The city of Warsaw lies along the banks of the Vistula, it is the ancient and majestic capital of Poland. Having set the goal of visiting all the sights of Warsaw, and not knowing what to see and where to go, an inexperienced tourist should remember that Warsaw became the capital of Poland in 1791.
This year was significant for the Poles; unfortunately, there is practically no evidence left from that historical era. The architectural structures in the part of Warsaw called the “old town” were built just over a century ago. Most of them were also rebuilt due to the events of World War II.
Arian Zwegers / flickr.com
It is hardly possible to plunge into the medieval past of the city. Tourists are invited to visit a number of castle buildings, rebuilt and open to public access as art galleries and museums. The city has several extensive park areas, a metro network, comfortable public transport, cafes and restaurants offering various delights of European and even Asian cuisine.
You can view possible excursions and book tickets for them on the portals and.
One day excursion
The most popular among tourists are one-day excursions around Warsaw, which allow you to explore most of the places that deserve attention and take photographs with famous monuments art and architecture. Unfortunately, not many tourists have an idea of what to see in Warsaw in 1 day.
Google Maps / google.ru
During the excursion you should definitely visit:
The Palace of Culture and Science is a 231-meter building, which is a real complex of museums, libraries, observatories and offices. The building was built by order of J.V. Stalin and was a gift from the Soviet people to Polish workers. The luxury high-rise is the tallest building in the city. From the top floor there is a breathtaking view of the old and new parts of the city.
Tom Graham / flickr.com
The building is available to visitors from 9.00 to 18.00, in summer time until 20.00. Friday and Saturday evenings Observation deck, located on the top floor of the palace, you can visit it until 23.00. entrance fee is 4.76 euros (20 zlotys) during the daytime, 5.23 euros (22 zlotys) at night. The Palace of Culture is the best place you can see in Warsaw in 2 days.
Royal Palace of Sigismund III Vasa - construction of the palace ended in the first half of the 17th century, the last renovation of the significantly dilapidated walls was carried out by Stanislav Poniatowski, in this regard, in some guidebooks the building is called the palace of this last Polish king. The palace is located on Castle Square (“Castle Square”), which is also the center of the historical and cultural life of the city.
IN holidays Noisy festivities begin in the square and fairs are organized. This place looks most interesting on New Year's Eve and Christmas. You can get there on your own - by renting a bicycle, using the metro, or taking a taxi. You can walk around the entire palace and its surrounding areas in 3-4 days.
Krakow Przedmieście is a picturesque district of Warsaw with attractions that attract tourists with their colorfulness, abundance of souvenir shops and restaurants.
Jorge Láscar / flickr.com
Here you can buy souvenirs for every taste and pocket, as well as admire a number of architectural monuments, such as:
- Chap Palace.
- Tyszkiewicz Palace.
- Hotel Bristol.
- Academy of Fine Arts (many students from other European countries study at the Warsaw Academy).
- sculptural compositions depicting Mickiewicz, Poniatowski, Proust.
- University of Warsaw.
- Krakow Przedmieście is a paradise for tourists; it is recommended to all visitors who don’t know what to see in Warsaw in one day.
Market Square - the old town (Rynek starego myasta) - a place for shopping and a regular walk, attracting tourists also with the presence of an ancient statue of a siren. The sculptural composition was created in the mid-19th century by sculptor Konstantin Hegel (the siren is depicted on the coat of arms of Warsaw and is a symbol and protector of the city).
According to the author's idea, the siren was depicted with a sword and a round shield raised above her head. A piece of rock acted as a pedestal. Modern tourists are offered a copy of the sculpture; the remains of the surviving original are kept in the city museum. Market Square is one of the best places, where to go in Warsaw is a must, regardless of how many days the visit is planned.
Gabriela Fab / flickr.com
If you wish, you can extend your stay in the city and find other attractions in Warsaw:
- Ostrogsky Palace;
- Lazienki Palace;
- Ujazdowski Castle.
Dennis Jarvis / flickr.com
Jorge Láscar / flickr.com
You can easily find these buildings on a city map, even without knowing the Polish language and without hiring a guide.
The excursion can be planned even in winter. Excursions through park areas or night walks are popular among tourists. The described places are not all that can be seen in Warsaw.
Camping
Warsaw has several vast park areas, on the territory of which there are lakes, palaces, art galleries, museums, charity evenings, and musical performances.
Most popular place For recreation, the “Royal Lazienki” is considered a palace and park ensemble. The central place in the ensemble is given to the Lazienki Palace, the majestic walls of which are reflected on the transparent surface of the lake.
