Due to its geographical location and the presence of a common border with the Kaliningrad region, Poland has become one of the most visited European countries among the Russian population. You can get here in any way: by your own car, by train, by bus. And the trip will turn out to be tireless and exciting, especially if you are a resident of the western regions of Russia. What are the details in preparing documents for a trip to Poland? The most interesting routes and the most profitable transport are the current topics of the proposed review.
Documents for a trip to Poland
To enter the territory of Poland, Russian citizens need a Schengen visa. In the most common case, the list of documents is standard:
- A foreign passport valid for three months after the end of the trip.
- Commonly valid passport.
- 2 photo 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, standard photo requirements for visa application forms.
- Filled out visa application form, it is most convenient to fill it out online at secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl.
- Financial guarantees, i.e. confirmation of solvency. Often, a certificate from the place of work on the letterhead of the enterprise is sufficient. The official salary in the certificate must be at least 30 thousand rubles. If the amount in the certificate is less or the tourist cannot provide it at all, a bank statement with an equivalent amount will do.
- Medical insurance for the period of stay.
- Hotel reservation, travel voucher or invitation from a Polish citizen.
- Pensioners also provide a copy of their pension certificate.
- Underage children must have a notarized consent from one parent (if the child is accompanied by a second), or from both (if the minor is traveling alone).
Select transport: train
When planning a trip, tourists are faced with a key question that largely affects the cost of the tour as a whole: "How to get to Poland?". There are options here, each with its own pros and cons. The train, although the transport is not fast, is quite comfortable and somewhat romantic. Especially if you are traveling in Europe. You can not stop looking at the cozy European landscapes - after all, here the pictures outside the window change more often than on the wide Russian land. The journey from Moscow to Warsaw, taking into account all the necessary stops, will take from 13 to 19 hours.
There are two direct trains Moscow - Warsaw: morning and evening. When choosing the most convenient option, you need to take into account an important point: the needgo through border control twice in Brest in Belarus and Terespol in Poland.
The morning train arrives at Warsaw Central Station at 6 am. This is convenient in terms of the fact that you have a whole day ahead of you to look around, not lose paid hours at the hotel or get to another city. However, given that customs and border guards have been harassing you all night on the train, you are unlikely to be full of energy.
The evening train Moscow - Warsaw arrives not at the central station, but at the Vostochnaya station at 10 pm. From it you need to make a transfer to get to the city center. But the first border control with filling out customs declarations will catch you at 12 o'clock, the second - at half past three.
Select transport: bus
Bus tours in Europe, including Poland, remain the most popular for the general public due to their relatively low cost. There is an opportunity not to bother at all and purchase a ready-made bus tour to Poland in any travel company - the choice of such tours is considerable. Bus trips to Poland are organized by large tour operators who specialize in bus tours. They have their own fleet of buses that meet all modern requirements, as well as a staff of qualified drivers. Therefore, you do not have to worry about safety and comfort.
But if you prefer to build your own travel route and at the same time want to save on the road, you can use the services of transportcampaigns and purchase a bus ticket to Warsaw. Direct buses from Russia, however, run only from the Kaliningrad region. Moscow-Warsaw buses make transfers either in Riga or Minsk. The cost of a one-way bus ticket varies from 1500 rubles. (from Kaliningrad) up to 4000 rubles. (from Moscow or St. Petersburg). For comparison, a one-way train ticket costs an average of 9-12 thousand rubles.
Trip to Poland by car
If you decide to visit Poland on your own car, you need to take into account some formalities. Firstly, entry by car into the territory of Poland is possible only along two routes: either from the Kaliningrad region or through Belarus. Those who travel from the Central or Western regions of Russia, of course, prefer the second option. To get from Kaliningrad to Poland, you must first cross the border with Latvia or Lithuania, and this is much more troublesome than at the Belarusian border.
Secondly, when crossing the border by car, you must have a standard set of documents for a trip abroad, plus some others. So, the driver must know that in order to travel to Poland, you must additionally present a driver's license, preferably an international one, but the old model of a driver's license is also still quoted. You will also need a technical passport of the vehicle and a valid green card for it (an analogue of our OSAGO insurance policy). The green card must be of international standard. It can be purchased at the same insurancecampaigns where tourists buy he alth insurance before traveling abroad.
Travel insurance
Every tourist trip is associated with the need for medical insurance. Without a valid medical policy, no tourist will receive a visa and will not be able to cross the border. In Europe, any medical services, even a banal examination or consultation, are provided only if you have insurance, otherwise they won’t even talk to you. However, due to the fact that European countries are more than civilized, insurance for a trip to Poland will be the most standard. No additional items and advanced options need to be added to it. In this regard, the cost of the insurance policy will not exceed 500 rubles. for a standard trip up to 30 days per tourist.
Purpose of travel
Tourists often visit Poland in transit, casually visiting the most famous sights, spending no more than one or two nights in the country. Then they go to other, more popular European countries, the same Czech Republic or Germany.
