Looking to boost your knowledge of Europe and increase your chances of being crowned the next pub quiz champion? Why not start by learning these 13 fun facts about Poland!
1. Poland is really well-connected
Poland is a culturally rich country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Lithuania and the Russian province of Kaliningrad Oblast to the northeast, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south and Germany to the west; it also has a coastline along the Baltic Sea to the north.
Fancy exploring the wonderful sights and cultural intricacies that Poland has to offer? Head for the coordinates of 52.2167° N, 21.0333° E for your very own Polish adventure!
2. Poland is relatively flat, but amazingly lush!
The terrain here is mostly dominated by flat plain, with mountains along the southern border.
Poland boasts 23 national parks and more than 1,400 nature reserves!
3. Poland might be bigger than you imagine
The total land area of Poland is 120,728 square miles (312,685 square kilometres) – that’s slightly larger than Italy.
Poland’s population was 36.82 million in 2022, which is actually around 2/3 of the population of Italy.
4. Poland’s main city is pretty impressive
The capital of Poland is Warsaw; it covers an area of 200 square miles (517 square kilometres) and had a population of 1,722,000 in 2015.
5. Poland is well-known for its waterside walks!
There are almost 10,000 lakes in Poland!
6. Poland is pretty drizzly all year round
Poles enjoy a temperate climate with cold wet winters and mild wet summers!
7. The forestry in Poland is breath-taking
Poland is home to the Białowieża Forest, Europe’s last remaining ancient forest; the forest boasts Europe’s largest herd of bison, alongside wolves, lynx and many other wild animals!
8. Poland’s language is pretty diverse
The official language of Poland is Polish. Did you know that the Polish alphabet contains 32 letters, compared to 26 in the English alphabet?
9. Poland was once part of Russia
Poland gained independence from Russia in 1918 after 123 years of rule!
10. Poland’s restaurant scene is seriously old!
Piwnica Świdnicka in Wrocław is alleged to be the oldest restaurant in Europe, having opened in 1275 and still serving delicious food today!
11. Polish citizens live long, healthy lives
The average life span here is 77.6 years (2018). In Poland, people celebrate their ‘name day’ as well as their birthday!
12. Poland is known to grow all kinds of food
Poland grows fruits, vegetables and wheat; they also rear cattle, pigs and poultry.
However, its wider industry consists of iron and steel, machine building, chemicals, coal mining, shipbuilding, food processing, beverages, textiles and glass.
13. We rely on Poland for a lot!
Poland’s main exports include machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods and food.
FAQs about Poland
Is Poland safe to travel to?
On the whole, yes! Poland generally makes lists of the safest countries on the planet.
What is Poland famous for?
Poland is probably most famous for its sausages, its beer, and its ancient castles!
Is Poland a beautiful country?
Yes! Poland is absolutely gorgeous - it’s a great hiking resort thanks to its mountains and lakes.
Do you know any fun facts about Poland? Share them in the comments below!
Are you fascinated with the countries of Europe ? Check out these fun facts about Bulgaria!
