Poland runs on the Polish złoty (PLN). That matters for one key reason: despite being in the European Union, Poland has not adopted the euro and has no immediate plans to do so. You need złoty for almost every transaction, and the options for getting it range from excellent (bank ATMs in the city) to terrible (airport exchange counters). This guide covers what you actually need to know.
Poland’s Currency: The Złoty
Currency: Polish złoty
Code: PLN
Symbol: zł
Subdivisions: 100 groszy (gr) = 1 zł
Banknotes in circulation: 10zł, 20zł, 50zł, 100zł, 200zł, 500zł
Coins: 1gr, 2gr, 5gr, 10gr, 20gr, 50gr, 1zł, 2zł, 5zł
Approximate exchange rates (2026):
- EUR 1 ≈ PLN 4.25
- USD 1 ≈ PLN 3.95
- GBP 1 ≈ PLN 5.00
Check a live rate at XE.com or Google Finance before travelling - rates move within a PLN 0.10–0.20 band regularly.
Getting Polish Złoty
ATMs - The Best Option
Withdrawing from a Polish bank ATM using a travel-friendly card is consistently the most cost-effective way to get złoty. Cards like Revolut, Wise, Monzo (UK), Starling (UK), and Charles Schwab (US) offer fee-free or low-fee withdrawals with near-interbank exchange rates.
Which ATMs to use: Stick to ATMs attached to major Polish banks - PKO Bank Polski, Bank Pekao, mBank, and Santander Bank Polska. Freestanding ATMs in airports, train stations, and tourist squares (often branded Euronet or Planet Cash) tend to add their own fees on top of your bank’s charges.
One critical setting: When the ATM prompts you to pay in your home currency or in PLN - always choose PLN. Accepting payment in your home currency activates Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), where the ATM operator sets the exchange rate. DCC rates are typically 3–5% worse than what your bank charges. The same applies at card payment terminals in shops and restaurants - always choose PLN.
ATMs are plentiful in Polish cities, major transport hubs, and most towns. In rural areas, plan ahead - some villages have no ATM within easy reach.
Kantor (Private Exchange Bureau)
If you are exchanging cash, a kantor is the right place to do it. Kantors are private currency exchange bureaux found throughout Polish city centres. They charge no commission - the rate on the board is the rate you receive.
Rates vary between kantors. Avoid those in airports, main train station concourses, and Old Town tourist squares - their rates are noticeably worse. Look for kantors on ordinary shopping streets a few blocks away from the main tourist areas. The best kantor rate in any given city is typically PLN 0.10–0.20 per euro better than the worst.
How a kantor works: Walk in, state the amount and currencies, hand over the cash, receive złoty. No paperwork, no waiting. It takes about 60 seconds.
Banks
Polish bank branches can exchange currency but charge transaction fees (typically PLN 5–10) and use less competitive rates than kantors. Banks are useful for other services but not for currency exchange.
Airport Exchange
Avoid exchange counters at Polish airports. The rates are consistently the worst available - often 5–8% below the interbank rate. Use an ATM in the arrivals hall instead.
Card Payments in Poland
Visa and Mastercard are accepted widely across major Polish cities. In Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań, and Łódź, you can pay by card at hotels, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, pharmacies, museums, and most shops.
American Express has more limited acceptance - most mid-range restaurants and smaller shops do not take it.
Contactless payments are standard in Poland. Transactions up to PLN 100 go through without a PIN; larger amounts require PIN entry. Apple Pay and Google Pay work on contactless-enabled terminals, which is the majority of modern card readers.
Where cards fail: Poland still has a meaningful cash economy in certain contexts. Carry PLN 100–200 specifically for:
- Milk bars (bar mleczny): Poland’s beloved subsidised canteens almost always require cash
- Outdoor markets and food stalls: Near-universal cash only
- Smaller regional restaurants and rural guesthouses: Frequently cash only
- Some museum tickets and entrance fees
- Local minibus services (e.g. shared shuttles to Zakopane)
- Tips: Even where card tipping is technically possible, cash tips are cleaner and go directly to the server
Tipping in Poland
Tipping is customary but not at the level expected in the US or UK. The standard:
Restaurants: 10% at sit-down restaurants with table service is the norm. At milk bars or canteens, rounding up small change is sufficient. Say “dziękuję” (thank you) when leaving a tip directly with the server.
Taxis: Round up to the nearest round number. A PLN 47 fare becomes PLN 50.
Hotel porters: PLN 5–10 per bag.
Not expected: Street food vendors, market stalls, hairdressers, petrol stations.
If you tip by card, specify the amount when the terminal prompts - though servers generally prefer cash tips, which bypass the till entirely.
Cash vs Card: Our Recommendation
For city travel in Poland, cards cover the majority of spending. The practical approach:
- Arrive with no złoty - there is no advantage to exchanging before you leave
- Withdraw PLN 200–400 from a bank ATM on arrival - use it for milk bars, markets, tips, and transport
- Pay by card everywhere that accepts it - always selecting PLN when prompted
- Top up with a kantor if you need more cash, not a bank
Keep the bulk of any cash in a hotel safe or money belt in busy tourist areas - Kraków’s Old Town and Warsaw’s Royal Route see occasional pickpocketing.
Quick Reference: Approximate Costs in PLN (2026)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | PLN 12–18 |
| Beer at a bar (500ml) | PLN 10–18 |
| Milk bar lunch (soup + main) | PLN 18–30 |
| Sit-down restaurant dinner | PLN 50–100 per person |
| City tram or bus (single) | PLN 3.40–4.60 |
| 24-hour travel card (Warsaw) | PLN 15 |
| Intercity train (Kraków–Warsaw, booked ahead) | From PLN 99 |
| Hostel dorm | PLN 60–90 |
| Mid-range hotel (private room) | PLN 220–400 |
For a full day-by-day budget breakdown, see our Poland budget guide.
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