12 things not to do when visiting Poland:
- Don't be too loud, unless you're dying to make everyone know you're a tourist.
- Don't ask people how much they make. Don't brag about how much you make. If asked about an expensive thing you own, choose between two strategies: say it's worse than it seems, or brag about how little you paid for it - it was such an amazing bargain!
- Don't wear a swastika or any other Nazi symbols.
- Don't drink in public places - it's illegal and you may end up paying a fine.
- Don't burp, slurp or talk with your mouth full.
- When visiting someone at home, don't keep your shoes on, don't refuse to eat when offered food, and don't ask for a tour around the house.
- Don't give overly expensive gifts unless it's a wedding gift. Polish people will be embarrassed and they won't accept them.
- Don't comment on anyone's accent.
- Don't assume Polish people are unfriendly if they don't smile. They typically only smile when they really have a reason to.
- Don't talk bad about John Paul II. Don't praise Putin.
- Don't feed the stereotype about Polish people stealing cars. Cars get stolen everywhere, including your country.
- So you've learnt the word kurwa… Don't use it. Just don't.
Tips about some specific places you might want to visit:
Auschwitz
Don't try to climb the gate, write on the gate, take happy selfies with the gate, play Pokemon Go or do any other inappropriate stuff. Don't smoke, don't chew gum. Be quiet and respectful.
Don't use the expression Polish concentration camps. It sounds very offensive to us. Polish people never created a concentration camp, many were inmates.
By the sea
Don't ignore the black flag even if the water seems calm - it sometimes means toxic algae!
Stag parties in Kraków
Please, please don't get naked.