What currency for Poland?

[calpopscalum]

I know the currency is zlotys but I've ben on a few web sites and they recommend that you take US $ instead of zlotys. Is this right? or should I just take zlotys?

Anyone have any hints/tips etc about Krakow while I'm on the subject?
Cheers

DS always takes zlotys when he travels there on business - didn't using anything else ourselves there. That said, $100 or so in your wallet would never do any harm...

Russia is about the only place he makes sure he has a wad of $ to get out if necessary!

We've never used dollars in Poland, only zlotys, although once we stayed at a private B&B (ie someone's relative who takes paying guests) who preferred her payment in pounds sterling.

There has been a thread on Poland/Krakow before, have a search on the archived threads.

Hints and tips? Really depends what kind of trip you had in mind. If you're going without kids, Auschwitz is a must. It's cheapest to take the train (around 50 mins journey), and there's a bus stop just outside the train station that takes you there.

For food, you will find everything you need in with regards to resaturants in the main square. For lunch, grab a kebab or a large slice of pizza for 6zl (about £1). Take a wander up to Florianska Gate - wonderful artwork for sale hung up on the old city walls. If you're lucky, you'll hear a truly extraordinary accordianist busking there. For a fantastic coffee, go to Jama Michalika on Florianska street, if you don't have a nut allergy, order the 'tort' to go with your coffee.

For dinner, I would recommend the restaurant under the Ratusz (Town hall tower) - it's a gothic dungeon if you go down the steps, but in the summer they put tables outside (as does the rest of the square). They serve nice salads.

For nice traditional polish food in an elegant atmosphere, there's the restaurant 'Pod Gruszka' (under the sign of the pear) just off the square. Listen to live trad jazz (for free!) on a tuesday and wednesday night in the Harris Piano Bar on the main square, where they also serve coffee, as well as cheap alcohol (2 glasses of beer cost us 13zl last time). Loads of other nightclubs dotted around the square if your tastes are more contemporary - just wander around and listen out for what appeals.

If you're brave enough to use buses, the fantastic Aquapark is a bus ride away. They have great toddler facilities, and amazing tube slides for older kids (and adults) Ask for details at the tourist information place in the arches on the main square.

Thank you! I thought it made more sense to get zlotys but thought I'd check with the experts!! Hoppybird - thanks for all that info! I'm going with my bf for a long weekend with NO kids!! Yippee so definately going to Auschwitz. Starting to get a bit apprehensive though as not sure what we'll find there if you know what I mean.
The squere sounds fab - think we'll be hanging about there quite a bit!!

Do we need a phrase book or do people speak good English? bit worried about the pronunciation if I start trying out the Polish!

Thanks!

Message withdrawn

A long weekend? Hmm. Would certainly be a very varied trip if you packed Auschwitz plus actual holiday-type fun things into it. I guess it depends how much you want to go there, and if it's been on your own list of 'places I HAVE to visit' for some time. It was a must for me (and dh) personally, as we have this need to visit places of specific historical/architectural/social interest if we're in that area, in fact, our holiday destinations tend to be cities for this reason.

A very simple phrasebook would help, just to get the words for 'hello', 'goodbye' 'thank you' and 'two beers please' right. However, you will find that in most shops, they know enough to understand 'how much?' and will show you a calculator with the price on it. It's mostly younger people that speak a little english. Cafes and restaurants, paricularly on the square, have their menus with english translations, and you'll find a good number of the waiting staff can manage some english.

We let my (english)fil loose on his own in Krakow with the barest amount of Polish, and he managed to hire a bicycle, buy lunch, tram and train tickets, and visit museums with little trouble.

Thanks Hoppybird. The visit to Auschwitz is the main reason for going tbh. Always wanted to goa s I've alwways been v interested in WW2 and the Jewish question in particular. I ahd a freaky deja -vu experience at Anne Franks attic years ago and must admit this has been palying on my mind in the early hours! I am getting apprehensive about going but there's no way I'm not going to the camp as it's the main reason for the trip.

Thanks for reassuring me about your fil - at least we can get English translation for menus etc - everyone's been taking the michael saying we'll be existing on vodka as it's the only thing they'll understand us saying!!! How they will cope with a broad Scottish accent if that's true I don't know!
Can't wait - 2 weeks to go and we'll be off!! First child free wine in Luton airport methinks!

Nah, you won't starve. If you feel like some familiar food, there's a McDonald's at the top of Florianska Street, but really, you won't have a problem with restaurants, kebab and pizza stalls.

There are usually stands on street corners selling giant pretzels for 50gr (half a zloty). BUT there are also little old ladies selling something that looks like decorated bread from their wicker baskets - this is, in fact, hand-made smoked goats or sheeps milk cheese. So be warned!

I'm also very interested in WW2 - had studied it from a polish/jewish perspective in college. Also, my parents lived through WW2 (they were deported to Siberia from Poland as youngsters), so I've always heard about WW2 from their stories, which is where my interest stems from. I guess knowing a lot of details already did prepare me for when we visited the camp, but we were still astounded at the size of the place.

Auschwitz is bound to have an impact on you, but hopefully, the lovely city of Krakow will leave a really positive impression.

Thanks for that.

Wow, your parents must have really been through it. I've always had this interest so am keen to see the camp, just do't know how I'll find it.

We extended the trip so we'll have 2 full days (going Thu to Sun) so we could have a light hearted day of sightseeing to sort of balance it out.

I'm really looking forward to the trip though but hanks for the tip about the bread resembling cheese!! Think we'll give McDonalds a miss, I love eating the local stuff so let's see what Poland ahs to offer!!

Many people in the west aren't aware of the deportations to Siberia. There's some information about what happened \link{http://www.aforgottenodyssey.com\here}, if you're interested - the links page has a wealth of information.

My mother was deported with her family as a 5 year old to labour camps in Siberia at the very start of the war, returning to Poland when it was over. My father's family spent 2 years in Khazakstan, from where they escaped with the Polish army.
My mother got very upset at just seeing the photos from Auschwitz when we came back from our visit, as she remembered as a child in Siberia hearing about the horrors happening in Poland. She remembers most the hunger and cold, of Siberia, and how she was so hungry, she wanted to be eaten by the wolves to make it stop.

To this day she places a huge importance on food as do many Poles of her generation. They're the most extremely hospitable people you're likely to meet.

Polish food is seriously filling. Recommendations include barszcz (beetroot soup, sometimes served with uszka - mushroom raviol), pierogi, and golabki - stuffed cabbage rolls served with tomato/cream sauce. These are my dh's favourites! (and he's english).

Hope you have a good (and interesting) time!

Wow Hoppybird, just spent ages trawling through those links. I never knew about those deprtations. How horrendous, but you're right hardly anyone in the west hears about them.

Thanks for all your recommendations.