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Things to Do in Warsaw, Poland: All You Need to Know

Things to Do in Warsaw, Poland: All You Need to Know

Poland is often overlooked as a travel destination of choice. It’s a good thing for you because you won’t experience a crazy amount of tourists like in Italy, France or Croatia. While many travelers stop mainly in Cracow (Krakow) in the southern part of the country, the capital of Poland – Warsaw, is also an interesting place to visit with a sad history. There are plenty of things to do in Warsaw!

Many of you might not realize this, but I was actually born and raised in Warsaw. When I was a baby, my parents still had to use food ration cards to get food and supplies (like those in Cuba!). While communism ended in 1989, for many years Warsaw was still associated with old and destroyed gray walls of the industrial city in the eyes of foreign visitors.

Over the years things have changed, and Warsaw is neither gray anymore (in fact, when I was a kid they painted many apartment complexes with random bright colors), nor in any way behind the rest of Europe. In Warsaw, you can find foreign brands, restaurant chains, shops, and many cool spots to hang out on top of museums and other attractions.

Warsaw Poland

The Complete Warsaw Poland Travel Guide

Current Conversion: $1 USD – 3.95 PLN (Polish Zloty)


Things to Do in Warsaw

HISTORICAL SITES:

Palace of Culture and Science

The Palace of Culture was an unfortunate ‘gift’ from Stalin who wanted to erect a similar monument like the one in Moscow, in order to mark his territory. The building is built in a way that makes it visible from many corners of the city, despite being surrounded by skyscrapers.

While it was planned to demolish it, it became a national monument in the meantime. You can go up to the 30th floor and see Warsaw from the top.

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Palace of Culture night
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Recommended Tours:
Palace of Culture and Science Tour with Terrace
Palace of Culture & Warsaw City Center Private Tour

Old Town

Built during the 12th century, Warsaw Old Town was almost entirely destroyed during WWII, but got reconstructed after the war ended thanks to very detailed paintings by the Italian artist Canaletto who gave a template of how the city looked like before. This is where pastel colors on the ancient building facades meet a modern touch of restaurants and boutiques. The Old Town hides many additional activities, such as visiting the Royal Castle

The Old Town hides many additional activities, such as visiting the Royal Castle. The original castle only lasted 30 years, after moving the capital from Krakow to Warsaw by Zygmunt III Waza (whose monument stands in front of the castle). The castle is completely restored and totally worth a visit.

Another thing to see is Barbican, the ruins of the original late Medieval city fortification. Built by architect Giovanni Battista Venetian, it was only used in one fight in 1656. Today, it serves as a bridge between the Old and New Town.

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travel with a cat warsaw poland

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Warsaw Old Town

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Powazki Cemetery

One of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. Founded in 1790, among over 1 million regular people resting there (including my grandparents) there are a great number of important people in Polish History. The cemetery is very unique with many interesting statues and tombs. 

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Krakowskie Przedmiescie & Nowy Swiat

Nowy Swiat & Krakowskie Przedmiescie are part of the Royal Route, one of the main historic thoroughfares of Warsaw, that runs from the center (fake palm tree that became a permanent exhibition) right through to Warsaw’s Royal Castle and into Old Town.

I highly recommend taking a walk from the beginning of Nowy Swiat (you’ll see a giant palm tree) until the Royal Castle. On the way, you can see the Warsaw University, the Presidential Palace (photo below), the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, gorgeous churches, and important monuments.

presidential palace warsaw

Churches

I’m not asking you to pray, but churches in Warsaw are surely interesting to stop by. A lot of them got almost completely restored to its original Baroque and/or neoclassical form, so the architecture is impressive.

Monuments

Warsaw kept up with its history with impressive monuments. Wherever you go, even in not-so-touristy areas, you might stumble upon a monument remembering something. While I could write down a list of all of them, it might be impossible to see them all, so just keep this in mind when you walk or drive around Warsaw.

monuments in warsaw
Warsaw Uprising Monument. Supreme Court building behind.

MUSEUMS:

Warsaw Uprising Museum

This interactive spot will keep you emotional long after the visit. You’ll be put you in the shoes of citizens who witnessed the horrors of the 1944 uprising. You’ll go down the sewers, touch everything and even see the plane that flew over Warsaw.

You can easily give your kids a history lesson due to this museum’s interactive nature. 

Free on Sundays, otherwise 25 PLN. 

Neon Museum

Warsaw’s Neon Museum holds vintage neon advertising signs from the 1950s–1970s. In the Western world, the role of neons was always directly connected with advertising, but in the People’s Republic of Poland with no free market, they served to provide information and prestige.

