In this travel guide we’ll discover the 20 things you should not do in Poland. I’ll discuss the essential do's and don'ts to help you have an enjoyable journey through this beautiful country. With deep insights into Poland's rich culture and heritage you won’t want to miss out on this comprehensive guide!
Hi, I’m Michael, and I spent almost two full years in Poland. During my time there, I picked up some invaluable tips and tricks about the country that you won't easily find elsewhere. Today, I'll share all the things you should avoid in Poland based on my own experiences:
00:00 Intro
00:10 Club Scam
00:37 Feeling Rich
00:55 Shoes Inside
01:05 Restroom
01:17 Talking Fast
01:51 Big Bills
02:09 Being Late
02:20 Car Rental
02:48 Shopping
02:56 Central Europe
03:04 Ketchup
03:24 Concentration Camps
03:34 Drink & Drive
04:09 Nature
04:21 Tipping
04:32 Staring
04:39 Service
04:50 Small Gift
04:58 Communism
1. Don’t let someone convince you to go into a bar or club.
Secret club promoters, especially beautiful young women, will pretend to be interested in you or they might ask you to buy them a drink. DO NOT FOLLOW THEM!
2. Don’t tell a Polish person how cheap Poland is.
You are a guest, living and making Zloty in Poland is way different. Please do not brag about how much the US dollar or Euro is worth in Poland.
3. Don’t wear your shoes inside someone’s home.
This might be common in the US but it is not common in Poland. Take your shoes off, you could have dirt or snow on the bottom and it makes a mess.
4. Don’t forget to use the restroom before you leave the house.
In Poland you have to pay money to use the restrooms here and they don’t accept credit cards so bring some coins, usually 2 to 5 zloty should be enough for one bathroom break.
5. Don’t talk fast.
The Polish learn a formal version of English so using the latest slang sometimes isn’t in their vocabulary yet. Also, if you need something like directions or help ask a younger Polish person.
6. Don’t pay using big bills.
Sometimes I would head to the ATM and it would give me a 500 zloty bill and nobody would take it except for my landlord. Most of the country accepts credit cards.
7. Don’t be late.
Tardiness is considered rude just about everywhere, but I found out quickly that saying “I’m on my way” while still at the apartment wasn’t going to work with my friends.
8. Don’t rent a car.
Unless you need to visit the countryside you can get around most big cities using rideshare apps like Bolt or taking the train around using the Jakdojade app.
9. Don’t Shop on a Sunday.
Poland is a very religious country so it should be no surprise that everything is closed on Sunday.
10. Don’t Call Poland Eastern Europe.
It is central Europe. Not Eastern, Central! You will be corrected if you say Eastern.
11. Don’t get scared when you see someone putting ketchup on pizza, it is normal here.
I once had a first date at a restaurant and my date poured ketchup all over her cheese pizza - almost gave me a heart attack, but they do love their sauces on pizza here.
12. Don’t drink in public.
When I lived in Krakow I think the fine was like 130 zloty but it could be more now. You won’t get arrested for it but you will get a fine.
13. Don’t say you visited a Polish Concentration Camp or Death Camp.
This is considered very offensive here. They were German Death/Concentration Camps in the occupied territory of Poland. That is a big difference so please remember to never say this.
14. Don’t Drink and Drive.
Many Poles don’t even want one drink in their system if they are going to be driving somewhere. In 2024 Poland introduced a new law where they seize your car and in some cases scrap it or sell it in which you were drinking and driving.
15. Don’t forget to visit the countryside and the mountains.
Nature in Poland is a hidden treasure. I wish I experienced more of it! If you want to experience beautiful mountains then you should head to Zakopane. If you are wanting more of a beach vibe then head to Gdansk.
16. Don’t tip.
I never really tipped in Poland unless the service was what I was used to back in the US.
17. Don't get upset at people staring at you in trams etc.
The Poles like to stare but there is no malice behind it.
18. Don't expect great service and smiles in restaurants.
Since Poland doesn't have a tipping culture and waiter's salary is not tip dependent - you might not receive the same level of service you are used to.
19. Don’t forget to bring a gift when coming over to a Polish house.
Bringing a small gift like wine, cake or something sweet will earn you extra points and is customary.
20. Don't praise communism in Poland.
If you verbally praise communism no one's gonna report you to the police and with freedom of speech no one is gonna go after you - but presenting communism symbols in public is an offense.
That's it! Stay tuned for more and thanks for watching.