What to wear in Poland
 

I am leaving for an 8 day tour of Poland this Friday. I am wondering if someone can tell me the appropriate attire. I know when I traveled thru Italy, no one wore shorts (even tho it was a million degrees). Is that the same in Poland? I will be taking an escorted tour with a group of 20 and visiting the historic sights including Auchwitz, salt mines, tours of the various cities. Also, there is a Chopin concert and a dinner with some local artist. Any ideas on what is appropriate to wear? I would hate to show up in shorts and flip flops and everyone else be in a dress! Thanks.

I guess this subject goes on and on becasue people want to be comfortable, but don't want to offend the host country. I have found that no matter where I go, as long as you are neat and clean it doesn't really matter. Except for churches and any other local customs.

In Poland our our bus trip, many of us wore jeans...neat and clean not all ripped..and a nice t shirt. It's all very casual.
I don't see anything wrong with wearing capris or even the newer longer length of Bermuda shorts on a really hot day.
NO flip flops, they look sloppy. But nice comfortable sandals if it's hot.

At Auchwitz, the same. Everyone saw dressed very casual, and neat and clean.

A friend of mine wore long flowey skirts with t shirts, but still very casual.

Don't worry, you'll be fine... have a good time. Wear proper shoes to the SAlt Mines.

I've been in Poland a couple times and it's not cutting edge fashion, but there is no reason ever, anywhere, to wear shorts and flip flops to a concert and dinner. Maybe if you are on some spring break beach trip or something.

Just use common sense, which means you wouldn't do such a thing. You can certainly wear shorts and sandals if it's hot to do typical tourist touring in the day time.

Don't automatically equate Poland with frumpy. Just take whatever you'd normally take. That said, when we were in Krakow several summers ago we went to an evening concert in a local church. We had just managed to round up tickets in late afternoon so hadn't bothered to go back to our hotel to change beause eating dinner was more important to us. I wish we'd changed into something at least a bit nicer than the casual skirt and sandals I had on. All the women were done up to the nines in nice go-to-church type dresses. The men were in suits. I am not saying you need to take anything that fancy, but some dressier casual clothes would be appropriate.

On the other hand, I truly wish I'd had my camera out one day when we were driving along a rural road. There was a middle-aged guy doing yard work in a speedo and a wool beret. With his gardening gloves and a weed whacker, he was quite a sight. This was the summer of the super European heat wave a few years ago. When we were hiking in the Zakopane area, women were wearing shorts and bras to hike in. And, no they weren't cute little fancy tops, they were regular bras.

I found it to be chilly in Poland when I visited in June - I had to go out and buy a sweater! I wouldn't think shorts would be necessary unless you are very hot natured.

Poland is a regular european country as far as dress-code goes.

Just remember to wear something that will cover your shoulders and knees when you go to visit churches or any other place where the wrong attire might (and probably will) be associated with lack of respect [for example at Auschwitz].

To the Chopin concert with dinner I would suggest something smart but not over the edge [definitely no flip flops!].

Oh and as for the weather/teperature issue: May and June are months when it can become boiling hot (around 30 C) one day and drop down to not-that-warm (say 15 C) and rainy the next.

Take something warm for the salt mines.