Polish money title. Polish zloty

Poland is one of the few EU countries that has not adopted the euro. The Polish zloty circulates in the country. In some places, you can pay in euros, although you should not rely too much on this. Editorial along the way conducted her own research on what currency and in what form it is worth stocking up when traveling to Poland from Ukraine or Russia.

1. Ideal option: cash zloty and foreign currency bank card

1.1 Where to buy złoty?

By exchanging domestic currency for Polish before the trip, you can avoid double conversion. If your income comes to you in euros or dollars, then, of course, it is better to go with them and change on the spot. If in domestic currency - do not postpone the purchase of zlotys until the last moment and do not think that dollars or euros purchased on the black market at an unfavorable price should be lowered in Poland. In Ukraine, as in Russia, there are no problems with buying the Polish zloty, they are sold at a not very favorable rate, but there is no shortage. In Kyiv, the zloty can be purchased at the "yellow" exchangers, especially in the central part of the city. You will have to pay a tax of 0.5% for the purchase, but this expense cannot be avoided. By the way, at the border you may be asked to show funds, so you should have enough cash on hand.

If you do not trust exchangers, you can try to buy Polish zloty in banks. You can see a list of institutions working with this currency, as well as their exchange rate, for example,. Different currencies are usually available in the central offices, and so that the trip to them is not in vain, it is better to call the office in advance and check the availability of the zloty in it or order it. We did not try to check for ourselves whether the currency will appear in the bank branch if it is ordered. But experience suggests that it is better to run to the exchange office in the center or near the station.

If you did not have time to acquire zloty in your city and plan to cross the border in the Lviv region, there will be no problems with buying it there either. Many residents of the city and the region constantly go abroad to take a walk or sell Ukrainian cigarettes and vodka, and then sell what they earn in exchangers.

In the border zone itself, there are also a bunch of stalls with "hot goods", which include the currency. The course in them will be slightly worse than in Kyiv. Good money is offered for the Ukrainian hryvnia at the border point from Poland - Medyka. This is the last place where Ukrainian currency can be exchanged not at a predatory rate. Also, knowledgeable people suggest that in some exchangers, if you decide to part with foreign currency brought from abroad, they may accept them at an unpleasant rate.

1.2 What is the best currency to take a card with you?

In Ukraine, you can open cards in hryvnias, euros and dollars (and in some places even in rubles). You can pay with any of these cards in Poland and with any you can withdraw money, but there are nuances that relate to conversion. So, when paying with a hryvnia card, the bank will make a double conversion: first, the currency of the card into the currency of the payment system (for VISA it is dollars, for Mastercard - euros), then this currency into zloty at the exchange rate of the payment system. At the first stage, some banks charge a fee. So, for example, for Alfa Bank cards it is 1%, for VTB Bank - 1.5%, Privatbank does not charge a commission, but it has the most disadvantageous exchange rate. The exchange rate for cards may differ from the exchange rate at the bank branch, and funds will be debited from the account in a few days. Therefore, if you have a hryvnia or ruble card and the cost of these currencies decreases, then in the end all expenses may cost more than you expected.

It is not possible to pay by card in Poland everywhere, often there is no terminal in seemingly very decent establishments. Look for VISA or Mastercard stickers at the exit

If you have cards from several banks and the financial issue during the trip is acute, then you should ask all financial institutions for their exchange rate and percentage for cashing out. It may also differ. In some countries, some international banks have special preferential rates for partner networks. It is also important not to forget to notify the bank about your trip to Poland if you have regular card, since this country belongs to high-risk countries (as I was told in the call center of VTB Bank, which means that without warning the bank can block your card). But this does not happen in all cases. Also pay attention to information from payment systems, both VISA and Mastercard provide discounts in some hotels, establishments, entertainment places.

Opening an account in euros or dollars is not difficult if you are already a client of a bank. Difficulties may arise if you want to buy currency from a bank in order to replenish a currency card - at the time of writing, there were a number of restrictions on such operations.

2. fallback

Currency (euro or dollars, but better than euro) plus a bank card in foreign currency.

Everything is simple here - if you saved up money for a trip in euros or dollars, then there is no point in changing them back and forth in your country. Better immediately in Poland.

