Page 222 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Krakow
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220   SUR VIV AL  GUIDE

       Communications and Media                international networks are
                                               Orange, T-Mobile and Plus.
       The main Polish telephone service is provided by   Large shopping malls such as
       Telekomunikacja Polska (TP), although there are numerous   Galeria Krakowska and Galeria
       mobile phone operators such as Plus, Orange and T-Mobile.   Kazimierz are good places
       There are few public telephones in Krakow. Almost all hotels   to look for shops and stalls
                                               selling SIM cards and prepaid
       and many cafés, bars and restaurants offer guests free Wi-Fi   vouchers for the popular local
       access, and international newspapers and magazines are   telephone companies. If you
       widely available. Offices of the efficient Polish postal service   are using a smart phone,
       ( ( (Poczta PolskaPoczta Polska)Poczta Polska)Poczta Polska  are located throughout the city.  beware that charges for data
                                               roaming can be high. If you
                                               want to make and receive calls
                                               while abroad but do not want
       International and Local   you receive as well as the calls   to be charged for use of the
       Telephone Calls
                           you make, and you will have   Internet or other data, you
       WIth so many Poles using   to pay a substantial premium   can switch this service off and
       mobile phones, there are hardly   for the international part of   continue using the telephone
       any public telephones left in   the call. Citizens of countries in   functions as normal.
       Krakow. Bearing in mind how   the European Union (EU) are   Check your insurance policy
       long it might take you to find   no longer expected to pay   in case your phone gets stolen
       the nearest public telephone, it   roaming charges. Citizens of   and keep your network
       is advisable to not rely on them   other countries should check   operator’s helpline number
       as an easily accessible means   with their operator before   handy in case of emergencies.
       of communication. Telephone   leaving home about the
       calls made from a hotel room   roaming charges that are likely   Internet Access
       are expensive, and in most   to be applied. If you have a
       cases it will be cheaper to use   smartphone, you can cut call   If you are travelling with a
       your own mobile phone.  costs further by downloading   laptop, tablet or a smart-
                           applications such as Skype,   phone, there are numerous
                           WhatsApp and Viber, which   opportunities to log on to the
       Mobile Phones
                           allow you to make free calls   Internet for little or no cost.
       Most mobile phones    and send free messages   Most hotels, cafés and bars
       will function perfectly   provided you are   provide their guests with
       well in Krakow and       in a place that has   Wi-Fi access. In most places
       elsewhere in Poland.     Internet coverage.   it is is free but some estab-
       However, mobile            If you are staying   lishments, especially upmarket
       phones supplied   Telekomunikacja Polska –   in the area for a   hotels catering for business
       by providers   the biggest Polish   reasonable amount   clients, do charge. Look out
       in the US may only   telecoms company  of time, a popular   for a Wi-Fi sticker in the window
       have limited global       option is to   and ask about the password.
       coverage. Contact your service   purchase a local SIM card that   There are also free public Wi-Fi
       provider for clarification.   uses the local mobile phone   zones across the main Market
        To use your mobile phone   networks and can be topped   Square, the main train station,
       abroad you will need to check   up with credit. You can only   plac Centralny in Nowa Huta,
       with your provider that the   do this if your handset is   and several other locations
       roaming facility has been   “unlocked”, as some operators   around town.
       enabled. Remember that you   lock their phones to specific
       will be charged for the calls   networks. Some of the local/
        Telephone Directories and Dialling Codes

        • National (Polish) directory enquiries dial 118 913.
        • International directory enquiries dial 118 912.
        • Local calls within Krakow first dial 12, the city’s area code.
         For calls within Poland always include the area code.
        • To call overseas dial 0 and wait for the tone, dial 0 again
         followed by the country code, followed by the area code
         (omit the initial 0), and then the subscriber’s number.
        • Country codes: UK 44; Eire 353; Canada and USA 1;
         Australia 61; South Africa 27; New Zealand 64.  One of the many cafés in Krakow
                                                offering Wi-Fi access
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