The palace is surrounded by green spaces and is a grandiose structure, against which you can take beautiful shots. The palace houses a museum that displays collections of paintings collected by the royal family over the centuries.
The park is decorated with sculptures by Chopin and Henryk Sienkiewicz. On holidays, concerts and celebrations are held in the territory adjacent to the palace, and famous artists come. The territory of the complex is huge, so it’s easier to walk around by bike.
Justine Jablonska / flickr.com
The price of a ticket to visit all museums does not exceed 20-25 zlotys. On Thursday you can visit all exhibitions and complexes completely free of charge. The park is vast, one day is not enough for an excursion; you cannot get around it in 3 days.
There is something to see in Warsaw even with children. When planning a walk, you should definitely purchase a ticket to Botanical Garden, crashed on the roof of the University of Warsaw.
Walk through the city at night
Warsaw at night is no less interesting. The most popular place among lovers of night walks is Fountain Park. It is located on the banks of the Vistula, open in spring and summer, in autumn time only until the end of September. Fountains flow to the music, all this is illuminated by lasers, resulting in an enchanting show.
Juan Antonio Segal / flickr.com
At the same time, up to 30 thousand liters of water are thrown into the air, illuminated by 300 multi-colored reflectors. Entrance to the park is free; many explanatory signs are written in Russian.
Leszek Leszczynski / flickr.com
Enrico Strocchi / flickr.com
In winter you can visit Palace Square, located at the same address as the Royal Palace. At this time there is a huge spruce on it, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Traditional New Year's processions, Christmas carols and other entertainment events also take place here. It is better to go to Warsaw in winter, when nothing else will distract you from walks and entertainment.
Museums
The main attractions of Warsaw are museums. The most famous museums in the city are:
- National Museum. Opened in 1862. It is considered one of the oldest museums in Poland. The museum displays over 800 thousand exhibits. A number of rooms are dedicated to painting and various areas of art. The museum houses the largest painting in Poland, “The Battle of Grunwald,” painted by Jan Matejko. The museum is located on the banks of the Vistula, cost entrance ticket is 15 zlotys.
- Museum-palace in Wilanova. The Jan Sobieski Palace, built at the end of the 17th century, is used as a museum. IN different time The castle was owned by Izabela Lubomirska and the Potocki princes. The museum displays a collection of portraits of Polish kings. The palace is located on the shore of a pond surrounded by gardens. The place deserves close attention from tourists. The entrance ticket costs 20 zlotys.
- Historical Museum. Available to all visitors to the market square. The museum building is located in 11 adjacent buildings. The presented composition tells about the history of Warsaw. The museum has been operating since 1939. The ticket price is 9 zlotys. This is one of the best places to go with the whole family.
Video: sights of Warsaw.
Warsaw is not rich in attractions, but still this city has a lot of interesting things, for example:
- In the 1960s, a building 1.5 kilometers long was built in Warsaw, called the Beijing building. The house consists of 22 two high-rise buildings interconnected, which occupies a total of 88 thousand square meters. Up to 7 thousand people live in the building. The house is the pride of the Poles and one of the attractions that attracts tourists. There is no other high-rise building like this in all of Poland.
- The residential building located on Warsaw's Golden Street is one of the tallest residential buildings in the European Union. Its height reaches 192 meters, the area is 72 thousand square meters, residential premises are located on 52 floors. The building was designed by an American architect, Daniel Libeeskind.
- A skyscraper built in 1908 has been preserved in Warsaw. The building, 51.5 meters high, was intended for the Polish Telephone Joint Stock Company.
- The tail of the mermaid (siren), whose sculpture is installed in the market square (old town), is considered magical. The person who strokes it has his wishes come true. All tourists are in a hurry to see the mermaid.
- Warsaw is the only Polish city with a metro.
- There are 66 universities and various educational institutions in Warsaw.
- The sweets produced at the oldest caramel factory in Europe are famous throughout the world.
- There is not a single circus in the city, but there are many theaters, the locations of which are indicated on the map.
- One of the streets is named after Winnie the Pooh (you need to make a note here - “I’ll watch it with my child”; children under 10 years old will be delighted).
A tired tourist is invited to try the famous Polish soup with sausages, as well as stewed vegetables. Poles are big fans of mushrooms and berries; many residents of Warsaw specifically travel outside the city to search for them in the forest and then store them for the winter.
