A trip to Warsaw is an experience that will enchant you. The capital of Poland is a city with soul and history, where every corner tells a story of revolution and resilience. From the distinctive UNESCO-protected Old Town to the modern museums and lively neighbourhoods, Warsaw combines tradition and modernity in a way that few European cities can.
Discover the hidden treasures of this astonishing city — the architectural gems of the 20th century, the delicious pleasures of authentic Polish cuisine, and the historic monuments that marked Europe’s greatest moments. Whether you are planning a three-day break or an extended holiday, this guide will give you everything you need to experience Warsaw like a local.
In Warsaw, colourful medieval façades meet grey socialist relics and new hangouts that bring a constant air of renewal. A travel guide full of tips, suggestions and sights brings the Polish capital 12 steps closer to you.
A trip to Warsaw: 12 sights and suggestions to add to your itinerary
1. An Old Town of a thousand colours
The fairy-tale setting you see today in the Stare Miasto (Old Town) of Warsaw was passionately rebuilt by its residents. Around 90% of the area was destroyed during the Second World War. In reality, the picturesque urban
landscape is only a few decades old. Nothing, however, detracts from the atmosphere
created by the cobbled lanes, the galleries, the artists and the street
performers, the welcoming cafés and restaurants serving Polish specialities. In summer, concerts
and performances are staged in the squares, charming travellers and residents alike.
Seek out classic sights and meeting points in Warsaw, such as the statue
of the Mermaid in the central square, Rynek Starego Miasta. Stop at Castle
Square to admire the landmark Sigismund’s Column. And walk
along the famous Krakowskie Przedmieście, passing the neoclassical Church of
St Anne, the Presidential Palace and the University of Warsaw.
Tip: Climb the 150 stone steps of St Anne’s tower to admire the Stare
Miasta panoramically – from the castle to the Vistula river and the modernist national
football stadium!
2. Zooming in on the capital’s Royal Castle
One of Warsaw’s most emblematic sights, the Zamek Królewski (Royal
Castle) adds colour to Castle Square with its reddish façade. Its newer,
baroque side adorns the banks of the Vistula river.
The palace, which over the centuries served as the home of the Polish
kings, was rebuilt at enormous cost in the 1970s and 1980s. You can
now tour the throne room, the Parliament chamber with its
gilded Assembly Hall, and the adjoining palace with the copper roof, which
was the residence of Prince Józef Poniatowski, and also admire an
astonishing collection of paintings – among them two Rembrandts.
Beyond the splendour of the royal apartments, the free exhibition
in the basement, «From Destruction to Reconstruction», is also of interest. It tells how the castle
regained its former glory following generous donations from Poles both at home and
abroad.
Address: plac Zamkowy 4.
Opening hours: Tue–Sat 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun from 11 a.m. Closed Mon. From 2/5/18
open until 6 p.m., Fri until 8 p.m.
Price: approx. €7, reduced €5. Free entry on Sundays until 30/4/18. From 2/5 free on Wednesdays.
3. A wander through Warsaw’s New Town
With its roots in the 14th century and a parallel history of reconstruction, the Nowe
Miasto (New Town) and the square at its heart, Rynek Nowego Miasta, have an
air of calm that you will not find in the Stare Miasto. The New Town begins where
the Barbican marks the boundary of the Old Town. From here you will wander among the
palaces and historic churches that appear all over the area – among them
the Church of the Holy Spirit, with its distinctive white twin towers,
and the Gothic Church of the Virgin Mary, a few steps from the river,
a characteristic part of Warsaw’s urban landscape since the 15th century.
On the main street, Freta, you will find plenty of outdoor restaurants and cafés for a break between
the sights in summer – while at No. 16 you will find the small museum of the
two-time Nobel laureate scientist Marie Curie, in the 18th-century apartment
where she was born.
If Polish history excites you, the Warsaw–Krakow route by train is
child’s play. Read our best suggestions for a trip to Krakow.
