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Safety in Poland for tourists

Drzymalski

Sep 6, 11, 03:32 #1

Hello PolishForums!
I am a half polish man in the United States and wish to take my kids and wife to Poland(she is also polish) to visit the land from which our ancestors came from. I know some people may find it odd that I am polish but have never visited the country but my father was very polish and taught me to love where I came from.

Getting to my point though, I want to know how safe Poland is. I know this is a very broad question so any advice/info would be helpful. I have heard many things on safety in Poland ranging from great to dangerous(which i doubt :D ). In particular I guess walking around the city does it feel like you have to watch where you go ( like New York City) or is it overall safe? Also, I want to bring my laptop but I want to make sure it isn't stolen in the hotel(which I worry about sometimes in the U.S) and I know that has to do with where you stay, but if we stay in a nice hotel, do you think it'd be safe? And one last question, how safe are the football games Poland, I know how in some places are very hostile and even though I would love to see a match I want to keep my family safe at all times. The cities I plan on visiting are Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow, and Lublin.

Any tips/travel advice is also appreciated. Thanks so much!

OWELL

Sep 6, 11, 04:17 #2

Today, 03:32 Reply / Quote #1
Hello PolishForums!
I am a half polish man in the United States and wish to take my kids and wife to Poland(she is also polish) to visit the land from which our ancestors came from. I know some people may find it odd that I am polish but have never visited the country but my father was very polish and taught me to love where I came from.

Getting to my point though, I want to know how safe Poland is. I know this is a very broad question so any advice/info would be helpful. I have heard many things on safety in Poland ranging from great to dangerous(which i doubt :D ). In particular I guess walking around the city does it feel like you have to watch where you go ( like New York City) or is it overall safe? Also, I want to bring my laptop but I want to make sure it isn't stolen in the hotel(which I worry about sometimes in the U.S) and I know that has to do with where you stay, but if we stay in a nice hotel, do you think it'd be safe? And one last question, how safe are the football games Poland, I know how in some places are very hostile and even though I would love to see a match I want to keep my family safe at all times. The cities I plan on visiting are Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow, and Lublin.

Any tips/travel advice is also appreciated. Thanks so much!

Poland is very safe,but again how safe will you feel if you go to harlem with gold chains and money hanging out of your pockets?lol if the robbers wont 'police will get you suspecting you are a drugdealer,but someone would surely.
I have been going to Poland almost 11 years and travelled all over there never had a problem even once and esp if you with a family I think you will be safe.Poles are generally very helpfull esp if you are a foreigner,you can rent a car and drive around is easier or by trains which are safe.Lately cops are very responsive and helpfull also and they do show up in 15 minutes if its not a fender bender.I have been to most cities that you have mentioned and I will consider them more safer then New York......so do your math.

Drzymalski	Sep 6, 11, 04:48 #3
Thanks for the input Owell. I am really looking forward to visiting Poland, just have the safety of my family as the utmost importance. I figured as so that Poland was relatively safe but i wanted to hear from someone who lives in Poland or often visits. Thanks!

OWELL

Sep 6, 11, 04:58 #4

Thanks for the input Owell. I am really looking forward to visiting Poland, just have the safety of my family as the utmost importance. I figured as so that Poland was relatively safe but i wanted to hear from someone who lives in Poland or often visits.

Thanks!

YW! also to let you know I have been sending my minor kids to Poland alone by plane (they hate wearing those UC (unaccompanied minors) and then they too a taxi 350 kms away to a remote village by lublin ofcourse accompanied by a far off relative and they were all well.Lately in my opinion Poland is getting safer by the day until you yourself provoke them or attract muggers by showing your money..just act like a normal family as in states and you will be ok...juat a piece of advice Americans tend to be suffering from superiority complex phobia which will only attract problems as I feel i have come to a village when I come back to NJ as the infrastructure being built in Poland is very new and modern and will give you a inferiority complex with the infrastructure we have for last 50/75 years.Good Luck! and enjoy Poland:)

♂

Sep 6, 11, 08:51 #5

Hi. As the other contributors have said, you will be perfectly safe walking around those cities. I have been living here for over 5 years and have seldom felt in danger/trouble. Like any cities there are no-go areas but these generally are far from the tourist trail, so you shoule be ok. in relation to your computer, take the same precautions you would in any hotel around the world. I have left my laptop in my case many times in a hotel and i have never had a problem.
In relation to the football games, might be best to check with the hotel etc. Most football games are fine but there are some games which are 'sensitive' due to fan rivalry. But generally as a whole, you should have nothing to worry about.
Enjoy your trip.
Vincent

