Things we learned:
Currency: Złoty(3.3 złoty=$1 USD)
Places Visited: Lublin, Warsaw, Kraków, Oświęcim, Biecz, Jasło, Krosno
If you notice the platform is full of people waiting to get on the train, make sure you are the first to jump on as this is the only way to guarantee a seat.
Bus/Metro/Tram tickets are purchased at little kiosks around town. It may be better to buy weekly or 3-day passes if you will be using the public system a lot.
Its’ worth it to rent a car and see the small towns in Poland.
Headlights must always be on when driving and people speed here.
InterRegio vs. InterCity train - schedule is similar, but the price is very different. InterRegio is cheaper.
Every business in small towns seem to close around 1 or 2 on Saturdays and all day on Sundays.
Do not miss a visit to Lublin. When you are there, grab a copy of the route book from the tourist office because it includes tons of information on color-coded walking routes around town.
If you are taking a train, it is better to go from Krakow to Warsaw than Warsaw to Krakow on Sundays.
In Your Pocket Guides are a much better guide book alternative.
During the summer (high season), visitors to Auschwitz are required to hire a tour guide around Auschwitz I between the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you want to skip paying for a guide, you can start at Birkenau/Auschwitz II a bit later in the day and make your way back to Auschwitz I after 3 p.m.
Do not miss the Warsaw Rising Museum in Warsaw and Schindler’s Factory in Krakow for an in-depth look at the country during WWII. They are both incredibly good museums. Chopin Museum is not worth your time or money (it is expensive). Perhaps after a bit of tweaking, a visit to this museum will be worthwhile. If you are going to visit during the high season, keep in mind that there may be waiting lists.
For the Wawel Castle in Krakow, tickets are limited and you must purchase a ticket for every part of it.
Wedding rings are worn on the right hand.
When Pope John Paul II was young, he attended a university that was a part of the underground resistance movement in Warsaw during World War II.
The former Polish president and his wife were buried in the crypts of Wawel Cathedral. During our time there, elections were being held and the former president’s twin brother was one of the candidates.
Apples are a staple fruit and pizza is popular here.
Polish is considered one of the more difficult languages in the world to learn.
Deenaree´s list…
- Food: Bigos
- Experience: Learning more about Poland’s history from World War II and beyond
- Something to remember: Polish people are incredibly friendly, welcoming, and accommodating. Couchsurfing was quite easy and rewarding here.
Ben´s list…
- Food: Pierogies, of course
- Experience: Seeing the only two original buildings that remain from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.
- Something to remember: Visiting our Krakow host’s childhood village and visiting his childhood home.