WHAT TO WEAR END OF JUNE FIRST WEEKS OF JULY IN WARSAW

Well I am on my way in 3 weeks to Warsaw to do some genelology work. Since airlines are reducing weight. What should I wear.
I will take jeans, shirts and pants 3/4 length. Casual. Will that be ok? Also can you tell me do I need a jacket or a sweater? Will that suffice.?

What are the usual temperatures for then. I hate lots of rainy days but sounds like that is what to expect.

Oh another question. Is changing American Dollars at airport a good place to do it.
Thanks for your help.
Dale

What you said is fine in general but read below...maybe one jacket or sweater for the night if you are cold blooded. Daytime temps are 60s to high 80s F at worst with little if any humidity on normal days (Warsaw has a fluctuating climate so it can be 88F in the sun one day and 60 and raining the next). Adult Poles dress in general nicer than a typical American on the street so business casual or at least something other than ratty jeans and baggy shirts will make you blend in better and engender more respect when dealing with people in your research. But if you are just being a tourist and don't care what people think go as you wish. Umbrellas were my choice for rain as a rain coat was too hot for me in summer.

Money is best taken from an ATM (Bankomat) for the best rate. Call your bank as well and ask them what international ATMs will get you the best fees. For example Bank of America has a partnership with Deutchebank so you get no fees for withdrawing just the exchange rate. Normally you get charged like a 10usd fee plus a local fee etc. That said changing 20-50usd at the airport just to get a taxi etc won't be a bad idea but you will get horrid rates so don't waste a lot there.

Hi!
This year the weather in Poland is quite unforeseeable. I advise you to take both sweater and jacket, but also be prepared for sunny days (t- shirts, etc). Usual temperatures drift from 15 (rarely, but it`s possible) to 30 Celsius degrees. Rainy days are often in July.

Have a nice time in Poland :)

Dale,

I know it's a Dutch website, but you can also visit weerplaza.nl (no www).

Typ "wars" in the line under "Zoek naar het weer in een plaats:" (Look for the weather in a city) on the top left of the page, just above the little map of the Netherlands and select "Warschau" from the list of three.

Go to the bottom of the results page and there you will find a 14-day forecast for the weather in Warsaw.

"Neerslag" means precipitation. The rest you'll understand.

Long-time forecasts are of course not 100% accurate, but it gives you a good idea what to take with you.

When you arrive at Wwa-airport and go through the doors after having picked up your luggage, turn left and walk to the end of the Terminal 1-building. On your left, just behind a bar on your left, the staircase on your right and near the toilets, you will find two ATM's where you can withdraw money from your account. Much simpler and safer than the hassle of the "Kantors".

Here (lotnisko-chopina.pl/files/content/arrival/maps/terminal_pl an_arrival.pdf) is a plan of the airport.

The good thing about that, is that you also avoid irritating people wanting you to get into their taxis. They are a rip-off! Don't be tempted! Take the official taxis just outside the terminal or take the 175-bus.

Good luck.

The weather in Poland is about to turn and next week will be the beginning of the summer. Find below a link for a Polish site that gives accurate weather forcasts;

pogoda.onet.pl

If you want to change money in warsaw the place in the link is one of the best and central

kantorintraco1.republika.pl/notowania.html

As the guy mentioned before avoid the illegal taxis at the airport and just go for the official one. The cost is about 35Plz to the center.

Well June/July is often the hottest months in poland but weather can suprise so I just suggest you to check the weather prognoses few days before you'll gone (not now because long term prognosis are often misleading for this area).

Usually the worst expected temp in summer is around 20 C (at night few degrees less so long sleeve shirt/sweatshirt can be required), and the best expected is around 30 C (so pretty hot). I think sweater is too much (but check the prognosis... you know climate change). It can be also rainy so water-proof jacket you will need.


Also watch out for cheaters. Taxi drivers cant charge too much money but there are deceivers who just pretend to be taxi drivers. Especially watch if there is word "taxi" or "taKi" (misspelling is to mislead ppl). And the "TAKI" drivers charge ppl just for opening cars doors!!!

Thanks for you help. It really was a help. If I may ask another question.

How much do I give to the people who take our luggage in the hotel to the room.
Also the taxi when I arrive at the hotel. What is acceptable.

I know that clerks take your luggage at the hotel and I want to be sure I have the right change when i arrive to tip him.

