Best things to do in Warsaw
Warsaw is changing fast, with bold contemporary buildings, state-of-the-art museums, destination restaurants and bar-filled bohemian quarters the new landmarks of a restless metropolis.
Viewpoints and panoramas
National Stadium: An unusual one this: lording it over Warsaw’s riverscape from its shoreside perch in southern Praga, it is particularly impressive at night when lights play across its surface to mesmerising effect. On non-match days, visitors are allowed access to a viewing point up in the stands for superb views over the pitch.
Warsaw University Library Roof Garden: Not only does this rank as one of the city’s most unusual gardens, there are great views of Warsaw.
Palace of Culture and Science: Warsaw’s tallest building - an imposing Soviet-era structure - offers an unbeatable view from its 30th-floor observation deck.
The best districts
Vistula Riverbank: Centre of the capital’s social life come summer, when city folk descend to stroll, sunbathe or sup the evening away in the waterside bars and clubs.
Old Town (Stare Miasto): A testament to Poland’s efforts to rebuild itself after World War II, this historic core was recreated from almost nothing after being razed by the Nazis.
Praga: Praga retains its gritty sense of otherness; cobbled streets and former factories contribute to a post-industrial aesthetic, and the area’s cafés and pubs still seem a touch more underground than those elsewhere.
Museums
Neon Museum: The soft glow of neon is very much a Polish visual trademark; this unique collection of neon signs is a tribute to its enduring allure.
POLIN Museum of the History of the Polish Jews: Epic in scale, and a beautiful piece of architecture to boot.
Warsaw Uprising Museum: A powerful tribute to the city’s resistance during WWII. The interactive exhibits and immersive displays bring history vividly to life.
Parks and gardens
Łazienki Park: Arguably Warsaw’s most luxuriant public space, this is the most elegant of Poland’s urban parks, crisscrossed with oak-lined promenades.
Saxon Garden: Making up a handsome chunk of west-central Warsaw, highlights here are an elegant 19th-century fountain pool; the water tower built by Marconi in the 1850s; and a fine crop of trees, more than 100 species in all.
Historical monuments
Wilanów Palace: The most beautiful of Warsaw’s palaces, this 17th-century royal residence is packed full of opulent furnishings and old masters.
Nożyk Synagogue: A stately ochre structure opened in 1902, the Nożyk’s refined interior is full of Moorish design details: delicate arcades and balustrades, and oriental-inspired furnishings.
Day trips in the area
Żelazowa Wola: Birthplace of Frédéric Chopin, you can explore the composer’s childhood home and the surrounding park in this delightful village just an hour away.
Modlin Fortress: A sprawling 19th-century fortress near the Vistula and Narew rivers, it’s a fascinating slice of military history.
Activities for families in Warsaw
Warsaw has plenty to keep families entertained, including lots of green spaces, but best of all, one of Europe’s finest science museums.
Interactive museums: The Copernicus Science Centre is one of the most spectacular children’s play centres ever conceived anywhere in Europe - kids will be enthralled.
Multimedia Fountain Park: By day, the spurting waters provide entertainment for strollers and kids. On weekend nights, the fountain becomes the scene of a multimedia spectacle powered by choreographed curtains of water, coloured lights, lasers and pounding amplified music - usually with a folk tale or children’s story narrative too.
Zoos: Warsaw Zoo in Praga offers an entertaining day out, with over 500 species of animals to discover, including a butterfly house and a reptile enclosure.
Free things to do in Warsaw
Travellers on a budget will find plenty of free activities in Warsaw, from cultural landmarks to vibrant festivals.
Summer beaches: Several sandbanks along the eastern side of the Vistula become deckchair-covered beaches in summer, while the winding foot and cycle path that runs almost uninterrupted along the eastern bank of the river is popular year-round.
Free events: Warsaw has a busy year-round programme of festivals. One of the best is Jazz in the Old Town, a summer-long season of free concerts on the Rynek Starego Miasta every Saturday at 7 pm.
Free museums: Many museums, including the POLIN Museum and the Royal Castle, offer free entry on specific days of the week.
Nature and outdoor activities in Warsaw
Despite its dense urban core, Warsaw’s river and its hundreds of acres of green space provide possibilities for all kinds of outdoor activities.
Urban hikes: The eastern bank of the Vistula has a fabulous semi-woodland trail that runs under dramatic bridges and offers expansive views of the city centre. The stretch from northern Praga to Saska Kępa makes for an easy hour-long stroll.
Cycling: Warsaw has invested in an excellent network of cycling paths, making it easy to explore the city and beyond on two wheels; the Vistula Bike Route is especially popular.
Wildlife watching: Just outside the city, Kampinos National Park has many trails that wind through forests and wetlands, offering the chance to spot deer, beavers and a variety of bird species.
