Poland - a country that preserved many historical sites of interest, both for historians and for millions of tourists. With its legendary hospitality, the sense of national unity and strong commitment to the Catholic Church and a strong sense of musical and cultural identity, Poland has successfully developed the scope of travel services, which affects the extraordinary increase in the number of those wishing to explore this fascinating country.
Geography
  
Poland, a country in Central Europe, the Baltic Sea. Most of the northern part of the territory is mainly flat, with numerous lakes and swamps, in contrast to the southern border, where the Sudeten Mountains and the High Tatras (Beskids). Poland noted for its rich nature: the broad valley with a dense network of rivers and lakes are replaced by dense forests, hills and ridges, keeping the freshness and coolness of the age-old stalactite caves. Poland has valuable architectural and historical monuments.
Climate

The climate is temperate in Poland. In the summer, in July, the average temperature of about 19 ° C, but there are hot days with temperatures above 30 ° C. The coldest months of the year - January and February. Winter in the mountains long snow.
Capital

Warsaw (until XVI century - Krakow).
Population

Population: 38,678 people (51.3% - women). Approximate ethnic composition: Poles - 97% of the population. The country is also home to the Germans - 0.8% (mostly in the areas of help and Silesia), Ukrainians - 0.65%, Belarusians - 0.53%. All other ethnic groups account for less than 1% - a Roma - 0.06%, Lithuanians - 0.05%, Slovakia - 0.05%, and Jews - 0.04%. Life expectancy - 73 years. Male - 69 years, women - 77 years. According to forecasts, by 2010 will reach 39.39 million.
Language

Official language - Polish.
Currency

Zloty. Loose Change - a penny. 1 zl = 100 gr.
The official name of the zloty decline in 1995 - PLN (Polish New Zloty).

Cash currency can be exchanged at exchange offices, which are called "Kantor wymiany walut", or simply "Kantor". Here take almost any European currency. Currency Exchange in cantors do not need any documents. In Poland banned exchange with it.
Time zone

Central European time in Poland, behind Kiev at 1:00
Religion

The majority of Catholics - 95% (of which 75% are active parishioners) has Orthodox and Protestant communities.

Poles - one of the most religious nations in the world. The Roman Catholic Church in Poland enjoys great political influence and social prestige.
Political Structure


Poland - a parliamentary republic (democracy). The head of state - the president, who is elected for five years by universal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

Legislative power is vested in a bicameral parliament (National Assembly), consisting of the Sejm and the Senate.

Deputies and senators are elected for four years by universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.
Customs regulations
 
Visitors can bring along to Poland everything except arms and drugs. There are no restrictions on the import of personal goods. Transportation of alcoholic beverages and beer is allowed to persons over 18 years old and in an amount not more than 1 liter of spirits and 2 liters of the weak, as well as not more than 200 grams of tobacco.
Transport. Car

Public transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams) runs from 5.30 to 23. Tickets can be purchased in advance in the newspaper and tobacco kiosks. Express buses (pospieszny) are twice as expensive, and journey into night bus (after 23) - three times.

Individual tickets in Warsaw, the same for all modes of transport, cost $ 0.25. In buses, trams and buses relies conventional punch one such ticket in shuttle buses - two tickets for one trip, night bus (from 23.00 to 5.00) - 4 tickets. Pass for one day costs $ 1 a week - $ 5 a month - $ 13. Baggage is paid extra. Metro is in Warsaw.
 
The taxi fare, there are two: day (6-22) and night (06.22). Outside the city, and after 22 fee is doubled. In the absence of the counter - better to negotiate the price in advance! Do not designated taxi at tourist hotels.

