About Warsaw
Warsaw is a city that should not exist in its current form. By January 1945, after the 1944 Warsaw Uprising and the systematic demolition ordered by Hitler, around 85 percent of the left-bank city lay in ruins. Varsovians rebuilt their Old Town brick by brick in the late 1940s and 1950s, using eighteenth-century paintings by Bernardo Bellotto (Canaletto) and pre-war architectural drawings as guides, and in 1980 the reconstruction was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List as an outstanding example of near-total rebuilding.
Today Poland's capital is a fast-moving city of glass skyscrapers rising next to Stalinist monuments, dynamic food halls and a riverside that has been transformed into one of Europe's most enjoyable public spaces. Warsaw is the city where Frédéric Chopin grew up and Marie Skłodowska-Curie was born, and its museums, especially POLIN and the Warsaw Rising Museum, rank among the best in Europe. The Vistula's wilder right bank, Praga, offers street art, prewar tenements and a growing nightlife scene.
Our three guides explain where to stay, what to see and do, and how to handle transport, seasons and costs in a city that is still remarkably good value.
Warsaw city guides
- Where to stay in Warsaw
Warsaw is larger and more spread out than Kraków, but the metro and trams make getting around simple. Most visitors stay in the Śródmieście (central) district, which includes the Old Town, the Royal Route and the modern business centre. Staying in the reconstructed Old Town means waking up among pastel townhouses, the Market Square with its Mermaid statue (Syrenka, the city's symbol), the Royal Castle and St John's Archcathedral. It is the most atmospheric area, but accommodation is limited, mostly apartments and small boutique hotels, and restaurants around the square are pricier. The adjoining New Town, despite its name dating from the fifteenth century, is calmer and includes the Marie Curie Museum in the house where she was born. The elegant street leading south from the Royal Castle is lined with palaces, churches and the University of Warsaw. The Presidential Palace and the Church of the Holy Cross, where Chopin's heart is preserved in a pillar, are here. Nowy Świat continues with cafés and shops. Hotels include the grand Hotel Bristol, opened in 1901. This area is perfect for walking to the Old Town and the centre.
- Things to do in Warsaw
Warsaw's attractions focus on history, resilience and a vibrant modern culture. Allow at least two to three days. Wander the cobbled Market Square, the city walls and the red-brick Barbican, built in 1540 and reconstructed after the war. The Royal Castle, blown up by German forces in 1944 and rebuilt in the 1970s using funds collected from Poles worldwide, has opulent rooms and two Rembrandt paintings. Admission to the permanent exhibition is free on Wednesdays. Opened in 2004, this museum tells the story of the 63-day uprising of the Home Army against the German occupiers in 1944 with multimedia exhibitions, a replica sewer passage used by insurgents and a 3D film, "City of Ruins", showing the destroyed city from above. It's essential for understanding Warsaw. Every year on 1 August at 17:00 ("W" hour), sirens sound and the city stops for a minute.
- Practical tips for visiting Warsaw
Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) is only 10 kilometres from the centre. Trains (SKM S2 and S3, and Koleje Mazowieckie) reach Warszawa Centralna or Śródmieście in about 20 to 25 minutes, and bus 175 runs to the Old Town. A standard public transport ticket covers the journey. Taxis or ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt, FreeNow) cost about 40 to 60 PLN. Warsaw Modlin Airport, used by low-cost airlines, is 40 kilometres north; buses and trains connect it to the city. Warsaw has two metro lines, M1 (north-south) and M2 (east-west), plus an extensive tram and bus network. Tickets are valid for 20 minutes, 75 minutes or 24 hours, 72 hours and weekends. Validate paper tickets on boarding or buy via apps such as Jakdojade. You can tap contactless cards at ticket machines. Veturilo city bikes are available from spring to autumn. Taxis are cheap if ordered by app; avoid unofficial cabs at the station. May to September is pleasant, with summer temperatures of 20 to 25°C, long days and outdoor concerts. Autumn brings golden parks. Winter is cold, often below freezing, with snow, but Christmas markets and illuminations on the Royal Route are charming. Note that 1 November (All Saints' Day) and 11 November (Independence Day) are public holidays.
Destination overview · Warsaw
Stays via Hotellook
Flights via Aviasales
Partner 718768
This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through our partners — at no extra cost to you.
See our Affiliate Disclaimer.
What to see in Warsaw
Famous attractions and neighbourhoods — pair them with stays near the action.
What to do
Experiences that make a short break feel complete — with links to stay nearby.
Places to stay in Warsaw
Compare hotels and apartments via Hotellook (Travelpayouts). Deep links include partner marker
718768. Optional dashboard widgets can be pasted in config.
Get there · Flights to Warsaw
Aviasales search with affiliate marker. Enter origin IATA (e.g. RIX, LHR) and destination IATA.