Climate & weather
Lublin is in the South-western region of Poland, which surprisingly is not as cold as many people may think. Yes the winters are rather chilly and snow is guaranteed, but Poland has real seasons, so that means old winters and fantastic summers. During the winter, from December to February, the temperatures average out at around minus 3 degrees Celsius. In the summer it can be very nice indeed. Average temperatures are around 23 degrees Celsius, but it does regularly hit over 32 degrees Celsius in July through to September.
Crime in Polish cities
The crime in Polish cities is much lower that similar sized cities in western Europe, and so Lublin is not much different. Tourists are always advised to be weary of petty theft and pick pocketing especially in busy public places.
Culture
Polish culture has a rich history of traditions, in part because of their strong Catholic upbringing, which is still very important today. People are therefore a lot more conservative, especially with regards to personal space, and loud outlandish behaviour is likely to be frowned upon.
Currency & prices
Poland has not yet converted to the Euro currency and still uses its own Polish denomination, the Złote (PLN). At the moment there are around 4.8 PLN to 1 GBP and around 4.30 PLN to 1 EUR. The Polish Złote PLN is readily available for exchange in most major banks, post offices and airport exchange bureaus across Europe.
In terms of prices, the Lublin is considerably cheaper than other major cities in Europe when comparing food and drink. However durable goods, electrical items and property prices are on par. The average earnings in this region range from 36,000 to 42,000PLN.
Healthcare in Poland
As a member of the E.U., Poland provides reciprocal free healthcare on provision of a valid European Health Insurance Card, for further information visit your Post Office. However, the public healthcare system in Poland is not of the same standard as in other Western European countries and it is advisable to take out private medical insurance before your visit.
Language & foreign languages
Polish is a Slavic language and, to the untrained ear, may sound similar to Russian or Czech. Pronunciation is notoriously difficult for foreigners but the locals will certainly appreciate you making the effort.
With regards to foreign languages, English, German and Russian are all fairly widely-spoken. Younger people tend to have a better command of English, as it is now a compulsory part of the school curriculum, while the older generation are more likely to have German or Russian as a second language.
Smoking
Poland has joined the growing list of countries that have adopted a no smoking policy in public places. All restaurants, cafes and bars follow this rules, however some venues will offer a special smoking section.
Tipping
Leaving tips isn’t standard practice in Poland and a large extravagant tip can be taken offensively rather than as a gesture of appreciation. To leave a 15 or 20% tip is acceptable.
Traveling around Lublin
Lublin has a very cheap and offers one of the cheapest travel networks systems in Poland, comprising of buses (ZTM), trams (also ZTM). Travel in Lublin, for single journey will cost around 1.60 PLN.
There are also plenty of taxis, very cheap in comparison with Scandinavia and Western Europe, however tourists should be wary of overcharging and it is always prudent to check the price before departure.
Wi-Fi internet connection
A free Wi-fi connection should be found in and around the main city centre and main streets in Lodz, and a decent connection should also be available and many bars, cafes and hotels also offer customers a connection to their networks.
