Good to know

Warsaw 19115 City Contact Centre

You don’t know how to get to your hotel? You need information about public transport? You are looking for cultural and sports events? Or maybe you need the law enforcement services?

Contact:

Emergency calls

Emergency 112
Police 997
Ambulance 999
Fire Brigade 998
City Guard 986

Where to store your luggage

in the luggage lockers at Warszawa Centralna Station
in the luggage lockers at Warszawa Wschodnia Station
in the luggage lockers at Warszawa Zachodnia Station
in several luggage lockers at Palace of Culture and Science
the www.radicalstorage.com or www.usebounce.com online private storage systems

Cash

The currency in Poland is the Polish Złoty (PLN) 1 PLN = 100 groszy.
Coins circulate in denominations of 1 PLN, 2 PLN, 5 PLN and 10, 20 and 50 groszy; banknotes are in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 PLN.
In some larger stores, such as hypermarkets, and at some cash-only windows, you can pay in Euros. You must notify the cashier that you will be paying in Euros, but note that it is not a popular currency in Poland yet, and chances are that your change will be given in PLN.

Currency Exchange
Currency should be exchanged at a registered exchange point. Usually, there is no commission for exchanging currency. Note that cash should not be exchanged on the street or with bystanders.

VAT Refund
Travellers from outside of the European Union may apply to receive full reimbursement of VAT for goods purchased in Poland. You must purchase a minimum of 300 PLN of goods in shops displaying a blue and white ‘Tax Free’ sign. You must also inform the salesperson of your intention to recover the tax. To do so, fill out a special form, which must be shown at customs when leaving the EU zone. Detailed information is available at www.globalblue.com

Electricity

In Poland, the voltage is 230V, 50 Hz. The plug is the standard European double plug.

Embassies

There are about one hundred embassies and consulates in Warsaw.
A current and complete list of Embassies

Prohibition of drinking alcohol and smoking

In Warsaw, smoking cigarettes at public transport stops and in clubs, pubs and restaurants (unless there are separate rooms for smokers) is prohibited.

Drinking alcohol in public places (parks, squares, streets, etc.) outside of designated places such as summer gardens in certain restaurants, pubs and Vistula boulevards is also prohibited.

Breaking the rules can result in a fine.

Public holidays

Coming to Warsaw is always a great idea. However, check the dates of public holidays in Poland. Many attractions and shops may be closed then or may have different opening hours.

Public holidays in Poland in 2024:

1 January – New Year’s Day
6 January – Epiphany
1 May – Labour Day
3 May – Constitution Day
15 August – Assumption Day and Polish Army Day
1 November – All Saints’ Day
11 November – Independence Day
25 and 26 December – Christmas

There are also holidays that fall on a different date each year, the so-called moving holidays:

Easter: 31 March-1 April 2024
Pentecost / Whitsun: 19 May 2024
Corpus Christi: 30 May 2024

All shops, shopping centres, supermarkets and government offices are closed during public holidays. Also closed are some tourist attractions, museums, art galleries, etc.

Trading Sundays in 2024

In Poland, most Sundays are non-trade days. This means that shops remain closed on these days. The exception are small grocery shops, such as Carrefour Express, Żabka. You can do your shopping on trade Sundays without any problems:

28 January
24 March
28 April
30 June
25 August
15 December
22 December