Direct access to our
services :

Polish Leisure

Shopping

Grocery shopping in Poland

Supermarkets (Supermarkety) can be found in different areas of Polish cities, not necessarily in the outskirts. There are no Polish supermarket chains, only foreign ones, mostly French, German and English. Supermarkets are usually divided into two sections: free shopping areas where one can stroll with a trolley and various boutiques and retailers sections under the same roof. Supermarkets offer a wide spectrum of choice of goods ranging from food to cars.

Markets – big shops located in the centres of the cities as well as in the living districts. They offer mostly food and household chemistry.

Little shopkeepers – located in every neighbourhood offer a variety of food and other basic need products, often open everyday.

Open air markets are available mostly in the centres of large living districts. They offer fresh fruit and vegetables at relatively low prices. Open ever working day 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. , Saturdays 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Department and Chain Stores

Big Western-styled department stores are convenient places to shop but unfortunately they are not yet very much common in Poland where still supermarkets take the lead.

Galeria Centrum – a modernised former state owned chain of Domy Towarowe Centrum offering clothes. Shops placed in central parts of big Polish cities.

Marks & Spencer – English department store of well known world-wide reputation. One shop in the centre of Warsaw.

Galeria Mokotów – a big department store with fancy boutiques placed in Warsaw. RTV appliances, clothes, pet animals.

EMPIK – a shopping chain selling books, CDs, CDROMs, multimedia Polish and foreign press and magazines. Shops in every big city.

OTHERS

IKEA, Praktiker, Castorama, OBI – available in the vicinty of big cities.

Media

Newspapers:

Rzeczpospolita – well informed paper covering political life, business news, law. Most objective of the Polish newspapers and highly respected for its professionalism

Gazeta Wyborcza – liberal-democratic newspaper; most popular among the middle class accompanied by local supplements covering local news, culture; good source of adverts and job offers.

¯ycie – right wing daily newspaper covering Polish and international politics.

Trybuna – left wing newspaper affiliated by political party of Leftwing Alliance (SLD)

Magazines:

Polityka – centre-to-left wing magazine, weekly news and opinions of celebrities form the world of politics and business

Wprost – centre-to-right wing magazine, weekly news + comments

For foreigners:

The Warsaw Voice – weekly magazine in English on politics, business, cultural life

Le Courier de Varsovie – covers politics and international relations in French

Polish press is available on virtually every corner of the street at newsagents. Foreign press can be purchased in large press centres, EMPIK for example.

Integration

Language

Of course living in Poland without knowing the language and basic customs of Polish culture will make you miss a lot out of everyday life. Polish belongs to the family of Slavonic languages and as such may be hard co comprehend by a foreigner whose mother tongue has different origins. On the other hand due to the complexity of grammar and pronunciation may be fairly difficult to learn. But even a couple of basic words used in everyday situation may earn you politeness and respect among ordinary people.

There are different schools for foreigners offering various courses of Polish available in every big Polish city. If you are not flexible enough you can pick your personal teacher either by addressing one of these schools or through press adverts.

Clubs and organisations for the expatriates

For clubs and organisations for expatriates please approach your national embassy or local community of expatriates. Some countries next to the embassies maintain their own cultural institutions which organise various events for both foreigners and Polish people.