Poland Travel Safety in 2025 and 2026

If you type “safety in Poland” into Google, you will receive quite accurate information from artificial intelligence about safety in Poland for tourists. For many years, back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Poland was considered a rather dangerous country in terms of theft and the possibility of being beaten up and robbed on the street. And that's true, because back in the 1990s, you had to be careful in the evenings, because in some parts of the city (regardless of where you lived) it could get really unpleasant and dangerous at night. However, the situation changed when Poland joined the European Union and experienced tremendous economic growth. Developers began building new housing estates on a massive scale, and old blocks (in the most dangerous districts) got replaced by new, model estates for families. For over a decade, Poland has been a really safe country in terms of petty theft and assault. Thanks to rapid economic growth, life in Poland has become much easier, and as a result, people have become wealthier and average salaries have risen. As a result, Poland has become a safe place not only for its residents, but also for tourists. As a nation that has been extremely welcoming for many years, we have become a very attractive destination for tourists from all over the world.

The war in Ukraine, also known as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, began on February 24, 2022. It was an escalation of a conflict that had been ongoing since 2014, including the annexation of Crimea and military operations in Donbas. The war began with the armed invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. Russian armed forces launched missile strikes on Ukrainian command posts, weapons depots, and airports.

The conflict has deep roots in history, dating back to the Soviet Union and subsequent relations between Russia and Ukraine. The war has caused a huge humanitarian crisis, resulting in mass displacement and tragic consequences for the civilian population. Shortly after the war began, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians moved to Poland or left Poland for other European countries and beyond, seeking refuge.

Poland quickly reinforced its border with Belarus to ensure the safety of the country. The fence on the Polish-Belarusian border is a solid barrier designed to secure the border. The construction of the barrier, consisting of a high fence, was completed in 2022 along a length of approximately 186 kilometers. In addition, an electronic barrier operates along the border, monitoring the area and detecting attempts to cross the border illegally. The fence is patrolled by the military 24 hours a day. Even when, over time, people began to break through the wall, they were quickly deported. There were no disturbing signals or events that could have caused mass panic.

Is Poland a safe country to travel to three years after the outbreak of war? Is it safe to travel near the border with Belarus and Ukraine? We are often asked these questions. The cities near the Ukrainian border or even 50 or 100 km away from it are safe. If you are planning a trip to cities such as Lublin or Rzeszów in south-eastern Poland, you have nothing to fear. Even when traveling to the Białowieża Forest, which is located right on the border with Belarus (part of the forest is in Belarus), you also have nothing to be afraid of. All trails, routes, and tourist facilities in the Białowieża National Park remain fully accessible to visitors. A 200-meter-wide strip from the border throughout the Białowieża Forest is the only area where you are not allowed to be. In fact, in our opinion, local people who have suffered huge financial losses due to the war because of the lack of tourists, should be supported even more often. And the best way to support them is by visiting them. The region in north-eastern Poland is one of the most beautiful in Poland!