Visiting Polish Cities – COVID-19
If you are reading this, you probably already decided to visit Poland for your Summer 2020 Vacations. Good choice! Perhaps you want to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau? Or Wieliczka Salt-Mine? However, an important question remains. Where to go, and are Polish cities safe? We are here to help you make an informed choice and answer all your questions.
COVID-19 – Are Polish Cities Safe?
Poland is a safe place to visit. Due to strong, decisive, and immediate response to the epidemiological threat of COVID-19, we kept the infection from spreading wide. Lockdown, masks, and social distancing made it possible to soften the impact of the disease to the point that life in Poland is returning to normality. Shops, museums, and restaurants are reopened. People are enjoying themselves grilling and picnicking. Sometimes, you almost forget that COVID-19 is still out there!
However, the threat of coronavirus is still looming. This is why while restrictions have been relaxed, they have not been lifted entirely. You might also wonder why, is the situation is so good, there is still a nontrivial number of infected people? The thing is that majority of infections are concentrated in small areas, not in large Polish cities. The number you see is for the entire country, which makes it seem dispersed and omnipresent. In reality, disease outbreaks are limited to specific places. So when traveling to Kraków, Wieliczka, Auschwitz, Zakopane, and other Polish cities, you do not have to worry.
COVID-19 – What makes Polish Cities Safe
However, out of respect for yours and our safety, you still should observe rules of social distancing. You probably already know the gist of it. Wear masks indoors, wash your hands. Do not get too close to other people. Sounds simple, right? But then, you start wondering. How do hotels work with rules like that? Are parties and dancings even allowed? Shouldn’t airports and restaurants be shut down?
Hotels
Hotels function normally. There are extra strict sanitary requirements, but they mostly happen behind the scene. Nothing that would impact your personal experience in any meaningful way. You will have no problems finding an open hotel in Polish cities.
Airports
Airports do their best to minimize the number of people in them at any given time. To enter a terminal, you need to show a valid ticket. Unless you have a reason to be somewhere, you simply are not allowed to be there. This way, crowds are avoided, and danger dissipated. After entering or leaving the airport, you are expected to disinfect your hands using the provided tools. This is currently considered to be perfect balance between safety and positive user experience. When you arrive at Krakow Airport, you have nothing to fear.
Because of this, be aware that drivers waiting for your arrival will be waiting outside the airport itself. Do not worry, though – due to reduced airport traffic, there is only one exit. Finding your ride is going to be a cake. In fact, some might say that it makes things actually easier!
Restaurants
Restaurants refused to be defeated by COVID-19. There are many amazing places to eat at in Krakow and other Polish cities and worry not. They are still open and waiting for you! Instead of surrendering, they adapted. Due to the importance tourism holds in Krakow, local restaurants pioneered solutions that became a model to follow for in the entire country. The biggest challenge was to make the meal itself safe while keeping the comfort of customers. Many places in Poland tried to force masks on the clients for the entirety of their visit. This was obviously unfun and unpopular.
However, a smart solution that still fulfilled sanitary requirements was invented. While the staff is always wearing masks, clients only are obliged to wear them when they enter and leave the place. When you sit at your table, you are allowed to take it off and enjoy your meal! How is this possible? The answer is simple. By spacing the tables 2 meters from each other, enough space is given to each client fulfilling the requirements to take the masks off.
Each table is washed and disinfected immediately after you leave. This way, it is as clean as possible when the next group arrives. This process is fast and efficient. Some joke that this way of having your meal at a restaurant is actually better than before! After all, you have your own little zone where nobody else is bothering you, and everything is cleansed so rigorously that it looks as good as new. So don’t worry! This might be the best time in years to enjoy local cuisine!
Museums
Museums simply cannot be skipped when you visit Krakow or other Polish cities. It would be a terrible shame if you could not see them due to the epidemic. Luckily, you don’t have to miss anything! First and foremost, it is good to secure your tickets in advance. To reduce the risks, museums are accepting smaller groups of visitors at a time, which means that it might be harder to just walk in from the streets. Also, do not even try to walk in without a mask! Masks are obligatory for the entirety of the museum visit! Expect to wash your hands. Disinfection is also a standard procedure. Do not be surprised if your temperature is measured.
It might sound silly, but there is nothing weird about it. Krakow is very dedicating to making sure that you remain safe, and this is just a part of it. Every sanitary requirement is strictly fulfilled. All the obligatory restrictions are observed. In many cases, extra steps are taken, just to be sure.
COVID-19 – Polish Cities – Safe And Fun
When visiting Krakow, do not constraint yourself just to the city itself. There are many interesting places to visit within a single trip distance from you. This includes Auschwitz Birkenau. If you are wondering how does visit Auschwitz Birkenau during COVID-19 in 2020 works, look no further.