The capital of Poland is a huge modern metropolis, spread out on both banks of the Vistula. But the advantage of Warsaw is that the lion's share of its attractions (with the exception of a few) is located in the city center, the so-called Old Town. These medieval quarters were built after ... World War II. Hitler gave a special order to level the rebellious Warsaw to the ground. All historic buildings were blown up.
But residents rebuilt their city brick by brick according to old photographs and drawings. Now tourists often do not even realize that the medieval buildings and cathedrals that they inspect were built in the middle of the twentieth century. One way or another, a tourist will not have to rush from one end of the city to the other in search of sights. In this article we will tell you what you can see in Warsaw in one to two days.
Palace of Culture and Science
Directly next to the main railway station of the city is a building, which is simply impossible not to notice. The Muscovite Palace of Culture and Science will immediately remind one of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers. So it is: the building was built in those days. It is now the highest in Poland. In addition, a clock with the second largest dial in the world is installed on the building. True, the Poles are thinking whether to demolish this symbol of Soviet rule. But while the Palace of Culture and Science is included in the list of sights of Warsaw.
So that the Stalinist skyscraper does not spoil the view of the ancient city, it was surrounded by modern skyscrapers. Inside, the Palace of Culture and Science is filled with offices, cinemas, and interesting exhibits. If you do not know where to go with a child in Warsaw, go up to the observation deck of this building. The kid’s height of 123 meters will certainly impress. And you can explore the city in all its glory. On Fridays and Saturdays, the playground is available in the evenings, until 23:00.
Sightseeing tour
If a visit to the spire of the Palace of Culture and Science does not clarify the question for you where to go in Warsaw, go to Stara Miasto. The capital of Poland is a budget tourism destination. But if you know some of the nuances, you can not pay for excursions at all. There are at least two companies in Warsaw - the Free Walking Tour and the Orange Umbrella - which conduct walking tours with an English-speaking guide. Free tours are on such topics:
- Sightseeing (on the main attractions of the Old Miast).
- "Warsaw Jewish" (according to the city ghetto with a story about the uprising).
- "The city during the Second World War."
- "Warsaw street art."
A guide should be sought at the central tourist information center in the Old Town. There is no need to register for such excursions in advance.
Warsaw in the summer
If we have already touched upon the issue of free entertainment in the capital of Poland, then one cannot fail to mention some festivals where entry is free for everyone. Since the weather “pleases” Warsaw with heavy rainfall, all these events take place in the summer or in the warm season. From mid-May to September 25 in the Lazienki Royal Park (we will talk about it later) at the monument to Frederic Chopin every Sunday, at noon and at 16:00, free concerts are held where you can listen to the composer's works.
In July-August, Stare Miasto becomes completely jazz. For several years now, the Jazz Na Starówce Festival has been gathering fans of this musical style from around the world. And if you were lucky enough to get to the capital of Poland at the turn of July and August, here is another place you can go to in Warsaw. Another festival is held annually in early September. It is called Warsaw Singer and is dedicated to Jewish culture. At this time, concerts, theater performances, exhibitions and film broadcasts take place in the former ghetto.
the Royal Castle
Warsaw has not always been the capital of Poland. King Sigismund granted this status to the city. On his orders, the palace was built, which is now, along with the monument to Sirena, the hallmark of Warsaw. It is located on Castle Square. Fragments of city defensive walls have been preserved right next to the castle.
Outwardly, the palace looks so modestly - a large house of red brick. But the interiors are royal luxurious. If you do not know what to see in Warsaw in winter, go straight to the palace. On Sundays, visiting the main attraction of the Polish capital will be free. In the palace, time will fly by quickly. Take a walk through the suite of chambers decorated in the early Baroque style, visit the Knight's Room, the Seym Hall, and the Marble Cabinet.
Walks in the Old Town
Leaving the palace, do not rush to leave Castle Square. Pay attention to the column, which rises in the center. Its top is decorated with a sculpture of King Sigismund, the one who made Warsaw his capital. Where to go in the Old Town yet? Slowly move towards another famous square - Market Square. But you can also enter the church of St. Anne and climb her bell tower. The reward for overcoming spiral staircases will be a beautiful view of the entire Old City.
The Market Square is the real heart of Warsaw. Life here is in full swing day and night. Once there were fairs (as evidenced by the name of the square), but now it is full of atmospheric restaurants with open terraces. It is good to have a cup of coffee, admiring the beautiful, painted in pastel colors of the building, as well as take pictures on the background of the Siren. This mermaid is a symbol of Warsaw. It is believed that she now lives in the Vistula, and in case of danger stands up with a sword to protect the city.
