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Travel money guide: Poland
Want to get your travel money in order before your trip to Poland? This is the guide for you.
Cycling along the countryside or visiting the rich history in Warsaw — whatever your plan for your trip to Poland, you’ll want to carry both a travel-friendly credit or debit card and some Polish zloty. Cash is still a dominant way of paying in stores in Poland, although you’ll find plenty of stores that take Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
You might also see locals whipping out their phones to pay with a domestic app called Blik, so you could follow suit and store your go-to card in a digital wallet. A travel credit card is ideal because most avoid hefty foreign transaction fees while you’re spending abroad.
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Travel card, debit card or credit card?
The best advice for how to carry and use your travel money while in Poland is to split up your travel funds between cards and to carry enough cash to get you through any small emergency. In larger cities like Krakow and Warsaw, paying with your card is the norm, but there will definitely be situations where cash is the preferred, if not the only way to pay.
When planning a trip to Poland, compare travel money options to get the most of your dollar before you leave.
These are your options for spending money in Poland
You won’t have a problem using your debit card, credit card or travel money card for payments or at ATMs — American Express is not accepted in as many places as Visa or Mastercard. Card payments are the norm in supermarkets, shops, gas stations, restaurants and more.
There are two charges you should try and avoid: the currency conversion fee when you spend in zloty and the international ATM withdrawal fee.
Using a credit card
In Poland, credit cards are widely accepted, especially Visa and Mastercard. The right travel credit cards let you spend in zloty without paying the additional 3% charge to convert dollars to a foreign currency. Take the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card as an example card that bypasses the foreign transaction fee when you make purchases abroad. However, in smaller businesses and out-of-city areas, credit card acceptance might not be so common.
- Tip: Some credit cards offer complimentary insurance when you meet conditions, like paying for your return airfare with your credit card.
Pros
- Credit cards are widely accepted, especially Visa and Mastercard
- Some cards have no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, and they perform currency exchanges at the best possible interchange rate
Cons
- Credit cards can usually only be used in larger cities and tourist areas, and you may be subject to fees
Compare travel credit cards
Explore top debit cards with no foreign transaction fees and travel credit cards by using the tabs to narrow down your options. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.
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Using a debit card
Look for an account that won’t charge for currency conversion, international ATM withdrawals or both. When you use a Betterment Checking, you can get both foreign transaction and ATM fees reimbursed entirely.
You can use your card at many different establishments, but you’ll find that the transaction isn’t as snappy as it is here — it may take a few minutes instead of seconds.
How to get a refund if you’re a victim of a fraudulent transaction
Pros
- No currency conversion, international ATM withdrawals or both
- ATMs are widely available
Cons
- There may be a fee for ATM cash withdrawal
Using a prepaid travel card
No US travel money cards support Polish zloty. Unless you’re using a no-currency conversion fee travel card, you’ll pay an additional fee when you use your travel card to spend and withdraw. While travel cards may be suited to take to other parts of Europe, there are cheaper travel money products to use in Poland than a prepaid travel card.
Pros
- Convenient and safe
- Prepaid travel cards can be used to spend and withdraw
Cons
- No US travel money cards support Polish zloty
- There are cheaper travel money products to use than a prepaid travel card
Paying with cash in Poland
Whenever you’re traveling, it is always wise to have some cash set aside in case your card isn’t accepted or, even worse, lost. For smaller transactions, businesses may prefer that you pay cash. Also, if you’re a nightlife kind of person, you should go out with cash in your pocket because pubs, clubs and restaurants are frequently cash only. And, of course, markets are cash only.
Pros
- Greater payment flexibility
- Convenience
Cons
- Difficult to manage expenses
- Higher risk of theft
Using traveler’s checks
Traveler’s checks are dated and have been replaced by debit cards and travel cards. You’ll have trouble finding a place where you can get your traveler’s checks cashed – taking traveler’s checks to Poland is not advised.
Pros
- Security
- Traveler’s checks can be exchanged at the larger hotels
Cons
- Only accepted by main banks and hotels
- They are not accepted by kantors (money exchange service in Poland)
Polish currency
Here is what zloty banknotes look like:
 |  |  |
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The main banks in Poland are:
- PKO BP
- Bank Pekao
- BZ WBK
- mBank
- ING Bank ÅšlÄ…ski
- BGZ BNP Paribas
- Bank Millennium
- Getin Noble Bank
- Alior Bank
- Citi Handlowy
Buying currency in the US
If you want to purchase zloty in the US, banks and foreign exchange providers can sell you cash before you leave. You can order your foreign cash online with Travelex and collect the money from major international airports.
- American Express
- OFX
- Moneygram
- TransferWise
There’s no limit to the amount of foreign cash you can bring with you to Poland, but if you’re carrying more than the foreign currency equivalent of 10,000 and you’re entering Poland from a non-EU member state, you must declare your cash.
Exchanging cash
Dollars, euros, and pounds can all be easily changed at Polish kantors or exchange offices. Kantors can offer a very good exchange rate. Always use a Kantor that displays a buy and sell rate — if only one rate is displayed, there’s a good chance it’s a sketchy exchange office, and you may get ripped off.
Avoid changing money at the airport. If you find yourself in smaller villages, banks will usually change foreign currency, but come prepared with enough zloty beforehand.
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ATMs in Poland
You won’t have a problem finding an ATM in major cities and towns and using your Visa or Mastercard to withdraw cash. You’ll want to talk with your bank before traveling abroad to make sure that your card will work in Poland, especially if you don’t have or remember your PIN. You’ll also want to understand how your card charges for foreign transaction fees. If you use a Betterment Checking debit card, you can get all foreign transaction and ATM fees reimbursed.
Poland is still cheap compared to the rest of Western Europe, but ultimately how you choose to travel will dictate the final cost of your trip. If you plan on sleeping in dorm beds and eating from the markets, you can plan on spending about $30 a day. For nice hotel stays and late-night parties, you can plan to spend between $75 to $150 a day. All prices are in US dollars.
| Krakow | Budget | Mid-range | Expensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Dorm or hostel $15–$30 per night | 2-star hotel $40–$80 per night | 5-star hotel $100–$250 per night |
| Meals | Zapiekanki (Polish pizza) $3 Pierogi (Polish dumplings) $5 | Restaurant and wine bar $10–$20 per dish plus wine $20 (500ml) | 5-star restaurant with a 3-course menu plus drinks $80 a head |
| Activities | Private bike tour of Krakow $35 per person | Auschwitz-Birkenau guided tour from Krakow plus museum entry $45 per person | Private wine tour of Krakow over 2 nights with accommodation $250 per person |
Prices are approximate and for one guest in summer.
Case study: Kacey's experience
Kacey
Kacey detours for a day in Krakow
For her 19th birthday, Kacey visited Poland as part of a 13-day trip. The tour started in Budapest and finished in London. She spent a day traveling from Vienna to Poland and one day in Krakow before continuing to the Czech Republic.
Do you have any travel money tips?
Be sure to notify your bank of your travel plans, indicating which countries you’ll be visiting. Credit card companies and banks don’t want to cover costs for fraud, so they will put a block on your card if they suspect any suspicious activity.
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