The governmental campaign, so-called “neonization”, installed neon signs all over urban areas in accordance with a well-thought-out plan to be part of the architecture. They matched in size and colors and were designed by the best artists, so they would not obscure each other.

Chopin Museum

A must-see for the music lover. Chopin Museum stretches over 4 floors presenting everything about Chopin’s life and work. An additional bonus for music enthusiasts is the Chopin benches located along Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street.

Free on Sundays, otherwise 22 PLN. 

Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews

The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is another must-visit museum in Warsaw. The museum is located on the site of the former ghetto and tells the tale of the last 1000 years of Jewish life in Poland

This huge museum not only holds a number of exhibitions that aim to break down stereotypes and build stronger bonds between the different cultures in Poland, but it also holds a number of educational and research programs.

Free on Thursdays, otherwise 25 PLN. 

Madame Marie Skłodowska Curie Museum & Gardens

French like to claim Marie as hers, but so do Polish. The museum is dedicated to the life of Nobel Prize-winning physicist, including letters and various personal belongings. Madam Curie also got gardens dedicated to her, with a monument standing in the middle of them.

National Museum (NMW)

One of the largest museums in the country, NMW is a place where the most iconic Polish art is being held, including some of Chełmoński and Matejko’s paintings.

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From the international collections, the most well-known is the 15th-century Dutch and Flemish (Bosch, Brueghel), as well as several Botticelli’s masterpieces.

Free on Tuesdays, otherwise 25 PLN. 

WWII Museums

If you want to see some war tanks and planes, Warsaw won’t disappoint. There are several places with real and used vehicles from WWII, but the most centrally located one is right next to the NMW.

You can wander around the courtyard free of charge, and if you want to see more, pay a few Zlotys to get inside unless you’re visiting on Saturdays – then everything is free entry. 

WWII Museum Warsaw Poland

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Visit Warsaw Zoo

Warsaw Zoo has always been an attraction, but it became even more popular after the movie Zookeeper’s Wife got released. And while the ZOO has remodeled almost entirely since the times of Antonia Zabinski, it’s a nice place to walk around in the afternoon.

Climb the Rooftop of University Library

University Library might not seem very interesting at first, but it hides surprising gardens on a rooftop, filled with bridges, streams, pathways, sculptures and plant life that covers an entire hectare.

Stroll Around Lazienki Park

Lazienki is without a doubt, the most beautiful park in Warsaw. The neoclassicist park is stretching over 80 hectares and includes a lake and palace on the water, the summer residence of the last King of Poland, Stanislaw August Poniatowski. 

There are also numerous amphitheaters, orangeries, and monuments to stumble upon. You can see plenty of peacocks walking around, friendly red squirrels begging for some nuts, ducks hungry for some bread and fish.

In front of the park, between Lazienki and Botanical Gardens, at the Chopin’s Monument, there are often free Chopin concerts during the summer. 

I actually once released a carp into the lake there. In Polish tradition, a carp is a typical fish to put on your Christmas Eve table (Polish celebrate Christmas Eve and this is when they open gifts) since you don’t eat meat that day.

Therefore, for an entire December, supermarkets are selling alive carp that people buy to kill and cook later (I remember a carp swimming in a bathtub for days before Christmas). My dad and I thought it was a cruel thing to kill all carp, so each year we released one into the river or a lake. Who knows, maybe babies and grand-fish of my rescued carps are still there.

Recommended Tours:
Lazienki Park & Palace Private Tour and Cruise
Lazienki Park & Museum of the History of Polish Jews

Enjoy the University Botanical Garden

To continue on the theme of beautiful gardens and a relaxing space, the University of Warsaw’s Botanical Gardens is a beautiful collection of plants from around the world. 

In the summer it’s open from April to October whereas in the winter you need to book a tour of the glass houses. 

Sit by the River

For a glimpse of daily life, head to the Vistula river. The river is definitely not good for swimming (trust me!), but the holiday vibe is present on several man-made beaches with open-air bars in the Powisle district.

Horror House

Something slightly different than typical escape rooms is a Horror House in Warsaw. It’s scary, creepy and you might want to leave, but if you’re a fan of horrors you’ll surely enjoy it.

Enjoy a Chopin Musical Concert

I mentioned the Museum of Fryderyk Chopin in Warsaw earlier but for those who want to experience the beautiful melodies of this famous Polish composer, the best way to enjoy his works is by attending a concert in the Old Town of Warsaw. During this piano recital in Chopin’s concert hall, you will enjoy a glass of wine while listening to his masterpieces performed by accomplished pianists. Surrounded by the gothic architecture of this atmospheric building, you will feel as though you’ve traveled back in time!

