Polish statisticians have released the results for the second quarter of 2026. Spending by foreign visitors in Poland rose by 8.7%. Learn more about the top shoppers
Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS) has released data on foreign spending and cross-border traffic in the second quarter of 2026. The figures increased both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter. InPoland reports on this.
How much money did visitors from other countries spend in Poland, where do most shoppers come from, and what do they spend their money on—we’ll cover all of this in the article below.
How much money did foreigners spend in Poland in the second quarter of 2026?
In the second quarter of 2026, foreigners spent 14.2 billion zlotys in Poland. This is the total value of goods and services purchased by visitors to the country, as recorded by the Central Statistical Office of Poland (GUS). Compared to the same period in 2025, the amount increased by 8.7%. Compared to the first quarter of 2026, the increase was even greater—30.7%.
Polish residents spent 9.4 billion zlotys abroad during the same period. This figure increased by 9% year-over-year and by 21.1% compared to the first quarter of 2026. Thus, spending by foreigners in Poland significantly exceeds that of Poles during their trips abroad.
Which Polish cities are the easiest to find a job in during 2026? — Find out by following the link.
How many border crossings were recorded in the second quarter?
In the second quarter of 2026, 78.4 million border crossings were recorded at Poland’s borders. Foreigners accounted for 55.6% of the total, while Polish residents accounted for 44.4%. Compared to the second quarter of 2025, the number of border crossings increased by 1.6 million, and compared to the first quarter of 2026, by 23.6%. Among foreigners, the increase was 22.9%, and among Poles, 24.5%.
By border type, the crossings were distributed as follows:
Poland’s land border with other EU countries — 68.8%;airports—23.5%;the EU’s external land border—7.1%;the maritime border—0.6%.
Among land border sections, the border with Germany accounted for the largest share of crossings—51.0%. Next came the Czech Republic (22.6%), Slovakia (13.4%), Ukraine (7.6%), Lithuania (3.5%), Belarus (1.6%), and russia (0.3%).
What to check before traveling to Poland— we explain here.
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Visitors from Germany spend the most money in Poland. Foreigners entering via the Polish-German border accounted for 51.3% of all spending among those who crossed Poland’s land border. Ukraine ranks second with a share of 19.5%, and the Czech Republic ranks third with 13.6%. The remaining countries have significantly lower figures.
Breakdown of foreign spending by country of entry:
Germany — 51.3%.Ukraine — 19.5%.Czech Republic — 13.6%.Slovakia — 8.0%.Lithuania — 4.5%.Belarus — 2.8%.russia — 0.3%.
Thus, the bulk of spending comes from residents of countries that directly border Poland.
See also: Minimum Wage in Poland in 2027. Comparison with Ukraine.
What Do Foreigners Spend Their Money On in Poland?
Foreigners spend the vast majority of their funds on non-food items—76.3% of total spending. The Central Statistical Office (GUS) provides these figures for visitors who crossed the EU’s external land border within Poland. Food and non-alcoholic beverages account for 15.0% of spending, while other expenses, including services, account for 8.7%.
Thus, purchases of goods dominate the spending pattern of foreigners, while services account for the smallest share.
We previously reported that the number of Ukrainians in Poland is declining.
How much did Poles spend abroad, and in which countries?
In the second quarter of 2026, Poles spent 9.4 billion zlotys abroad. Polish residents who crossed the land border spent the most in Germany—60.0% of all foreign spending. The Czech Republic ranked second (24.8%), followed by Slovakia (12.2%). Smaller shares went to Lithuania (2.4%), Ukraine (0.4%), Belarus (0.1%), and russia (0.1%).
Non-food items also accounted for the largest share of Poles’ spending abroad—57.3%. Services accounted for 22.2%, while food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 10.1%.
The worst cities in Poland to live in 2026—listed in this article.
Remember! To travel to Poland in your own car with Ukrainian license plates, the driver needs a Green Card international auto insurance policy. You can obtain it online on the Visit Ukraine portal before departure. The policy is valid in Poland and other countries in the “Green Card” system, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Lithuania, so it will also be needed for future trips throughout Europe.
Get your Green Card on the Visit Ukraine portal and head to Poland with valid insurance coverage!
Reminder! In our previous article, we discussed the rules for Ukrainians crossing the border into Poland in 2026.
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