Things to do and see in Warsaw

Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is a cosmopolitan city, young and full of life. Despite the war that scarred the city and razed hundreds of buildings to the ground over the years, Warsaw has risen from the ashes to become a European cultural and tourist hotspot. There are plenty of things to do in Warsaw, with more than 40% of the city’s green spaces, numerous museums, a beautiful old town and many other attractions, which we’ll tell you about in this post.

What places to visit in Warsaw?

It is generally recommended to spend at least 2 days in Warsaw to take in all the sights of the city. Strolling through the streets of the historic centre is a must, as is a visit to the city’s Jewish Ghetto. The main tourist attractions are spread between the New Town and the Old Town as we’ll tell you below.

1. Warsaw Old Town

The Old Town is a must-see in Warsaw. It was built in the 13th century, but after World War II it was completely destroyed. In 1980 it was rebuilt on the basis of old plans and drawings, so faithful to the original design that it won Unesco World Heritage status.

Its colourful façades and medieval architecture give its streets a unique charm. Within the district, it is highly recommended to visit Piwna Street and Rynek Starego Miasta Square. There you will find restaurants, shops and lots of atmosphere. Other points of interest include the Royal Castle, St John’s Cathedral and the statue of the Little Insurrectionist.

2. Palace of Culture and Science

This is a monumental building that has generated much controversy in Warsaw. It was built in 1955 on Stalin’s orders after the Russian occupation. And although its demolition has been mooted many times, it has never been carried out. The building, the tallest in the country at 240 metres, is a symbol of the city, much to the chagrin of many of its inhabitants, and its 44 floors house offices, exhibition halls, concert halls and institutional departments.

On the 30th floor there is a viewing platform with a breathtaking view of Warsaw. It’s open daily from 10am to 8pm and admission costs €4.70.

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3. Marie Curie House

In the heart of the New Town we find the house of Marie Curie, double Nobel Prize winner in physics and chemistry. During the visit we see her notes, notebooks, photographs and period furniture, which help us to reconstruct Marie Curie’s life. The museum is open every day except Mondays, and admission costs €2.55.

4. Royal Castle of Warsaw

This reddish-brick castle stands on the banks of the Vistula River on Zamkowy Square and has been home to dukes and kings throughout history. After the Second World War it had to be rebuilt, so it is still in very good condition. Inside you can see the royal rooms with period furniture. There are also two famous works by Rembrandt: Girl in a Frame and The Father of the Jewish Bride.

The entrance fee is €7. The castle is open from 10:00h to 18:00h, with some changes depending on the season. Admission is free on Wednesdays.

5. Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw

The Jewish Ghetto is probably the most interesting thing to see in Warsaw. It is the largest ghetto established during the Nazi era, where the German army confined more than 400,000 Jews from the city and other countries. This place pays homage to the victims who lost their lives during the war.

In the same area you can also visit the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, the Jewish Cemetery and the Warsaw Jewish Museum, also known as Polin. It houses a permanent exhibition on the history of Jewish Poles. Admission to the permanent exhibition costs €6, to the temporary exhibition €4 and to both €7. The museum is open from 10:00h to 18:00h daily and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until 20:00h.

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What to see around Warsaw?

Around Warsaw and less than 100 km from it, there are certain places that deserve your attention. You may extend your visit to get closer to them. We are talking about the Campinos National Park, the Zegrzyski Lake or the Nieborów Palace. If you’ve run out of ideas of what to see in Warsaw, read on for some day trips to discover the country.

1. Campino National Park

Campino National Park is one of the largest national parks in Poland, and is located just 20km from Warsaw. The park is a collection of bogs, forests and dry land dunes where more than 5,000 species of animals live together. Within the park there are two museums to visit: the Kampinos Forest Museum and the Granica open-air museum, as well as several historical constructions such as mosques, cemeteries, monasteries and the remains of 10th-century settlements.

From Warsaw you can reach the park from Marszalkowska to Plac Wilsona on lines 4 and 36. From there there are regular buses to the park. The trip takes about an hour.

2. Zegrzyski lake

Zegrzyski Lake is fed by the Narew and Bug rivers. And with 32km2 of artificial construction, it is a popular holiday destination. The surrounding villages of Zegrze, Jachranka and Biaobrzegi welcome hundreds of tourists every year who come to enjoy the lake’s activities, including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and fishing. It also has a beach with all kinds of services such as showers and bars. From Warsaw, you can reach the lake by bus lines 705, 734 and 735.

3. Nieborów Palace

Built in the 12th century, this palace, located 80km from Warsaw, has undergone numerous changes throughout its history at the hands of different owners. Cardinals, dukes and nobles in general have renovated it over the years and added new rooms. In the garden there are pavilions with works of Greek and Roman origin.

