Your guide to Warsaw
Warsaw highlights
Urban mermaids
You might not expect to find mermaids in Warsaw, but if you look closely you’ll see them everywhere. The Old Town is the best area for mermaid hunting – they pop up on buildings, lamp posts and signs. Tick these city icons off your sightseeing list in the Old Town Square and beside the Swietokrzyski Bridge.
Old Town charm
Colourful tenement buildings and traditional restaurants line the narrow streets of Warsaw’s atmospheric Old Town. The Market Place is the prettiest square in the capital and a great spot to kick off a city break to Warsaw. Learn about the rebuilding of the Old Town after World War II at the Heritage Interpretation Centre. This is also where you start the Old Town Cellars Route to discover the city’s medieval underworld.
Home of Chopin
For classical music fans, trips to Warsaw aren’t complete without a bit of Chopin. The renowned 19th-century composer lived here during his youth. See one of his pianos and listen to live performances of his music in the Fryderyk Chopin Museum. For a more intimate experience, book tickets for a recital in the beautiful Fryderyk Concert Hall.
Warsaw: Know before you go
| Language | Polish |
|---|---|
| Currency | Polish zloty (zł) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) and UTC+2 (CEST) |
| High season | July - August |
| Low season | January - February |
Find the best time to go to Warsaw
Weather in Warsaw
March – May: Spring in Warsaw can be unpredictable, with chill giving way to warm sunshine. Head to Łazienki Park for cherry blossoms, tulips and peacocks. Be prepared for occasional rain showers.
June – August: Summer temperatures average around 25°C. Park yourself on a sandy beach along the Vistula River. Thunderstorms are possible, so pack an umbrella.
September – November: Autumn brings gold and red foliage to the city, a quarter of which is covered in parkland. While days are mild, evenings can be chilly. Pack waterproofs.
December – February: Winters often dip below freezing, and snow is likely. Days are short. Come nightfall, head for Wilanów Palace, where art installations light up the royal gardens.
Events in Warsaw
Sunday Chopin Concerts (May to September): Chopin’s music was banned under Nazi occupation. Today, he is celebrated in Łazienki Park, where world-renowned pianists pay homage to the Polish composer.
Wianki Festival (June): Poland’s solstice celebrations are rooted in ancient Slavic traditions. Weave a wreath and compete to create the most beautiful design, then release it downriver for good luck.
Festival of Street Art (June or July): Theatre, dance and circus acts take over the streets for one free, fun weekend in summer.
Christmas markets (November to December): Bask in the Christmas cheer in festive Old Town at the city’s Christmas markets. Along with a mug of mulled wine, be sure to try ‘oscypek’, a smoky sheep’s cheese from the Tatra Mountains.
The best neighbourhoods in Warsaw
Srodmiescie
The central Srodmiescie district is where to stay in Warsaw for monuments and museums. Here, you’ll have highlights like the Royal Castle and Warsaw Barbican to explore. The hotels are luxurious and the restaurants on Nowy Swiat are some of the city’s finest. For something romantic, head to Agrykola Street at dusk to stroll beneath the light of historic gas lamps.
Good for: Monuments, restaurants, luxury hotels
Wola
Past and present meet with surprising style in Wola, the best area to stay in Warsaw if you want to be in the city’s business hub. Skyscrapers tower over historic tenement buildings, with heaps of old-world charm waiting for you in the back streets. Don’t miss the Warsaw Uprising Museum to learn about Polish resistance during World War II and look for the steampunk-style murals on Zelazna 22.
Good for: Street art, museums, skyscrapers
Mokotow
Leave the touristy centre behind and choose leafy Mokotow as your base. It’s known for its green spaces, such as Pole Mokotowskie Park, so get ready for lots of walks and picnics. This is a hip residential district, with independent restaurants and shops loved by locals. It’s peaceful and fashionable, which makes it a top area to stay in Warsaw.
Good for: Parks, restaurants, shopping
Things to do in Warsaw
Family friendly things to do
Travelling with the whole tribe? There’s a heap of engaging things to do with family in Warsaw. Let your young ones run wild at Warsaw Zoo and check out the cannons and tanks at the Polish Army Museum. Imaginations will go into overdrive with high-voltage robot shows and live experiments in the Copernicus Science Centre.
Shopping
Shopping in Warsaw is a local pastime, so you’ll be in good company browsing the stores. Pick up something original in the trendy design shops on Mokotowska Street or rummage for antiques at the weekend Kolo Flea Market. If you’re after designer fashion at discounted prices, the outlet stores at Factory Annopol are a good choice.
Take in the culture
Get to know the city better by checking out the museums in Warsaw. Admire Polish masterpieces at the National Museum and see Cold War-era signs at the Neon Museum. Learn about a Nobel Prize-winning scientist at the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Museum, housed in her birthplace. Save money on museums and skip lines with the Warsaw Pass.
Nightlife
When it comes to nightlife, this old city is young at heart. The boulevards along the Vistula River are packed with some of the trendiest bars in Warsaw – come in summer for live music and outdoor partying. More intimate gigs are staged in the old Praga district, often in atmospheric tenement settings.
Places to eat
Satisfy cravings for local cuisine by tucking into meaty dumplings and craft beer in the Old Town and on Nowy Swiat Street. You’re not a true Varsovian until you’ve tried herrings with vodka chasers. Vegans are well catered for too, with many of the restaurants in Warsaw offering plant-based versions of Polish classics.
Free things to do
There are plenty of free things to do in Warsaw if you know where to look. On certain days of the week there’s no charge to enter several museums, including the popular POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. For a cooling diversion, check out the free Multimedia Fountain Park or enjoy a beach picnic on the banks of the Vistula.
Get ready for Warsaw
Budget
For an inexpensive visit to Warsaw, spend time touring the architecture and attending free concerts. Find a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for around 40 Polish złotych (zł). Cut costs by opting for traditional milk bars, which serve simple but filling dishes like pierogi and potato pancakes. Wash them down with a beer for about zł16. A short taxi ride costs around zł20.
Day trips from Warsaw
Just 30 minutes south, the spa town of Konstancin-Jeziorna has been a retreat for Warsaw’s elite since the 19th century. Admire Art Nouveau villas, wander tranquil parkland and let the mineral-rich waters work their magic. Another 30 minutes further, the village of Otwock Wielki boasts a stunning Baroque palace sitting in the middle of the Vistula River.
Getting around Warsaw
Warsaw’s Old Town is small and easy to explore on foot. To visit other neighbourhoods, use buses, trams, or the metro. You’ll find ticket machines at most stops, or you can use the moBiLET app. For a budget-friendly option, skip the tourist trams and take bus number 180, which stops at many key attractions.
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