Travellers to Poland will be enchanted by its remarkable history of heroic resilience and tragedy, and delight in the charming character of its cities and in the natural beauty of the countryside. From romantic tales of medieval knights and battles, kings and splendid castles, to the horrors and destruction of World War II; it's determined stand against Communism and today's modern outlook and booming economy, the country abounds with the evidence of an historically turbulent past. Warsaw, the capital, was almost totally destroyed by the war and now presents an unusual mix of beautifully restored historic buildings, communist-era concrete structures, and modern fashion and consumerism. The maritime city of Gdañsk, home to the historic garrison at Westerplatte and the legendary Lenin shipyards, was the stage for both the beginnings of the Second World War and the disintegration of Eastern European communism. But it is Krakow, the ancient royal capital that draws the crowds, rivalling the elegance of cities like Prague and Vienna. Having largely escaped the destruction of the war it retains its charming medieval character; the Royal Castle, the grand Market Square, the old Jewish quarter and the nearby Nazi death camps of Auschwitz are all steeped in historical importance.

Essentials:

Time: Local time is GMT +1.

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. The standard two-pin European style plugs are used.

Money: The national language is Polish. English is widely understood in tourist areas.

Communications: The international access code for Poland is +48. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)22 for Warsaw and (0)12 for Krakow. Cheap rate is between 4pm and 6am, and weekends. Mobile phones work throughout the country, local operators use GSM networks, which may not be compatible with some US cell phones. Internet cafes are available in most towns.

Climate:
Poland has a temperate climate characterised by cold winters and warm summers. Winters become increasingly severe inland from the Baltic coast, with January temperatures in Warsaw averaging 23°F (-5°C). In summer it is hotter inland; with July temperatures in Warsaw averaging 66°F (19°C). Rain can be expected throughout the year, particularly in the southern mountains

Car Rental
If you like to drive and stay at hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, that is fine. We offer a choice of 6
companies offering budget vehicles, new vehicles and mini-buse. If you tell us your requirements we will happy prepare a quotation for you. See details: Poland Car Hire

Canal Boat - Canal Barge - River Cruise
You can also travel by boat. As the largest global canal boat wholesaler, we offer you Peter Deilmann River Cruise. Self drive barging or cruising is lots of fun. No license is required and boats are available for 2-12 passengers. It really is a terrific bonding time for families or just a great time for a group of friends. The boats are very comfortable and most boats have en-suites and comfortable cabins. BBQ's , fishing rods and outdoor deck furniture complete the picture. For details, Poland River - Ocean - Cruises

POLAND PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS:
Entry requirements for Americans: US nationals do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Passports must be valid for period of intended stay. }

Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals with a passport endorsed British Citizen do not require a visa for stays of up to six months. Other passport holders require a visa. Passports must be valid for period of intended stay.

Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadian nationals do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Passports must be valid for period of intended stay.

Entry requirements for Australians: Australians require a passport valid for at least the period of intended stay to enter Poland and may stay for up to three months without a visa.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South African passport holders require a Schengen visa for travel to Poland. Passports must be valid for at least six months after arrival.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a passport valid for at least the period of intended stay. A visa is not needed for up to three months.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months.

Passport/Visa Note: A passport valid for at least six months after arrival is needed for those who require a visa. Visa exempt nationals must have a passport valid for period of intended stay.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.

WARSAW
Warsaw is divided into two distinct halves by the Vistula River, with the Old Town, the modern city centre and most of the attractions on the western side. The eastern side of the river comprises of uninteresting residential suburbs and business districts. The post-war appearance of Warsaw is a modern urban landscape of high-rise buildings, and the years of communist rule have left an uninspiring architectural legacy of drab concrete structures and uniform prefab-style housing. Dominating the skyline is the city's eyesore, the massive shape of the Palace of Science and Culture, Stalin's bequest to its citizens.

