Can I Travel To Poland? September 2022

There is currently a small wave of new infections in Poland. However, there is little to suggest that restrictions will be reimposed and travellers do not need to provide a test on arrival or proof of vaccination. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update the page if circumstances change. Enjoy your trip to Kraków!

Travel Summary

Last update: September 4, 2022

• There is currently a small wave of new COVID infections in Poland but rates remain very low and travel is largely unaffected. If you are planning to visit Kraków in September, it’s wise to book flights and accommodation that can be changed. The chance of restrictions being reimposed is small, but the situation is always open to change.
• All COVID-based travel restrictions were dropped in Poland on March 28. Travellers are no longer required to show proof of vaccination on arrival, nor are Passenger Locator Forms or negative test result required. Quarantine rules have also been removed
• Poland has also lifted all social restrictions within cities and masks are no longer compulsory
• We have a specific guide on how to get to Kraków if you are travelling from the UK.
• See our Flights To Kraków page for information on which airlines are currently available. You can check available flights, timings and prices for your chosen dates with one search. It’s also easy and affordable to book your own private Krakow airport transfer to your hotel
• Ukrainian refugees continue to arrive in Polish cities. However, this is unlikely to affect travel and tourists are still very much welcome in Kraków! Aid is urgently required. Help the people of Ukraine (and Poland) if you can
• Auschwitz-Birkenau is has fully reopened. See our Things To Do In Kraków guide and two-, three-, and four-day itineraries for suggestions of where to visit, but check ahead to book places and clarify opening rules
• See How To Get To Kraków for details of ways to reach the country and How To Travel From Kraków To Other Polish Cities for suggestions of other places to visit

Current Rules For Travelling To Poland

Poland has dropped all COVID-related travel restrictions, including quarantine, so you no longer need proof of vaccination or a recent negative test result to enter the country. Nor do you need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form. Travellers from most countries will now just need a valid passport to enter the country. Some travellers will also need a visa.

However, you should check the rules for returning to your home country. For example, you may need to fill out a Passenger Locator Form less than 48 hours before leaving Poland to return home.

If you start to feel ill while you’re away, contact the Polish National Health Fund on 800 190 590. Press 6 for English language advice on what steps to take if suspect you might have coronavirus.

The latest information about travel to Poland can be found on the Polish government website.

Current Restrictions Within Kraków

The Polish government removed all COVID-related public health restrictions on March 28, including compulsory mask wearing and social distancing in public spaces. See the government regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Travel Restrictions And Visas

All land borders are open, except into Ukraine and Belarus in the east, due to military conflict in the area.

See our Flights To Kraków page for the latest information on available routes and check with airlines for clarification.

This guide to the Schengen area has full details of which nationalities need a visa for Poland.

Be sure to clarify your airline’s policy for rebooking and return flights if circumstances change suddenly. Book accommodation that allows for cancellations.

Kraków Airport – image © Jason Weaver

Flights To Poland

International flights are now permitted to Poland and budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet are running a timetable between key European cities. See our new Flights To Kraków page for more details.

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Use a service like 12go to check flights for your chosen dates. See also our comprehensive guide to Kraków Airport and how to get from Kraków Airport to Kraków city centre.

Queen Boutique Hotel – image © Jason Weaver

Accommodation And Social Hygiene in Poland

Polish customer service tends to be excellent, with high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Many public buildings, including hotels and shopping malls, will still provide hand sanitiser, but it’s a good idea to bring a small bottle of your own and to wash your hands frequently.

See our recommendations for the best hotels in Krakow for various budget categories and ideas on the best areas of the city in Where To Stay In Krakow.

Poland Coronavirus Information

New daily cases of COVID have begun to rise again, so we may be seeing the start of another wave. However, levels remain amongst the lowest in Europe and, at time of writing, are at less than 1,448 in the whole country, with daily deaths in single figures.

The vaccination programme has pretty much levelled out at roughly 54.5 million doses, which translates to 144 doses per 100 people. The population of Poland is just over 38 million people.

• Here is the official Polish government’s Coronavirus infection report. Note that Kraków is in the Małopolska district
• There are graphs to help you visualise the current status of the virus in Poland at the worldometer Poland Coronovirus page

Forum Przestrzenie – image © Jason Weaver

Tips For Safe Travel In Poland

Here are some useful tips to make your trip to Poland a safe one:

