Poland
Currency in Poland: what to use and how to exchange
Poland uses the Polish złoty (PLN, zł), not the euro, even though Poland is in the EU. Pay by card almost everywhere; keep 100–200 zł in cash for small stalls, markets and rural buses. Exchange at a bank or a kantor with a posted buy rate, never at a street kiosk with no rate board.
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GuidePoland
Key facts
- Currency
- Polish złoty (PLN, zł); 1 zł = 100 groszy
- Euro accepted?check
- No, not as normal payment; some tourist shops may take it at a poor rate
- Typical ratecheck
- About 4.2–4.3 zł to the euro in 2026
- Card use
- Contactless cards and phones work in most shops, cafés, hotels and ticket machines
- Cash still useful
- Markets, small kiosks, rural buses, some taxis, tips
- Best exchange
- Bank or kantor (currency exchange office) with a visible rate board
- Avoid
- Street exchangers, '0% commission' booths with no posted rate, and dynamic currency conversion at card terminals
Details
Poland joined the EU in 2004 but kept its own currency. The złoty is the only legal tender for everyday payment, so a euro note will usually be refused or changed at a rate you would not choose. Prices are written with zł after the number, or with the abbreviation PLN on card terminals and receipts.
Cards are the default. Contactless Visa and Mastercard work on trams, in museums, at chain supermarkets and in most restaurants, and you can tap a phone or watch. A few places remain cash-only: small market stalls, some milk bars, rural bus drivers and the occasional taxi. Carry a modest cash float rather than a large one.
When a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in złoty. That 'dynamic currency conversion' adds a markup and the rate is set by the merchant, not your bank. The same rule applies at ATMs that offer to convert for you.
If you need cash, use a bank ATM or a kantor. Kantors are everywhere in city centres and at some train stations, and the good ones post a buy and sell rate for EUR, USD and GBP. Compare two or three before changing a large amount. Banks work too, but queues are longer and rates are usually a little worse than a competitive kantor.
Coins run from 1 gr to 5 zł, notes from 10 zł upward. Older notes have been withdrawn over the years, so if you are handed a note that looks unusual, ask; shops will not accept withdrawn issues.
| Situation | Best move |
|---|---|
| Buying a coffee, train ticket, museum entry | Tap a card or phone in złoty |
| Market stall, small kiosk, rural bus | Pay cash in złoty |
| Need a large amount of cash | Bank ATM or kantor with a posted rate |
| Terminal asks for your home currency | Choose złoty (PLN) |
| Handed an old-looking note | Ask before accepting; withdrawn notes are refused |
Rates and card acceptance change; treat the figures as 2026 estimates (check).
Tips
Change money on a weekday in a city centre where several kantors compete, and check the rate against a currency app before you hand over notes.
Keep small notes and coins for tips, toilets and market purchases; a 100 zł note can be hard to break at a stall.
Tell your bank you are travelling if it requires it, and carry a second card from a different network in case one is blocked.
Prices in tourist areas are sometimes quoted in euro; ask for the złoty price, which is almost always better.
- Decline conversion at ATMs and card terminals; pay in PLN.
- Use bank ATMs, not standalone machines in bars or clubs.
- Keep the receipt from a kantor until you have counted the money.
- Budget in złoty, not euro, when you plan daily spending.
FAQ
Sources
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Poland?
The Polish złoty, written PLN or zł. One złoty is 100 groszy. Poland is in the EU but has not adopted the euro, so euro notes are not normal payment.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Poland?
A bank or a kantor (currency exchange office) with a posted buy and sell rate. Compare two or three in a city centre. Avoid street exchangers and booths with no visible rate board.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Poland?
Use a card for most spending; contactless works almost everywhere. Carry 100–200 zł in cash for markets, small kiosks, rural buses and tips. Pay in złoty if a terminal offers your home currency.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialNarodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland)
- officialEuropean Central Bank – euro area
- secondaryWikivoyage – Poland