Practical guides, checked sources
Poland, explained
Practical guides for visitors and newcomers: how to get around, what things cost, where to go and what to sort out when you arrive. Every number comes with a source and a date.
Visit
Places
Castles, mines, old towns and quiet corners beyond the usual route.
Getting around
Trains, buses, city transport and the apps that sell the tickets.
Annual events
Festivals, Christmas markets and public holidays, month by month.
Live
Renting
Rent levels by city, contracts, deposits and what you pay on top.
Cost of living
Groceries, bills and eating out, with prices compared to the rest of the EU.
Practical
SIM cards, banking, documents and healthcare, step by step.
Latest guides
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Money in Poland: złoty, cards and cash
The złoty, paying by card, why to always choose PLN, cash machines, exchange offices and BLIK for residents.
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Driving in Poland: rules, tolls and documents
Speed limits, headlights, the alcohol limit, motorway tolls, clean transport zones in Kraków and Warsaw, and what to carry in the car.
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Things to do in Katowice
The best of Katowice: the Culture Zone with Spodek, NOSPR and the Silesian Museum, Nikiszowiec, the Silesian Park and Mariacka Street.
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Wieliczka Salt Mine: routes, tickets and getting there
Tourist Route or Miners’ Route, how long a visit takes, what to wear and how to get to Wieliczka from Kraków by train or bus.
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Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau from Kraków: booking and getting there
How to book free entry cards or a guided tour, opening hours by month, how long to plan and how to get to the Memorial…
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Kraków to Zakopane by train and bus
Bus or train from Kraków to Zakopane: departures, journey times, tickets and tips for busy weekends.
Poland in numbers
81%
of the EU average in GDP per person, adjusted for prices (2025)
73%
of the EU average price level: the third cheapest country in the EU (2025)
3.4%
unemployment, among the lowest in Europe (July 2026)
How Poland compares with the rest of Europe, chart by chart →
Maps
Hidden gems, rail lines and rent levels, shown where they are.
How we check the facts
Where our numbers come from and how often we update them.