Poland’s history as a state began near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in Central and Eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorders weakened the nation, and in a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland among themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union “Solidarity” that over time became a political force with over 10 million members. Free elections in 1989 and 1990 won Solidarity control of the parliament and the presidency, bringing the communist era to a close. A “shock therapy” program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented country largely completed and with large investments in defense, energy, and other infrastructure, Poland is an increasingly active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.
🇵🇱 Poland Tourism Information…
🇵🇱 The Best of Poland…
Central Poland
Łódź
- Cities:
- Łódź
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Masovian
Warsaw – For more detailed information go to our ➾ Warsaw web page.
- Cities:
- Leuven
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Greater Poland
Greater Poland
- Cities:
- Poznań
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
LuBusz
- Cities:
- Gorzów Wielkopolski
- Zielona Góra
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Kraków – For more detailed information go to our Kraków web page.
- Cities:
- Bochinia, Niepołomice Oświęcim, Tarnów, Wieliczka
- Towns: Zakopane
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Park, Ojców National Park, Wieliczka Salt Mine
Lublin
- Cities:
- Lublin
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
SubCarpathian
- Cities:
- Rzeszów
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Świętokrzyskie,
- Cities:
- Kielce
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Northeastern Poland
Podlaksie
- Cities:
- Baiłystok
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Warmian-Masurian
- Cities:
- Olsztyn
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Pomerania
Kuyavian-Pomerania
- Cities:
- Bydgoszcz
- Toruń
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Pomerania
- Cities:
- Gdańsk
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
West Pomerania
- Cities:
- Szczecin
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Silesia
Lower Silesian
- Cities:
- Wrocław
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Silesian
- Cities:
- Katowice
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
Opole
- Cities:
- Opole
- Towns:
- Villages:
- Others Sights & Attractions:
|
Here is a list of some of the most interesting and visited places. Cities or areas listed will always have more than just one thing see and do. With the popular cities or areas we list some of the best known, which should go on everyone’s, must see list when they visit. |
Bialowieza Forest Crooked Forest – Gryfino Gdansk Slowinski Sand Dunes-Kluki Krakow Market Square & Old Town Wawel Castle & Cathedral Jewish District & Schindler’s Factory Majdanek Nuseum – Lublin Malbork Castle Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum-Oswiecim Poznan Torun Warsaw Old Town Market Square POLIN Museum Warsaw Rising Museum Wieliczka Salt Mine Wroclaw Zakopane |
🇵🇱 Poland Country Information…
Capital:
Warsaw
Largest City:
Warsaw
Government:
Parliamentary Republic
Currency:
Złoty (PLN)
Area:
Total: 312,685 sq km land: 304,255 sq km ( 120,733 sq mi) – Ranked: 71st water: 8,430 sq km
Climate:
Temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Population:
38,523,261 (July 2016 est.) ranked 35th
Language:
Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.3%
note: data represents the language spoken at home; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; Poland ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2009 recognizing Kashub as a regional language, Czech, Hebrew, Yiddish, Belarusian, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, and Ukrainian as national minority languages, and Karaim, Lemko, Romani (Polska Roma and Bergitka Roma), and Tatar as ethnic minority languages (2011 est.)
Ethnic Groups:
Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7%
note: represents ethnicity declared first (2011 est.)
Religion:
Catholic 87.2% (includes Roman Catholic 86.9% and Greek Catholic, Armenian Catholic, and Byzantine-Slavic Catholic .3%), Orthodox 1.3% (almost all are Polish Autocephalous Orthodox), Protestant 0.4% (mainly Augsburg Evangelical and Pentacostal), other 0.4% (includes Jehovah’s Witness, Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Muslim, Jewish, Mormon), unspecified 10.8% (2012 est.)
Electricity:
230V, 50Hz (European plug C, E )
Telephone Code:
+48
Local Emergency Phone Number:
112, 999
Internet TLD:
.pl
Time Zone:
CET (UTC+1) / Summer CEST (UTC+2) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October
Road DrivingSide:
Right
Anthem:
Mazurek Dąbrowskiego “Poland Is Not Yet Lost”
President:
Andrzej Duda
Prime Minister:
Mateusz Morawiecki
🇵🇱 Holidays and Observances in Poland in 2020
| Date | Name | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Friday | New Year’s Day | National holiday |
| Jan 6 | Wednesday | Epiphany | National holiday |
| Feb 14 | Sunday | Valentine’s Day | Observance |
| Mar 20 | Saturday | March Equinox | Season |
| Apr 2 | Friday | Good Friday | Observance |
| Apr 3 | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Observance |
| Apr 4 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | National holiday |
| Apr 5 | Monday | Easter Monday | National holiday |
| May 1 | Saturday | Labor Day / May Day | National holiday |
| May 2 | Sunday | Day of the Flag | Observance |
| May 3 | Monday | Constitution Day | National holiday |
| May 23 | Sunday | Whit Sunday | National holiday |
| May 26 | Wednesday | Mother’s Day | Observance |
| Jun 3 | Thursday | Corpus Christi | National holiday |
| Jun 21 | Monday | June Solstice | Season |
| Jun 23 | Wednesday | Father’s Day | Observance |
| Aug 15 | Sunday | Assumption of Mary | National holiday |
| Sep 22 | Wednesday | September Equinox | Season |
| Nov 1 | Monday | All Saints’ Day | National holiday |
| Nov 11 | Thursday | Independence Day | National holiday |
| Dec 21 | Tuesday | December Solstice | Season |
| Dec 24 | Friday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
| Dec 25 | Saturday | Christmas Day | National holiday |
| Dec 26 | Sunday | Second Day of Christmas | National holiday |
| Dec 31 | Friday | New Year’s Eve | Observance |
Travel Facts
US State Dept. Travel Advisory:
The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
Passport/Visa Requirements:
US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 6 months.
