💡 Get a Polish SIM card immediately on arrival — you need a Polish number to open a bank account, register with NFZ, and receive government SMS codes. Takes 10 minutes at any mobile shop.
Key Polish phrases for buying a SIM or internet plan
🗣️ At a mobile phone shop
| Polish phrase | Pronunciation | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Chcę kupić kartę SIM | Htseh KOO-peetch KAR-teh SIM | "I want to buy a SIM card" |
| Na kartę, proszę | Nah KAR-teh PROH-sheh | "Prepaid please" — as opposed to a contract |
| Jaki jest abonament? | YAH-kee yest ah-boh-NAH-ment? | "What is the monthly plan?" — for postpaid contracts |
| Ile kosztuje internet? | EE-leh kosh-TOO-yeh EEN-ter-net? | "How much does the internet cost?" |
| Ile gigabajtów? | EE-leh gee-gah-BAI-toof? | "How many gigabytes?" — ask about data included |
| Chcę doładować kartę | Htseh doh-wah-DOH-vatch KAR-teh | "I want to top up my SIM card" |
| Mój telefon nie działa | Mooy TEH-leh-fon nyeh JA-wah | "My phone is not working" |
| Nie mam zasięgu | Nyeh mam ZAH-sheng-oo | "I have no signal" |
| Proszę o fakturę | PROH-sheh oh fak-TOO-reh | "Can I have a receipt/invoice?" — useful for work expense claims |
What you need to buy a SIM
- Paszport (PASH-port) — that's it for prepaid
- For postpaid abonament (ah-boh-NAH-ment) contracts: passport + PESEL + Polish bank account
💡 Buy your first SIM at the airport — lotnisko (lot-NEES-koh) — right after arrival. Prices are the same as in the city.
Best prepaid SIM cards
🥇
Play — most recommended by community
Best overall coverage. Prepaid "Play na Kartę": 35 PLN/month, unlimited calls + SMS + 20GB. Top up at any Żabka (ZHAB-kah) or Biedronka (bye-DRON-kah). play.pl →
🥈
Orange Flex — best app experience
Fully app-managed. From 25 PLN (5GB) to 55 PLN (unlimited). No shop visits after initial purchase. orange.pl →
🥉
T-Mobile — good rural coverage
30 PLN/month for 15GB + unlimited calls. Best if you travel outside major cities. t-mobile.pl →
Home internet — internet domowy (EEN-ter-net doh-MOH-vih)
1
Check availability at your address
Use telepolis.pl → — enter your address to see all providers. Essential first step as coverage varies by building.
2
Popular providers
UPC/Liberty Global — cable, very fast, 50–100 PLN/month. Orange Fiber — fibre where available. Vectra — good in Warsaw, Tri-City, Kraków.
🗣️ When calling an internet provider
| Polish phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Chcę zamówić internet domowy | Htseh zah-MOO-vitch EEN-ter-net doh-MOH-vih | "I want to order home internet" |
| Jaka jest prędkość internetu? | YAH-kah yest PREN-koshch een-ter-NEH-too? | "What is the internet speed?" |
| Kiedy będzie instalacja? | KYE-dy BEN-jeh een-stah-LATS-yah? | "When will the installation be?" |
| Internet nie działa | EEN-ter-net nyeh JA-wah | "The internet is not working" — call support with this |
📅 Last updated: June 2025. If you notice outdated information, please use the suggest button.