How easy it it for an American to travel through Poland? Is English a pretty common language? What would be your recommendations? Are there better areas to see than others ?
Poland - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I am not an American but I live in Warsaw for the last six months. The company I work for has sent me here so I am not a tourist but I think I have a good experience of the country. Please note that I do not speak Polish and had no previous knowledge of the country. Polish people are friendly and very polite. There are some dangerous areas but to tell you the truth I have never felt danger untill now. It is true that during the night you do not feel very safe and you prefer to be indoors but I do not think that there is a big problem. Some Polish people I think they make things appear worse than they really are and they have told me not to go to some neighborhoods. I have been there but nothing happened. It was not very pleasant but it was ok. Poland is really nice and has many places to visit mostly in its south part. Krakow is really beautiful and you can use it as base for many day trips. All the area around Krakow is very nice and interesting. Gdansk is also nice but I have been there for only a day. Warsaw is nice but I would not spend more than two or three days. Polish people speak mostly Russian as a foreign language. English is not common but many young people do speak English in a very good level. I always have problems communicating even in multinational companies. Unfortunately the museums and all the touristic attractions are not very well organized and I could find English audio tour or English labels to only one museum. A good advice is to buy a good travel guide and I good map. The public transportation is really good and reliable. I have never traveled by rail but I have heard that is quite good. The road network needs improvement but you will not have problems traveling. The Polish countryside is wonderful so I would not suggest using planes. I have also spoken with many colleagues of mine who they have brought their families to the country. They prefer to hire a guide and let him/her do all the aragements. These guides help you to organize your schedule and they are realy helpful with the communication part. You can hire someone from a travel agency or a private one. Have a nice time. PS. Do not visit Poland during the winter. It is really cold and if you are comming from a warmer country, like I do, It would be really hard to be outside. Right now the weather is perfect.
2 :
i grew up in the usa and i live in poland now. although i grew up in a polish family and speak polish fluently. its pretty easy to travel through poland as long as you stick to big cities. if you go to the countryside, you run the risk of people saying they speak english, but they really don't. english is common for the younger generation, those who are under 30, so they're most likely to speak english well. i recommend krakow, its a beautiful city. also, the salt mine, wieliczka which is a short drive from krakow. zakopane is also worthwhile, if you like hiking. just be careful, it can get a bit expensive there because its a tourist destination. warsaw is also great, as is gdansk and wroclaw. all those cities have beautiful squares and lots of interesting historical things to see. stay away from katowice. unless of course you want to see what communism did to poland. its a gray, smelly, depressing city built near a coal mine. the rest of poland is better now, but katowice just can't get itself together for some reason. also, public transportation is great in poland, you can get anywhere at any time of day practically. just stay away from the trains, or pkp, there's lots of robberies on those. i recommend buses, or pks. even with all this, i recommend going with a guide. someone who knows polish fluently, and knows poland well. this is the best advice i can give you. there's lots of polish people living in the us who go to poland a lot, so maybe you can go with them so they can help you out. or find a polish travel buddy. there's some things that are obvious to polish people that americans can't seem to figure out.
3 :
heheh, well, im from Kraków Poland.... just to tell u that this is normal country. all is smallera nd more human (and normal) than in US... all works - good enough. ppl are kind if u are not ignorant and proud (of ur money) maybe nt all is given to u - but u have to search and try in ur life. students in big cities dont have any probem wth english. ull be posiively surprised, have nice time
4 :
I will be really easy for U cos polish ppl speak a good English and alot of them do and they will make u feel welcome and try 2help. U should definitely see Kraków its a nice place,Poznań is nice too.If U have a chance go 2 polish mountains.You welcome!
5 :
Just like everyone on here, I believe that Poland is one of the most beautiful countries to visit. I was born and finished college in Warsaw, but for the past 13 years, I have lived in ATL, GA. Every chance I get, I pack up my family of 5 and we all go to Poland. As soon as you step out of the airplane in Warsaw, you'll know you are in Poland. People are very friendly, polite and hospitable. If you at least try to speak Polish, they'll love you forever. We are a very proud nation and hate when anyone tries to show they are native to Warsaw, I love the city. Citadel is very interesting, but DO NOT go there by yourself. Get a tour guide! Night life is very vibrant, especially at Starowka (Old Town). As far as safety goes, listen to those who live there now since I haven't been there for ages. As far as the other cities are concerned, try to make a trip to Zakopane (South of Poland) at the Tatry mountains. Very touristy, but full of folklore town. And while you are there, buy an "oscypek", smoked goat cheese. It is fantastic, even if you are not a fan... Another must would "prazona herbata" rum enhanced hot tea that is served over an indoor fire pit with hot sausages you bake yourself. It is a great joint next to the Giewont Hotel. Ask them about that place. It is a must. One of those teas and you are great for the night. Zakopane, I would definitely recommend to see for New Years. Everyone gets out on the street and everyone has champagne or wine... What a party! Torun is closer to the North. It's Old Town is the only, fully preserved Neo-Gothic style in Poland. It's entire Old Town!, not just parts... Czestochowa, where pilgrims every year travel to see the painting of Virgin Marry. It's history tells that during the Nazi's invasion, one of the SS officers slapped the painting with a lynch and the face of the Virgin Marry had two slashes on it's check that started bleeding. There were several miracles observed on this hill. Pilgrims pay tribute every year by traveling by foot from every corner of the country just to see the painting. It is something very amazing and emotional to see if you are in a least bit spiritual. Whew, I could talk on and on about other amazing places to visit, but we have no time for that. The places other folks here told you about are definitely in my list as well. As far as the language goes, you'll be fine. Just as everyone here told you, young folks will know it. Anyone below 40. I am in my 30's and most of my college friends speak English pretty well. Have fun!
6 :
I speak english (obviously) but generally you can survive just fine in Warsaw with no Polish. If you venture outside of the major tourist areas (Gdansk, Krakow, Warsaw) you'll be pretty screwed. But the most beautiful cities are english friendly by virtue of them being tourist destinations. Most people speak a few lines, but polish is the only language posted there.
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