Currency & Exchange
Poland continues to use its national currency, the Polish zloty (PLN), despite being a part of the European Union since 2004. Zloty bills come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200, while 1 and 2 zloty are issued as coins. There are 100 groszy in a zloty, and these coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50.
While prices vary from city to city, generally speaking you can expect to pay somewhere around 10PLN for a beer, 20-50PLN for a mid-range meal, 10-20PLN for a museum ticket, and 3-5PLN for a bus ticket. Taxes make prices for goods such as clothing and gift items relatively high, while average exchange rates usually ensure that those prices remain attractive for foreign tourists.
While credit cards can be used in most large shops and restaurants, it’s far more common to pay with cash for everyday shopping, and if you’re at a market or kiosk, cash is a must. Also keep in mind that many small shops may insist on exact change, refusing large bills. ATMs ("bankomat" in Polish) are usually easy to find all over major cities, especially in shopping centres. To exchange money, check the rates of various "kantors" – those in the city centre might undoubtedly be a rip-, but further out you may find some more reasonable rates.
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