ON THE GO
Traveling by plane
Domestic flights are offered by LOT Polish Airways (LO) (Internet: www.lot.com), which flies to all major cities. From Warszawa there are connections to Gdansk, Katowice, Kraków, Poznan, Rzeszow, Szczecin and Wroclaw.
Further information from the LOT city offices in Frankfurt / M. (Tel: (069) 24 00 10 00), Vienna (Tel: (0810) 810 855) and Zurich (Tel: +41 (043) 817 66 60).
On the way by car / bus
The motorway network in Poland is still under construction. New is the continuous motorway connection from Krzywa, west of Liegnitz (Legnica), via Wroclaw to Krakow. From the German-Polish border in Görlitz / Zgorzelec there is a continuous motorway connection (A4) to Szarow via Breslau and Krakow. The sections on the A1 between Danzig-Rusocin and Swarozyn, on the A4 between Katowice / Kattowitz and Krakow / Krakow and on the A2 between Konin and Posen and between Nowy Tomysl and Komorniki near Posen are subject to tolls.
Most gas stations are open in summer from Monday to Saturday between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on major highways and around the clock in major cities. Numerous petrol stations are closed on public holidays. A list of petrol stations is available from POLORBIS. The supply of unleaded petrol is guaranteed across the board. Unleaded petrol can be recognized by the crossed-out letters Pb and the green writing on the petrol pumps. Diesel is marked with ON. Autogas (Gaz) is available at many filling stations, as is biodiesel.
The breakdown assistance of the Polish Motor Association Polski Zwiazek Motorowy (PZM) can be reached nationwide on 981. Further information:Polski Zwiazek Motorowy, ul.Kazimierzowska 66, Warszawa (Tel: (22) 849 93 61. Internet: www.pzm.pl).
An ADAC international emergency call station has been set up (Tel: (61) or (010 33 61) 831 98 88. Internet: www.adac.de). It offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC international health and accident insurance assistance with hotels, rental cars, vehicle or patient repatriation.
The Polish Tourism Organization (POT) gives information on tel: (0800) 200 300 or tel: ++ 48 (608) 599 999 information in the event of a car accident, robbery or loss of passport in German, English and Russian.
Bus:There is an extensive network of State Automobile Transport (PKS) in Poland (Internet: www.pks.pl). The buses run on normal routes and on high-speed lines. Tickets are available at bus stations, Orbis offices, other travel agencies and, if there are still spaces, from the bus driver. Children up to the age of 4 without their own seat travel free, children from four to ten years receive a 50% discount.
Rental cars can be rented at airports and in major cities. The minimum age is 21 years.
Documents:
vehicle papers and national driving license.
For nationals of EU and EFTA countries, the car registration number is used as proof of insurance. Nevertheless, EU and EFTA citizens are advised to take the international green insurance card with them in order to make it easier to record accidents in the event of damage and to enjoy full insurance cover. Otherwise, the statutory minimum liability insurance cover applies. It is advisable to take out a foreign protection letter.
People who want to travel to Poland with a vehicle that is not personally registered need a user authorization. The user authorization is not necessary if the vehicle owner is a passenger in the car.
Traffic regulations:
– Wear seat belts.
– Children up to 12 years must sit in the back.
– It is compulsory to carry a warning triangle and a first aid kit.
– A national symbol (e.g. D) is required on the stern.
– Drivers and motorcyclists must drive with dipped headlights all year round, even during the day.
Blood alcohol limit: 0.2 ‰.
The use of cell phones at the wheel is only permitted when using a hands-free system.
Speed limit:
– in built-up areas: 50 km / h (5 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and 60 km / h (11 p.m. to 5 p.m.),
– out of town: 90 km / h,
– on expressways: 100 km / h,
– on two-lane expressways: 120 km / h,
– on motorways: 140 km / h.
Traveling in the city
All cities have good bus networks, trams and trolleybuses that also go to the suburbs.
The urban transport system in Warsaw (Internet: www.ztm.waw.pl) includes buses, trams, metro and suburban trains. There are flat tariffs and tickets can be purchased in advance. Tickets with the imprint “ZTM Warszawa” are valid in all urban means of transport, in suburban buses and in the subway. They can be bought in press kiosks and from bus drivers (with a surcharge).
Taxis are present in most cities. There are taxi ranks, but you can order taxis by phone. A surcharge applies between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., on weekends and for trips outside the city. Taxi drivers expect a 10% tip.
On the go by train
Polish State Railways (Internet: www.pkp.pl) trains connect Warsaw with all parts of the country. There are four types of train and two classes of train. Reservation cards are required for express trains. Children under 4 years travel for free, children between the ages of 4 and 7, schoolchildren and students up to 26 years pay half.
A train runs from Gdansk to the Hel (Hela) peninsula.
According to youremailverifier, Poland’s major cities are connected by high-speed trains.
There are numerous historical narrow-gauge railways in Poland. Some operate according to a timetable, others can be rented for group excursions. The Polish Tourist Office can provide further information (see addresses).
Rail passes
Early bookers “Wczeœniej = Taniej” (earlier = cheaper) receive a ten percent discount if they buy a ticket no later than seven days before departure.
Information on discounts can be obtained from the representatives of the Polish State Railways in Berlin and Frankfurt / M. (see International Travel) and POLORBIS, Friesenplatz 5, D-50672 Cologne (Tel: (0221) 95 15 34 0. Internet: www.polorbis-koeln.de).
InterRail passes are also valid in Poland, for details see p. Germany.
The nice weekend ticket of the PKP (Bilet turystyczny) allows an unlimited number of trips on weekends and on public holidays.
The PKP excursion ticket, the Bilet wycieczkowy, is valid on Fridays from 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays.
On the way by ship
Passenger traffic exists between the Baltic Sea ports, on the great Masurian Lakes and on some sections of the Vistula and Oder with ships and hydrofoils of the coastal and inland waterways.
