Warsaw Expats Directory
The Definitive Guide to Warsaw for Expats
NEW! - Welcome to our Warsaw Expat Directory, your guide to living and working in Warsaw, Poland. This guide has been compiled by real expats who have lived in Warsaw for many years who want to share their knowledge of the city with you. Whether you are a new arrival or have lived here for a while, we hope that this directory will be of assistance to you. To get the most out of our Warsaw Expat Directory, use our simple registration form and we will send you all the latest Expat news to your email address on a regular basis. REGISTER NOW.
Related Section: Shopping in Warsaw (from Antiques to Wine Merchants, you'll find it all here)
Ted says, "If you are an expat living or working in Warsaw and you would like to share your experiences (good or bad) with other expats, please contact us and let us know all about it! Would you like to recommend someone for one of the categories below or perhaps warn other expats about a bad service? Let us know."
Latest News! - All football fans - Check out The Great Football Exhibition from 1 Mar - 30 Nov - Palace of Science & Culture, Warsaw.
Expat Directory
Accountants
If you are a resident, planning to become a resident, operate a business or planning to set up a business in Warsaw, then you require a good accountant. There's a lot of red tape to cut through in Poland just to do the simplest of jobs and having a knowledgeable professional to hold your hand is going to make your life much easier. In Poland, a lot of accountants also specialise in company registration and set-up in addition to providing a host of advisory services. There are a lot of accountancy firms in Warsaw to choose from and in this section we provide advise about the accountants who have the most experience of working with expats.
Banks
There is nothing more annoying than finding out that your bank just doesn't deliver the levels of service that you or your business require. With such a large choice of banks and bank accounts, it can be a real chore trying to find the bank that is most suited to your personal or business requirements. Within this section of our Expat Directory, we list the banks which are best suited to the needs of expats and those recommended by the hundreds of expats who already live and work in Warsaw.
Bars
It happens to all of us within a few months of arriving in Warsaw! We start to miss our local bar or pub back home. Whether it is a good pint of Guinness, an English breakfast, watching Premiership football or just the company of people from our homeland, the local expat bar provides us with a quick fix for those homesickness blues! There are a few expat haunts in Warsaw and within this section, we tell you where they are and the best times to go there.
Business Services
If you are thinking about setting up a business in Warsaw or if you have an established business here already, you will probably require help & assistance with some aspects of running your business. The majority of businesses will need translation services, legal services, import & export services, logistics & transportation advice, Marketing & PR not to mention a new website optimised specifically for your target marketplace. At Love Poland, we believe that getting the help & assistance you require right, first-time is imperative and we provide an advisory service for all aspects of Business Services.
Car Sales
Even though public transport in Warsaw is efficient and cheap, getting to places outside of Warsaw can be chore unless you have your own wheels. Buying a car in Poland is not the easy task it is back home, particularly when it comes to buying a used vehicle. The majority of car dealers in Warsaw cannot be trusted and this is why many Poles travel to Germany to buy a car. In this section we list the few car dealers in and around Warsaw who over the years have built a reputation for honesty and good service.
Car Servicing
Roads in Warsaw are usually in good condition; however as soon as you leave the city its a totally different story. Many of the highways in Poland were constructed during the Communist era and have been patched up again & again resulting in road surfaces only suitable for a lunar landing vehicle! Add to that the extreme weather conditions during the winter months and you have a recipe for a broken car. Keeping your vehicle in good condition and having it regularly serviced is important here and you're going to need to find someone you can trust to service your car and do a good job. In this section, we list the garages which are recommended by other expats living in Warsaw.
Catering Services
Do you have a function coming up soon, a wedding, birthday party, name day party, office party? Unlike the UK where you can get away with some sandwiches, a few sausage rolls and some volovants, any Polish guests invited to your party will expect something a little more refined (and Polish) so getting the professionals in to take care of the catering is always going to be a good idea. There are many firms and individuals offering catering services in Warsaw and in this section we list the ones frequently used by other expats.
Child Minding, Nannies & Babysitting
If you have a family and live & work in Warsaw, there's always going to be a time when you require a babysitter or child minder. For those who have full-time jobs, a full-time or part-time nanny may be needed. There are plenty of qulaified and experienced child minders and nannies in Warsaw and in this section we list the people and organisations recommended by expats.
Cleaners
In this section of our Warsaw Expat Directory we list quality cleaners who have been recommended by other expats. Finding a trustworthy, quality cleaner for your home or work is always easier when someone has been referred to you and we only list cleaners in this section who have a track record of doing a great job at reasonable prices.
