Warsaw is the capital and largest city in Poland, which stands on the Vistula River. The Old Town of Warsaw was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. Warsaw is a highly touristic and economic centre that combines modern architecture with historic buildings. I really appreciated the fact that the city has numerous large parks where people go to relax and participate in various activities.
Until World War II, Warsaw was regarded as the “Paris of the North”. After that, it was named the “Phoenix City” because of its extensive history and total reconstruction.
When to visit
Warsaw is most pleasant during the summer, when the temperatures are high but not as hot as in other parts of Europe. This is also the peak season, so the cost of accommodation and travel might be expensive.
For cost-effective traveling, you can always visit Warsaw during the winter, because the temperatures are really low and there is less traffic. Tourists have the opportunity to spend their holidays with snow, hot cocoa, and many activities offered in the city.
Spring and autumn are best for a tight budget and low traffic, with chilly weather and humidity, but there are many things to do at great prices.
How to go to Warsaw
Warsaw’s Frederic Chopin Airport is the biggest and most modern international airport in Poland. It connects you with every continent in the world. If you want to travel to Warsaw with a low-cost airline, like Ryanair or Wizz Air, there is another airport, Warsaw Modlin Airport, located a bit further from the city. However, they are all connected to the main train lines, so that you can reach the city centre very quickly.
The train offers very good prices for Europeans or travellers around Europe. The earlier you get the tickets, the cheaper they are.
What to see in Warsaw
1.The Old Town
Warsaw’s Old Town is the oldest part of the city and it has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is one of the prominent attractions, as tourists visit it for its restaurants, cafés, and shops. It includes many historic monuments and the Old Town Market, which encourages tourists to take a walk around the narrow streets and the colourful houses. The Warsaw Mermaid, the emblem of the city, stands in the centre of the famous and busy Old Town Square.
2.The Royal Castle
In the past, the Royal Castle was the official residence of the king, Polish monarchs, and the offices of the Royal Court. It is located in Castle Square and is also considered a World Heritage Site. It was completely destroyed in 1944, but was reconstructed several decades ago. Now, it is a national monument and functions as a national museum. You should visit it to see the Throne Room and the gardens with their mazes, flowerbeds, and fountains.
3.The Castle Square
The Castle Square has a somewhat triangular shape and is a meeting place for tourists and locals. It is dominated by a towering column and offers a perfect view of the front of the Royal Castle. It hosts many public events, such as concerts, speeches, and more. It is a nice spot for lunch or to rent a carriage for a tour around the city. Furthermore, it is said that it is especially beautiful during Christmas, as the decorations, lights, and events are colourful and charming.
4. Lazienki Park
Łazienki Park is the largest park in Warsaw, occupying 76 hectares of the city. It was originally designed as a bathing park for royalty. From 1918, it became open to the public, and now it serves as a venue for many cultural, musical, and sports events. Inside it, tourists can visit the Palace on the Isle, so named because of its location among the lakes of the royal baths, and many other large and small palaces, summer houses, pavilions, mansions, cafés, restaurants, the Art Nouveau Chopin Monument, the Old Orangery, and theatres. Next to the park, you can visit the Warsaw University Botanical Garden, which requires a separate ticket. The park is a sanctuary for peacocks and squirrels, which are happy to receive nuts from visitors. You should definitely visit it, as it is an extremely interesting park. Take the word of a park-lover!
5. Palace of Culture and Science
The tallest building in Poland and the 5th tallest building in the European Union is the Palace of Culture and Science, which is 237 m tall! It houses cinemas, museums, theatres, pubs, indoor ice-skating rinks, libraries, sports clubs, and university faculties of the Polish Academy of Sciences, among others. The palace, which can be seen from almost every part of the city, was a gift from Joseph Stalin to the Polish people in 1955. It took three years to finish, resulted in the deaths of 16 workers during construction, and was completed after Stalin’s death. Although it cannot be considered an elegant building by any means, it is worth going to the 30th floor for a beautiful panorama of the city!
6. Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat Street
The Krakowskie Przedmieście district is one of the most elegant areas in Warsaw. It is surrounded by palaces, historic monuments, and manor houses, leading to the Presidential Palace, the University of Warsaw, and the Polish Academy of Sciences. The street once connected Warsaw with Krakow. It is full of restaurants and cafés that allow you to take a delicious break during one of the most interesting walks in the city. Nowy Świat Street means “New World Street,” and it is one of the main historic streets in Warsaw. It is the ideal place for shopping and dining. Tourists can wander around top fashion designers’ shops or through the narrow streets with small shops. In summer, the pavements are filled with tables and chairs for tourists, and the atmosphere is lively.
7. Saxon Garden
.Saxon Garden is the oldest public park in the city (1727). It was built in the “French style,” modelled on Versailles, then was destroyed by the Nazis and later reconstructed in the English style. It still has some surviving trees from its original opening and many monuments from World War II, such as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is also home to the English Palm House, the Fountain, the Summer Theater, and the Water Tower, which looks like a Greek temple.
8.Copernicus Monument
Nicolaus Copernicus was born in 1473 in Royal Prussia, which was part of the Kingdom of Poland. He was the polymath who placed the Sun, rather than the Earth, at the center of the universe. His monument is one of the city’s most notable landmarks.
10. Jewish Ghetto Memorial
The memorial is dedicated to the people of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943, who fought back to avoid being sent to concentration camps. The plaque was intended to be accompanied by a larger monument, which was never built. The anniversary of the Uprising is on April 19th, and every year a small ceremony takes place near the memorial.