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Join a Walking Tour

If you want to get a guide, you can join some ‘free’ walking tours. The tour is free to join, but in the end, you’re supposed to tip your guide. They aren’t paid any salary, so they rely on how much do you want to give them. Check out Original Walking Tours.

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Chopin momument
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For more activities and organized tours check Viator here.


Where to Stay in Warsaw

There are plenty of amazing hotels, hostel and apartment options, but I highly suggest choosing one centrally located – between the Palace of Culture area and Old Town.

I had a chance to stay at quite a few hotels in Warsaw that I’d highly recommend. I also have many friends working in other hostels and hotels, so I can vouch for them. Here are my recommendations depending on your budget and expectations.

Best Luxury Hotel in Warsaw

Newly opened hotel in a very central location, right next to Central Train Station and Zlote Tarasy shopping mall. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and spa, both with panoramic views of Warsaw from the 43rd floor.

Intercontinental Warsaw   –   Check Prices On: Booking.com 

Best Old Town Hotel

Founded by the composer, pianist and statesman Ignacy Paderewski in 1901, this hotel has been considered the best in Warsaw for many years. Many presidential guests stayed in the top-floor suite.

Bristol   –   Check Prices On: Booking.com

Best Downtown Hotel

Located just opposite Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science the hotel is more luxurious than others, for still an affordable price. I stayed there during my last visit and can tell you that breakfast is the best part! Especially including free unlimited champagne.

Polonia Palace   –   Check Prices On: Booking.com

Best Apartments

Ego is a chain of apartment rentals that offer good prices and nice locations.

Ego Apartments   –   Check Prices On: Booking.com 

For more recommendations on different districts of Warsaw check out my tips on where to stay in Warsaw for different types of travelers.



How to Get to Warsaw

There are many direct flights to Warsaw from anywhere, with LOT Polish Airlines and many other major carriers. You can choose to fly to either Chopin Airport or Modlin where cheap airlines like RyanAir or WizzAir fly to (30 minutes away). Check on Skyscanner which one is cheaper to fly to.

Thanks to Warsaw’s hosting of the Euro 2012 football championships, getting to and from the airport is now easy due to new train lines and bus routes.

If you’re flying into Chopin Airport, you can simply take a taxi (approx. 40 PLN to downtown), train, or a local bus (no. 175, 188, 148, 331 during the day, and N32 at night). If you choose to travel by bus remember to validate your ticket inside the bus.

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If you’re flying into Modlin, then you have fewer options, but it’s also doable. The fastest option is a train that runs every 20-30 minutes.  There’s also a Modlin Airport Bus that costs 9 PLN and takes 40 minutes to downtown.

There is free Wifi at both airports, so don’t you can also easily navigate once you arrive. If you prefer to purchase a local SIM card instead, I recommend Orange as it has the cheapest and fastest 4G.

Warsaw Poland

Safety in Warsaw

Warsaw is relatively safe, but it isn’t as safe to leave your belongings unattended. Keep on eye on your purse in crowded spaces (entrance to Metro or in public transportation). Basically, use some common sense.


When to Go to Warsaw

Choosing the best time to go to Warsaw depends on whether you want to experience heat or cold. Poland has a temperate climate with hot summers (up to +30 C) and cold winters (down to -20 C).

There are several public holidays in Poland. Many restaurants, stores, and public institutions will be closed, so plan accordingly.

January 1stNew Year’s Day
January 6thThree Kings’ Day
March 31st (2024)Easter Sunday
April 1st (2024)Easter Monday / Smigus Dyngus – on this day young people throw water at each other and have water fights. Similar to Songkran Festival in Thailand.
May 1stLabour Day
May 3rdConstitution Day (many Poles take the 2nd of May off and make a trip somewhere
June 19thCorpus Christi
August 15thAssumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary & Polish Armed Forces Day (celebrating the battle of Warsaw in 1920)
November 1stAll Saints’ Day
November 11thIndependence Day
December 25thChristmas Day
December 26thSt. Stephen’s Day


Warsaw Budget: How Expensive is Warsaw?

Compared to other European places and the US, Poland is definitely cheap.

For dinner, I’d usually prepare around $10-20 (40-80 PLN), including a cocktail or wine with your meal. If you decide to downtown and try a Milk Bar (Bar Mleczny), you can get a meal for $4-7.

Tips aren’t mandatory in Poland and service charge is never automatically included in your bill. But the tips are quite common and always appreciated.


Practical Info About Poland

The official language in Poland is Polish.

Poland is part of the EU and Schengen Zone, so you don’t need a special separate visa to visit.

