Warsaw: our best things to do

From the cobbled streets and colorful façades of the Old Town, the booming business district dotted with modern skyscrapers, the young and artistic borough of Praga, the lush royal Łazienki park, and a wide array of museums, Warsaw is looking to the future while remembering its history.

Warsaw takes you by surprise. It is the embodiment of resilience and transformation. Its motto, “Ever invincible”, is particularly fitting. Decimated and in ruins after the Second World War, the Polish Capital has since reinvented itself. The Old Town has been almost entirely rebuilt and has retained its authenticity. Houses, churches, palaces, the Royal Castle, and the Old Town Market Place have all been meticulously restored. New and bustling districts have been created, while several museums (such as the Warsaw Uprsing Museum) tell the tale of the city’s tragic history, which has left deep scars that are still visible in certain areas. The reconstruction of Warsaw served as a foundation for a modern city, which seemed almost futuristic at the time. The younger generation of today is carrying on this aspiration to modernity and tend to want to free themselves from the city’s past, all while honoring its history.

Our favorite discoveries

Vestiges of history in a city striving for modernity… here are our favorite discoveries in Warsaw

• The Old Town
• The Palace of Culture and Science
• Łazienki park
• Praga
• The Warsaw University Library gardens
• The Museum of the History of Polish Jews – POLIN

• The Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980. 85% of this neighborhood was destroyed during WWII, and then completely rebuilt.

– With its colorful baroque houses, as well as an array of bars and restaurants, the Old Town Market Place (Rynek Starego Miasta) is the heart of Warsaw.

In the middle of the square, you’ll find the statue of the warrior mermaid, one of the symbols of the city.

All around the Rynek, the narrow streets form a veritable labyrinth.

– The incredible 360° view of the city from the viewing terrace at the top of the bell tower of St. Anne’s Church (68 Krakowskie Przedmieście): the Castle Square, the River Vistula, and the skyline with the Palace of Culture and Science. By climbing a little over a hundred steps, you can reach the observation terrace and enjoy the view (entrance fee)

– St. John’s Archcathedral was built in the 16th century. It was destroyed during WWII, before being reconstructed after the war in its original Gothic style.

– The Royal Castle has been the residence of Polish kings and presidents.

– The Barbican is what remains of the fortifications between the Old Town and the more modern parts of Warsaw. Even though it was destroyed by the Nazis, some of the bricks date back as far as the 15th century.

• The Palace of Culture and Science (PKiN): the architecture of this iconic Warsaw landmark is a mix of socialist realism, Art Deco and Polish historicism. Reaching a total height of 237 m, the PKiN is the city’s tallest building. The panoramic viewing terrace on the 30th floor (at 114 m) can be reached by elevator in just 20 seconds (entrance fee). It overlooks the entire city and offers a 360° view of the capital.

• Łazienki park: stretching over almost 190 acres, Łazienki park is Warsaw’s largest park.

– The view of the Łazienki palace (or Palace on the Isle) from the lake

– The Chopin monument

– Walking along the paths and tree-lined walkways

– The little Chinese garden (a bridge and two small pavilions)

– The palm trees in the greenhouse

– The botanical garden: a charming, well-tended little garden (entrance fee)

• Praga: the alternative, artistic borough of Warsaw, is located across from the Old Town, on the opposite bank of the Vistula. Praga was far less damaged by bombings during WWII and is now a working-class area that is undergoing renovation.

– St. Florian’s Cathedral with its two towers

– Mała street: this is where you’ll find some of Warsaw’s oldest brick buildings. Several scenes from the movie The Pianist were filmed here.

– Street art, murals, and refurbished factories and warehouses: particularly nº22 on 11 Listopada street, and Środkowa street

– The Neon Museum (Soho Factory, Mińska 25)

• The Warsaw University Library gardens (Dobra 56/66): a hanging garden on the roof of the university library. The contrast between the lush, climbing vegetation and the glass structure of the library building is striking.

The garden is the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset.

• The Museum of the History of Polish Jews – POLIN (Mordechaja Anielewicza 6, closed on Tuesdays and free entrance on Thursdays): the POLIN museum was built on the site of the former Warsaw ghetto, which was built by the Nazis during WWII and where 460 000 jews were once imprisoned. Over more than 4200 m², the museum retraces the history of one of the largest Jewish communities in the world, from around the year 1000 to the present day, including the darkest times of the pogroms and the Holocaust. The incredibly detailed museography and the audio guide (included in the ticket price and available in several languages, including French and English) make for an informative and interesting visit. The POLIN museum was named the best museum in Europe by the Council of Europe in 2016.

Don’t miss

• The Warsaw Uprising Museum (Grzybowska 79, closed on Tuesdays): covers the period from the start of the German occupation to the establishment of the communist regime after the war, and particularly the 63 days in 1944 when the people of Warsaw revolted against the Nazis.

• The Warsaw Uprising Monument (Plac Krasińskich)

• A walk along the Vistula: the left bank of the river has been converted into a promenade (Vistula Boulevards, between the Śląsko-Dąbrowski bridge and the Holy Cross Bridge, Świętokrzyski). In the summer months, you will find pop-up bars and cafés along the river. The area is very popular among the locals.

• Enjoy the grand views along the Royal Route, which runs between three royal residences: the Royal Castle in the Old Town (the former main residence Polish kings), Łazienki Palace, and Wilanòw Palace (the summer residence).

• Mur Getta Warszawskiego (53 Sienna street): remains of the wall that once surrounded the Warsaw Ghetto

• The Chopin Museum (Pałac Gnińskich, Okólnik 1) is dedicated to the famous Polish composer

• Hala Koszyki (63 Koszykowa street), an indoor market and food court with a large number of restaurants with cuisines from different countries, as well as a bar in the center. The metal structure of the building is reminiscent of early 20th-century industrial sites. 

• Elektrownia Powiśle (42 Dobra street), a former power plant that has been transformed into a high-end shopping center and food court 

• Fabryka Norblina (51/53 Żelazna street), an industrial complex that has been rehabilitated into a whole block of shops, bars, and restaurants, now surrounded by skyscrapers

Where to eat in Warsaw

• Fret@Porter (37 Freta street, just a stone’s throw from the Barbican): Polish cuisine. This is where we first tried pierogi, which are traditional Polish dumplings. Perfect for lunch!

• Pyzy, flaki gorące ! (29/31 Brzeska street, in Praga): typical Warsaw street food. Pyzy are a type of soft potato dumplings, with or without filling, served in a jar with sauce (choose between turkey and mushrooms, bacon, kale pesto, liver with apples and plums…). The restaurant also offers several tripe dishes, and is very popular with locals. Right, Karolina?

• LAS (Lokalna Atrakcja Stolicy, 44 Solec street): international cuisine in charming surroundings full of greenery.

• Soul Kitchen (18A Nowogrodska street): delicious, modern, bistronomy style Polish cuisine in an intimate setting. Reservations recommended.

Many restaurants and cafés offer vegetarian (and sometimes vegan) options.

Where to stay in Warsaw

Hotel PURO (9 Widok street) is a comfortable boutique design hotel in the city center.

Useful phrases

The Polish transcriptions are adapted to English speakers.

• Hello – Jen dobreh 

• Thank you! – Jenkooyeh!

• Thank you very much! – Jenkooyeh bardzo!

• I don’t speak Polish. Do you speak English? –  Nyeh moovyem po polskoo. Chee moovy po angielskoo?

• Attention (danger)! – Uwaga (pronounced oovagah)

• Yes – Tahk

• No – Nyeh

• Excuse me – Psheprahsham

• Please/you’re welcome – Prosheh

• Goodbye – Do veetzenya