It is always good to have an idea about how much everything costs in the country you are going to visit. I gathered some useful information for you. It may not be exactly the same in all places in Poland, but at least you will have an idea about prices and what to expect.

For tourists coming to Poland from the West, Poland is a relatively inexpensive country. The prices of food, hotel rooms, and domestic communication are not high when compared with prices in The Netherlands or Great Britain, for example.

On the other hand in cities like Warsaw the rental prices for houses or offices have already reached European levels making these rents rather expensive for the average Polish household. However, even with these rising prices which will eventually reach those of western Europe, Poland will remain for some time yet a good quality and attractive, from the point of view of value for money, place to visit. This is of course just one aspect of why visiting Poland today is a good idea. So why not take this opportunity and discover the country, the culture, the history and the people for yourself.

Examples of prices of goods and services in 4 main Polish cities (from May 2007)

Examples of selected products prices (from August 2007)

If you are planning to come to Poland it is important to look for good hotels and modes of transport; car rental, which can be done through a car rental company in your own country which has offices in Poland, or restaurants, concerts, shows, and just generally getting about before you arrive.

Services are available at all levels.

From the modest backpacking hostels to luxurious hotels set in beautiful palaces and if you do not want to stay in a palace there are many two to five star hotels in the cities. You can travel sedately in some of the trains serving communities dotted around Poland or board an intercity train with restaurant car and speed to your destination. Or if time is pressing there are domestic flights available to and from most of the larger cities in Poland. There are countless restaurants and bars and places of more modest reputation, most of them if not all very good and certainly less expensive than in Western Europe. In fact a gastronomic tour of Poland, perhaps linked to a cultural one, is highly recommended.

Poland can cater for all budgets but beware, the more medium graded hotels are in high demand because there are just not enough of them at the moment to supply this ever growing demand. So a word of advice, book in advance especially if you are thinking of coming in the peak season.

The capital city, Warsaw can be the most expensive place in Poland. This is followed by the Tricity (Gdańsk, Gydnia, Sopot). Kraków is exceptional for its popularity and the fact that is better known as a tourist destination in Poland but it is still reasonably priced for tourist services. It can become rather crowded in the high season but then where in Europe isn’t? The city can meet the demand (with reasonable prices) and plays host to thousands of satisfied tourists who come to visit this part of Poland every year.

When my husband and I visit Poland – we usually have a place to stay everywhere we go. My family and friends will not let us rent a room – they will do everything so we can stay with them. You have to know that people in Poland always want to take care of their family and friends. They will open their homes for them and take care of you like no hotel in the world! So remember about it while visiting your relatives in Poland! But if you don’t feel comfortable staying with your family, it is ok to say “No, thank you”. You can always let them know that you do not want to be a trouble or that you already have made hotel arrangements.

Good luck with planning your trip and the budget for it!

Do następnego razu! (Till next time…)