The currency in Poland is Zloty (PLN), despite the country being in the EU. At most places it’s impossible to pay with Euros or US dollars, so always have Polish money with you. Like in some other European countries, American Express cards aren’t widely accepted. Visa, Mastercard and Maestro are common.

Like in some other European countries, American Express cards aren’t widely accepted. Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro are common.

You can drink tap water in Poland, but many locals are still afraid of doing so. Don’t worry – it’s perfectly safe!

It’s common for Polish people to shake hands as part of the greeting. Friends will kiss each other on the cheeks – one or three times.

Men shouldn’t wear hats or caps indoors, whether at houses, cars, or restaurants. Especially among older generations, it’s considered rude.

“Staying on the right side of the law is significantly easier for tourists who accept that Polish beer and vodka are rocket fuel and drink accordingly. If you’re determined to make an idiot of yourself then make sure it’s not in front of the law. In recent years visitors ranging from folks in Chewbacca costumes to complete fools who’ve thought it’s perfectly acceptable to drop trousers and urinate in a city center fountain have tested the patience of the local law enforcement. Their tolerance threshold is now decidedly low so don’t push your luck. Those who do may well be treated to a trip to Warsaw’s premier drunk tank (ul. Kolska 2/4), a chastening experience that will set you back 300zł for an up to 24-hour stay. In return for your cash expect a strip search, a set of blue pajamas and the company of a dozen mumbling vagrants. Not to mention a hefty fine (credit cards not accepted, of course).” – Warsaw Basics

wild mushrooms Poland
The most important travel tip for Poland: stuff your face with wild mushrooms and chanterelles!

How to Get Around Warsaw

Whether you choose to rent a car, public transportation, or Uber, you’ll be fine. I’d generally advise against renting a car if you’re staying only in Warsaw, simply because like in any other city you’ll encounter few parking spots and traffic.

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Taxis

Taxis are everywhere in Warsaw, and you can just stop one or call for one. However, Uber works totally fine too. Tipping your driver isn’t common.

Public Transportation

Warsaw has an extensive bus and tram system across the city. There are many bus routes with each one having a number and at night all night buses display the letter N in front of the number. Marked red, are express buses that skip certain stops.

The standard fare is 4.40 PLN for adults. There is also a 20-minute ticket priced at 3.40 that allows you to change buses and go into trams and metro within a limited time frame. Tickets can be bought from some street kiosks, ticket machines (with English instructions) near stops or at metro stations, or anywhere with a sign saying Bilety.

trams in Warsaw

Souvenirs from Warsaw

Most shops are closed on Sundays with the exception of touristy areas, so buy any souvenirs on a Saturday.

Amber jewelry – Amber jewelry is very typical to Poland and you can find it pretty much anywhere. There are plenty of stores in the Old Town selling beautiful amber items.

Pottery – Traditional pottery can make a good souvenir. There are stores called Cepelia, selling Polish folk art and handicrafts so you might want to head there. You can also discover some beautiful ornaments for Christmas and Easter while shopping at Cepelia.

Vodka & Liquor – Poland is in Eastern Europe after all, and therefore drinking vodka or liquors are very common. It’s no surprise that many foreigners buy traditional liquor (Nalewka) as a gift. Bison Grass Vodka is also popular alcohol and makes a good gift in its fluffy bottle with a giant piece of bison grass inside.

Polish chocolate & Gingerbreads – Once you stop at E. Wedel for some hot chocolate, you’ll want to buy it for your friends and family. If you want to take a step further, get some gingerbreads from Torun (but sold everywhere) as well.

Oscypek (Polish cheese) – Any cheese lovers in your family? Bring them some Polish cheese from the mountains called Oscypek. It’s made or either sheep or sheep-cow milk and can survive without a fridge for a while. It’s perfect to eat on its own, or grilled with cranberry sauce on top.

souvenirs from Poland

What to Pack for Warsaw

The type of clothes to take depends on the time of your travel. You can get some inspiration from my Shop Instagram page 🙂

You don’t need to take too much cash with you, there are numerous ATMs everywhere.

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If you’re coming from the US, remember to bring an electric converter. Electricity in Poland is 230 Volts, 50 Hertz.

>>  Read more on carry-on packing.

pierogi

Day Trips from Warsaw

There are many great things to do around Warsaw, so don’t hesitate to get out of the city for a bit. If you want to travel to other bigger cities in Poland, I’d definitely advise planning for a few days. Krakow, Wroclaw, and Gdansk shouldn’t be done on a day trip unless you want to be extremely rushed.

>>  Read more on Things to Do in Krakow.

