Country Name |
Republic of Poland |
Continent |
Europe |
Surface area |
312,683 km2 |
Capital |
Warsaw |
Population |
38,432,000 (2016) |
Language |
Polish |
Currency |
Polish Złoty (PLN) |
Time zone |
+1hr compared to Italy |
Area code for Italy |
0039 |
Area code from Italy |
0048 |
Yellow fever vaccination is not required.
This viral disease is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. Vaccination is recommended when staying in areas with a higher risk of infection. The risk decreases in the winter months.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by contaminated food and water, or close physical contact with an infected person, whereas Hepatitis B is transmitted by exposure to infected body fluids and blood.
Infection typically occurs through contact with the saliva of an infected animal, usually caused by bites, scratches or licks near open wounds or mucous membranes (e.g. mouth, nose, eyes). The most common vectors are dogs and bats, but cases of infection in other domestic animals have also been reported.
Caused by toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, the risk of tetanus infection is present throughout the country.
Diseases such as Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, Leishmaniasis, and West Nile virus are present in Southern Europe. As these diseases are transmitted by insect bites and there are no vaccines, it is important to adopt careful behavioural and preventive measures.
The following vaccinations are strongly recommended as these diseases can be contracted anywhere in the world. Experts advise that you protect yourself and other travellers by making sure you are up-to-date with all of the recommended vaccinations. This will allow you to travel safely, while minimising the risk of exposure to infection.
Poland overlooks the Baltic Sea for nearly 500km to the north, and borders Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania to the east, and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave to the northeast.
The land’s elevation diminishes as you proceed from south to north. The southern portion of the country is home to Poland’s highest elevations, the Sudeten Mountains, which reach an altitude of around 1,600 metres, and the Beskid Mountains at 1,720 metres. Several rivers cut through the central region, with its vast forests and extensive plains, which become swampland in some areas. In the north, towards the east and west borders, are numerous lakes, while the long coastline is sandy with dunes and lagoons.
The climate is more affected by the Siberian-Russian influences than Atlantic influences. In fact, the Baltic mitigates the coastal temperatures but fails to penetrate inland. Proceeding eastward, the climate becomes continental with very pronounced annual temperature excursions. Winters are extremely bitter, especially when the cold front arrives from Russia, which can bring temperatures down to -18 to-20°C on the coast and -25 to -30°C inland; whereas, summer temperatures are relatively warm, reaching 30-35°C inland, with the coolest temperatures registered on the coast (17-19°C).
Rainfall is variable and not very abundant, with more frequent showers in the summer, which increase over the elevations in the south.