An important nuance - never change money in tourist places - it's like changing them from scammers on the street. The course will most likely be bad (the official one can be viewed). With a high degree of probability, you will be skinned three times as a commission. So if a beautiful course hangs on the scoreboard, specify how much you will receive in your hands. In Poland and the Czech Republic, tourists are often charged a commission for the exchange in "fish" places. And watch your pockets!

If you immediately go to Poland with foreign currency, then it is worth putting part of it on a bank card in the currency that corresponds to the card. In this case, when paying for goods and services, the conversion will take place at the rate of the payment system (the rate for VISA and Mastercard). By the way, we have a large and useful one on how to choose a card for foreign trips. It is not possible to pay by card in Poland everywhere, but there should be no problems with buying tickets or paying for non-budget housing. If you plan to pay with a card in an institution, look for VISA or Mastercard stickers on the door, even if the institution is decent, it is not a fact that it is equipped with a terminal. For example, the chic dining room Sasiedzi from the Michelin guide in Kazimierz with far from “canteen” prices, where we dreamed of having a bite to eat when we ran out of energy and cash, is deprived of such.

It is better to get a chipped card, cards without a chip will not be able to be served everywhere (VISA claims on its official website that this is a misunderstanding and must be dealt with. But in our opinion, it is better to simply exclude all possible troubles. And one more nuance - the Poles are sincerely surprised if you hand them a card that does not have PayPass or PayWave in. In our country, contactless cards are not very popular yet, apparently, in Poland they have already become the norm.

3. Bad idea: to go with hryvnias or rubles

In Poland, neither Ukrainian nor Russian money is needed by anyone, since both currencies are Last year dropped sharply in price. In the event of force majeure, you can sell them for mere pennies, and even then not everywhere. There will be no problems in order to pay with a hryvnia or ruble card in Poland. But there is a caveat - both currencies behave unpredictably, during your trip they can depreciate greatly and in fact you may end up with much less money than you planned. Plus, you need to remember about the conversion fee.

And this is not surprising, because everyone is wondering why, being part of the European Union, this country retained the right to use its own Polish zloty in everyday life, and not the generally accepted euro.

History of the development of the Polish currency

According to official historical sources, the beginning of the formation of the state currency in Poland began more than three centuries ago, during the time of the Commonwealth. Jan II Casimir ordered the minting of the first coin, which was later used by the common people for payment. However, the term "złoty" as the monetary unit of Poland appeared only in the 15th century. It is assumed that this name was coined on the basis of the material used (one coin contained about 0.29 grams of pure gold). Closer to the 18th century, the first banknotes began to appear, although coins were still the most popular and in demand.

The formation of the currency before the XX century

The Polish currency received its official national status precisely in the 20th century, as it was able to finally strengthen its position. In this period, the ratio of pennies was 1:100, and not 1:30, as it had been for a long time before. After the end of World War I, Poland became independent again, so the government made a firm decision to restore a stable economy of the state and eliminate high monetary inflation.

War period and its influence

After the cessation of hostilities during World War I, strict rules were introduced to limit foreign imports and strengthen our own. This greatly improved the national currency and helped to gain stability. However, in 1939 II began World War which again shook the economy. After its completion, a socialist system was established, which, as it approached the 1980s, experienced a deep crisis. Inflation increased and a commodity deficit appeared, which greatly affected the state currency. However, the government was able to eliminate the problem through the timely adoption of economic reforms that returned the national currency to its original place.

Modern currency and its description

Today, pennies continue to be actively used in Poland. In circulation, banknotes are used in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. In 2017, the National Bank issued a banknote of 500 zlotys. Coins in denominations of 1, 2, 10, 20, 50 groszy, as well as 1, 2, 5 zlotys are also used in circulation.

Zloty to dollar and ruble exchange rate

The ratio of the euro and the dollar to the Polish currency has remained fairly stable over the past few years. The same dynamics can be noted in relation to the Russian ruble. The current exchange rate as of September 25, 2018 is: 1 PLN = 0.27 US dollars and 18.70 rubles.

Currency exchange in Poland

On the territory of Poland is a large number of exchange offices that are ready to offer their services. However, it is worth noting that, despite their number, it is quite problematic to make an exchange on weekends. This is due to the fact that Saturday in banks is short day and Sunday is a holiday. It is also worth preparing for the fact that the local kantor wymiany walut does not provide favorable conditions for conversion, and you will have to lose some extra money. However, here you can easily exchange any European currency: Ukrainian hryvnia, Russian ruble, dollar and euro, and much more.