Thanks again.

is 68F


do the bus... the taxi aren't always safe.. public transportation in Warsaw is excellent better then most of USA..

pay with a CC whenever you can.. not a debit card. having some cash is necessary though and like they all said above.. do the ATMs.

jeans are a dead giveaway you're a foreigner/american and thus peoole will try to rip you off... guaranteed.. don't flash cash, be ware of pickpockets.. write down the numbers of CC help lines in case you need to call them to cancel the cards or get duplicates.. try to see if the hotel has a vault where you could leave your passport and other valuables..

even though clothing is on the expensive side, you may want to buy some wardrobe in PL to blend in better.. polish ladies are rather trendy.. it is europe after all.. also google some pictures of polish people and see what they wear..

i'd use an umbrella on rainy days..

Jeans are worn by Poles all over Warsaw. So I hardly agree with the "dead giveaway" comment. But yes it is better to dress nicer since you are doing research and will be meeting various people.

If you buy you wardrobe in Warsaw, it will be the same to the one from home. Zara, Peek & Cloppenburg, H&M...you find them everywhere these days. Check any boutique here and try to find the 7 differences.

I agree that Polish girls dress really OK. Judging from my wife's wardrobe it comes to a cost though :)

That said and done, I wish you a pleasant trip.

only in NYC, Miami and LA.. maybe Boston and Chicago but the rest of the country is definitely behind times..


the polish jeans are not the same as the american ones..

there is Zara in Dallas...

ok but it's a minority of american women that wear trendy clothes plus it seems the european designs arrive here about a year after they are hip in eu

and vice versa... the us stuff arrives late in eu... who's fault is that? ;)

the mailman? lol

No rule. You give what you think they deserve - unlike in America, the culture in Europe is very much based around "only if they deserve it" - we don't reward someone for simply doing their job.

My advice is to take some nice light weight summer dresses - a couple of maxi dresses for the evening or even the day..capri pants are a good standard, couple them with a nice fitted top..3/4 jeans look good with a nice top and a pair of gladiator sandles...

As for the taxi thing, why not ask the hotel if they can arrange a transfer - thats what I always do when I go away - lowers the chance of being ripped off :D


You have New York fashion week and the likes of Top Shop and Zara attend, so we're actually bang up to date with whats going on - high fashion and trends change like the weather here :D

Don't forget the white socks and sandals for your husband/bloke he will instantly blend in.

If you're flying with LOT, don't worry... I was once 9kg over weight and they didn't charge me a penny more :)


It's more likely that he will arrive at Terminal 2 these days; in which case, he needs to turn right once he sees all the people holding cards up, which will take him in the direction of Terminal 1. The directions to the cash machines are correct, though ;)


They look like they mostly wear market clothes over here.


and the backpack, can of Tyskie in one hand, and fag in the other! lol

Good luck with your genealogical research! I am also coming to Poland in exactly two weeks and I am mega excited! I've been to Poland twice before, once during the same time of the year, and what you described seemed to be comfortable. I had nights where it was chilly, and some days it was quite hot.

I am going to fly into Warsaw on July 21st and then drive to the Włocławek branch of Poland's Archives. I will not tour the popular places this time, but go see my family's ancestral villages as well as visit cemeteries.

5 zloty to the person who brings your luggage up is typical. 2 zlots for the bloke who helps you out of the cab. 2 zlots for room service or 5 zlots if its a big order. Watch some hotels in warsaw put quite big service charges on the room service so point that out to the doris who brings your food.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR HELP.
GEE ONE MORE BIG QUESTION

THOSE LIVING IN POLAND. HOW ARE THE FLOODS??
LOVE DALE

Uh...yeah they are. I lived there for a long time until recently and the jeans are the same...there are even some brands that are sold in both places. I am not sure what the big deal is about jeans and why someone would suggest they make you stand out when half the people on the street in Warsaw are wearing them...especially younger people.

zuczek

All good advice, apart from the "jeans".

If you are a guy, jeans and a t-shirt will blend in, if you dress up (as I do) you will stick out and ppl will stare at you!

If you are a Girl, wear nice clothes, Polish girls take far more pride in their appearance than the guys do...

Bring a range of clothes you can "layer" in case it gets cold, u can always buy an umbrella for 10zl

oops didnt mean to reply to u Zuczek :o

Just seen this post so maybe you've already changed your USD ... If not I would recommend finding a good kantor (exchange bureau) in the city. The ones at the airport offer low rates :-(

I made an iPhone app that shows the National Bank of Poland's daily mid-rate for 48 currencies and lists over 80 kantors in Warsaw.
It's called FX Warsaw, and it's free. HTH.