4. A trip in a time machine: the Wilanów park and palace
A journey into centuries past, Wilanów park is a jigsaw of colourful
gardens. It includes a baroque garden, a neo-Renaissance rose garden, an
English-style park and an Anglo-Chinese garden.
The baroque palace of King John III Sobieski, built between 1677 and 1696, dominates
the landscape with its grandeur. Inside it houses a museum divided into two
parts: the apartments of the main floor, where you will find the rooms in which the royals
listened to music and received guests, and the Gallery of Polish Portraits,
which is on the first floor. The library, the chapel and, above all, the
luxurious White Room with its large mirrors facing the windows, are
among the highlights of a tour here.
Address: Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16.
Opening hours: the park from 9 a.m. daily, the museum from 9.30 a.m.
Price: approx. €5, reduced €3.5 for the permanent exhibitions.
5. Lessons in courage at the Uprising Museum
Sixty years after the Warsaw Uprising, the museum of the same name is one
of the most important sights in the Polish capital. It opened its doors in 2004
in an old tram depot to tell the story of the residents who fought for an
independent Poland.
In a cleverly organised space over three levels, events unfold in chronological
order through personal testimonies, photographs, videos, interactive installations
and other exhibits that recount the brave, yet doomed, struggle of the
local resistance fighters against the German occupying forces – and the almost
total destruction of the city that followed at the hands of the Nazis. The photographs of historic
monuments before and after, the chilling sounds of machine guns and your passage through
a replica section of the sewers of the time create a vivid, living picture.
Address: Grzybowska 79.
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Thu until 8 p.m. Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Closed Tue.
Price: approx. €5, reduced €4. Free entry on Sundays.
6. The Museum of the History of Polish Jews
One of the newest and finest museums in Warsaw, POLIN opened its
doors only in 2014 – and already won the EMYA award for European Museum
of the Year in 2016. The modern building of copper and glass stands in Muranów, which
was home to the vibrant Jewish quarter until the creation of the Warsaw
Ghetto during the Second World War.
POLIN recounts 1,000 years of the history of Polish Jews and their contribution
to the region, and to the whole of Europe. A history of coexistence, but also of the
eradication of an entire group of people. The main exhibition unfolds across eight
galleries, each devoted to a distinct period of Jewish history, and it will take you
a few hours to go round them. It is also worth checking out the rich programme of
touring exhibitions, films, lectures and workshops that frequently take place at the
museum.
In the museum square you will also find the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, in
honour of the Jewish fighters who led the Warsaw Ghetto
Uprising in 1943.
Address: Anielewicza 6.
Opening hours: Mon, Thu, Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Wed, Sat–Sun until 8 p.m. Closed Tue.
Price: approx. €6, reduced €3.5. Free entry on Thursdays.
7. Relaxing in the Royal Baths Park
The extensive and beautiful Łazienki park is a classic Sunday promenade for the
locals of Warsaw, who come to unwind along its lush green paths and
manicured lawns (there are, however, specific zones where
lounging and picnicking are allowed). If wanderings in the company of playful squirrels do not
spark your interest, the neoclassical Łazienki Palace, or Palace on the Isle as it is
also known, is a museum with impressively decorated rooms, such as the
luxurious Solomon Room and the Bath.
The Chopin Monument is a landmark art nouveau attraction of the park, with a
sea of visitors relaxing around it, usually under the sun. Small and
large palaces (Myślewicki, Belvedere and others), temples, cafés and restaurants, and a classical
amphitheatre where you can catch performances in summer, offer something for every taste!
8. A taste of… a socialist «cake»
Even if you wanted to, you could not miss the landmark Palace of Culture and
Science, which rises about 231 m into the Warsaw sky and makes
its presence felt from several kilometres away. The so-called «cake» –
as the locals express their «fondness» for the colossal monument – was a gift from the
Soviets in the characteristic style of socialist realism, with the decorative
bonus of a mix of Art Deco and Polish influences. Unless you work in the offices that
occupy some of the roughly 3,300 rooms across its 42 floors, you will come
here to photograph the modernist lighting at night (at Christmas in
Warsaw its colourful silhouette makes a surreal backdrop), to take in the view
from the observation deck on the 30th floor, to visit its museums or to see
concerts and dance performances.
