About Poland
Poland is one of the few European countries that has been able to maintain its old appearance, most of the cities have not changed much over several centuries, which is why it is interesting for tourists. The country is full of interesting places, many churches have been preserved in the old cities, for which Poland is called the “country of churches”. The highest mountains in the Carpathian system stretch in the southern part of the state, in the south-west there is a favorite vacation spot for Poles – the coast of the Baltic Sea. The eastern part of Poland is known for untouched forests – Belovezhskaya Pushcha, and in the north there is a long chain of pristine lakes. A lot of opportunities await tourists in this country. The cleanest lakes and 500 kilometers of the Baltic coast create excellent conditions for water sports, and numerous wild forests,
Geography of Poland
According to Itypejob, Poland lies in Eastern Europe and borders Lithuania and Russia in the northeast, Ukraine and Belarus in the east, the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the south, and Germany in the west. In the north, Poland is bordered by the Baltic Sea. Despite the fact that the relief in most of the country is flat, it is very diverse. In the northern part of Poland there is a low elevation of the Baltic ridge, and in the south there is a mountain system of the Carpathians and Tatras.
Capital
Warsaw
Area
The area of Poland is 312.685 km2. sq., occupies the 69th place in the world by area.
Population
38,186,860 people.
Currency
The official currency is the Polish zloty (PLN).
Language
The official language is Polish.
Visa to Poland
Poland is one of the countries participating in the Schengen agreement, which means that residents of the Russian Federation must have a Schengen visa to enter the country. If you plan to enter Poland with a child, then the same documents must be submitted to the consular department as for an adult, as well as a copy of the birth certificate and a certificate from the educational institution. For children who are inscribed in the passport of one of the parents, a separate visa is pasted, and all children over 6 years old must have a photo in the parent’s passport. Submission of documents is possible both by the owner of the passport and by an authorized person who will have a power of attorney from the owner of the passport. Accredited travel agencies can also deal with the submission of documents to the consular department. The term for issuing a visa is from 7 to 10 working days, but if necessary, a visa can be issued urgently, but for this, in the consular department you need to present evidence of the necessary urgency. Evidence can be plane or train tickets. A Schengen visa is valid for up to 90 days, and the period of stay in the country corresponds to the dates in the invitation or insurance policy. The standard consular fee is 35 euros, but for an urgent visa, you will have to pay 70 euros.
Weather in Poland
The country has a temperate climate from maritime to continental. The coldest month of the year is January, during this period the average temperature is -1 -5 C, and in the mountains it drops to -6 C. In July, the average air temperature ranges from +16 to +19 C. On the plains, precipitation will fall from 500 to 600 mm per year, and in the mountains their number can exceed 1800 mm. In the north near the Baltic Sea, the climate changes frequently and is more dependent on air masses. It is more comfortable to travel around the country in May-September, when the weather is warm outside.
Transport
The transport system of many cities in Poland consists of buses and trams, and in Warsaw the metro. Tickets are sold almost everywhere, in any kiosks. You can also buy a ticket from the driver, but then you have to pay an additional PLN 0.6. A ticket for one journey will cost PLN 2.4, the ticket is suitable for any type of transport. You can buy a ticket for ten trips at once, and it will cost PLN 21.6. You can also buy tickets for a specific time: one hour, one and a half hours, two hours and for the whole day. There are no conductors in public transport, tickets are activated in special electronic composters. Taxis are very common in Warsaw, and you only need to get into special cars that say “Taxi” on them. Taxis can be ordered by phone or at special free parking lots. Within the center, the fare will cost PLN 12-15, and a trip to sleeping areas can cost PLN 25-30. If there is no meter, it is advisable to agree on the fare in advance.
Currency exchange in Poland
As of September 2011, the national currency rate is 1 USD = 3.09 PLN. The national currency is the zloty. When exchanging currency at special exchange offices, no commission is charged. Exchange offices are rarely found in banks, but where they are, the exchange rate is not favorable. Most hotels, restaurants and shops accept payment by credit card. ATMs are common near banks and shopping areas.
Electricity
220V/50Hz (European sockets).
Religion
Most of the country’s inhabitants are Roman Catholic Christians. Poland is the easternmost Catholic country in Europe. The Church takes an active part in the life of citizens and has a high authority.
Security
By European standards, the level of crime in the country is quite high, so you should be extremely careful in crowded places, especially in public transport. It is not advisable to carry large sums of money with you, as well as important documents.
Health
You do not need to be vaccinated to enter Poland. If necessary, first aid is provided free of charge, but you must pay for subsequent treatment or access to medical institutions. In cases where doctors consider calling an ambulance unreasonable, it must be paid. Almost all medicines are available by prescription, and there are 24-hour pharmacies in every city.