But the purposes of a trip to Poland can be much more, from all the same tourism to visiting monuments and burial places, because many nameless graves of our ancestors who died during the Second World War are located on the territory of Poland. There are also many monuments to the heroism of Russian soldiers. This is an occasion for Russian tourists, being in Poland, to pay tribute to the fallen heroes.
Shopping
One of the most popularThe purpose of the trip to Poland is shopping. It is especially relevant for residents of the Kaliningrad region. Those living in more remote regions of Russia are unlikely to come here for shopping. But for Kaliningraders, a trip to Poland for shopping is a pleasant and profitable event.
Even including the cost of travel and food during the trip, shopping in Poland is cheaper. And this applies to all groups of goods. Of course, food products have been the most popular for many years now. Firstly, the choice in Polish supermarkets is much wider, and secondly, some products are simply not imported into the territory of the Russian Federation and you can buy them only here. And, thirdly, more than attractive prices, and alcohol in Polish stores can be found cheaper than in Duty free. Clothes and textiles are not less in demand. Everything, from children's clothing to winter jackets and coats, seems to Russians an attractive ratio of good European quality and reasonable prices.
As for tourists traveling around Poland not for shopping, they most often buy authentic products here, for example, the famous Boleslav ceramics.
This is a unique white clay dish, which is very close to porcelain in its qualities. It is often made and painted by hand, which is why each item is unique and original. Amber products, jewelry and Polish cosmetics are also popular with tourists.
Warsaw: popular tourist routes around the city
Ifyour trip to Poland has tourist purposes, the capital Warsaw will become an obligatory point of travel. This city makes a dull and sometimes repulsive first impression with its rather dull appearance. The reason is that Warsaw was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War. Everything we see on the streets of Warsaw today was built after the end of the war.
However, upon closer examination, the city is by no means devoid of its special charm and appeal. It is very comfortable and cozy arranged, clean and replete with all sorts of historical and simply interesting places. Among them, undoubtedly, are the Palace and Market Squares - the hallmarks of Warsaw. The Royal Castle was also destroyed during the war years, but it was reconstructed in its original form and now one of the most popular museums in Poland is located there. A sightseeing route around the city of Warsaw cannot by any means bypass the most charming district of the city - Starowka. Here, time seems to have stopped several centuries ago, the urban landscape with cobbled streets and houses closely clinging to each other looks so genuine.
Krakow
That's really worth visiting during a trip to Poland - this is the ancient city of Krakow. It is not in vain that it ranks first in terms of attendance throughout the country and is a must-see for all European excursion routes.
It is best to start exploring the city from its main square - Market Square, traditionally all city sightseeingexcursions. Next, be sure to admire the picturesque and beautiful Wawel Castle, the former royal residence. The castle ensemble is equally interesting both from the outside and from the inside - today it houses a museum.
You should definitely visit the famous St. Mary's Church. Its building with two unmistakable high towers has become the hallmark of the city. Inside the church looks no less majestic than outside. Only one carved altar is able to amaze the imagination. Add to this magnificent decoration, intricate old stained-glass windows, and painting. In a word, this religious building can be revered for a long time. You can just wait until the famous melody sounds from its towers, which traditionally plays here every four hours.
Other attractions
Poland as a place of tourism is by no means limited to two cities that are on everyone's lips. In this country, you can spend an entire vacation in an interesting and varied way, even without ever leaving its borders. It is only important to know how to build your route correctly.
A trip to Poland can open up a lot of opportunities for knowledgeable tourists. You can devote one day to a beach holiday on the coast of the B altic Sea in the city of Sopot. Here, on the central embankment, the longest wooden sea pier in Europe rushes into the sea. In the evening, idle walking crowds flood the embankment, pleasant live music sounds from the coastal cafes - the classic atmosphere of a seaside resort. By the way, it will be useful for those traveling with children to find out what there is in Sopotalso a water park.
Unusual and unique destination in the country - the underground city of Wieliczka. In fact, these are former s alt mines dating back to the 14th century. Now, the vast underground halls are splendidly decorated and are a museum with chambers scattered underground and long passages connecting giant squares with vaulted ceilings. This unique venue even hosts stylized balls with music and dancing.
In Poland, you can have a good time in winter - go to one of the ski resorts. The most popular resort for winter holidays is the town of Zakopane. It is favorably located in a picturesque basin, surrounded by mountain tops. There are many trails for skiing for any level of athletes. There are also all the other attributes of a ski resort: a promenade stuffed with souvenir shops and cozy cafes, luxurious hotels with heavenly spas, and more.
It turns out that Poland is good from all sides, no matter how you look. You can visit it in any season. Getting here is easy and fast. And most importantly - an amazing variety of cities and towns that can give an incredibly rich and unforgettable vacation. One can only wonder how so many interesting things fit into such a compact area. The easiest way to get to Poland is from Kaliningrad.
