Here are some tips to eliminate guesswork from everyday situations you may encounter during your trip to Poland while using public transport or your own vehicle.

Public transport tickets

Where to buy?
Tickets are sold at newsagent kiosks. One ticket is used for all means of public transport and is valid for buses, trams and the underground. In some towns you can buy tickets from the driver (at a surcharge), from ticket machines on board or at underground stations.

Ticket inspections may be frequent and the failure to produce a valid ticket may lead to a fine. The transport company inspectors are ununiformed but they carry an ID card which they are obliged to present to the passenger.

What types of tickets are available?
Not all cities have the same type of tickets. In some, you can buy tickets which are valid for a specific length of time - 15 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour, one day, 24 hours etc. Such tickets can be used to travel by any means of public transport within the allocated time. When the ticket is stamped in the machine on board, the time is printed on the ticket. The ticket should only be stamped once. In some cities also single journey tickets are available.

Rail tickets
The best place to buy rail tickets is the station. Express / IC InterCity / EC EuroCity trains are charged extra for seat booking.Vist the information desk to enquire about timetables, prices and special offers. If you happen to be too late to buy a ticket at the station, you can still board the train and, as soon as possible, ask the guard to sell you a ticket (at a surcharge).

Using your own transport

Headlights
All vehicles are required to use headlights, night day and and all year round.

Seatbelts
The use of seat belts is compulsory for front and rear-seat passengers.

Speed limits

• 50km/h in built-up areas. Entry into a built-up area is marked with a white rectangular sign with the name of the town or a similar sign showing urban skyline in black; the exit point is marked with an identical sign with a red diagonal stripe.
• 90km/h outside built-up areas
• 100km/h on A-class roads (marked with a white car on blue background sign)
• 130km/h on motorways

The speed limit for vehicles towing caravans is 70 km/h.

Traffic lights
You are allowed to turn right when the red light is only if there is a separate green arrow light and it is on. In such case you must always let pedestrians pass first.

Parking
When leaving your vehicle in a controlled parking zone, make sure that you have paid (and displayed the ticket) as many local authorities impose steep fines and clamping charges for illegal parking. If in doubt, ask a police officer or municipal warden for help.