Cost of Living
Are you a newly arrived expat or planning to work and live in Warsaw? Then you're probably wondering how much things cost here? In this section we look at the cost of living in Warsaw, from the average weekly shop to the price of electrical goods or going out for a meal. Just how much money do you need to live comfortably for a month in Warsaw, how much is apartment rental each month, what does a pint of beer or a glass of wine cost? What about medical insurance, car insurance, petrol? These questions & many more are answered within this section of our Warsaw Expat Directory.
Dentists
Its a win-win situation for expats in Warsaw when it comes to dental treatment. Not only are prices much cheaper than they are back in the UK, the city is also home to some of the best dentists in the country! Dental treatment, dental surgery & cosmetic dentistry in Warsaw is usually of the highest standard; however we have heard some accounts of bad experiences so to help you avoid them, we have listed dentists in this section; who are used regularly by other Warsaw expats.
Doctors
The majority of expats in Warsaw see private doctors when the need arises, this way they avoid having to wait to see a doctor and can be assured that they will receive the best treatment. Unfortunately, language can be a problem with some of the older doctors who might not speak English very well, so in this section we have listed the doctors frequently used by other Warsaw expats.
Dog Walkers
In this section we list dog walkers recommended by other Warsaw expats so now you don't need to worry about the pooch being left at home and not getting enough exercise!
Embassies & Consulates
In this section of our Warsaw Expat Directory, we provide the complete list of Embassies and Consulates in Warsaw.
Emergency Numbers
We hope that you will never need them! Here you will find all of the numbers you may need to ring in an emergency so make sure you copy them across to your mobile phone.
English Breakfast
There's no getting away from it! From time to time, only a full English Breakfast will do. Finding good sausages and bacon in Warsaw is a difficult task indeed; but don't worry because we've done the hard work for you! In this section of the Warsaw Expat Directory we list all of the places in the city where you can get a decent breakfast in addition to pointing you in the right direction when it comes to finding the ingredients yourself.
Estate Agents
If you're thinking about moving to work and live in Warsaw, one of the first things you will need to sort out is somewhere to live. Not such an easy task if you are not in the country yet and made even more difficult because of the language barrier. What you need is a list of recommended, English speaking estate agents in the city who will hold your hand throughout the whole process of renting or buying a property. Well, it just so happens that we have one, right here within this section of our Expat Directory. Happy hunting!
Food from Home
Polish cuisine is great and such a variety of produce available in the supermarkets! But where do you find Branston Pickle, HP sauce, Marmite, Danish Bacon, Steak & Kidney Pie and your other favourites? Well there's a few places in Warsaw where you can find these goodies and there's a few places online too. In this section, we try and help you to find all of the little things that you miss from home.
Hairdressers
There seems to be a hairdressing salon on every street in Warsaw so the ladies are really spoilt for choice. In this section of our Expat Directory, we list the hairdressers who are recommended by the Expat WAGS - so worth paying attention to this list if you are new to Warsaw.
Health Care
Poland is not the UK and the health care system is not of the same standard, therefore many expats and their families pay for private medical packages. In this section, we list the various options available and showcase the ones recommended by expats who have lived here for a while and have experience of using them.
Hospitals
There are quite a few hospitals in Warsaw and in this section of our Expat Directory, we will show you where they are in case you ever need to visit one. We also point out the hospitals favoured by the many expats who live in Warsaw.
Insurance
Car Insurance, Home & Contents Insurance, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance - not very exciting but very necessary! In this section we list the Insurance Brokers regularly used by Warsaw expats.
Internet Services
Internet services in Poland is pretty good but don't expect fibre optic speeds just yet! From mobile Internet via a dongle to Internet at home or in the office, there are quite a few providers to choose from. One things for sure, you're going to need it or how else can you follow your favourite Warsaw Expat Directory website? In this section, we list the various Internet Services providers and let you know; which ones are most popular with other Warsaw expats.
Expat Jobs
Unless you are setting up your own business, have your own business already or speak very good Polish, finding a job in Warsaw is not going to be easy. Any jobs that are available are often not published and the best way of hearing about any jobs that may be going is via networking and mixing with other expats. In this section of our Expat Directory, we list any available jobs that we know about, so keep coming back to check what vacancies are available.
Expat Mortgages
Its a good time to buy property in Warsaw; however with prices the way they are, you're probably going to need some assistance with your purchase. In this section, we list the many mortgage advisors and lenders who operate in Warsaw and point out; which ones are used by other expats.
