Poland is a safe, civilised, wonderful country. You can have an awful lot of fun here in world-class cities without bags of cash or the worry that something is going to go wrong. Follow this quick guide to stay on the right side of the law, and to avoid some common pitfalls. This means finding a validating machine on the bus or tram you are travelling on. The machine will stamp it with the date, time and your route. But wherever you buy your ticket, you must validate it, even if you just bought it on the bus or tram you are on.
Stamp your ticket or face a fine. Not all ticket-validating machines look exactly like this, but you get the general idea. Wandering across the street anywhere you like, even when there is no traffic in sight, is illegal. And by the way, offering a bribe could get you a ticket straight to jail. Some pedestrian crossings have lights and a recorded voice to tell you when you can cross.
Crossings without lights must be treated with caution. Polish law says cars only have to stop if there is somebody already on a crossing, not if they are waiting to cross. Far better to wait for a big gap in the traffic than blowing your beer money on an intensive care unit bed. Public drinking It is illegal to drink alcohol in a public place. It does apply to nipping outside for a ciggie and taking your beer with you. Public drunkenness Polish cops have long, long experience of public drunkenness and they know exactly how to deal with it β by locking your sorry carcass up in a bare cell until long after you have a very sore head.
The Hangover Hilton β Get picked up drunk on the street and you could find yourself locked up for the night, and paying several hundred zloty for the privilege. Poland has an horrendous problem with drink driving, and the authorities are keen to do something about it. Random checks are as real possibility.
Note that Polish drinking and driving laws also apply to bicycles. It might sound like a fun idea to hire some bikes and tool around town after a few afternoon beers, but it could prove a lot more expensive than anticipated. Taxis Ninety-five percent of taxi drivers in Krakow are honest, hard-working guys just trying to make a living.
