Emigrate / Immigrate to Poland? I don't need to work.

I'm seriously thinking about selling up - selling my house and all my useless possessions - and moving to Poland.
I have travelled the world, and lived in many countries, however, I have developed a genuine interest with Poland.
I have visited Poland as a backpacker tourist several times and thoroughly enjoyed my experiences, which makes me want more.
However I am aware of the harsh realities that exist in respect of visiting a place and living in a place.
So here my question begins - where do I go? where do I avoid? I don't need to work, but the option would be nice. I like rural and scenic, but don't we all?

Western Poland, Wielkopolska, DolnoŚląskie, Lubuskie or Zachodnio-Pomorskie województwa=voivodeships. and city of Cracow.
Bieszczady, minor mountains(South East Poland) peaceful if you like trekking with backpack, perfect place.
Unless you like buzzing, then go to Warsaw.
Avoid East.
This is my personal opinion.

Well, in order to receive meaningful answers to your question, I'm afraid you would need to put in little more effort and at the very minimum state what your preferences, what you like (dislike) to do, etc.


Good location if you were planning to travel south, nice to visit and culturally vibrant, but the downside is that it tends to be touristy and the air is very polluted (one of the worst locations in the EU in that category)...


Where exactly and and why?

I know what you mean, I was going to school there for few years. The reason that is polluted is that it lies in the valley, same thing like Los Angeles.

I do hope that the"Huta" is closed by now.


South is polluted and too crowded, I have in mind Śląsk=Silesia
Well Mazury are kinda North East, and i loved sailing there, hated the mosquitoes though.


Why? Well, it is based on history and personal experience as well, but my experience is out of date a bit.

Western Poland is more developed, infrastructure is much better, closer to go for beer to Berlin, unless one likes go to Minsk.
Eastern Poland was neglected during partitioning, it is catching up but still way to go, After the WW II border changes, people from "kresy" were moved to western Poland but they got to much better infrastructure.

West is more vibrant, cities like Wrocław or Poznań, Szczecin is also beautiful, tons of parks and looks so green, close to seaside. Pomerania also have lots of lakes if one likes to sail.

Anyhow read this,


Bottom line is (from my prospective) I would love to barricade myself in small town or even lone standing house in the forest, but knowing that if I wanted I can be within hour or two back to civilization for a day, shopping, go to see a play at theater, or whatever.

As others have said OP - whatever you do - do not do this. You would shoot yourself (or somebody else) within a year - of course guns are not easy to come by, but trust me, anything is better than finding yourself alienated in a backwater Polish town.

There are three things you could do there to pass the time:

1. Go to church twice a day and thank God for your (miserable) existence.
2. Look at púrn, morning, noon, and night
3. Eventually drink yourself to death.

I would do two of these.

Years ago I was thinking just like you. To be in a Big City. yeah, way to fly.
Anyhow I don't and never watched any prn, don't drink, maybe a glass or two of wine from time to time with nice dinner, don't remember the last time I was in the Church.

Trust me I wouldn't be bored. I have enough of steel glass and concrete.

The priest would be round to visit - and the locals wouldn't let you cut the grass on a Sunday - or actually do much of anything.

Unless you plan to build a high fence to fly the flag and to deny them entry - and paradoxically to lock yourself in?

It amuses me how people love to live in these gated communities with wire fencing - where it would take them 15 minutes to walk around the outside of the complex to visit their neighbours in the next wire fenced "community" 50 metres from their property - all in the interests of "security".

There are snobs - and then there are Polish snobs. At least you would be free of them in a smaller environment.

All sounds so cliche. All depends what the OP is after - no universal one size fits all in the run to happiness in this life, I'm afraid. Here's an interesting [realearth.pl/ueberuns_en.htm] of an original Swiss couple who have settled in the very NE corner some 20 years ago...

OMG. Why not to Denmark or Sweden?


Thank you.

The OP is clearly asking about Poland and not any other country, and it seems to me they're in the right place this being the PFs.com.


Agreed. However, you're being a mind-reader here by assuming that the OP values those above all. Let them come back and be more precise about what they're after - otherwise such random advise is not very valuable.


Please back up your view - maybe others reading this post could benefit from your knowledge.

Seriously though Noduff - why choose to live here if you don't want to work/or have to work here? As others have asked - what are you looking for?

The summers are barely 3 (three) months long and the heating bills are huge - even when you do the log fire and underfloor heating bit..............

Plus there is no community spirit to speak of, if you are used to an Anglo-Saxon understanding of the same.

People will not greet you in the street, unless you have a dog or are a fixture....

I live here because of the work, but the long dark days are a bit of a ........ to say the least.

