Europe

Money, cards and tipping in Poland

Capital: WarsawPolishUpdated October 2026

PLNZloty

Money in Poland

Cards almost everywhere Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, even for small amounts. Keep some złoty for markets, old milk bars, public toilets and rural spots. US$1 ≈ zł3.89 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: About 10% in sit-down restaurants for good service. Saying 'dziękuję' while handing over cash can mean 'keep the change'.
ATMs: Use bank ATMs (PKO BP, Pekao, ING); avoid Euronet. Always decline conversion and pay in złoty.
Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted. BLIK, the local payment app, needs a Polish bank account.
Price level: about 52% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Krakow	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; keep a few złoty for markets, public toilets and small bars.
Warsaw	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for markets, kiosks and public toilets.
Gdansk	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; carry a few złoty for beach kiosks, markets and toilets.
Wroclaw	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; keep some złoty for markets and small bars.
Zakopane	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work in most restaurants and shops; keep cash for mountain huts, trail snack stops, horse carriages and parking.
Poznan	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; keep a few złoty for markets and small kiosks.
Torun	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are widely accepted; keep cash for the gingerbread stalls, markets and small bars.
Sopot	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are widely accepted; carry some złoty for beach kiosks, markets and pier fees.
Lodz	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry a few złoty for markets and old-school bars.
Katowice	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Keep a little cash for old milk bars, markets and public toilets.
Lublin	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep a little cash for markets, kiosks and old milk bars.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Poland?

About 10% in sit-down restaurants for good service. Saying 'dziękuję' while handing over cash can mean 'keep the change'.

Is Poland cashless?

Cards almost everywhere. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, even for small amounts. Keep some złoty for markets, old milk bars, public toilets and rural spots.

What currency does Poland use?

The Zloty (PLN). US$1 ≈ zł3.89 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.