Polish summer holidays see soaring Baltic coast prices and heightened safety alerts

During the 2026 summer season, prices at restaurants and services along Poland’s Baltic coast have surged. Economists describe the situation as an “economy of the promenade”: the closer a venue is to the beach and the denser the tourist crowd, the higher the price. A fried cod fillet can cost up to 250 zł per kilogram in Pogorzelica, while a family meal with fish, salad and fries reaches about 322 zł. The average Polish traveller now budgets roughly 2 042 zł for a vacation, an increase of nearly 300 zł from the previous year, and a week‑long stay can approach 10 000 zł.

Alcohol purchases also spike in summer, with beer accounting for more than half of all alcohol sales. Despite a 5.6 % drop in overall volume, total alcohol spending stays near 52 billion zł annually. Meanwhile, police warn of rising thefts and scams targeting holidaymakers, urging residents to secure homes and travellers to verify accommodation offers.

Additional cost pressure comes from local market fees. Municipal authorities charge food‑truck operators and stallholders up to 1 176 zł per day, a factor cited by vendors as contributing to the “paragony grozy” (shock receipts) seen by tourists. Lastly, various beach regulations across Europe—such as bans on removing sand, smoking, or certain swimwear—are highlighted as potential pitfalls for Polish vacationers.