• Visitors to Kraków still face a mild risk of exposure to COVID-19, a highly-contagious virus; so individuals should consult a doctor before considering any travel. Similarly, if you display any symptoms of the virus before you leave or are considered at-risk, don’t travel! See the Travel Health Pro COVID-19 Travel Risk Assessment and the UK government Poland travel advice for comprehensive details
• If you start to feel ill while you’re away, contact the Polish National Health Fund on 800 190 590. Press 6 for English language advice on what steps to take if suspect you might have coronavirus
• Although masks are no longer mandatory, there’s strong medical evidence that it’s safer for everyone if you wear one. Although masks should be available from pharmacies, supermarkets, and a number of enterprising vendors, we recommending bringing them with you
• Hand sanitiser is widely available at hotels, shopping malls, bars and restaurants, public transport, and many other public buildings. All the same, make sure you add a bottle to your packing list
• As a traveller, you’ll have less access to soap and running water than you would at home, so wash your hands at every opportunity
• Kraków is a very walkable city, so consider exploring on foot, instead of via bus and tram. See our guide to Getting Around In Kraków for more details
• Google provides a chart of estimated busy times for popular attractions, so search for what you plan to visit and try to go at quieter times of day
• Provided you meet the criteria for travel to Poland, your visit is no longer considered high risk and you can buy travel insurance to cover the trip. However, things are changing very quickly and not all firms will cover costs incurred by COVID-19. Be sure to check with your provider to clarify what’s on offer. Moneysupermarket has an up-to-date guide on questions relating to the coronavirus and travel insurance. The UK government’s advice on travel insurance is useful for all travellers, regardless of nationality

Other Polish Cities You Can Visit From Kraków

• Białystok: In the north east of Poland, Białystok has a lively cultural scene and a handful of tourist attractions, and is close to the UNESCO-listed Białowieski National Park and the oldest forests in Europe.
• Gdańsk: On the Baltic coast, Gdańsk is friendly and great for food, and one of Poland’s biggest tourist destinations.
• Gdynia: Gdynia is also a port city with some lovely sandy beaches, and also makes a great day trip from neighbouring Gdańsk.
• Katowice: For something a bit different, Katowice is very post-industrial. It’s airport and proximity to Kraków make it worth consideration for travellers who want a future-facing (and very green) Poland, with dramatic, modern architecture.
• Łódź: Set in the very heart of Poland, Łódź is coming into its own as a creative city. The city is alive with murals and street art. There’s a great food scene and a nice mix of architectural styles. Right now, Łódź has that exciting feel of the future.
• Lublin: On the eastern side of Poland, Lublin is best known as a cultural and academic city. It has a rich Jewish heritage and was apparently referred to as the ‘Jewish Oxford’ in the Jagiellonian era. There is a nice mix of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque, with some atmospheric cobbled streets.
• Olsztyn: Up in the north, Olsztyn is often overlooked by tourists keen to reach the more famous Gdańsk. It does, however, have a pretty Old Town and ranks very highly for quality of life. What’s more, the city provides a gateway to some gorgeous wild countryside of lakes and forests.
• Poznań: 300km to the west of Warsaw, youthful Poznań has a lively, friendly nightlife, with plenty of restaurants and bars. The Old Town is brightly coloured and quirkily decorated with bold styles similar to Southern Germany. There’s plenty here to keep you occupied for a long weekend, with a museums, a cathedral, and historical buildings, but the city also makes a great base for exploring Poland’s countryside.
• Sopot: Another seaside resort, between Gdynia and Gdańsk, Sopot is a playground for the rich. With sandy beaches and a pier, as well as the shops, bars, and clubs of Bohaterów Monte Cassino, it can be very busy at the height of the season. Even more than Gdynia, Sopot might be best sampled first as an afternoon out, rounded off with a meal in one of the excellent fish restaurants.
• Szczecin: Close to the border with Germany, Szczecin is off the beaten track for most tourists. The Old Town is pretty and there are a handful of attractions to see. But, mainly, visiting Szczecin is a great opportunity to get to know Polish food and to engage with the culture – there is a fine Philharmonic building and the grand Ducal Castle is now an arts centre.
• Toruń: Largely untouched by the Second World War, Toruń is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Vistula River to the north west of Warsaw. The architectural highlights are dominated by the huge Gothic cathedral and the city feels less hectic than more famous tourist destinations.
• Warsaw: Poland’s capital city is easy to reach from Kraków and makes a good weekend destination. Much of Warsaw was built after 1945. Even the pretty Old Town is mostly reconstruction. But there are excellent museums and places to eat. It’s also one of Europe’s great cities to go out drinking!
• Wrocław: Wrocław is a charming city in the western part of Poland, with islands and bridges criss-crossing the water and a strong Gothic flavour to the architecture. Built out from the 10th century Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island), Wrocław also has a stunning market square, much of which is listed within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Zakopane: 110km from Kraków, Poland’s outdoor capital and winter resort, Zakopane is nestled at the root of the High Tatra mountains. The area is excellent for hiking, skiing, and a range of other activities. However, there is also unique folk architecture and plenty of more spectacular attractions.

As well as travelling to other Polish destinations, Kraków also serves as a handy hub for a number of cities in neighbouring countries.