Destination: Poland

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Dangers & Annoyances

Poland is a relatively safe country to travel in, even though there has been a steady increase in crime since the fall of communism. Always keep your eyes open and use common sense. Problems mostly occur in big cities, with Warsaw being perhaps the least-safe place in Poland. Take care when walking alone at night, particularly in the centre and the suburb of Praga, and be alert at Warszawa Centralna (Warsaw Central) train station, the favourite playground for thieves and pickpockets. Other large cities appear to be quieter, but keep your wits about you. By and large, the smaller the town, the safer it is.

Don’t venture into any run-down areas, dubious-looking suburbs and desolate parks, especially after dark. Use taxis if you feel uncertain about an area. Try to stay away from groups of suspicious-looking male characters hanging around markets, shady bars and bus and train stations. Stay at a safe distance from dogs. Poles are keen on big dogs, many of which roam without leads, and not all are muzzled. Some are bigger and uglier than others.

Keep a sharp eye on your pockets and your bag in crowded places such as markets or city buses and trams. Beware of short-changing at train stations, taxis, restaurants etc. Always have some smaller bills in order to make change more easily. Hotels are generally safe, though it’s better not to leave valuables in your room; in most places you can deposit them at the reception desk.

Theft from cars has become widespread. ‘Pirate’ or ‘mafia’ taxis can be a problem in Warsaw and some other large cities, and robbery in trains has also been on the increase.

If your passport, valuables and/or other belongings are lost or stolen, report it to the police. They will give you a copy of the statement, which serves as a temporary identity document; if you have insurance, you’ll need to present the statement to your insurer in order to make a claim. English-speaking police are rare, so it’s best to take along an interpreter if you can. Don’t hold out high hopes of having your possessions returned to you, for the police earn next to nothing and can be rather cynical about a ‘rich’ foreigner complaining about losing a few dollars.

Heavy drinking is a way of life in Poland and drunks may at times be disturbing. Poles smoke a lot and so far there has been little serious antitobacco campaigning. Polish cigarettes are of low quality and the smoke they produce is barely tolerable for anyone not used to them, let alone a nonsmoker.

Slow and impolite service in shops, offices and restaurants is slowly being eradicated, though you can still occasionally experience it. Cheating is not common but there are some areas, especially those connected with foreign tourism, where you should be alert. By the way, if a couple of young boys offer to bag your shopping at a supermarket, they’re not begging or scamming – they’re boy scouts collecting for charity.

Since WWII Poland has been ethnically an almost entirely homogeneous nation, and Poles, particularly those living in rural areas, have had little contact with foreigners. That’s why travellers looking racially different may attract some stares from the locals. In most cases, this is just a curiosity, without any hostility in mind. On the other hand, there have been some acts of racism in the cities, though it’s still not a social problem by any definition.

Travelling to Poland?
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