US Embassy/ Consulate:
[44] 20 7499-9000; Embassy of the United States of America, 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US (mailing postcode), SW8 5DB (driving/GPS postcode), United Kingdom; SCSLondon@state.gov; https://uk.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code:
44
Local Emergency Phone:
112, 999
Internet TLD:
.uk
Vaccinations:
See WHO recommendations at http://www.who.int
Climate
Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one half of the days are overcast
Currency (Code)
British pounds (GBP)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s):
230 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): G
Major Languages:
English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Cornish
Religions:
Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, none 25.7%
Time Zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October; note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories
Potable Water
Yes
International Driving Permit
Suggested
Road Driving Side
Left
Tourist Destinations
London (includes the Tower of London, British Museum, Parliament, Trafalgar Square); Windsor Castle; Stonehenge; Roman Baths & Georgian City of Bath; York Minster & historic Yorkshire; Chester Zoo; Cotswolds & Lake District; Hadrian’s Wall; Edinburgh; Cardiff
Major Sports
Soccer, cricket, rugby, badminton, tennis, netball, field hockey
Cultural Practices
It is considered rude to wave one’s hand or to call when summoning a waiter at a restaurant.
Tipping Guidelines
It is customary to leave 10-15% of the total bill as a tip when eating out, although some restaurants add on a service charge instead. Tip bartenders 1 pound. It is polite to tip 10-15% of the taxi fare, or round up to the nearest pound as a convenience. Tip porters 2 pounds to bring luggage to your room.
Government
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II
Government:
Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Capital:
London
Largest City:
London
Legislature:
London
Judiciary:
London
Ambassador to US:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Michael Tatham
US Ambassador:
Ambassador Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson IV
Geography
Area:
Total: 243,61km world rank 80th, land: 241,930km, water: 1,680km
Natural Resources:
Coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
People & Society
Population:
64,430,428 (July 2016 est.) world rank 23rd England 84%, Scotland 8%, Wales 5%, Northern Ireland 3%
Population Growth:
0.51% (2018 est.)
Ethnic Groups:
White 87.2%, black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.)
Urbanization:
Urban population: 83.7% of total population (2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Economy
Economic Overview:
Leading trading power and financial center; third-largest economy in Europe after Germany and France; large coal, natural gas, and oil resources; banking, insurance, and business services, drive GDP growth
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
$2.92 trillion (2017 est.)
GDP per capita
$44,300 (2017 est.)
Exports:
$441.2 billion (2017 est.)
partners: US 13.2%, Germany 10.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2%, Ireland 5.6%, China 4.8%, Switzerland 4.5% (2017)
Travel Facts
US State Dept. Travel Advisory:
The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
Passport/Visa Requirements:
US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 6 months.
US Embassy/ Consulate:
[44] 20 7499-9000; Embassy of the United States of America, 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US (mailing postcode), SW8 5DB (driving/GPS postcode), United Kingdom; SCSLondon@state.gov; https://uk.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code:
44
Local Emergency Phone:
112, 999
Internet TLD:
.uk
Vaccinations:
See WHO recommendations at http://www.who.int
Climate
Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one half of the days are overcast
Currency (Code)
British pounds (GBP)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s):
230 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): G
Major Languages:
English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Cornish
Religions:
Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, none 25.7%
Time Zone
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October; note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories
Potable Water
Yes
International Driving Permit
Suggested
Road Driving Side
Left
Tourist Destinations
London (includes the Tower of London, British Museum, Parliament, Trafalgar Square); Windsor Castle; Stonehenge; Roman Baths & Georgian City of Bath; York Minster & historic Yorkshire; Chester Zoo; Cotswolds & Lake District; Hadrian’s Wall; Edinburgh; Cardiff
Major Sports
Soccer, cricket, rugby, badminton, tennis, netball, field hockey
Cultural Practices
It is considered rude to wave one’s hand or to call when summoning a waiter at a restaurant.
Tipping Guidelines
It is customary to leave 10-15% of the total bill as a tip when eating out, although some restaurants add on a service charge instead. Tip bartenders 1 pound. It is polite to tip 10-15% of the taxi fare, or round up to the nearest pound as a convenience. Tip porters 2 pounds to bring luggage to your room.
Government
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II
Government:
Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Capital:
London
Largest City:
London
Legislature:
London
Judiciary:
London
Ambassador to US:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Michael Tatham
US Ambassador:
Ambassador Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson IV
Geography
Area:
Total: 243,61km world rank 80th, land: 241,930km, water: 1,680km
Natural Resources:
Coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
People & Society
Population:
64,430,428 (July 2016 est.) world rank 23rd England 84%, Scotland 8%, Wales 5%, Northern Ireland 3%
Population Growth:
0.51% (2018 est.)
Ethnic Groups:
White 87.2%, black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.)
Urbanization:
Urban population: 83.7% of total population (2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Economy
Economic Overview:
Leading trading power and financial center; third-largest economy in Europe after Germany and France; large coal, natural gas, and oil resources; banking, insurance, and business services, drive GDP growth
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
$2.92 trillion (2017 est.)
GDP per capita
$44,300 (2017 est.)
Exports:
$441.2 billion (2017 est.)
partners: US 13.2%, Germany 10.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2%, Ireland 5.6%, China 4.8%, Switzerland 4.5% (2017)
Imports:
$615.9 billion (2017 est.)
partners: Germany 13.7%, US 9.5%, China 9.3%, Netherlands 8%, France 5.4%, Belgium 5% (2017)