Sightseeing

1. Jak dojść do Wawelu?

   yak DOYSHCH doh vah-VEH-loo

   How do I get to Wawel Castle?

   Usage

   Asking for directions to Wawel Castle in Kraków

   Grammar Note

   "Do + genitive" means "to". "Wawel" changes to "Wawelu" (genitive) after "do"

2. Ile kosztuje wstęp?

   EE-leh kosh-TOO-yeh VSTEHMP

   How much is admission?

   Usage

   Asking about the admission price at a museum or attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Wstęp" means entry/admission. "Bilet wstępu" means admission ticket

3. Czy może pan/pani zrobić nam zdjęcie?

   chih MOH-zheh pan/PAH-nee ZROH-beech nam ZDYENCH-yeh

   Could you take a photo of us?

   Usage

   Asking a passerby to take a group photo

   Grammar Note

   "Zrobić zdjęcie" literally means to make a photo. "Czy mogę?" = may I?

4. O której zamykają muzeum?

   oh KTOO-rey zah-mih-KAH-yom moo-ZAY-um

   What time does the museum close?

   Usage

   Asking for the museum's closing time

   Grammar Note

   "Zamykają" is 3rd plural of "zamykać" (to close). "O której otwierają?" means when do they open?

5. Czy jest przewodnik w języku angielskim?

   chih yest psheh-VOH-dnik f yen-ZIH-koo ang-YELS-keem

   Is there a guide in English?

   Usage

   Asking about English-language guided tours or audio guides

   Grammar Note

   "W języku + locative" means "in the language of". "Języku" is locative of "język" (language)

6. Chcę zobaczyć Rynek Główny

   htseh zoh-BAH-chich RIH-nek GWUV-nih

   I want to see the Main Market Square

   Usage

   Expressing desire to visit Kraków's famous Rynek Główny (Main Market Square)

   Grammar Note

   "Chcę" is 1st person of "chcieć" (to want). Rynek Główny is Europe's largest medieval market square

7. Czy mogę tu robić zdjęcia?

   chih MOH-geh too ROH-beech ZDYENCH-yah

   May I take photos here?

   Usage

   Asking permission to take photographs at a museum or attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Zdjęcia" is plural of "zdjęcie" (photo). Note: "zakaz fotografowania" means no photography

8. Czy jest ulga dla studentów?

   chih yest OOL-gah dlah stoo-DEN-toof

   Is there a student discount?

   Usage

   Asking about student discounts at museums or attractions

   Grammar Note

   "Ulga" means relief/concession. "Dla + genitive plural" means "for". "Studentów" = genitive plural

9. Czy mają Państwo plan muzeum?

   chih MAH-yom PAHN-stvoh plan moo-ZAY-um

   Do you have a museum floor plan?

   Usage

   Asking for a museum floor plan or map at the information desk

   Grammar Note

   "Państwo" is the most formal plural address (ladies and gentlemen / you all)

10. Zamek Królewski jest niesamowity

    ZAH-mek kroo-LEV-skee yest nyeh-sah-moh-VEE-tih

    The Royal Castle is amazing

    Usage

    Expressing amazement at the Royal Castle in Warsaw

    Grammar Note

    "Niesamowity" means extraordinary/amazing (nie- "not" + samowity "extraordinary"). Common in spoken Polish

11. Jak daleko jest do Warszawy?

    yak dah-LEH-koh yest doh var-SHAH-vih

    How far is it to Warsaw?

    Usage

    Asking the distance or travel time to Warsaw

    Grammar Note

    "Warszawa" → "Warszawy" (genitive). "Do + genitive" = to/until

12. Czy jest rejs po Wiśle?

    chih yest rays poh VEESH-leh

    Is there a cruise on the Vistula River?

    Usage

    Asking about boat cruises on the Vistula River, Poland's longest river

    Grammar Note

    "Po + locative" means along/on. "Wisła" (Vistula) changes to "Wiśle" in locative

13. Rynek Główny jest zamknięty w nocy

    RIH-nek GWUV-nih yest zahm-KNYEH-tih v NOH-tsih

    The Main Market Square is closed at night

    Usage

    Useful information when visiting Kraków's Main Market Square

    Grammar Note

    "Zamknięty" is the passive past participle of "zamknąć" (to close). "Nocy" is locative of "noc"

14. Chciałbym/Chciałabym odwiedzić Wawel

    HCHAW-bihm/hchah-WAH-bihm od-VYEH-djich VAH-vel

    I would like to visit Wawel Castle

    Usage

    Expressing desire to visit Wawel Castle in Kraków

    Grammar Note

    "Odwiedzić" is the perfective verb for "to visit" and takes a place or person as its object ("odwiedzać" is the imperfective)

15. Wieliczka jest fascynująca

    vyeh-LEECH-kah yest fas-tsih-noo-YOHN-tsah

    Wieliczka is fascinating

    Usage

    Talking about the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Kraków

    Grammar Note

    "Wieliczka" is feminine, hence "fascynująca". The salt mine has 700+ years of history

16. Muzeum Auschwitz jest ważnym miejscem pamięci

    moo-ZAY-um OWSH-veets yest VAZH-nihm MYEY-stsem pah-MYEN-chee

    The Auschwitz Museum is an important memorial site

    Usage

    Discussing the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, a UNESCO site

    Grammar Note

    The museum is a UNESCO World Heritage site. "Miejscem" is instrumental of "miejsce" (place)

17. Stare Miasto w Warszawie jest piękne

    STAH-reh MYAH-stoh f var-SHAH-vyeh yest PYEN-kneh

    The Old Town in Warsaw is beautiful

    Usage

    Describing Warsaw's Old Town, rebuilt after WWII and a UNESCO World Heritage Site

    Grammar Note

    "W Warszawie" is the locative of "Warszawa". The Old Town was painstakingly rebuilt after WWII

18. Chcę zobaczyć Zamek Królewski

    htseh zoh-BAH-chich ZAH-mek kroo-LEV-skee

    I want to see the Royal Castle

    Usage

    Expressing desire to visit the Royal Castle in Warsaw

    Grammar Note

    "Zamek" (castle) is masculine. "Królewski" is the adjective of "król" (king). Warsaw's symbol

19. Tatry są wspaniałe latem

    TAH-trih som vspah-NYAH-weh LAH-tem

    The Tatra Mountains are wonderful in summer

    Usage

    Talking about the Tatra Mountains, the highest mountain range in Poland

    Grammar Note

    "Latem" is instrumental of "lato" (summer). Polish uses instrumental for seasons with "in"

20. Malbork to największy zamek w Europie

    MAL-bork toh nay-VYENK-shih ZAH-mek v ew-ROH-pyeh

    Malbork is the largest castle in Europe

    Usage

    Talking about Malbork Castle, the world's largest castle by area, a UNESCO site

    Grammar Note

    "Największy" is the superlative of "duży" (big). "W Europie" is locative of "Europa"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages