Many people say that Warsaw hasn’t got the charm of Kraków or Gdańsk but I think it has a lot to offer and there are many reasons why it should feature on your city break wish list. This also happens to be my home town so I had to cover it first really 🙂
Firstly, it is a really affordable destination. Hotels are very reasonably priced and you can get an amazing deal on Airbnb too since the city is largely comprised of flats. Public transport is also cheap but very efficient at the same time. A 20 minute public transport ticket will cost you 1 euro and you can cover a lot of distance in that time Warsaw is not a huge place. Taxis and ubers are also inexpensive so if there is more of you sometimes it will make more sense to grab an uber. Same goes for bars & restaurants, a beer will be around 2 euros and a really good plate of food around 8 euros.
Secondly, Warsaw offers a variety of things to do to keep you busy during your visit. Here is what I would typically do if I was showing someone around for the first time:
- Old Town – it is the most touristy part of town but it draws the crowds in for a reason! It’s very pretty and bustling with street performers, bars & restaurants. My tip would be to start by climbing up the tower of St. Anne’s church to the observation terrace which has a great view of the Old Town. My other tip would be to try and avoid the restaurants offering typical Polish food there, they are not the best but an ok option for a quick drink or a sandwich
- Riverside – the whole stretch of the river by the Old Town and beyond has been regenerated and now hosts a shiny new Science Museum and Planetarium, a number of bars, restaurants and art installations. There is a separate bike path if you’re feeling more active and want to explore the area that way. Also, electric scooters are really popular and I have to say it is my favourite way to see this part of town. I use LIME app but there are a couple of others that recently popped up too
- Łazienki Park – the largest park in Warsaw and a former summer residence of a Polish king is a delightful place to visit, particularly in summer. It is a setting for palaces, villas, follies and monuments. Łazienki also serves as a venue for music, the arts, and culture. The park is also home to peacocks and a large number of squirrels and it hosts live piano concerts on Sundays by the Chopin monument
- POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews – this is an excellent museum, probably one of the best I have visited recently and would thoroughly recommend a visit, not only on a rainy day. It is really interactive and although it inevitably covers the darkest period in the history of the Jewish nation and which will no doubt make you cry, it is not all doom and gloom and you will leave feeling very enriched by the fascinating history of this nation. Tip – visit on Thursdays is free and you don’t need to book in advance
Finally, the food. Polish cuisine is hearty and delicious. Whether it’s flavoursome and light soups, dumplings, cold cuts, summer salads or beautiful cakes and pastries, there is something for everyone. Apart from the traditional Polish cuisine, you can pretty much have any food you like in Warsaw. From my recent visits, I noticed a huge rise in oriental restaurants as well as Middle Eastern ones. If you’re up for some Polish food I would recommend Stary Dom (https://www.restauracjastarydom.pl/), for Middle Eastern option Tel Aviv Urban Food (https://telaviv.pl/en/) is amazing and for oriental – Arigator (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g274856-d13743270-Reviews-Arigator_Ramen_Shop-Warsaw_Mazovia_Province_Central_Poland.html), which serves one of the best ramen I have ever had.