Odd Job Men
We all need an odd job man from time to time, that guy who seems to be able to fix anything and do those outstanding jobs that you've been promising to do for ages but have never got around to! To help you find a good one, in this section we list contact details for the odd job men regularly used by other expats in Warsaw.
Pet Care
They do like their pets in Poland so its not too difficult to find a vet or pet shop in Warsaw. All of the big supermarkets have pet sections and seem to be well stocked with everything that you should need. In this section we list the vets, dog groomers and petcare shops that are used by expats on a regular basis.
Pet Shops
In this section, we list the pet shops used by expats in Warsaw and provide some tips on finding the pet that you are looking for.
Phone Operators
When you first arrive in Warsaw, the chances are that you will buy a pay-as-you-go mobile until such time as you are established and you can have a contract with a phone operator. There's a lot of choice in Poland when it comes to choosing a phone operator including the big guns such as Orange & T-Mobile and there is a lot of competition in relation to tariffs & charges so a good deal can be found. In this section we list the various phone operators available and also provide some advice about the best ways for your family and friends to contact you in Poland from abroad.
Places of Worship
In this section of our expat directory, we list some of the most popular places of worship in Warsaw.
Polish Language Lessons
Many Poles speak really good English and it is easy to get lazy about learning the Polish language especially when you consider how difficult it is to learn; however if you're going to do any kind of business in Poland, being able to communicate (even at a basic level) in Polish is going to help you gain the trust of potential clients and customers. In this section we list the Polish language lessons; which other expats in Warsaw have taken and also provide you with some basic Polish phrases to get you started.
Relocating to Poland
In this section we provide advice about relocating to Poland. Many of the expats who have contributed to this article wished that they had this advice when they first arrived so if you're thinking about moving here or you are on your way or newly arrived, you should find this section really informative. We provide advice about finding somewhere to live, finding work, healthcare, education, studying, driving in Poland, taxation, residency and a host of other things to make your move go as smoothly as possible.
Schools & Education
Finding the right school for the children is going to be one of the most important decisions to make when you arrive in Warsaw with your family. Many of the expats who have contributed to this section have children in school and we have listed the schools; which they recommend.
Solicitors & Lawyers
Bureaucracy in Poland is one of the most annoying aspects of living here and at some stage during your time here, you will probably require the services of a good solicitor or lawyer. In this section, we list the legal services companies recommended by other expats in Warsaw.
Sports & Fitness
Keeping yourself fighting fit in Warsaw is not a problem as there are plenty of different sports clubs & gyms for you to join in addition to miles upon miles of cycle paths and parks. There's even a local expat rugby team (men & ladies) in addition to a host of other sports such as ice hockey, football and GAA. In this section we list the various sports & fitness activities enjoyed by other expats in Warsaw.
Studying
Studying in Poland can be an incredible experience for foreigners. Foreign students can finance a B.A. education for as low as 24,000 zł and a M.A. education for as low as 20,000 zł. There are many international schools and great universities in Poland and of them the Jagiellonian University in particular is renowned as member of the Coimbra Group and is also a core member of the Europaeum. The University of Warsaw is the top ranked public university in Poland. National Film School in Łódź is the most notable academy. In this section you will find various articles about studying in Poland.
Taxi Companies
There's good ones, bad ones, expensive ones & cheap ones! There's also the ones used regularly by Warsaw expats and for a good reason too! Save yourself any grief and put these numbers into your mobile phone.
Tax Advisors
One thing is for sure, if you're doing business in Poland or you're living here, you will need to make sure that your tax affairs are in order. Taxation rules can be quite complicated especially when you consider transfer pricing and international tax. Best not to fall foul of the taxman and use this section to find the best tax specialists around..
TV & Satelite Services
Unless you speak perfect Polish, you'll probably want to get cable or salelite services up and running in your home so you can at least watch some English channels. In this section, we provide a list of the best TV & Satelite services available in Poland and also provide you with some tips about how you can watch all your favourite channels via your PC or laptop. There's no need to miss your favourite football team either because we will show you where you can watch Premiership football and how to watch it at home.
Universities
In this section of our Expat Directory, you will find a comprehensive list of Warsaw's Universities.
Weddings in Poland
Poland is a good location for a wedding and they really know how to lay on a wedding reception. With so many stunning locations to choose from, you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a suitable venue. The numbers of expats getting married in Poland increases year by year and in this section we list some of the wedding venues and wedding related businesses; which have been recommended by other expats living in Poland.
Western Unions
Always a handy way to send and receive money, Western Unions are very popular in Warsaw and in this section, we show you where they are.