ATTRACTIONS IN WARSAW
Old Town (Starego Miasta)
The busy Old Town provides the historic focal point of the city, having been rebuilt in the original 17th and 18th century style following the almost total destruction of the city during the war. The picturesque Old Market Square (Rynek) is at the centre, surrounded by restored buildings and colourful three-story merchant houses with Baroque and Renaissance facades, lively open-air restaurants, art stalls and the Historical Museum of Warsaw. Around the two old central water pumps, the atmosphere is a constant buzz of activity with buskers, painters and musicians providing entertainment for the milling crowds, while around the fringes the clattering of hooves signals the arrival of a another traditional horse-drawn carriage. Leading from the square is a network of cobbled streets and alleyways that contain beautiful Gothic churches and former palaces of the aristocracy. The impressive Royal Castle was once the home of the Polish Kings and is now a museum displaying tapestries, period furniture, portraits and other decorative collections. The narrow streets also lead to the ramparts and watchtowers of the medieval walls surrounding the old city.

Historical Museum of Warsaw

The History Museum is one of the best of Warsaw's museums. Its three-stories are crammed with fascinating exhibitions covering every aspect of Warsaw's history and life, from its beginnings to the present day, and there are old photographs, clippings and articles on display from everyday pre-war city life. The museum's special feature is a documentary film showing the destruction and reconstruction of the city, with footage shot by the Nazis during their calculated and systematic annihilation. The film is shown in English at 12pm Tuesday to Saturday.

Address: Rynek Starego Miasta (Old Town Square) 28-42; Telephone: (0)22 635 1625; E-mail: mhw@mhw.pl; Website: www.mhw.pl; Opening time: Tuesday and Thursday 11am to 6pm, Wednesday and Friday 10am to 3.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm. Closed Mondays; Admission: 6 zl normal rate, 3 zl concession rate. Free on Sundays. English guide 20 zl

EVENTS IN WARSAW
Mozart Festival
Every summer, music lovers from around the world flock to Warsaw to attend the highlight of the city’s music season, the Warsaw Chamber Opera’s Mozart Festival. Presentations of the complete stage works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart include some of his most popular operas, including Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro, as well as symphonies and instrumental ensembles.Venue: Warsaw Chamber Opera; Date: 15 June to 26 July 2007

JVC Jazz Jamboree
Since its inception 43 years ago, the international jazz festival has become a major annual event in the world of jazz and is the oldest and most prestigious festival of its kind in Poland. Besides attracting top international performers, the Polish music scene is well represented with past concerts by national greats such as Tomasz Stanko and Michal Urbaniak.Venue: Sala Kongresowa (Palace of Culture and Science); Date: October 2007, TBC

KRAKOW
The only major city to escape the destruction of World War II, Krakow has one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe. The Old Town is a significant UNESCO World Heritage Site and retains a wealth of architectural gems from different periods, with magnificent churches and aristocratic palaces lining the old streets, reminiscent of its glorious days when it was the abode of kings and royalty. At the heart of the city lies one of the grandest squares in Europe, the Old Market Square.

The charming Old Town is a compact area encircled by leafy parkland that forms a green belt around the historic centre. The main entrance to the old city was through the Florian Gate, set within the original city walls, now the haunt of artists and their work. With a thriving cultural life, it has been home to many of the nation's greatest writers, artists and intellectuals, and is one of the main cultural centres in the country, a spirited city with personality and charisma

ATTRACTIONS IN KRAKOW
Main Market Square (Rynek Glówny)
Dating from 1257, the Central Market Square was one of the largest squares in Medieval Europe, and is the social heart of Krakow today. Surrounded by historic buildings, museums and magnificent churches, the impressive expanse of flagstones is a hub of commercial and social activity. Flower sellers, ice-cream vendors, musicians, pigeons, students and groups of tourists fill the square. Occupying the centre of the square is the splendid medieval Cloth Hall, a covered arcade with a soaring vaulted interior where merchants once sold their wares; today it is filled with lively market stalls. The upstairs art gallery houses a collection of 19th century Polish paintings and sculptures. Along the outside walls of the building are elegant terrace cafes. Most famous of these is the Noworolski, which was the centre of Krakow social life before the war, with Lenin a notorious regular. The cafe has now regained its reputation as the prime cake and coffee venue in the city. The most striking church on the square is St Mary's, an impressive twin-spire Gothic structure. Every hour a mournful bugle sounds from the tallest church spire in memory of the lone watchman whose trumpeted warning of an invasion was cut off mid-note by a Turkish arrow in the throat. Within is the famous carved wooden altar, a majestic piece of Gothic art.

