Poland is in north-central Europe. Most of the country is a plain with no natural boundaries except the Carpathian Mountains in the south and the Oder and Neisse rivers in the west. Other major rivers, which are important to commerce, are the Vistula, Warta, and Bug.
Climate and Weather
The geographical location and surface features are the two most important factors determining the climate of Poland. The climate has transitional character between the maritime and continental climates. Winters are sometimes mild and sometimes cold, similarly the summers are cool and rainy or hot and dry. Generally, summer is usually warm and the most pleasant time to visit, but the plentiful sunshine is mixed together with rain. Spring starts in March with temperatures varying from -1 to +20 °C, until about April or May. July is the hottest month, but the rest of the summer is also quite warm with temperatures from 21 to 32 °C. Initially warm September is the beginning of Poland's autumn. Thereafter, the days become more cold until December, when winter begins and the temperature drops from a few degrees below zero to sometimes - 20 °C. Winter lasts from December to March and includes shorter or longer period of snow. In the high mountains snow lies till May.
Population
Poland, with 38.5 million inhabitants, has the eighth-largest population in Europe and the sixth-largest in the European Union. It has a population density of 122 inhabitants per square kilometer (328 per square mile). Poland, has over the years, assimilated people of various ethnic groups and from very different geographical origins. Historically these ethnic groups have included: Jews, Germans, Ukrainians, Belorussians, Russians, Lithuanians, Slovaks, Armenians, Czechs, Roma (gypsies), Tartars, Lemkos, Kashubs (Kashubians), and Karaites.
Transportation
Air International airlines fly mainly to Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW) in Okecie, though some also land at Katowice (KTW), Kraków (KRK), Gdansk (GDN), Lódz (LCJ) and Poznan (POZ).
Warsaw’s airport facilities include a post office, banks, currency exchange, bars, restaurants, left-luggage facilities, tourist information services and car hire (Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Thrifty).
Most of Europe’s major airlines fly to and from Poland. Apart from direct air connections from many European cities there are also direct flights from United States and Canada.
Poland’s national carriers are LOT Polish Airlines, and a low cost airline called Centralwings. There are other several low cost airlines that fly to Poland including WizzAir, SkyEurope, EasyJet, Germanwings and Ryanair.
LOT operates direct flights from Washington D.C., New York and Chicago. Other airlines serving Poland include Aeroflot, Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Easyjet, El Al, Lufthansa, Ryanair, SAS and Swiss.
Domestic flights operated by LOT connect Warsaw with Katowice, Kraków, Gdansk, Poznan, Lódz, Szczecin and Wroclaw.
Airport departure taxi is usually included in the price of the air ticket. Enquire at the time of ticketing.
Bus There are extensive bus services. Eurolines departs from Victoria Coach Station in London, connecting to a number of destinations in Poland.
Sea Pol Ferries operates between Poland and Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
Train
Polish State Railways (PKP) operates EuroCity trains between Poland and a number of major European cities. All services from Western Europe to Poland pass through the Czech Republic, Germany or the Slovak Republic. The main routes link Warsaw with Berlin and Cologne, Budapest, Prague and Vienna. There is a sleeper-car service from the Hook of Holland to Poznan and Warsaw.
Top Attractions
1. Old Town (Starego Miasta).
2. Historical Museum of Warsaw.
3. The Royal Way.
4. Westerplatte.
5. Malbork Castle.
6. Main Market Square (Rynek Glówny).
7. Wawel.
8. Kazimierz District and the Old Synagogue.
9. Wieliczka Salt Mine.
10. Auschwitz Memorial Museum.
Best Travel Time
Ideal time to visit Poland is early May to September. Scorching sun relaxes and the flowers are at the full blossom in the season. Peak tourist season is between July and August. Winters are bit cold in Poland. But sports enthusiasts can plan their visit in winters. During May- June Poland fields are overwhelmed by the flowers of poppie, lilacs, cornflowers and daisies. Lake tourism can be enjoyed at its best in the period.
September-October can also be an ideal time for planning a tour to Poland. The season is quite happening with the warmth of cultural events and natural beauty. In short the best time to come is either late spring (mid-May to June) or the turn of summer and autumn (September to mid-October).
Food and Drink
National specialties:
• Bigos (sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, onions and any variety of leftover meat).
• Salted and rolled herring fillets with pickles and onions.
• Kabanos (long, thick sausages).
• Pierogi (dumplings stuffed with either meat, mushrooms and cabbage, cheese or fruit).
• Kasza (buckwheat).
National drinks:
• Vodka (wódka, in many various flavors - try krupnik and źołądkowa.).
• The best bottled beer is zywiec, a fairly strong lager-type beer.
Local Products/Shopping
Special purchases include glass and enamelware, handwoven rugs, silverware, handmade jewelry with amber and silver, dolls in regional costumes, woodcarvings and clay and metal sculptures.
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1. Old Town (Starego Miasta).
Ideal time to visit Poland is early May to September. Scorching sun relaxes and the flowers are at the full blossom in the season. Peak tourist season is between July and August. Winters are bit cold in Poland. But sports enthusiasts can plan their visit in winters. During May- June Poland fields are overwhelmed by the flowers of poppie, lilacs, cornflowers and daisies. Lake tourism can be enjoyed at its best in the period.
September-October can also be an ideal time for planning a tour to Poland. The season is quite happening with the warmth of cultural events and natural beauty. In short the best time to come is either late spring (mid-May to June) or the turn of summer and autumn (September to mid-October).