (eg. on some hot days a sudden thunderstorm can give rise to beautiful sun). It is best to dress comfortably; a light all weather jacket or coat and an umbrella would be useful. Also, you should bring comfortable footware. Krakow is a very pedestrian friendly city and you will probably be spending much time on your feet exploring. Like hiking shoes would probably be best in terms of comfort. [TOP]

VISAS to POLAND:

Visitors to Poland must have a valid passport and where applicable, a Polish entry visa issued by Polish consular missions around the world. Citizens from the EU and Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Canada and the USA may stay for 90 days without a visa, while Britons may stay for up to 6 months. Bulgarian, Romanian and Estonian nationals can stay visa-free for up to 30 days.

Since October 2003 the Citizens of Russian Federation, Byelorussia and Ukraine must have a visa to enter the Republic of Poland. [TOP]

FOREIGN CONSULATES in KRAKOW:

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A KRAKOW SURVIVAL GUIDE: WHERE TO EAT, DRINK & PLAY IN KRAKOW