You're right; if the weather was better Poland would be more attractive for expats. It's still cheaper to live than in Germany or the UK, for example. No?

I said what I personally would do, didn't suggest to the OP poster that he or she must do what I would do.
Gosh you are paranoid,, wires, (electric ones?) security issues?....no comment.


Of course I cannot read someone mind, thus I proposed many regions.


At least someone agrees with something that I've wrote


Relax, I only mentioned proximity to our neighbours, no more no less. People travel, don't they?
My Dutch friend (not Polish) do shopping in Germany once a month.

If one insist to visit neighbor of Poland from the eastern flank then I would suggest Estonia or Latvia.

And I still stand by that Minsk is not the place to go for anything not to mention the distance. No offense to Belarusians.
And Ukraine is on "stand by" for the moment.
From the southern flank, both Slovakia and Czech Republic are charming. Prague is delicious.

So @Dougpol1 even with my personal perfect spot to live using the words-barricade myself-I would still move around from time to time.

If posters stuck to the topic instead of going off on a tangent this forum would have a chance of being half-useful (the other problem being over representation by the perpetually frustrated types).

As a rough guide, in terms of attractiveness of the landscape and scenery the central part of the country is probably most boring - hence I would recommend either the north or the south (with the eastern flanks being culturally richer & diverse).

I am sticking to the topic.

The OP said he doesn't need to work.

Vis a vis he would be mad to come here IMO. Why? As above, there would be no social life akin to the life he knows through his culture and traditions. It's a working life and the people you meet through work that makes a foreign country interesting.

If he (the OP) were a writer such as Gore Vidal, who famously said (sic) of his adopted country, that Italy's problems were not his problems, (and so he had the best of both worlds), or can travel at the drop of a hat - then no problem; but if so, why would he be asking us?

Does that answer your question?

PS Not frustrated - just living with reality. And it's boringly dark here in Gdynia at 9 a.m. and the radiators are full on - in September. Maybe me and the OP can do a house swap?

For a start, please re-read (and don't forget to understand!) OP's message.

But I do understand it. He says where should he go? I say - not Poland - for the reasons I have mentioned.

Apologies for my absence.
I'm soon to be retired with a reasonable pension at the tender age of 49, which is why I wouldn't have to work.
I'm fascinated with languages and have been learning Polish, on and off, for several years.
My trips to Poland have been many and varied, but one thing remains constant and that is a 'feeling of happiness' when I'm in Poland.

I know there was trouble in the Garden of Eden, and I'm not looking for paradise. But I genuinely like Poland and the people of Poland, their friendliness has been overwhelming at times. I doubt it's because I have cash to throw about, because I don't, I travel light on a tight budget and am at best described as frugal.

I have travelled the world, lived every moment, met some awful people and met some delightful people - I'm far from being naive in any respect, which is why I posted this thread - I wanted to see what words of wisdom I could gather from those in the know, those living the reality of Poland on a full time day to day basis.

The log cabin dream in the country side is of course a dream, I know the harsh reality of such exists only in films and for the millionaire brigade, but I'd opt for something similar or like as opposed to the hustle and bustle of city life.

With regard to the community spirit, well if there is none, it will be on parr with what we currently have in the UK. I revolve in a society where no one has time to care, but I survive just fine.

I apologise if my post has caused some misunderstandings, but each and every response is massively appreciated, I really do value them, thank you.

Then the Beskidy Noduff - but the Czech Beskidy - because the Poles have NO respect for any concept of a green belt. They think it's something you would wear to hold your trousers up.

I would advise strongly against buying a house next to a forest in Poland. People will notice your isolation and come and build a group of houses next door to keep you company. Test my theory by going with your lady to the cinema. Sit apart from anybody else. Within two minutes another couple will come and sit right next to you to "keep you company" although there is plenty of room elsewhere.

This is weird behaviour and some anthropologist/sociologist may be along to explain......

There is no peace and quiet to be found anywhere in Poland. The whole countryside has been completely ruined by indiscriminate building.

Try the Czech Republic. It has building laws and property is actually worth something - if you want solitude.

Here to help:)

Why on Earth is a carpetbagger complaining about where native Poles decide to sit in a public theater in Poland or build a home for themselves on Polish land?

There is no doubt that you think you are entitled to have the best viewing seats in the cinema all to yourself.


Indeed it is! This is akin to the same sort of petty territorial frustration expressed by British tourists when holidaying Germans routinely beat them to the sunloungers in all the prime spots around a common swimming pool.

