Can I make payments by credit card in Poland's Biedronka stores etc,?

Hey,

I am supposed to spend around one month in Poland from mid July to mid August. Most of my payments will & should be made by credit card as I won't hold cash much.

Could you please tell me places where I can buy cheap stuff around Gdynia, Warszawa, Poznan and Krakow? For example, I know about Biedronka, do they accept credit card? What about transportation? On web I think I can use credit card, but when I wish to get on subway in Krakow(does it have a subway, btw?) can I pay with credit card?

It doesn't have a subway.

You can pay by credit card in almost all places now (at least in Warsaw).

Not in some places you like Harry ...like namasteindia restaurant on nowegrodska and buying tickets from drivers i the local buses:D

And, this may differ from country to country but, when I wish to withdraw cash using my credit card in Warszawa... Will ATM give me zloty or the currency of my country?

Zloty!

Hi,

It all depends on what you want to buy. If only food then you probably will have to go to supermarkets. You will be able to use your credit card in all supermarkets, but Biedronka won't accept it (they only accept cash).

Most smaller local shops also accept debit cards only (not credit cards).
Reg. public transportation, subway is only in Warszawa, but there are trams an buses in all major cities in Poland, and they work very well (you can get almost everywhere). Usually, you must buy tickets for public transportation before you get on (no way to get the ticket in the car). There are many 'kiosks' and sometimes also ticket machines to buy the ticket, but probably also no credit card will be accepted.

In general, it's always a good idea to have some cash in the pocket as credit cards are not as popular in Poland as in other western countries (as opposed to debit cards).

Cinek

Yeah this is awesome. And can you please give me advice about anything in your mind? I am just 18 year-old and this will be my first trip out of country.

I am dark skinned so to be honest I am scared of racist disturbances. Can you give me advices like, don't go out late at night, don't use trains, use trams for transportation in city etc...

lol wear only white clothes when you go out in night and dark clothes during the day in Poland:)

Haha why? :p

Polands a safe country dude your question was funny thats why:)

I don't know mate... My girlfriend is Polish, so actually I know much about Poland and Europe but I am hesitant :)

I was in Namaste on Nowogrodzka a couple of weeks ago and had no problem with paying by credit card. But I guess it must be hard for you to know things like that, given that you're sitting in your cornershop in New Jersey.


Given that I have a monthly pass, why would I want to buy tickets from bus drivers?


I can't remember the last time I wasn't able to pay at a kiosk with a card. Oh, and the ticket machines in Warsaw also accept cards (or at least the ones at the tram stops do, the ones in the trams are coins only).

Make sure your card issuer doesn't add a handling charge for using it abroad. If they do, take relatively large amounts from the ATM to avoid getting stung each time you use it.

Poland by the way is a fairly safe country.

Check again they still dont take credit cards ...then again how would you assume I am sitting in a cornershop in nj?Common baaty brit english teacher...do I really haunt you so much.

BTW credit cards are acce[pted widely in Poland but its good to have cash..just in case:D

Thanks a lot!

That is very very good advice.


Their facebook page shows that you are lying about them, but it's not exactly the first time that you've done that, is it.

Biedronka do not accept credit or debit cards, most other do though.

That's changed now. They do accept all major cards.

The product range is getting better too.

Biedronka rejected my Santander debit card so just be careful that it doesn't catch you out :)

Was that because they don't accept that bank's cards, or was it perhaps just a technical glitch?

Well, my card works everywhere else but not biedronka unfortunately, I have no idea why :(

That's because your bank is Spanish and Biedronka is Portuguese owned :)

Ahhh I see now, wish I knew this earlier, thanks bullfrog! :)

Your card should still work, Chalwa. I've used cards on the same network as Santander at Biedronks without any problem.

I was thinking about this yesterday - it seems unthinkable now that you couldn't pay with card in Biedronka. These days, almost every retailer will accept cards, even tiny local shops in the middle of nowhere.