Wilanow Palace

The ‘Polish Versailles was another Baroque summer residence of Polish royalty that gleams with white and yellow decor. The place is full of random artifacts facts from all over the world and represents an Epoque of which has been lost after Poland got wiped from the map of Europe.

Its gardens of 45 hectares are perfect for an afternoon walk and may be compared to the Palace of Versailles in France. Wilanow is very easy to get to with buses 116 and 180 from the Old Town, or 519 from downtown.

Wilanow Palace

Recommended Tours:
Wilanow Palace Small Group Tour
Skip-the-Line Wilanow Palace & Gardens Private Tour

Malbork Castle

This UNESCO Heritage castle isn’t usually a place that everyone talks about, but it should be. The Castle of the Teutonic Order is the largest in the world measured by the land area. It’s a must-visit place in Poland.

The best way to get there is by train that goes to Gdansk (another beautiful place, full of history – it was an independent port city once) and getting off at Malbork station. It takes about 2:15h to get there. While it can be done on a day trip, I highly recommend spending one night in Gdansk before heading back to Warsaw.

Malbork Castle Poland

Fryderyk Chopin Birthplace & Park in Żelazowa Wola

You can visit the birthplace and early childhood house of Frederic Chopin in Zelazowa Wola. Half of the house has been filled with early 19th century keepsakes, instruments and paintings. The place is 54 km away and can be easily reached by a mini-bus from downtown at ul. Marszałkowska.

Torun

You probably heard of Nicolaus Copernicus? He was born in Torun. It’s a beautiful and lively city that owes its origins to the Teutonic Order, which built a castle there in the mid-13th century. The old town is remarkably preserved and it’s a pleasure just to stroll around and admire its architecture from the street level, or from the tower of the town hall. Think Bruges of Poland.

For museum enthusiasts, there’s a Museum of Gingerbread, Astronomical Observatory and much more. I actually had a chance to study in Torun, so if you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

torun poland

DON’T FORGET ABOUT TRAVEL INSURANCE

Don’t forget to arrange health insurance before heading to Poland. The easiest and most reliable travel insurance is Safety Wing. Get it before your trip to skip unnecessary troubles that might ruin your holidays!


Movies & Guides About Warsaw

The Zookeeper’s Wife – A recent movie about Antonia Zabinska, a wife of a zookeeper during the war, who saved a lot of Jews on ZOO’s premise. Starring Jessica Chastain.

The Pianist – A Biographical adaptation of a Jewish pianist from Warsaw – Wladyslaw Szpilman, and his journey during the occupation.

Suggested more extensive guides for Warsaw:


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Ultimate Guide to Warsaw Poland
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Guide to Warsaw
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Did I miss something? Do you want to ask me anything about Warsaw? Post your question in the comment section below 🙂

tommy

Tuesday 22nd of September 2020

During my last trip to Warsaw, I asked my business partner where in this city I can spend evening. He suggested that I should go to Hustlers Gentlemens Club. I check it and he was right. That was a great evening. I left the club relaxed and ready for new challenges.

Kam

Saturday 21st of September 2019

Thanks Anna for this exhaustive post and nice pics from Warsaw!

Jean-Christophe Kaufmann

Wednesday 10th of November 2021

Varsovie est une ville incroyablement passionnante, en pleine métamorphose depuis plus de 20 ans, et en train de devenir une capitale européenne du "top 3"

Shalendra

Monday 9th of September 2019

One can visit the Tricity when traveling to Poland. One of the best city to witness sunset and sunrise.

Pearl R Correia

Saturday 15th of June 2019

We are planning a trip in August and your information is brilliant. Noted all the important places to visit, to eat, to drink. Thank you so much!! We are travelling from Dubai. Planning 4 days n Krakow, 3 in Warsaw. Someone reccommened Warclaw but am not sure what to see there. We have a 16 yr old and a 11 yrs old. Are they any fun things to do for them?

Anna

Saturday 15th of June 2019

Wroclaw can be fun with children. It's a really beautiful city. You can go to Malumika where they can paint their own ceramics, the oldest Zoo in Poland is there, visit a botanical garden, go to Jump World Wrocław, or simply ask your kid to spot all the gnomes around the old town.

Dina

Tuesday 19th of March 2019

Anna, DON’T FORGET ABOUT : the history of the Jews in your country. While you are looking to educate your fellow travelers, don't forget that before World War Two there were millions of Jews living amongst your people. What happened to them? Where did they go? While many Poles would prefer to forget what happened there, remember that those who forget history, may be forced to repeat it.

Anna

Tuesday 19th of March 2019

Excuse me? Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews is mentioned.

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