Today the castle complex is part of the National Museum in Warsaw, and a tour of the castle includes the interiors filled with period furniture, paintings, books, sculptures and porcelain, as well as the Baroque Nieborów Garden and the Romanesque Arkadia Garden. The entrance fee to the complex is €4 and from June to September it is open from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and until 20:00 on weekends. The rest of the year, you can also visit between Wednesday and Saturday.

Visit Warsaw in 1 day

Warsaw is an ideal European capital for a weekend getaway or to include on your Polish travel route because it’s easy to visit in a couple of days. However, if you don’t have that much time, don’t worry, because we’ve prepared this itinerary for you, so you won’t miss anything to see in Warsaw and you’ll make the most of your time in the city.

A good way to see the city is to hire a free tour that takes you around the main sights while telling the story. Otherwise, this is a good tour to follow. We started at the Palace of Culture and Science, as it’s not so crowded in the early hours. Then we head to the Royal Castle and on the way we pass the Royal Route and the Royal Lazienki Park. These points of interest alone will occupy you for a morning.

In the afternoon we can visit the New Town and the medieval walls, and finally the Jewish Ghetto and its museums. This way, if you start before 9:00 in the morning, you’ll have time to get a general impression of Warsaw, although you’ll probably want to return to continue exploring the city’s history.

How to get to Warsaw, Poland?

The best way to get to Warsaw is undoubtedly by plane. There are regular flights from Spain at very good prices on both low cost and regular airlines arriving at Frederic Chopin International Airport. From the airport, which is just 10km from the city centre, you can reach the city by buses 175, 148, 188 and N32. A single ticket costs €1, half price for students, and is valid for 75 minutes. If you prefer to take a taxi, the fare is €26.

Another option for getting to the city is by train, which is in fact very popular for those who want to travel to nearby cities such as Vienna, Prague, Budapest or Kraków. All arrive at Warsaw Central Station, and the price is more affordable than flying, although the journey time is longer (5h-8h).

The best way to get around Warsaw is by public transport, which includes trams, metro and buses at very good prices. A 75-minute single ticket costs €1. You can also get group tickets, and 24-hour or 3-day tickets.

Best Accommodations in Warsaw

The best area to stay in Warsaw is the centre, as this is where the main sights are located. Here is a list of some good value places to stay in Warsaw.

• Novotel Warsawa Centrum: The best thing about this hotel is its location, next to the station and the Palace of Science and Culture. The hotel costs around €60 per night and is very modern and comfortable. It is also suitable for business travellers and offers meeting rooms.
• Ibis Warszawa Stare Miasto: is one of the best value for money hotels. From €50 per night, you can stay in this 3-star hotel that offers all the comforts and is located in the old town.
• Sofitel Warsaw Victoria: this is a 5-star luxury hotel perfectly located in the city centre. The hotel offers all kinds of amenities and a swimming pool. Nights range from €120 to €200.
• SafeStay Warsaw: is the top-rated hostel in the city. It offers private rooms and beds in shared rooms for prices ranging from €40. It’s in a great location, but the best thing about it is the young atmosphere.

Where to eat in Warsaw?

Warsaw is the perfect place to eat well and cheaply. Its potato-, cabbage- and meat-based cuisine is heavily influenced by Czech cuisine, and its dishes are rather hearty: roasted meats, soups and thick stews… Some typical dishes are Pierogi (meat dumplings), pyzy (potato and meat dumplings), bigos (meat stew), or barszcz (beetroot soup) among many others. These are some of the restaurants where you can sample Warsaw’s gastronomy.

• Milk bars: these are former state-subsidised places that offered milk to factory workers. Today they are simple, austere restaurants where you can try typical dishes for less than €5. The best known are Bambino, Pod Barbakanem, Familijny, Zlot Kurka and Zqbkowski.
• Podwale 25 is a very good value for money restaurant. Its speciality is meatballs and the portions are huge. You can eat and drink very well for less than €15 as the beer is also very cheap.
• Zapiecek: This is the best restaurant to try pierogi, small meat dumplings that are steamed or boiled. A 9-piece portion costs €5, and they also have a menu with more typical dishes.
• Vege Miasto: the best vegan option in the city. It serves traditional cuisine and more international dishes at a very good price. The menu of the day costs around €6 and is a very good option.

Warsaw Travel Tips

• The currency in Warsaw is the Polish zloty (PLN).
• If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange currency in advance.
• The best time to visit Warsaw is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
• There’s no Roaming in Poland, so you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems.
• The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
• Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel with insurance.
• It’s frowned upon not to tip in restaurants.
• In Warsaw, you are fined for crossing the street when the traffic lights are closed or where there is no zebra crossing.
• You can’t drink in the street.

Organise your trip to Warsaw

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• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need, and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Warsaw.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions when travelling to Warsaw