Poland is located in the heart of Europe between the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians. Its boundaries are formed by the Baltic Sea and Russia to the north, Lithuania, Byelorussia and Ukraine to the East, Slovakia and Czech Republic to the South, Germany to the West.
The Polish Baltic Coast consists mainly of sandy beaches. In the North there are plenty of lakes, rivers and forests. The Central Poland is flat. In the South the landscape is different and also very beautiful, hilly and mountainous terrain.

Area: 312,700 square kilometres
Population: 38 million
Languages: Polish
Other popular languages spoken: English, German, Russian, French
Capital: Warszawa (Warsaw)
Main cities: Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan, Gdansk, Lodz
EU Membership: from 1 May 2004
Time: GMT plus one hour, winter time GMT + 2 hours. 24 hour clock is in use in Poland. Week starts on Monday.
Currency: Poland is not a member of Euro currency system. Polish currency: Polish Zloty, 1 zloty = 100 groszy, 1 Euro = about 4 zlotys, 1 USD = about 3 zlotys
Climate: cold snowy winter, warm spring, hot sunny summer, beautiful Golden Polish Autumn. July is the hottest month. Winter season is suitable for winter sports of all types.
Electricity: 220 volts, 50 Hz, AC Euro style socket
Political system: parliamentary republic, divided into 16 administrative provinces (voivodships), free market economy, in transformation since in 1989
Religions: more than 90% Roman Catholics, other religions: Protestant, Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Jews, Muslims
Cuisine: Mixture of Slavic and foreign culinary traditions. Main meal is called obiad and is eaten in the early afternoon, it consists of soup, main course and dessert.
English language papers: Warsaw Voice, Warsaw Insider
Public holidays: 1 January – New Year’s Day, 1 May – Work Day, 3 May – Constitution Day, 15 August – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1 November – All Saints Day, 11 November – Independence Day, 25 and 26 December – Christmas Days. Movable Feasts: Easter (16, 17 April 2006, 8,9 April 2007, 23,24 March 2008), Ascension Day (25 May 2006, 17 May 2007, 1 May 2008), Corpus Christi (15 June 2006, 7 June 2007)