Czech
AREA AND LOCATION
Poland lies in the central part of the European continent and its total surface area is over 322,500 sq km. This makes it the ninth largest country in Europe, after Russia, Ukraine, France, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Norway, and the 63rd largest in the world. Poland is a relatively low-lying country. 91.3 percent of its territory lie cca 300 m above sea level. The highest point is Mt Rysy in the Tatras (2499 m), while the lowest point is located west of the village of Raczki Elblaskie (1.8 m below sea level).
There are three main mountain ranges in Poland: the Carpathians, the Sudetan Mountains, and the Góry Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross Mountains), 21 mountains are over 2,000 metres. The longest rivers are the Vistula (1047 km long), the other main rivers are: Oder (845km), Warta and Bug. With almost ten thousand closed bodies of water covering more than one hectare each, Poland has one of the highest numbers of lakes in the world. In Europe, only Finland has a greater density of lakes. The largest is Lake Sniardwy (11,383 ha) in the Masuria and the deepest is Lake Hancza (108.5 m) in Podlaskie Voivodeship. As to the administrative division, Poland is divided into 16 voivodeships (provinces).
AREA CODE
+48
BORDERING COUNTRIES
Poland is bordered by Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave, to the north.
CITIES
Warsaw is the capital city, with a population of 1,706,624 inhabitants. Other big cities are Łódz (763,192 inhabitants), Cracow (756,583), Poznań (560,932), Gdańsk (510,717), Szczecin (407,811), Bydgoszcz (361,222), Lublin (351,806), Katowice (317,220).
CLIMATE
The climate is mostly temperate throughout the country. The climate is oceanic in the north and west and becomes gradually warmer and continental as one moves south and east. Summers are generally warm, with average temperatures between 20 °C (68 °F) and 27 °C (81 °F). Winters are cold, with average temperatures around 3 °C (37 °F) in the northwest and −8 °C (17.6 °F) in the northeast.
CURRENCY
The official currency is Złoty (PLN), divided into 100 groszy. American Express, Diners Club, Visa, PLUS and Eurocard/MasterCard are accepted in places frequented by tourists.
DISTANCES
Warsaw is situated 558 km from Vienna, 516 km from Berlin, 515 km from Prague, 533 km from Bratislava and 947 km from Bucharest.
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
General Emergency Number 112
Police 997
Fire Brigade 998
Ambulance 999
Road Assistance 981
Municipal Wardens 986
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
Polish airlines: www.lot.com
Warsaw: www.lotnisko-chopina.pl
Cracow: www.krakowairport.pl, www.lotnisko-balice.pl
Gdańsk: www.airport.gdansk.pl
Katowice: www.gtl.com.pl
Łodz: www.airport.lodz.pl
Poznań: www.airport-poznan.com.pl
Rzeszów: www.lotnisko-rzeszow.pl
Szczecin: www.airport.com.pl
Szczytno: www.airport.szczytno.pl
Wrocław: www.airport.wroclaw.pl
Bydgoszcz: www.plb.pl
Zielona Góra: www.lotnisko-zielonagora.pl
LANGUAGE
The official language is Polish. However, English, German and Russian are among the better known foreign languages spoken.
MOBILE OPERATORS
Three major phone network operators: Centertel, belonging to TP S.A. capital group, Polkomtel S.A. and Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa S.A.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
1st January: New Year’s Day, 13th March: World´s Day of Remembrance for Victims of Katyn Massacre, 1st May: State Holiday, 2th May: Flag Day, 3rd May: the Anniversary of the Constitution of May Third, 28th June: Day of Remembrance of the Poznań June 1956, 15th August: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 28th August: Day of Polish Airforce, 31st August: Day of Solidarity and Freedom, 14th October Day of National Education, 16th October: Day of Pope John Paul II, 1st November: All Saints´ Day, 11th November: National Independence Day, 25th and 26th December: Christmas Holidays.
POLITICAL SYSTEM
Parliamentary democracy.
POPULATION
38,115 million inhabitants. The vast majority of Poland’s people (97%) are of Polish origin. The remainder is of German, Ukrainian, Jewish, or Belorussian origin.
POWER NETWORK
Electricity is 220V/50Hz, the standard European two point plugs.
PRESIDENT
Andrzej Duda since 2015
RAIL TRANSPORT
Major Polish cities are interconnected by Intercity express trains running between European cities. The national railway network is serviced by the Polish State Railways: www.pkp.pl
ROAD TRANSPORT
Bus: state and private bus companies throughout the country – www.eurolinespolska.pl, www.orbis-transport.pl, www.gullivers.de
Rent a car: www.avis.pl, www.budget.com, www.europcar.com.pl, www.awos.com.pl, www.gtlservice.com.pl, www.jolcar.com.pl
TIME
CET – Central European Time: UTC/GMT + 1 hour. CEST – Central European Summer Time: UTC/GMT + 2 hours.
TAXI SERVICE
Taxi stands are marked with the TAXI sign. Taxis can best be booked by phone. You can order a car on the number 919 (one for the whole of Poland), or to find a number of other companies: www.infotaxi.org. Higher rates are charged for travel out of city limits, on Sundays and holidays; a special night fare is applied between 10 pm and 6 am.
WATER TRANSPORT
By boat: from Sweden. Karslkrona by Stena Line www.stenaline.pl, Nynashamn, Visby. From Denmark: Copenhagen, Bornholm.
By yacht: bigger marinas are located in Szczecin, Leba, Hel, Gdynia and Gdańsk.
