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Essential apps for

Poland

Polska

PolishPLN5 apps

Krakow and Warsaw are increasingly digital. Bolt and Uber compete for rides, and Glovo dominates food delivery.

🔌

Power & Plug

TypeC / E
Voltage230V
Freq50Hz

French-style plugs.

💬

Basic phrases

Polish

  • Hello
    Cześć
    Tcheshch
  • Thank you
    Dziękuję
    Jen-koo-yeh
  • Yes
    Tak
    Tahk
  • No
    Nie
    Nyeh
  • Please
    Proszę
    Pro-sheh

+2 more below

🎎

Tipping

In restaurants a tip of around 10% is customary for good service; leave it in cash rather than adding it to a card payment. Note that saying "thank you" (dziękuję) when handing over money can be taken to mean "keep the change," so state the amount you want to pay clearly.

🚖Rideshare & Taxi

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B

Bolt

European rideshare with cheaper fares than Uber in many cities. Also offers scooters.

Main rideshare in Warsaw and Krakow.
U

Uber

The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.

Wide coverage.

🗺️Navigation & Maps

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G

Google Maps

Works almost everywhere except mainland China. Offline maps are critical when roaming.

Strong transit data.

💬Translation

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G

Google Translate

The universal default. Camera mode translates signs and menus instantly.

Helpful for Polish menus.

🍱Food Delivery

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G

Glovo

Spanish food + parcel delivery, big in Portugal, Italy, Eastern Europe, and Africa.

Dominant food delivery.
Phrases

All Polish phrases

Hello
Cześć
Tcheshch
Thank you
Dziękuję
Jen-koo-yeh
Yes
Tak
Tahk
No
Nie
Nyeh
Please
Proszę
Pro-sheh
How much?
Ile kosztuje?
Ee-leh kosh-too-yeh
Cheers
Na zdrowie
Na zdroh-vyeh
Briefing

What to know before you go

Do

  • Greet with a firm handshake and direct eye contact; wait for a woman to extend her hand first in formal settings
  • Remove your shoes when entering someone's home
  • Bring an odd number of flowers (never even, which is for funerals) when visiting someone
  • Use titles like Pan (Mr.) and Pani (Mrs./Ms.) with surnames until invited to use first names
  • Dress respectfully and stay quiet when visiting churches, which are still actively used for worship
  • Accept food and drink offered by hosts, as refusing can seem impolite

Don't

  • Don't make jokes about Poland's WWII history or conflate Poland with Russia
  • Don't keep your hands in your pockets while talking or toasting
  • Don't be loud or disruptive in churches and memorial sites such as Auschwitz
  • Don't expect shops and many services to be open on Sundays, which are often trade-free

⚠️ Common scams to know

  • Overcharging taxis at airports and rail stations; use official ranks or ride-hailing apps with set fares
  • Inflated bills at "gentlemen's clubs" and some tourist-strip bars, sometimes with hidden cover charges
  • Currency-exchange kantors near tourist sites posting poor rates or hidden commissions
  • Pickpocketing on crowded trams, buses, and in markets in Kraków and Warsaw
Going elsewhere?

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