2024:Travel
Requirements to enter Poland
Anyone arriving in Poland with passports from outside the Schengen Zone should prepare to have the following items on hand:
- A valid passport. It must not be older than ten years and should be valid for at least three more months, recommended six months, beyond its intended departure date from the Schengen Area.
- Blank passport pages. Your passport must have at least two blank pages for the entry stamp.
- A valid Schengen Visa. You must carry your Schengen visa with you when you travel through the Schengen Area. Usually, your visa is affixed to your passport, so those two go hand in hand. (More information on applying for visas can be found on a separate page).
- Evidence on the purpose of entry. While not required for all non-visa holders, attendees should carry documentation explaining that they will be attending Wikimania. Wikimania attendees can request invitation letters from the Wikimedia Foundation and Wikimedia Poland by emailing wikimania
wikimedia.org with the subject line “Wikimania Invitation Letter Request”. - Proof of sufficient financial means. Documentation that proves you have enough financial means to visit the Schengen Area. For Poland, this amount is a minimum bank balance of PLN 300[1] for three days plus PLN 75 for each additional day, provable by a printed bank statement. You can also provide proof of employment or sponsorship, which the Wikimedia Foundation will provide to scholarship recipients.
- Proof of return flight. Print out your travel itinerary to show when you will be departing.
Coming to Katowice
The recommended ways to get to Katowice is to travel by plane or train.
Plane travel
Katowice is served by an international Katowice-Pyrzowice airport (KTW / EPKT). It's the fourth busiest airport in Poland and is located about 30km from Katowice. The route from airport to the city is operated by public transport buses and taxis.
You might also want to book a flight to Warsaw or Kraków (the largest Polish airports) and then come to Katowice by train. Coming from Warsaw airport would take 3-4 hours and from Kraków around 90 minutes. Both trips require one transfer at one of the main stations in Warsaw or Kraków.
Train travel
There's a decent number of trains crossing Poland's western and southern borders that connect Katowice directly with e.g. Berlin, Prague and Vienna. More international routes are possible with transfers.
The Katowice train station is located 1.5 km from the Wikimania 2024 venue.
Accomodation
Only scholarship recipients and Wikimedia Foundation staff will have their accomodation arranged by the organizers. All other participants should find an accomodation option on their own. We have prepared a list of links where you can find a place to stay that will suit you needs:
Please pay attention to the dates and number of guests. We've preselected Aug 7–10 and one adult guest.
Accomodation suggestions
Here we have listed some accomodation options, that are not distant from the conference venue, you may want to choose from. If you feel you'd like to book another hotel, feel free to. This table is meant to be a helpful reference only.
| Place name | Type | Address | Postal code | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| the table will be prepared shortly | |||||
Traveller's cheatsheet
 Poland
| |
|---|---|
| Timezone | UTC+2 (Convert 9:00 AM to your timezone) |
| Currency | Polish złoty (PLN / zł)
USD 1 = PLN 3.98 |
| Driving side | right |
| Phone country code | +48 |
| Dominant religion | Christianity (Roman Catholicism) |
| Electricity | 230V / 50Hz
Plug type C/E |
| Emergency contact | 112 |
| Main mobile carriers | Orange, Play, Plus, T-Mobile |
| Ride hailing | Uber, Bolt, Free Now |
Climate
Poland lies in a humid continental climate zone. The mean temperature in August during the day is 25°C (76°F) and at night 13°C (55°F), although it can occasionally get hotter, reaching up to 30°C (86°F). You should be prepared for some variability in weather, including the possibility of occasional rain. On average, there are 12 rainy days in August with about 75mm (3in) of precipitation in the whole month. People with sensitive skin should consider bringing a sunblock.
It's a good idea to pack lightweight clothing such as t-shirts, shorts, and summer dresses for the warm days, but also bring along a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings or if the weather turns unexpectedly chilly.
SIM cards
Poland is part of the European Union so that EU/EEA residents can use cellular services according to the Roam like at home principles with no or almost none additional costs (please consult your carrier for limitations regarding fair use policy etc.).
If you want to buy a SIM card after arriving, you can do so in a store in the arrivals terminal at the Katowice Airport. It is mandatory to present a passport or ID card in order to register the SIM card. You can do it in carriers' stands in e.g. shopping malls or in the stores that sell them.
You should be prepared to see offers like 5000 GB of internet on the SIM card covers, they usually refer to amount of data you'll get during a whole year. Please check whether you have to perform any action to get the indicated data packet when buying the SIM card. All main carriers offer a mobile app for Android and iOS you can use to manage the service.
If you want to buy the card later, they are available in convenience stores around the city. In case of any troubles, all four carriers have their stands in the shopping mall next to Katowice railway station.
Money
Cashless payments are very popular in Poland. You can pay by card at almost all places—be it small shops or supermarkets. If you want to exchange money after coming to Poland, there are money exchange points at the airports as well as in the city center.
The most common foreign currencies accepted are: Euro (EUR), British pound (GBP) and US dollar (USD). Usually you may also find others in the currency exchange offices, especially the European ones.
References
- ↑ As of 14 February, PLN 300 is approximately equal to: EUR 70, USD 75, GBP 60, CHF 65, JPY 11,150.