If you are looking for interesting spots in Warsaw’s nightlife, there is always something
happening in the socialist titan. Behind its columns hide lively venues for
food and drink such as Bar Studio, which serves good coffee during the day
and imaginative cocktails at night. Café Kulturalna, meanwhile, hosts parties with DJs and
eclectic bands from all over the world (both on the ground floor).
9. Experiments guided by Copernicus
The modern Copernicus Science Centre, one of the most contemporary museums in
Europe, offers seven permanent exhibitions. More than 450 exhibits educate,
entertain and let you experiment for yourself – rather than remain merely a
passive observer. Halls and high-voltage shows, multimedia installations and
interactive workshops cover fields from psychology and sociology to
biotechnology and robotics.
In the Heavens of Copernicus planetarium you will explore art made using
algorithms. You will enjoy the view from a space station, while from the
rooftop garden you will gaze out over the landscape around the Vistula river and the Old Town of
Warsaw amid «crater» skylights!
Address: Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 20.
Opening hours: different times apply by area and season. Closed Mon.
Price: exhibitions approx. €6.5, reduced €4. Planetarium from approx. €5, reduced €4. Garden
free entry.
10. The Chopin Museum: classical music in a contemporary setting
Music lovers will especially enjoy a visit to the Fryderyk Chopin Museum, which
is housed in the elegant baroque Ostrogski Palace. Here the romantic melodies of the
Polish composer meet the interactive surprises of the 21st century. Among
roughly 5,000 exhibits spread over four floors, you will find everything from a lock
of Chopin’s hair to digital books and musical games. A specially designed ticket with a microchip lets you choose how deeply you want to delve into the subject – whether you are a student, an artist, or simply enjoy good music.
Address: Okólnik 1.
Opening hours: Tue–Sun 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Closed Mon.
Price: approx. €5, reduced €3. Free entry on Sundays.
11. Warsaw Zoo: from the Second World War to
the present day
Warsaw Zoo was founded in 1928 and is home to around 5,000
animals from 500 different species – from animals typical of Poland, such as otters,
to African elephants and polar bears that will especially delight the
little ones. Older visitors, though, will also find something of particular interest here. The
zoo’s director, Jan Żabiński, and his wife Antonina smuggled hundreds of Jews from the
Warsaw Ghetto into their modernist villa. Anyone who saw
the recent film The Zookeeper’s Wife, based on the bestseller by
Diane Ackerman, will recognise the spaces where they hid in the basement, as well as the
grand piano that Antonina played to signal to the villa’s hidden residents
when the Nazis were approaching.
Address: Ratuszowa 1-3.
Opening hours: daily 9 a.m. until dusk (depending on the season).
Price: approx. €3.5–€6, reduced €2.5–€4 (depending on the season).
12. An alternative tour of Soho and the factories of Praga
The bohemian neighbourhood of Praga is a hub of nightlife and a must-see stop on
a trip to Warsaw. With plenty of cool spots for coffee and cheap food, it offers
an ideal alternative on the eastern side of the Vistula, off the classic tourist
route of the centre. If you do not know where to start, we suggest the factories, since a fair
number have been transformed into exciting industrial spaces for all hours of the
day. At Fabryka Trzciny, a former jam factory, you will see alternative
art exhibitions and live music. At the former Koneser vodka factory you will find
more galleries, while a range of boutiques and restaurants are planned for the near
future. Finally, in Soho, beyond some of the area’s best restaurants and shops, you will
also find the highly entertaining Neon Museum. Here a series of fantastic illuminated
signs point the way to colourful dives into Warsaw’s past!
Things to do there — Warsaw
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