What money to take to Poland

By and large, a potential visitor to Poland should not worry about the national currency and the peculiarities of obtaining it on the territory of the state. You can safely take any currency with you and use the currency exchange service. It is important to understand that you will have to make an exchange in any case, since only złoty is accepted here as payment for goods and services. Also here, most shops and popular establishments (including hotels) accept bank cards of any system and country of issue, which greatly facilitates the current situation of a modern person.

The citizens of this country decided not to give up their national currency, thus showing its viability.

The formation of the złoty

The first mention of the zloty dates back to the middle of the 15th century. At that time, another currency was used in the state - the hryvnia, equal to 48 grosz. But over time, the zloty began to come into use. It was the equivalent of a Venetian ducat worth 30 groszy. In fact, the zloty was then considered popular name golden ducat. In the course of economic reforms since the 16th century, the monetary unit of Poland received an official name. She began to be called zloty.

Initially, this banknote was equal to 12 grosz, but since the state began to save on silver contained in coins, the rate increased to 30. Over time, its value changed, it became equal to 50 grosz. The history of the zloty is directly related to the formation of the state. Therefore, the Polish currency has undergone many trials. The creation and collapse of aggressive wars on the part of other states - all this excited the zloty, either depreciating or raising its value. And the introduction of other currencies in this territory did not stop the minting and circulation of the zloty. With the advent of Russian hegemony, and with it the Russian ruble, circulation and minting of the national currency continued. Only in this case, the coin had an image of the profile of Alexander I or

In 1918, the Poles decided to get rid of all the currencies that flooded their market, inherited from countries during the First World War. A local brand is introduced into use, but it did not last long. Six years later, the monetary unit of Poland is again the złoty. This time it was equal to 100 pennies.

And even during the years of the occupation of Poland by fascist Germany, occupying zlotys were in circulation on the territory of the country, which actually retained the previous design. But the coins began to be minted from an alloy of zinc and iron.

New history of the zloty

Literally after the liberation of Poland from the fascist occupation, new banknotes were put into circulation. Later they were re-issued, and only in 1950 the złoty was denominated at a ratio of 100:1. New coins are also introduced during this period.

From 1974 to 1991, due to the growing economic crisis, the zloty depreciated, which led to the appearance of banknotes with a face value of 5000, and later 1 million and 2 million zlotys. Coins were also hit, changing the minting material from brass to cheaper aluminum.

Modern Poland was introduced in 1995. At the same time, the zloty was denominated 10,000 times.

The circulation of old banknotes and coins continued until the end of 1996, and then they were exchanged in banks for new ones until 2011.

Modern zloty quotes

Since the złoty is not a world reserve currency, its circulation is limited to Poland only. Despite the fact that the state is a member of the European Union, all financial transactions within the country are carried out in the national currency - the zloty. It, as before, is equal to 100 pennies, which are minted in denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 units. Coins of 1, 2 and 5 złoty were also issued.

In general, today the Polish currency is quite stable on the world market. Its exchange rate against the US dollar is slightly less than 4 zlotys per dollar, and it costs already 4 with a little.

Should I take dollars to Poland?

Despite the fact that the zloty is the only monetary unit in Poland, it is advisable to take euros or US dollars with you when traveling to the country. Their exchange can be easily made without commission at specialized points, which, as a rule, are located in crowded places and have a convenient work schedule.

National currency of Poland- Polish zloty PLN. One Polish zloty is divided into 100 groszy. You can pay in Poland only national currency.

Each banknote has a specific symbol to help recognize its meaning for visually impaired people. The banknotes depict the former ruling kings of Poland.

The appearance of the currency of Poland

Money in Poland

Cash money in Poland exist in paper notes and coins. Plastic cards (preferably debit cards) are in use: Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro. Credit cards are accepted in many hotels and restaurants, car rental companies, etc. Traveler's checks are also accepted almost everywhere.

Answering the question, " what money to take to Poland?”, we can say that the currencies € and $ are most easily accepted for exchange. In some supermarkets (TESCO) at special cash desks, which are marked with the EURO icon, you can pay in this currency.

How much money to take to Poland?

Answering the question, " how much money to take to Poland?”, we can say that prices in Poland remain quite low for travelers. Of course, if you are going to rent a car and rent a room in a luxury hotel, it will cost the same as in Western Europe.