Hanging gardens
If you visit the capital of Poland during the warm season, from April 1 to September 30, go from Rynok Square to look for Dobru Street. It is located a five minute walk. University Library is located at number 56/66 on Dobroi Street - a new building made of glass and concrete, built at the beginning of the 21st century. Neither guidebooks nor tour guides will tell you why it is interesting. But if you are thinking about what to see in Warsaw yourself, you need to see this hidden landmark of the city.
A significant university library with its roof. There, in an area equal to two football fields, a beautiful park is laid out. It consists of two levels. At the bottom there are ponds with goldfish and ducks. The upper level is a park with winding paths, secluded benches, spacious green lawns. Entrance to the roof is absolutely free. From morning to sunset, you can admire the planted seasonal flowers, as well as views of the Old Town.
Royal Route
A long street stretches from Sigismund Palace to Lazienki Park, fragments of which are named: Krakow Suburb, Novyi Svit, Uyazdovsky Prospekt, Belvederskaya and Jan Sobieski Streets. But they all make up the so-called Royal Route. It starts from Castle Square, and ends at the summer palace of Jan Sobieski "Lazenki".
All the sights of Warsaw are strung on the thread of the Royal Route, like pearls on a necklace. You just have to go straight south and look around. Then you will see: the palace of the Radziwills; the main building of the university; Academy of Fine Arts; monument to Adam Mickiewicz; the monastery church of the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin; residence of the president of Poland; Uyazdovsky Palace; The Royal Canal.
Park "Lazenki"
Ask any metropolitan where to go in Warsaw, and 90% will mention this amazing place. At the end of the 18th century, King Stanislav Ponyatovsky decided to build a summer residence on the southern outskirts of the city. The Italian architect Domenico Merlini brought to life the whim of the monarch.
The main attraction of the complex "Lazenki" is the palace on the water, built in the style of classicism on an artificial island. Around this main building was a park with greenhouses, gazebos, fountains and ponds. Every living creature feels at ease there - peacocks, chamois, roe deer, swans and squirrels. Many people who know the Polish language wonder why the residence was so named (the word Lazenki translates as “Bathhouses”). The king bought land for a summer residence from the princes of Lubomirsky, in whom a bathhouse was arranged there.
Where to go in Warsaw in winter
The period from December to early March is not the most successful for visiting the capital of Poland. The temperature is kept at zero, but humid air and wind subjectively increase the feeling of cold. In addition, severe frosts occur in Warsaw at the end of January and February. But this should not scare the tourist. Firstly, the sights of Warsaw in the open air are concentrated in the center. You can stroll the streets of the Old Town, explore the Market and Castle Square, see the remains of the walls and the Barbican in an hour or so.
And to warm up a tourist in Warsaw is where. The city center is literally crammed with cozy coffee houses, fun beer bars, stylish restaurants and cheap eateries. It has long been noticed that in winter, more than in summer, Warsaw museums are popular. Where to go?
The reviews of tourists mention interesting expositions of the National and Archaeological Museums (near the metro station "Town Hall"). Travelers claim that on Sundays the entrance to the Royal Palace (Castle Square) becomes free. If you are not a lyric poet but a physicist in your heart, you will be interested in the interactive Museum of Technology and Scientific Discoveries (Sventokszyžska Street). Entrance to the Warsaw Uprising Museum becomes free on Sundays.
What to see in Warsaw with children
A trip to the capital of Poland with the whole family is best planned for the summer. At this time, a lot of entertainment is available for children. To begin with, the Mochidlo water park in Warsaw is open-air and operates only during the warm season. Slides and water rides will please not only kids, but also adults. You can’t swim in the Wisla, so Mochidlo, with its well-equipped sandy beach, is becoming a favorite summer destination for citizens.
Not far from the city center, on the river bank, Rope Park is located with rope attractions for both kids and adolescents.
How can I visit Warsaw and not take my child to the zoo? It is interesting in that animals, birds and reptiles live in spacious enclosures, where conditions are created for them, close to those in which one or another species lives in the wild.
"Little Versailles"
If you have already visited all the iconic sights and do not know where to go in Warsaw yet, go to the Wilanowski Palace. King Jan Sobieski, having married the French princess Maria Casimira Lagrange d'Arquien, decided to present her with a residence that would remind her of her native Versailles.
A tourist can admire not only the appearance of the palace and the wonderful regular park, but also enter inside. Luxurious chambers showcase a collection of furniture, weapons, knightly vestments and decorative objects.