I'm surprised you didn't mention that you get annoyed with the management and staff at Polish cinemas too when they prevent you from bringing your dog in with you. Just like you do when you admit to going around and harassing Polish restaurants and pubs as well as train conductors with your canine in tow and being incensed that no one displays gushing emotion and free accommodation to what is obviously the only friend you have in all of Poland. This sort of behavior is displayed by people who have become marginalized in society because of their inability and (more often than not) their unwillingness to be social with other human beings. This is particularly the case for many foreigners who have elected to reside in Poland (usually without invitation) and then refuse to integrate.

"Theaters"? When was the last time you were in Poland?

I made an opinion based on observation of your mother country and you clearly haven't been here.

And the environment is not the Poles' to ruin, so it's not OK that Poland has no cast iron planning laws.

And keep the mutt out of it. :)

Glad to hear from a positive person for a change. I feel your interest and motivation for Poland are genuine and thus wish you all the best in your road to living out your dream. Let me know if you needed more specifics, etc, I'll do my best to help out (note: my PM does not seem to work for some reason).


And it is a perfectly achievable dream (check out the link to the Swiss couple's site I pasted in my earlier response for confirmation + inspiration). They've done it 20 years ago, and with PL joining the EU since I cannot imagine it being more difficult in terms of the bureaucracy. And cost of land here is still a fraction of what it is in the UK.

Once again, congratulations on your courage to live out your dream and best of luck.

"With regard to the community spirit, well if there is none, it will be on parr with what we currently have in the UK. I revolve in a society where no one has time to care, but I survive just fine"

If you cannot find any community spirit in the UK you certainly will not be able to find it somewhere where you dont even speak the language.

Yes. One of the few places where living on a busy main road is seen as more desirable than seclusion. Also, people tend to avoid living somewhere remote in PL due to infrastructure and vulnerability to crime.


The UK has one of the highest levels of volunteering and community work in the world and a recent survey showed that PL has the lowest in Europe.


Then you should move there if you feel that way - you could well have found what you're looking for. Remember that living somewhere is very different than just visiting - don't buy right away, live there for some time and then you'll have a better perspective of where you want to settle.


Never - and it isn't his 'mother country'.

Because any concern can come and build a ******* great big plant next to your dream plot - that's why :)

Try Rekowo-Gorne for size. A beautiful forest vista ruined when the new Zoeller plant could be on the highway to Slupsk 5 kilometres down the road. Instead the council place it in the countryside on the road to the seaside?

Only in Poland - and you want me to be positive?

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The road going north from Warsaw through £omianki is the same - companies just build whatever they like and billboards everywhere.

You sound like a very cautious person but I don't think you are likely to get good answers from here.
Judging by the replies ,so far, you should ask yourself what the average age of members on this forum is.
At 49- I guess it's something you've thoroughly thought through.
There are many sides to Polish reality and most of it is very difficult to grasp.
Living here alone will take you a long time, that is if you don't throw in the towel sooner, to really understand life and live

as a local. If you have family connections and work hard on your language skills you stand a very good chance.
My mate is 61 this year and is thinking of retiring here but letting out his house in Cheltenham
and see if he can adjust to life in Polska. He is been coming here for the past 15years and admits that
it will be hard for him even though he would like to retire here. Among other things he worries about are:
Healthcare and living next to neighbours who sometimes burn tyres to heat their house.
Coming down here, to see if you can make it, for a couple of years before you permanently settle-
sounds like a very good idea indeed.
Good luck!

he has had some sensible and mature responses IMO - how old do you think people are here, teenagers?
Here is someone whining about the lack of community spirit and that they are thinking of moving to a country where they dont know the language to find it..........hmmmm.

I wonder if he does anything to contribute to the community in the UK? I really doubt it, he sounds immature if anyone does.

My goodness, you claim to be in Poland and are puzzled that there could be theaters. Yes, there are. Many in fact, all across Poland.


You make opinions about Poland which consistently show your own awkwardness when out in public. That being the case it is very odd that you would be on here giving advice to others that they should go to other countries instead.


So says the seasonal tourist.

The rent from a house in Cheltenham may help cushion those worries and when push comes to shove as long as your friend is near an airport, the UK and free healthcare is only a couple of hours away.

and as I said before, your friend should choose carefully where he wants to live and don't buy right away.


Yes. 100x yes. Staying somewhere is very different from living somewhere and as I said before, it's better to choose carefully where he wants to live and don't buy right away.


Exactly. You can't expect people to go about their lives using a foreign language just because an immigrant neighbour hasn't learnt theirs.


That doesn't make sense, not least since I've lived there for longer than you've been alive. Or are likely to be if you go round saying things like that in real life, without the cushion of the internet.