Polish cuisine has been influenced by many things over the years including the countries that border Poland, the natural resources of the land, the region and the country’s location in the middle of historical trade routes. Polish cuisine is rich in flavours and also perfect for those who crave comfort food. Polish food is influenced heavily by nature’s bounty such as chicken, pork, wheat, rye, vegetables, mushrooms, fish, salt, wild game and honey. Dishes are often fried or stewed. A popular dish and the most well-known outside of Poland is dumplings (pierogi). Also very popular in Poland is soup.

The best way to understand the art & culture of Poland is to visit one of the many museums or art galleries you can find in the country. The Polish do love their museums and you’ll find an extraordinary number of them to explore. The first museum in Poland was created over 200 years ago and today, there are museums showcasing all kinds of collections with many having modern and interactive facilities. Poland’s museums focus on a variety of subjects and come in all shapes and sizes. Some are dedicated to large collections and some focus on just one or two aspects of Polish culture & history.

Every country has its own set of unusual traditions and Poland is no different. Some are quirky, some are outright weird, even annoying – but most of them are delightful. Here’s a few that we think you need to know about. The way Polish people greet each other in elevators ticks the delightful box. Even if they are complete strangers, it is common practice so say dzień dobry (good day) when entering an elevator and do widzenia (good bye) when exiting. When you are invited to someone’s home, it is usual to bring a gift. Flowers are the easy choice but ensure that you buy an odd number of flowers because an even number is associated with funerals.

Shopping in Poland is similar to shopping in any European country. In the cities and towns, you will find numerous modern shopping centres sporting all of the well-known brands in addition to bustling markets, factory outlets and small, quaint privately owned shops selling handcrafted local goods. When you visit Poland, if shopping is on your itinerary, be aware that there is a Sunday shopping ban in force. It is not a total ban however, in 2020 shops were allowed to open on 7 Sundays during the year. You’ll still find convenience stores open in addition to pharmacies, petrol stations, bakeries and open-air-markets plus souvenir shops, so you’ll still be able to get that last minute gift that you forgot to buy.

Most people think that everyone’s favourite alcohol in Poland is vodka and this may have been true a decade ago; however today, Poles have access to a much wider choice of alcoholic beverages and local beer seems to have much more appeal to many Poles. Craft beer & real ale is increasingly popular. In the cities and towns, you will find specialist bars providing a staggering range of brews & flavours and in the past few years, hundreds of small breweries have opened in Poland to cater for this craft revolution. Alcohol in Poland is not limited to vodka and beer. You’re find a surprising variety of drinks around the country including some hidden gems such as Deptucha, a Baileys type drink made from goat milk.

In Poland there are thirteen Public holidays each year (holidays which are legally considered to be non-working days); however there are many other special days in the calendar – in fact it seems that everyone has their own special day at times – ranging from Police Day to Dog’s Day. Note that Catholic religious holidays are widely observed in Poland. Stores, malls, and restaurants are likely to be closed or have very limited business hours on Easter, All Saints Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas. New Year’s Day, also simply called New Year or New Year’s, is observed on January 1, the first day of the year. Epiphany, commonly known as Three Kings’ Day is on January 6. It celebrates the three wise men’s visit to baby Jesus.