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General Information
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Warsaw is the capital of Poland, located on the Vistula River. It is the country’s largest city, with a population of approximately 1.7 million, and has overall the feeling of a bustling major city, yet retains a quaint, small town atmosphere in the old centre. Warsaw was first settled in the 13th century, and has had a long and interesting history. The city first came into its own as a centre for culture in the 1700s, where it was the focal point of the Polish Enlightenment. Since then it faced more difficult times, being divided again and again by its neighbouring countries. After 1989, when Poland became independent from the Soviet Union, Warsaw has been flourishing as never before. It is now not only the commercial and industrial hub of Poland, but also the heart of the country’s cultural and intellectual life. The city offers a vast array of musuems, theatres, concert halls, and other institutions, as well as beautiful parks, ancient buildings, churches, and many other sights.
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Weather
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Warsaw has a temperate and humid climate, with cold winters and fairly hot summers. The coldest weather generally comes in February, and temperatures in the winter can be as low as -20° C, though they average closer to -2° C. The wettest months are usually June and July, and the warmest weather comes in July and August. It is not uncommon to have 30° C temperatures in these months. Spring and fall are usually beautiful seasons, the former crisp and sunny and full of blooms and the latter alternately sunny and misty, and cool but not cold.
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Language
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The language spoken in Warsaw is Polish. German and English are common second languages, and in the city you will find many people who can speak both.
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Religion
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The religious population of Poland is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, with between 90-96% of Poles baptised Catholic. Of these, about 80% practice the religion, but only 55% of adults declare themselves fully identified with the Catholic faith. The main religious minorities in Poland are Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish, and Jehovah’s Witness. At least 6% of Poles do not believe in any religion.
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Currency
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The currency used in Poland is the zloty. One zloty is divided into 100 groszy. Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 grosz and 1, 2 and 5 zlotys. Notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 zlotys. 1 euro is equivalent to approximately 3.4 zlotys.
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Tipping
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There aren’t so many hard and fast rules about tipping in Warsaw. In general, people here expect fewer tips than most other European countries, but it is the norm to give them in several circumstances when you are satisfied with the service. Service charges are not included in any restaurant bills in Warsaw, so it is good to leave some change or round up the bill. Tips are also much appreciated by hairdressers and hotel staffs, but are not considered strictly necessary. Even taxis do not necessarily expect tips, unless they go out of their way to help you in some way. Basically, you can get by with minimal tipping in Warsaw, but it is always nice to reward people for good service.
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Taxes
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The value added tax, or VAT, in Poland ranges from 3 - 22% depending on what you are buying, and is included in the prices of almost all goods and services. It is 3% for unprocessed foods, 7% for other foods and necessary items (health and child care goods, transportation, etc), and 22% for everything else. Tourists from outside of the EU can get the money they spend on tax reimbursed upon leaving the country. There are some conditions, such as you have to take the goods out of the country within three months. Ask if you can get a tax free shopping form whenever you spend a significant amount in one shop. Then present these forms to a customs official in the airport when you are leaving, and you will receive your refund there.
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Telephone
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Public telephones in Warsaw are called TP phones, and they accept prepaid cards which you can buy at “telepoints,” news kiosks and post offices. There are three kinds of phones, and two kinds of cards, which don’t work on all phones. The blue telephones only accept the cards with a magnetic strip, the silver rectangular phones accept both magnetic cards and cards with a chip, and the yellow phones only accept chip cards. At the yellow TP phones you can also send emails and SMS messages.
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Internet
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Warsaw has many internet cafés and locations where wifi is available throughout town, and it is also often provided by hotels. If you don’t have a laptop, it is easy to recognize the internet cafés, which are plentiful in the centre of the city.
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Emergency Numbers
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All Emergencies: 112
Ambulance: 999
Fire Brigade: 998
Police: 997
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Opening times
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The opening times for small shops and other businesses vary, but the norm is weekdays from 9 am - 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm. Large department stores are generally open from 10 am - 10 pm, and supermarkets even longer, from 8.30 am - 11 pm. Banks are open weekdays from 10 am - 6 pm, and some also open on Saturday from 10 am - 1 pm. Post offices are open weekdays from 7 am - 8 pm, and Saturday from 7 am - 2 pm. If you need to buy something in the wee hours, your best bet is to go to a petrol station shop. These are open 24 hours every day, even on holidays, and sell basic necessities such as sandwiches and other basic food items, drinks, and hygienic products.
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Public Holidays
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January 1, New Year’s Day
Easter Sunday and Monday (dates vary)
May 1, State Holiday
May 3, Constitution Day
Pentecost (7th Sunday after Easter)
Corpus Christi (9th Thursday after Easter)
August 15, Assumption Day
November 1, All Saints’ Day
November 11, Independence Day
December 25 and 26, Christmas
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Safety
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Warsaw is safer than the average European city, and it is unlikely that you will become the victim of a crime or scam while visiting here. Ordinary caution should be exercised, however, as petty crimes are not uncommon. Pickpockets can be a problem on trams and busses and at crowded, touristy locations, for example, so make sure your wallet and other valuables are in a secure place. And make sure when taking taxis to only get into clearly marked, official vehicles, to avoid being cheated. Also, the right bank of the city and the area around Wschodnia train station is the seedier area of Warsaw, best avoided at night.
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