According to the latest report, The Holiday Wallet of Poles 2026, prepared by the Polish Bank Association, the average Pole is expected to spend PLN 2,042 on this year’s holiday — nearly PLN 300 more than a year earlier.
The average household plans to allocate PLN 5,105 to its summer break. That is more than PLN 700 more than last year, representing a year-on-year increase of 16%. At the same time, 80% of respondents do not intend to use a loan or credit to finance their holidays.
Interest in foreign travel is also increasing. This year, 26% of respondents say they plan to holiday abroad, 3 percentage points more than a year earlier.
The holiday season is beginning — a time for family trips, rest and a break from everyday responsibilities. Regardless of the destination, however, taking time off increasingly requires careful budget planning.
The report The Holiday Wallet of Poles 2026 shows that Poles are expecting noticeably higher spending on summer holidays than in previous years. The average declared expenditure per person this season is PLN 2,042, or PLN 281 more than a year earlier.
Costs are rising, but Poles do not want to go into debt
Although the pace of growth in holiday spending has slowed, holidays remain an important item in household budgets. For many families, this means planning ahead, comparing travel options and looking for solutions that match their financial means.
Despite rising costs, most respondents are trying to avoid borrowing for consumption purposes. As many as 80% say that they do not plan to use a loan or credit to organise their holidays. This may indicate that households remain financially cautious.
Poles’ holiday preferences are also changing. Interest in domestic holidays is declining: this year, 53% of respondents plan to spend their break in Poland. This is the lowest level since the survey began. A year earlier, the figure was 57%, while in 2022 it exceeded 60%.
At the same time, the share of people planning foreign trips is increasing. This year, 26% of respondents say they intend to holiday outside Poland, 3 percentage points more than a year earlier.
Holiday budgets in practice
To show how declared spending translates into actual costs, the report analysed several popular holiday models. One of the cheaper options remains a week-long car trip to the Masurian Lake District.
For a family of four, the choice of accommodation is the most important factor. A campsite costs an average of PLN 1,155 per week, while a holiday cottage or agritourism stay costs more than PLN 3,400. Travel costs must be added to this. On the sample Kielce–Giżycko–Kielce route, they amount to around PLN 425.
Food is also a significant part of the holiday budget. A sample family dinner in Masuria costs around PLN 268. If a family eats out every day rather than preparing meals at its accommodation, the total cost of the trip can rise substantially.
A stay on the Baltic coast is clearly more expensive. In the analysed scenario, a week-long trip to Gdańsk for a family of four involves an average apartment rental cost of PLN 5,114. That is around PLN 433 more than in 2025.
Travel costs must be added to accommodation. A return train journey from Kraków to Gdańsk costs between PLN 588 and PLN 1,468, depending on the connection selected. Food is also more expensive: a holiday meal set for a family of four currently costs PLN 322, around PLN 18 more than a year earlier.
The total cost of a week-long stay on the Baltic coast can approach PLN 10,000.
More than one-quarter of Poles, meanwhile, choose foreign holidays, often in an all-inclusive format. This model makes it possible to estimate a large part of the cost at the booking stage, as the package usually includes flights, transfers, accommodation, meals and insurance.
However, travellers should also allow an additional budget for optional excursions, local attractions, souvenirs or extra insurance. In this year’s comparison, average all-inclusive offers for a family of four range from around PLN 16,000 to PLN 18,500, depending on the destination.
The largest year-on-year increase was recorded for Egypt, where a family holiday package costs more than PLN 4,900 more than in 2025.
