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Location
Malopolska province, southeastern Poland.

Dialling code
48.

Population
790,000 (city); 1.5million (metropolitan area) (2005).

Time zone
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures
4°C (39°F).

Average July temperatures
27°C (80.5°F).

Annual rainfall
558mm (22 inches).

Language
Introduction
Polish is the official language, but travelers will find that many people, especially those in business or the tourist trade, will speak some English, German or French. Most Poles were required to learn Russian in school, however, it was a matter of pride not to learn it, and speaking Russian may give offence.

Polish is a West Slavic language, and related to Czech and Slovak. The following are the Polish characters and their nearest English equivalent: a–u, aj–i (as in bike), c–ts, cz–ch, dz–ds or j, ej–a (as in bake), h–ch (as in loch), j–y, l (with a slash through it)–w, sz–sh, u–oo, w–v, rz–s (as in pleasure). The second last syllable of a word is always stressed.

Phrases

Yes - Tak
No - Nie
Hello - Dzien dobry
Goodbye - Do widzenia / Do zobaczenia
Please - Prosze
Thank you - Dziekuje
My name is … - Nazywam sie ...
How are you? - Jak sie masz? / Jak sie pan ma?
I’m very well - W porzadku / Miewam sie dobrze
I feel ill - Jestern chory(a)
How much does it cost? - Ile to kosztuje?
Do you speak English?- Czy mowi pan po angielsku? (to a man) / Czy mowi pani po angie sku? (to a woman)
I don’t understand - Nie rozumiem
Where is …? - Gdzie jest …?
Entrance - Wejscie
Exit - Wyjscie
Danger - Niebezpiecznie / Niebezpieczenstwo
Open - Otwarte
Closed - Zamkniete
Toilets - Toalety
Doctor - Doktor
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restauracja
Beer - Piwo
Wine - Wino
Menu - Jadtospis
Today - Dzis / Dzisiaj
Tomorrow - Jutro
Monday - Poniedzialek
Tuesday - Wtorek
Wednesday - Sroda
Thursday - Czwartek
Friday - Piatek
Saturday - Sobota
Sunday - Niedziela
One - Jeden
Two - Dwa
Three - Trzy
Four - Cztery
Five - Piec
Six - Szesc
Seven - Siedem
Eight Osiem
Nine - Dziewiec
Ten - Dziesiec
Twenty - Dwadziescia
Thirty - Trzydziesci
Forty - Czterdziesci
Fifty - Piecdziesiat
Sixty - Szescdziesiat
Seventy - Siedemdziesiat
Eighty - Osiemdziesiat
Ninety - Dziewiecdziesiat
One Hundred - Sto
One Thousand -Tysiac

Cost of Living:

1 Polish Zloty (zł1) = £0.23; US$0.34; C$0.41; A$0.48; €0.26
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

Wawel Evenings, Jan, classical music concerts at the Castle (website: www.filharmonia.krakow.pl)
Krakow Theatrical Reminiscences, Mar, various venues (website: www.rotunda.pl)
Polish and International Festival of Commercials and Advertisements, Mar
Easter Ludwig van Beethoven Festival, Easter, inaugurated as part of the Krakow 2000 festival and featuring works by Beethoven and other composers, various venues
Constitution Day, 3 May, patriotic parades and festivities, throughout the city
St Stanislaw Procession, May, from Wawel to Skalta
Krakow Film Festival, May/Jun, various venues (website: www.cracowfilmfestival.pl)
Summer Festival of Opera and Operetta, early Jun
The Great Dragon Parade - Wawel Dragon Day, early Jun, city center, a colorful march of dozens of dragons created and brought to life by children and young people and accompanied by brass bands, drummers, stilt-walkers and dancers (website: www.groteska.pl)
Wianki, St John’s Day, 24 Jun, midsummer festival with girls floating wreaths of magic herbs and candles on the Visitula River
Jewish Culture Festival, Jun-Jul, Kazimierz (website: www.jewishfestival.pl)
Tyniec Organ Recitals, Jul, series of summer concerts, Tyniec (website: www.cracowonline.com)
Summer Jazz Festival, Jul, Piwnica Pod Baranami (website: www.cracjazz.com)
Summer Opera Festival, Jun-Aug, Krakow Opera (website: www.opera.krakow.pl)
International Street Theater Festival, early Jul, throughout the city
Music in Old Krakow, Aug, international music festival, Old Town
Pierogi Festival, Aug, Little Market Square (Mały Rynek), local restaurants compete to make the tastiest pierogi (Polish dumplings)
Sacrum-Profanum Festival, Sep, various venues, presents masterpieces of instrumental and vocal/instrumental music from various centers of Europe
Student Song Festival, Oct, various venues, Poland’s biggest and most important song festival
Krakow Jazz Jamboree, Nov, various venues
Krakow Ballet Meetings, Nov, various venues (website: www.nck.krakow.pl)
Independence Day, mid-Nov, patriotic displays around the city, throughout the city
Szopki Krakowskie, Dec, contest for the most beautiful Krakow Christmas nativity scene, Rynek Glowny
Jazz Juniors, Dec, international competition of young jazz groups, various venues
Christmas Day, 25 Dec, throughout the city
International Silent Film Festival, Dec, various venues (website: www.kinopodbaranami.pl)
New Year on the Main Square, 31 Dec, large crowds and Polish stars gather on the main square on New Year’s Eve, Rynek Glowny

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