Poland is a great destination for solo female travelers, especially if you are new to solo travel. It’s easy to get around, fairly low risk for crime, most people speak English, and the food is amazing. I’ve already posted city guides for Kraków and Warsaw with more details on sightseeing and where to stay, and in today’s post, I’m sharing a guide on solo female travel in Poland with planning tips to help you prepare for your visit.
Tips For Solo Female Travel In Poland And How To Plan A Visit
Disclaimer
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
Entry requirements for Poland
In many cases, you can visit Poland for up to 90 days without a visa.
It’s important to check this with your countries travel department to check the requirements for your specific passport.
What is the currency?
The currency in Poland is the Zloty.
It doesn’t use the Euro as currency which makes Poland a budget-friendly destination. The exchange rate is usually in your favor and prices are low. If you’d like to treat yourself, you can do it here on a budget.
It’s good to get a little cash out for smaller purchases, which you can do at the airport or ATMs around town, but many places also accept cards for payment.
Cafe culture is amazing in Poland – and inexpensive!
When is the best time to visit
If your schedule allows, on a shoulder season either side of summer would be ideal for milder weather and fewer crowds. This would be around April-May or October-November.
However, since many of the activities aren’t weather-specific – as in, it’s not primarily a beach or hiking destination, for example, you can visit any time of year and still have a fun trip.
I visited in January and, though the weather was cold, there were hardly any crowds and the chilly weather made it nice for strolling and trying out all the hot chocolates.
The winter mist gave Auschwitz an even more eerie vibe
What to wear in Poland
There isn’t a specific dress code for Poland in terms of what you need to cover up to be respectful. The only dress etiquette is to be respectfully dressed when you visit Auschwitz.
I do have some tips on what to wear in terms of practical reasons though. The cold in Poland is harsh. It’s a different kind of cold.
If you will be visiting in a colder season, make sure to pack layers. I used these thermals under my clothes
which were a lifesaver, as well as a heavy jacket, gloves, beanie, and scarf.
3 layers before going out – thermals, main layer, and coat.
Emergency numbers
Here are the emergency numbers to save in your phone:
- 112 – Best option – this is the general emergency number that connects to Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- 999 – Ambulance
- 997 – Police
You can find historic monuments all around Poland
Is Poland safe for solo female travelers?
Poland is a fairly safe country to visit which makes it great for solo female travelers, and especially beginner solo female travelers.
As with any big city, pickpocketing can be common. Protect yourself by keeping your belongings close to you and zipped up.
Use the regular safety precautions you would anywhere else – don’t accept drinks, be wary around ATMs, stick to well-lit areas when walking at night and things like that.
Here is my guide on Solo Female Travel Safety Tips That Actually Work for more information on how to keep safe as a solo female traveler. These are the general tips that apply to any destination.
A quick selfie inside the Salt Mine
How to get around
It’s really easy to get around in Poland and you have a few options.
I visited Warsaw and Kraków and really enjoyed walking around to the sights. It’s a pretty place to walk with lots of interesting stores and cafes to stop at while you are out. The traffic was generally very courteous too and would always stop when I got to a crossing.
There is also a convenient and easy to use public transport system. I used the bus to get to the Salt Mine and trains to get to the airport and both were easy to navigate and convenient.
If you want to travel between cities, Intercity trains are a great option. This is what I used to get from Kraków to Warsaw and it was clean, efficient, and easy to use.
Flixbus is another option for traveling between cities.
For solo female travel in Poland, it’s very easy to get around with public transport and on foot
What to eat
When it comes to food in Poland, it’s hard to get a bad meal. There are so many delicious options and I feel like everything I ate was amazing. Here are a few of my favorites and the iconic foods you just have to try.
I have more details on my favorite spots to find these in my city guides for Kraków and Warsaw.
- Perogi
- Zapiekanki
- Soup – bonus points if it’s in a bread bowl
- Apple pie
- Basically, everything – the food is awesome
Pierogi is a must-try in Poland
What to see and do in Poland
I have linked my detailed guides for Kraków and Warsaw at the end of the post, so definitely check those out for more information. But, here are a few of my favorite things to do in Poland.
- Polish Vodka Museum, Warsaw
- Auschwitz Concentration Camp, best as a day trip from Kraków
- Warsaw Rising Museum, Warsaw
- Krakus Mound, Kraków
- Exploring vintage stores in both Kraków and Warsaw
I didn’t get to visit them on this trip, but I have heard a lot of great things about Wrocław and Gdańsk as well. If you have more time in your travel schedule, they might be worth adding to your itinerary.
Gorgeous views of Warsaw
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Where to stay in Kraków and Warsaw
In Kraków, I stayed at the Queen Boutique Hotel which was fantastic.
It is in a convenient location that makes it very easy to walk to all the sights as well as train and bus stations. I also love that the rooms had a modern, chic design and the staff are very helpful.
In Warsaw, I stayed at Glam Apartments. This was a self-catered accommodation with a host that had an eye for details leaving cold drinks in the fridge and sightseeing brochures to help you plan your trip. The location was a little further out from the main tourist area, but as Warsaw is more spread out anyway, it was still very easy to get around on foot.
I recommend them both and would stay at both again.
Wherever you decide to stay, I recommend searching on Booking.com. This is what I used to book my accommodation and I regularly use it when I am planning trips because I can always find a great deal there.
As a solo female traveler, when you book accommodation, be sure to check the location is in a spot where you will be able to get around easily. The other important factor is to check the reviews and make sure there is nothing shady mentioned from other travelers.
One of the many cool vintage stores near the Queen Boutique Hotel
Other guides to help you plan your visit to Poland
- How To Get To Auschwitz From Krakow And What To Expect There
- 3 Days In Krakow – What To See, Do, And Eat For An Awesome Visit
- 2 Days In Warsaw – Here’s Everything You Need To Know To Plan A Visit
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Poland is an awesome county to visit but the weather can be hard – I recommend travelling from April to September if you don’t want to feel the freezing cold. June – July are super hot and temp can reach 36 degrees. January and February are probably the coolest months, its -15 degrees and can be snowing. People, food and views are amazing any time 🙂
Great idea. I’d love to see it in warmer weather. Definitely need to go back one day!
I totally love Poland – it’s one of my favourite countries to travel. You are right, the Pierogi are amazing! I would also avoid the harsh Polish winter. My favourite times to go are May and September.
One of the best countries to visit for sure! I’d love to see it in May or September 🙂