How the war in Ukraine is affecting Poland – what travelers need to know (updated March 2023)

Is Poland in direct danger from Russia?

No, there is nothing to worry about as a tourist and not as a citizen either. According to experts, Russia is using Ukraine as a warning bell, but it should not be confused with a desire to expand westward. Russia simply does not have the military structure to defeat the NATO and European Union (both of which Poland is a part of), which is found west of Ukraine and Russia. NATO and the EU will not hesitate to take necessary sanctions against Russia. This is proven by the reaction of EU leaders and institutions; they all strongly condemn Russia’s acts of aggression toward Ukraine. They already posed some major sanctions against Russia as a response, these sanctions include cutting Russia's access to EU capital markets, prohibiting Russian planes to enter EU airspace, and energy sanctions to make it harder and more expensive for Russia to upgrade their oil refinements. Follow all updates from a credible source visit the CNN website. As a part of NATO, Poland is backed up by other NATO members through military support as well. As a precaution, some US Armed Forces and troops of other NATO members are stationed in Poland as well. 

Has the Polish government implemented any restrictions on travel following the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

The answer is a simple no. There are no travel restrictions in place. However, as a response to the recent migrant crisis at the Poland-Belarusian border, the Polish government introduced a law limiting access to areas close to the border. As of 30 November, 2021 areas within approximately 2 miles (roughly 3 kilometers) from the border in parts of Podlaskie and Lubelskie Voivodeships are off-limits to visitors. However, we suggest not going too close to the eastern borders anyways! All the major tourist attractions are situated in middle and western Poland. Additionally, the war in Ukraine is far away from the Polish border since Russian troops are invading Ukraine from the eastern border. Please check this interactive map to see where the conflict is taking place precisely.

What do foreign offices say about traveling to Poland?

It is mentioned by governments across the world that it is perfectly safe to travel to Poland, however, people should not consider trying to cross into Ukraine from Poland. This speaks for itself if you ask us! However, check your local government’s travel advice for the most recent developments. 

Which effects could be noticed by travelers?

Even though there is no threat to Poland, travelers could notice Ukrainians who flee the violence in their country.  Because Poland shares a border of roughly 332 miles (or 530 kilometers) with Ukraine, Poland is dealing with a great influx of Ukrainian evacuees, which might be noticed in train stations. Poland is assisting refugees by setting up information points, increasing staff members at border crossing points as well as free accommodation in Airbnb’s,  hostels, sports facilities, and dormitories. The humanitarian support offered by both the Polish government and Polish citizens is heart-warming.

When deciding to come to Poland you might even volunteer for a few days of your trip since the management of this influx of Ukrainians coming to Poland requires a lot of extra hands. Please visit this government website to see how you can help.

As a tourist, you will not notice any of this, since the Ukrainians are not here to sightsee. This might actually be a great time to visit Poland! There are some important benefits of visiting Poland before the high season starts. As the weather is getting better and popular tourist attractions are not crowded yet, which makes for quick access to museums and attractions. Another advantage of visiting Poland now is that it is way cheaper than during the summer period, in the high season hotel prices might double or even triple in some cases. Additionally, the exchange rate of Polish zlotys is very favorable compared to dollars, euros, or pounds now. Even though Poland is already cheap for tourists compared to other countries, the low exchange rate makes it even less expensive. Check out which tourist attractions Poland has to offer on our website!

Please also remember that we donate 3% of the profit from our online bookings to support Ukraine. Find our offer here.

Should I be worried about flying over Ukraine?

The airspace above Ukraine is currently closed and will be as long as the armed conflict is going on. Flights traveling to Poland do not travel above Russia or Ukraine. Even before the Russian invasion, most airlines had already taken steps to avoid flying over Ukraine. Airlines began rerouting and diverting around the country as a reaction to the shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 by pro-Russian separatists in 2014. So basically, there is no danger in flying to Poland!