Wawel
Overlooking the city is Wawel, a hill topped with the castle complex, including Wawel Castle and beside it, the gothic Cathedral. It was here that the Polish kings of the 14th to the 17th centuries were crowned and buried and it lies at the heart of Polish history. The Renaissance-style Royal Castle is now a museum and the historic interior houses an astonishing collection of treasures from the Polish monarchy, including tapestries, period furniture and paintings. Visitors can see the Royal Private Apartments, Crown Treasury, Armoury, and the State Rooms. The Royal Cathedral was the coronation and burial site of all of Poland’s monarchs, many of whom are interred in the Royal Tombs. Of the many royal chapels, the golden-domed Renaissance Chapel of King Sigismund is the finest. The bell tower can be climbed for views over the city and to see the enormous 11-tonne bell.

Telephone: (0)12 422 1697 or 422 5155 ext 291; E-mail: zamek@wawel.krakow.pl; Website: www.wawel.krakow.pl; Transport: Tram 10 or a short walk from the Main Square, Rynek Glówny; Opening time: Wawel Hill: open daily from 6am to 8pm (April to September), and from 6am to 6pm (October to March). The various castle attractions are open on Mondays from 9.30am to noon; Tuesday and Friday 9.30am to 4pm; Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 9.30am to 3pm; Sunday 10am to 3pm. The Royal Private Apartments are closed on Mondays. The Cathedral is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, and Sunday from 12.15pm; Admission: Castle attractions range from 3 zl to 20 zl. The Cathedral is 10 zl. Concessions available

CONTACTS:
Lastly and I hope you don't need it, but should you require consular help - here are the details
Polish National Tourist Office, Warsaw: +48 (0)22 849 8128 or www.polandtour.org
Polish Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 234 3800.
Polish Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)870 774 2700.
Polish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 0468.
Polish Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 1208.
Polish Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 2631/2.
Polish Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 283 0855.
Polish Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 475 9453.
United States Embassy, Warsaw: +48 (0)22 504 2000.
British Embassy, Warsaw: +48 (0)22 311 0000.
Canadian Embassy, Warsaw: +48 (0)22 584 3100.
Australian Embassy, Warsaw: +48 (0)22 521 3444.
South African Embassy, Warsaw: +48 (0)22 625 6228/6233.
Irish Embassy, Warsaw: +48 (0)22 849 6633/6655.
New Zealand Embassy, Warsaw: +48 (0)22 521 0500.
Emergencies: 112/999

AIRPORTS:
Krakow-Balice John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
Location: The airport is situated 10 miles (16km) west of Krakow. Time: GMT +1. Contacts: Tel: +48 (0)12 639 3000. Transfer to the city: City bus services 208 and 192 travel to the city centre, taking about 35 minutes. Taxis are also available outside the arrivals hall. Car rental: Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz. Facilities: There are banks, bureaux de change and ATMs at the airport. Other facilities include restaurants, bars, shops, duty-free, child facilities and a tourist information and hotel reservations desk. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance. Parking: Parking is available. Departure tax: None.

Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW)
Location: The airport is situated six miles (10km) south west of Warsaw. Time: GMT +1. Contacts: Tel: +48 (0)22 650 3000 Transfer to the city: Municipal bus lines (No 188 and 175) operate all week. It takes 30 minutes to get to the city centre by bus. The bus tickets are available in the 'Ruch' kiosks and Tourist Information in the Departure Hall. The Shuttle Bus service operates to and from hotels on request. A taxi stand is located in front of the Arrivals Hall. Radio-taxis may also be called on phone number 9191. Car rental: Most leading car rental companies (including Avis, Budget and National) operate from the airport. Facilities: There are shops, bars and restaurants at the airport. Other facilities include banks, bureaux de change, ATMs, a post office and a tourist information and hotel reservations service. There is also an observation deck; a fee is charged and visitors are subjected to a security check. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance. Note that the line for check-in can be very long. Parking: Short- and long-term parking is available. Departure tax: None. Website: www.polish-airports.com