Raiany

Oct 21, 11, 01:15 #6

I've been in poland like 5 times, spent most of my time in Kraków but visited the other cities you mentioned too. It's simply the most wonderful place I've ever seen, and I've been to 16 countries so far :)
Kraków is the prettiest and safest town for sure, but you should also think of visiting Wroclaw. Everyone who I bring to Poland has a little bit of skepticism for the fact it's an eastern europe country, but I must say the streets are cleaner, safer and prettier than any other country I've visited. France, Germany and Italy tend to be overrated - I've got robbed in both Germany and Italy.

Kraków is simply magical, you'll certainly fall in love with it when you see the city center for the first time. It feels like you're a prince or a princess walking down the royalty castles and presentations!
Warsaw is alright, even though much more modern and kinda more like NY couse of industrialization. Pick Marriot Hotel if you have the chance, it's outstanding.

Good luck and enjoy Poland :)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,160 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Oct 21, 11, 01:40 #7
Poland is really safe. You don't have to worry too much about idiots causing problems.

beckskiThreads: 19 Posts: 2,111 Joined: May 15, 07 MEMBER ♀	Edited by: beckski Oct 21, 11, 02:10 #8
Drzymalski: The cities I plan on visiting are Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow, and Lublin I've visited Warsaw & lubin, no safety probs for me. My sis has visited the other two Polish cities, along with several others. No safety probs for her either. Caution, Children at Play!

wielki panThreads: 3 Posts: 278 Joined: Jan 7, 11 ♂	Oct 21, 11, 05:52 #9
Seanus: Poland is really safe. You don't have to worry too much about idiots causing problems. hmm, just a thought Seanus... a rich person is a person one of interest for those people who have little and support a drug or alcohol habit... otherwise Poland is as safe as any other country...

samchrisThreads: 1 Posts: 22 Joined: Aug 11, 11 ♂	Oct 21, 11, 06:03 #10
Poland is not like usa....you are safe to do everything except if you are looking for troubles!

♀

Jan 10, 12, 04:26 #11

Merged: Safety in Poland for tourists

I am an older Australian woman who will be visiting Poland next year. I may travel into Poland by train, and spend some time in cities doing bus tours.

I have driven in Europe before & I will be hiring a car to visit smaller vaillages. How safe is it for a woman alone in Poland?

Should I take it further & even hire a camper/motor home in Poland? I have done this in other countries. I am a confident traveller. It is much easier for me than carting my luggage on & off buses, trains & cars.

♀

Edited by: sa11y Jan 10, 12, 10:07 #12

Sukali - Poland is no different than any other European country in terms of safety for tourists.
You are probably going to be safer in countryside than in big cities, people are generally very friendly towards tourists.
I probably wouldn't go as far as camper-van (simply because I don't know how good are the facilities, but I'm sure you can check this on the internet) but there is other accommodation available (most popular is guest rooms - "pokoje goscinne").
Hotels, unless you go for the known chains are not the best.
Keep an eye on your luggage though, there is a lot of petty theft in Poland. No valuables in general bus storage, make sure you have certified copies of your documents - usual stuff really. Hiring a car is a good option, but roads are not so good and you will need to drive left hand drive :) If you are OK with that, hire a car rather than use buses, much more comfortable if you have big luggage. If you stick to backpack/small suitcase, buses and trains are OK (don't stay alone in a train compartment though, rather choose one with few respectively looking people in there already).
Have a great trip!

♂

Jan 10, 12, 10:52 #13

sukali:

I am an older Australian woman who will be visiting Poland next year. I may travel into Poland by train, and spend some time in cities doing bus tours.

I have driven in Europe before & I will be hiring a car to visit smaller vaillages. How safe is it for a woman alone in Poland?

it appears that there is a bus tour in Warsaw

http://www.polandtours.net/?event=offer.detail&offerId=12479

cheap it is not but at least you get to see the city

and one in Krakow

http://www.cracow-life.com/poland/krakow-tour-bus

if you are used to driving in Australia please be aware that there is a lot more traffic on country roads than back home
also Polish drivers are very inconsiderate of other road users. in fact if you ask a Polish driver their advice on
the topic of road etiquette and who has right of way they will always reply 'I do'. 'I always first, I always have right of way'

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