The local currency is the Polish zloty (PLN). Money is best exchanged at bureaux de change and banks. There are also ATMs everywhere, and in many shops and restaurants you can pay by card. The Zloty (PLN 1) is divided into 10 coins 10 grosz coins. There are 9 denominations of coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 grosz and 1, 2 and 5 Zlotys, and 5 denominations of banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Zlotys. Conversion of other currencies to zlotys is best checked at www.nbp.pl.

Typical of Krakow and the surrounding area, the temperate transitional climate is characterised by frequent changes in weather, because over Poland the dry air masses from the Eurasian continent and the moist from the Atlantic clash. The average annual temperature in Krakow is 8-9°C. The lowest temperatures on thermometers usually appear from mid-January to mid-February (average January temperature is -3°C). The warmest and most sunlit months of the year are July and August (average temperature in July is 18°C). This characteristic climate means that the tourist season here lasts a very long time: The abundance of winter snow on the slopes of the mountains makes Małopolska the Polish winter sports centre, while from May to September the weather is warm and friendly, with a large number of sunny days.

Krakow’s climate records:

Payment in shops: by cash (PLN, some in the city center exceptionally accept EUR) or cards. Monday to Friday typical opening hours are 10:00-18:00, on Saturdays many shops close at 14:00 and most of shops are closed on Sundays. 

Participants are encouraged to have standard travel insurance before traveling to Poland. Note that European Health Insurance Card is not an alternative to travel insurance.

Emergency Calls

Police: 997

Ambulance: 999

Fire brigade: 998

Emergency number: 112

City Guard: 986

Medical Information: 12 661 22 40

Toxicological Intervention in Emergency Situations: 12 411 99 99

International Code for Poland: 0048 (+48)

National code for Krakow: 12