10 Things You Need to Pack for Your Trip to Poland
Elizabeth

Yay! You're starting to pack for your trip to Poland! Packing can be one of the most stressful parts of travel. We're here to lighten your load and make sure you remember all of the essentials!

What to Pack for Your Trip to Poland

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1. Passport

This is the number one item you need for your trip to Poland. If you forget your passport, you actually won’t even make it into Poland as you will be turned away at the airport gate in the United States.

Citizens of the United States do not require a travel visa to enter Poland. Something that not everyone is aware of is that your passport MUST BE VALID for at least 3 months past your date of entrance into the country. It is important to note that Americans are only allowed to travel in Poland (or any other Schengen Country) for 90 days out of a 180 days.

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2. Money

When traveling to Poland it is important to bring cash as not everywhere accepts credit cards. The local currency in Poland is called złoty. There are two main ways to exchange US dollars into Polish złoty. In the United States, there are currency exchange offices, as well as banks (such as Wells Fargo), that will exchange American currency into Polish currency. Make sure that you check the current exchange rate as well as the fee that the institution is charging to ensure the best rate.

There are also many currency exchange offices in Poland. Here you need to be much more picky to make sure that you are not getting ripped off. When you travel with us, we promise to find you the best exchange office that will not take advantage of you.

There are also many places in Poland that accept credit cards. Make sure that you let you credit card company know that you are traveling so that they do not block you card for suspicious international activity. It is also absolutely essential to check if you credit card has an international transaction fee. This fee can be quite expensive and will charge you a percentage or fixed amount every time you use your card. There are many credit cards that offer no international transaction fees.

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Is Poland an affordable country to visit?

3. Mobile Phone

It’s likely that when you travel you plan to bring your mobile phone with you. Prior to travel we recommend checking with you phone company and setting up an international phone plan. Depending on your company, these plans can be expensive, but it is a good idea to have something set up, at least for emergency use. If you use your phone without an international plan, it can be very very expensive.

While it is possible in other European countries, it is very difficult in Poland to obtain a local SIM card to put in your phone. If you are looking to connect your phone to wifi, most restaurants, cafes, hotels, and even cities offer free wifi that you can connect to on your phone.

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Read more about Internet access in Poland

4. Power Adapter

Poland uses the same power adapter as many other countries in Europe. This two pronged plug is sometimes called “C” or “E” and run on 230V. It is important to note the difference between a power adapter and a power converter. With a power adapter, you can plug your American device directly into the adapter, which plugs into the wall (make sure this device is supported by 230V!).  A power converter actually converts the power of the device (120V in the United States).

There are some devices that convert power automatically such as many types of mobile phones. Take the iPhone for example. Here you can just plug the USB end into a European plug with a USB space. Be very careful when using a power adapter and ensure that your device can run on 230V. Most hair dryers, flat irons, etc. will NOT work. These items can spark and even shut off the power.

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5. Travel Health Insurance

Travel Health Insurance is necessary for your trip to Poland. Check with your health insurance in the United States to see what their coverage is internationally. If necessary, you may need to purchase travel health insurance from a third party supplier.

FYI the emergency number in Poland is 112.

6. Copies of Travel Documents

It is a really good idea to bring hard copies of your travel documents. This includes copies of your passport, id card, plane tickets, hotel reservations, etc. It is also a good tip to take a photo of the customer service number on the back of your credit card. If you lose your card, you can call this number to notify the credit card company. In addition to bringing photo copies of these documents, we also recommend taking a photo of them that you keep on your phone just in case anything happens.

7. Versatile Clothing

Choosing which clothes to pack for a trip to Poland might be the most time consuming part of your packing! A few tips for picking what to bring is to select clothing items that are versatile and can be worn with different outfits. We also recommend bringing layers of clothing so that you can be prepared for weather and temperature changes.

In Poland, as in other places in Europe, people tend to be well dressed and put together. It’s a good idea to bring some nice, and also comfortable, clothing that will not cause you to stand out as a traveler.

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8. Comfortable Shoes

In Poland there is so much to see! You don’t want to ruin the trip by having sore feet from uncomfortable shoes. Make sure that your shoes are well broken in before your trip and that they are comfortable to walk or stand in for at least a few hours.

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9. Day Bag

Having a day bag is a good idea for travel in Poland. In this bag you can keep all of your day essentials such as wallet, camera, reusable water bottle, jacket, and anything else you might need throughout the day. Make sure the bag is small and comfortable to carry while walking around and exploring the sights!

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10. Rolling Suitcase

When choosing which suitcase you should bring for your trip to Poland, we high recommend one with wheels! Using a suitcase with wheels will make your travels through airports, city centers, taxis, and trains much easier. Trust us!

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Have any other questions about what to pack for your trip to Poland? Contact us!



Travel Tips

We are Damian and Elizabeth, a Polish-American couple, and we are excited to share Poland with you! We have traveled around the world and seen many places but find ourselves most inspired by our home countries.


Start your trip around Poland.

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