When renting a car - required to ensure proper machine. The minimum age to rent - 21 (sometimes 23).
Shops

Grocery stores in major cities during the week working from 6:00 to 18:00 or 19:00, work-free Saturday - 7:00 am to 13:00. On Sundays, holidays and at night, some open food stores in large cities. This primarily concerns the supermarkets. Manufactured goods shops, and services on weekdays open from 10:00 and 11: 00 to 18:00 or 19:00. In smaller towns, shops close early as 17:00.
Electricity

Voltage is 240V, 50 Hz.
Tip

The restaurant - 10% of the bill (if it does not include the cost of services, otherwise be rounded) Tipping taxi drivers in Poland do not give. With any amount of a taxi driver to give you change, no matter how small it may be.
Weekends and holidays

New Year - January 1.

Easter - Sunday and Monday (usually 1-2 weeks before the Orthodox).

Labour Day - May 1.

Constitution Day - 3 May (Constitution of 1791).

Corpus Christi - Thursday (date depends on Easter).

Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God - August 15.

All Saints Day and All Souls' Day - October 30-November 1.

Independence Day - November 11 (restoration of the state independence of Poland in 1918).

Christmas - December 25-26.
Main Attractions

Poland - "The country church", an attractive region for tourists. It is noted for its rich nature, valuable architectural and historical monuments.
 
Many parts of the country have maintained their original beauty. This, above all, the Tatras in the south of the country - the highest mountains in the chain of the Carpathians, Bieszczady (Beskids) in the south-east - the wild mountains with rare species of flora, Sudetes (south-west) - a favorite, along with the Tatra Mountains and the Baltic coast, a place recreation for the citizens of Poland.

In the east, the only one in Europe, large virgin forest - Bialowieza push, Pieniny Park, Father's National Park, which is admired located on limestone mountains medieval castles, and others in the north stretches a chain of many lakes set amid rolling hills and forests - Masuria.

Warsaw - national, technical, State Archaeological Museum, Natural History Museum, the Museum of the Polish Army, and about 30 museums. Of landmarks can be identified Royal Castle, Old Town, Barbican (medieval walls and towers), palace and park Lazienki - the summer palace of King Stanislaus II (XVII-XVIII centuries.) With a monument to Frederic Chopin and the rose garden, the Gothic Cathedral of St. John (XIV c.) and the Church of the Holy Cross (XVI c.).

In Krakow, the main attractions are the Wawel Castle (XIII c.) With state art collection, St. Stanislaus (1359), St. Mary's Church (1223) with the famous altar Vita Stvosha and "Cave of the Dragon", the Museum salt mines (XIII c.) in Wieliczka underground halls which are sculptures carved from salt.

In Gdansk - Polish Maritime Museum, St. Mary's (1343 - 1505 gg.), The town hall in the Gothic style, the Exchange Building (1379) and the Old Town. In Bialystok - modern white church and the Orthodox Cathedral.

Poznan - a Gothic cathedral, the town hall in the XVI. and Old Town. Ujazd - ruins Kzhishtopor huge castle, built by analogy to the calendar - 365 windows and 52 rooms.
Torun is famous for the remains of the castle of Teutonic Knights (1231), Gothic mansions and Baroque town hall (XIII - XIV c.) And its Old Town. Wroclaw - the Church of St. John the Baptist (1158), the Church of St. Elizabeth (XIII c.), The Church of the Holy Cross (XIII - XIV c.), The Church of Our Lady (XIV c.), The Gothic town hall (XIII c.) the former royal palace.

Important Catholic shrine - of the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa - can be seen in the monastery of Jasna Gora.

Lots of interesting monuments are in cities, which in XIII-XIV centuries. belonged to the Teutonic Knights: a magnificent castle in Malbork, a fortified complex in Frombork Cathedral, the castle in Golub-Dobrzyń, where he now held jousting tournaments in Pachkove fortifications, the palace and park complexes Kurpik near Poznan, Wilanów near Warsaw, Lantsut in southeast .

Attract its color a lot of small towns: Kazimierz Dolny on the Vistula River, Kshenzh and lags in Lower Silesia, Szydlow and Opatija in the Kielce province. For those wishing to pay organized fishing and hunting in the vast and well-protected forests and nature reserves.