Approximate prices in Poland:

• A liter of gasoline - 1.35 €
• Car rental per day (without driver) - 40 €
• Travel by public transport - 1 €
• Lunch in a cafe per person - 6 €
• Coca-Cola 1 l - 1 €
• Vodka 0.5 l - 5 €
• Cigarettes - 3 €

money exchange

You can exchange currency at specialized exchange offices (in Polish they are called Kantor or Kantor wymiany walut) that work 7 days a week in big cities. Exchange offices in banks are rare, and besides, the rate in them is less favorable.

remember, that Kantors may refuse to exchange if there are any inscriptions or seals on the banknotes (for example, handwritten numbers).

You can also exchange money at the post office, which are open until 18:00 on weekdays.

Money transfer to Poland

Transferring money to Poland can be done via bank transfer and express money transfers such as Western Union (www.westernunion.com).

Banks of Poland

Majority banks in Poland open from 08:30 to 13:00, central offices are open until 17:00, as well as on Saturday, but only until 14:00.

Central Bank of Poland is the National Bank of Poland. Also in the country there are smaller national and international banks: Citibank, Bank Przemyslowo-Handlowy, Bank Slaski, ING Barings, Raiffeisen Bank, Millenium Bank, Nordea Bank, HSBC Bank.

The official Polish currency (monetary unit) is called złoty. It is equivalent to 100 grosz. Banknotes with denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 zlotys are in circulation in the country. Coins with denominations of 1.2 and 5 złoty are widespread. There are also coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 groszy. Residents of the country, especially students, due to the low cost of goods, often use coins for daily purchases.

What is złoty?

The Polish currency since 1995 bears the official name "Polish New Zloty". It is customary to use the abbreviation PLN at and at exchange offices. It was in 1995 that the last financial reform in the country was carried out. Both bills and coins of a new type came into use. In accordance with the new legislation, it was decided to carry out exchange transactions at the following rate: 10 thousand old zlotys are equal to 1 new zloty.

After 20 years, many residents of the state still use prices in the old format in conversations. So, 10 million zlotys is only 1 thousand. The exchange of American dollars and euros for zlotys is carried out not only in banks and exchange offices, but also in hotels, bus stations, airports and

Poland has been a member of the European Union for almost 20 years, but this fact does not affect the popularity of the national currency. The country is in no hurry to switch to the euro. The Polish currency belongs to the category of easily convertible monetary units, and it can be freely exchanged for another in almost all countries of the world. Tourists are advised to change euros or dollars not in banks, following European practice, but in special exchange offices. The exchange rate of the Polish currency is more attractive there. You can withdraw funds from Visa or Maestro cards at almost any ATM, but sometimes it is much more profitable to pay with cards. When paying for a product or service, the conversion will be made at the exchange rate of the country of the tourist.

The name of the Polish currency originated in the XIV-XV centuries. Then all gold foreign ducats were called zlotys. The first zloty was equal to 60 grosz and was called "polkopa".

Peculiarities

The Polish currency was created with the visually impaired in mind. To this end, each banknote has raised symbols that change depending on the denomination. For 20 zlotys there is a circle, for 50 - a rhombus, for 100 - a "+" sign, for 200 - a triangle. The government of the country has repeatedly changed the format of money. If in the XIV-XV centuries the dinars, which at that time replaced the national currency, looked like thick coins, then after a few centuries, the coins became so thin that they even had the property of breaking. In 1924, a new monetary system was approved. For the first time, the zloty was divided into 100 groszy. The cost of the country's monetary unit was estimated at 0.1687 grams of gold.

Polish currency exchange rate today

Today, the zloty is almost the most stable internal Polish zloty, despite the onslaught of the dollar in 2008, successfully survived the crisis.

• 1 euro - 4,020 PLN.
• 1 dollar - 3,775 PLN.
• 1 PLN - 13.1603 rubles.

Currency pairs in which the zloty is present are not very common among small speculators and large players. Low volatility and relative obscurity of the monetary unit are the factors that determined the place of the Polish currency in the state plans to switch to the euro in 2012, but the situation in the world has changed all priorities. Only after the state fulfilled the requirements of the ECB, the zloty became a full member of the EU financial system. Several factors affect the exchange rate at the same time: general state affairs in the EU and the sovereign rating of Poland.