Masovia, central Poland · Poland
A capital rebuilt from ashes, its old town reconstructed brick by brick, now a city of museums, parks, riverside bars and skyscrapers.
Photo: A.Savin · CC BY-SA 3.0
Warsaw is Poland's capital and largest city, with about 1.8 million people. It has been the capital since 1596, and it suffered terribly in the Second World War: after the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, the German army systematically destroyed most of the city, and about 85 percent of the historic centre was lost. After the war, Poles rebuilt the Old Town using paintings by the 18th-century artist Canaletto and surviving drawings, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city today is a mix of eras. The pastel houses of the Old Town and the Royal Castle stand near the massive Palace of Culture and Science, a Stalin-era tower that dominates the skyline. Łazienki Park has a palace on a lake and free Chopin recitals in summer. Museums tell the story of the city's Jewish community at the POLIN Museum, of the 1944 uprising and of communism, and there are plenty of parks, riverside cafés and a booming food and bar scene.
Warsaw is not as picturesque as Kraków, but it is more real, and for many visitors it is the more moving city. Two or three days is a good stay, and it is a hub for trains to Kraków, Gdańsk and beyond.
Why visit
Warsaw tells the story of modern Poland, and it is a lively, affordable capital.
A UNESCO site rebuilt after the war.
POLIN, the Uprising Museum and more.
Łazienki and Wilanów.
Modern Polish cooking and riverside bars.
Fast trains to all major cities.
Main attractions
Sights are spread along the Royal Route, with museums a short tram ride away.
A square of coloured townhouses reconstructed after 1945, with a statue of the Warsaw mermaid, the city's symbol, at its centre.
Tip Go early, before the crowds.
A rebuilt royal residence with lavish state rooms and paintings, including works by Canaletto.
Tip Free on some days.
A large royal park with the Palace on the Isle, peacocks and free Chopin concerts on summer Sundays.
Tip Bring a picnic.
A 237-metre tower given by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, with a viewing terrace at the top.
Tip Go up for city views.
A museum on 1,000 years of Jewish life in Poland, on the site of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Tip Allow three hours.
An immersive museum on the 1944 uprising against German occupation.
Tip Book in advance.
Things to do
Warsaw rewards museums, parks and evenings.
From the castle to Łazienki.
Tip Start at Castle Square.
Free recitals in Łazienki on summer Sundays.
Tip Arrive early.
Riverside bars and sand in summer.
Tip Go on the Praga side.
A hip, artsy district across the river.
Tip Go in the evening.
A hands-on science museum.
Tip Good for families.
Learn about Polish spirits.
Tip Book ahead.
Local food
Warsaw's food ranges from milk bars to modern Polish restaurants.
Dumplings.
Where to try it Milk bars.
Sour rye soup.
Where to try it Traditional restaurants.
Filled doughnuts.
Where to try it Bakeries.
A rising food scene.
Where to try it Restaurants in the centre.
Local breweries.
Where to try it Bars in Praga.
Accommodation
Stay in the centre or Old Town.
Transport
Warsaw is the country's rail hub.
Trams and a metro cover the city.
When to go
Warsaw is continental, with warm summers and cold winters.
Mild and green.
Warm, with riverside life.
Golden leaves.
Cold and grey.
Worth planning around: Grey, cold November.
Itinerary
The old town and the museums.
Rebuilt streets.
Memory and greenery.
Travel tips
A few tips help you plan.
FAQ
Two or three.
Yes, for its history and energy.
Largely, and the Old Town was rebuilt.
Yes.
Yes, compared to Western Europe.
Train, bus or taxi.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Warsaw, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Lesser Poland, southern Poland, Poland
A UNESCO-listed old town with the Main Market Square, Wawel Castle, Kazimierz, Schindler's Factory and easy trips to Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz.
Don't miss The Main Market Square at dusk, with the trumpeter's call from St. Mary's tower and horse carriages passing the Cloth Hall.
Explore Destination — KrakówPomerania, Baltic coast, Poland
A Baltic port with a reconstructed Main Town, the Neptune Fountain, St. Mary's Church, the Crane, the European Solidarity Centre, the Museum of the Second World War and beaches at Sopot.
Don't miss The Long Market at dusk, with its ornate gables, Neptune's Fountain and the Motława waterfront glowing beyond.
Explore Destination — GdańskKuyavia-Pomerania, northern Poland, Poland
A UNESCO-listed medieval town on the Vistula with a Gothic Old Town Hall, Copernicus's birthplace, brick churches and a gingerbread tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.
Don't miss The Gothic Old Town Hall and the brick skyline across the Vistula at night.
Explore Destination — ToruńRead next
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