Paul Sableman / flickr.com
Poles consider Warsaw to be a rather noisy city, but in reality this is not the case. The capital is full of secluded places. Compared to other European capitals, Warsaw is a completely remote province, but at the same time it is not deprived of the attention of many tourists who prefer slow walks to noisy entertainment. The map of Warsaw is replete with such places.
Rare tourists spend more than one day in Warsaw and we were no exception, taking a one-day break along the way. Naturally, we had previously read the reports and impressions of Warsaw from other travelers. They all come to the conclusion that they expected less from the capital of Poland; bad reviews are usually left by people who have not visited Warsaw at all.
Yes, of course, the entire city was destroyed during the war and it was not possible to restore it completely to its pre-war form. The result was a kind of mix from different centuries, since some objects were restored according to plans of the 18th century, others according to pre-war plans, some buildings were restored in a simplified version. But UNESCO still included the center of Warsaw on the list of historical heritage of mankind, because the efforts put into restoration were simply enormous.
I described how to get to the center of Warsaw in an article dedicated to We began our exploration from Charles de Gaulle Square. We walked along Nowy Świat Street, which together with Krakowskie Przedmieście Street is part of the Royal Route.
You might want to find yourself excursions in Russian around Warsaw. To do this, I would recommend that you read the article - The second and last site from the list is relevant for Warsaw.
The Royal Route previously connected the Royal Palace of John III Sobieski with his Wilanów country residence. In total it will be about 10 km. We examined only a small part of this historical road from Place Charles de Gaulle to Castle Square.
Interesting decorated house on the street New World
The Polish language immediately began to surprise us; we were in Poland for the first time and were not yet accustomed to such surprises. The day before we just talked with the landlady in a mixture of Polish, Russian and in English and we were convinced that there are definitely many similar words in our languages. Slavic languages often have the same word roots, but completely different meanings; below is an example in the photo. “Dermo” is something about skin diseases and dermatology, but I have completely different associations?
Quirks of the Polish language, pharmacy sign I was also surprised by the signs of Polish stores; in Polish the store will be “sklep”, “zoo sklep” generally brings back memories “of a pet cemetery”. The beauty salon will be exactly the opposite - Salon Urody.
Beauty salon in Polish This is where I will finish about the features of the Polish language, come and learn a lot of new things.
Near the monument to Copernicus, New World Street smoothly flows into Krakowskie Przedmieście Street. Despite the controversial issue of Copernicus' nationality, the Poles consider him one of their own. On the square in front of the monument, a diagram of the heliocentric system of the world is laid out with multi-colored stones, and the monument to Copernicus is in the center of it.
Monument to Copernicus at Staszica Palace Krakowskie Przedmieście
Kraków Przedmieście took shape as a street in the 15th century. This is one of the oldest streets in Warsaw and an absolute tourist must see. Along this street are located all the most important buildings in Poland - the University of Warsaw, the Presidential Palace, several ancient churches, many palaces of Polish magnates, simple houses and famous hotels. Churches and everything related to religion are of great importance to Poles. Krakow Przedmieście is a clot of Polish history. On this street we will meet many people who are the pride of Polish science, art, politics and religion.
For example, the heart of Frederic Chopin was walled up in the columns of the Church of the Holy Cross; the Polish musician died in Paris, but as a sign of his attachment to his homeland, he asked to bury his heart in Warsaw, which was done 39 years after his death. Frederic Chopin was born in a village near Warsaw, studied at the university, and in Warsaw many places are associated with his name.
Church of the Holy Cross (construction 1679-1696, restored 1945 - 1953) The Poles greatly revere Frederic Chopin; they even developed a special a tourist route“In the footsteps of Chopin in Warsaw”, you can pick up a brochure with a map from Turistic info. All places where the composer visited are marked with memorial plaques. In many places along the route there are memorial benches, and on each bench there is a map of the route, and such a bench also plays music at the press of a button. Warsaw has the best museum of Frederic Chopin, which is not surprising given such veneration.
Chopin's bench on Krakowskie Przedmieście The University of Warsaw was opened in 1817 under Alexander I in the building of the Casimir Palace; after the Polish uprising of 1830, the university was closed and reopened only in 1862. Polish students studied at the universities of Moscow and St. Petersburg at that time, Polish departments were opened there, but they were still forced to learn Russian, but on the other hand, how can you live in Russia and not know the language at all?
Main gate of the University of Warsaw Almost the entire Krakowskie Przedmieście street is lined with palaces of noble Poles or magnates. So on the façade of the Tyshkevich Palace, the Atlantans hold a balcony on stone shoulders. After the Tyszkiewicz Palace, look carefully at your feet, you might want to deviate a little to the left and look at the oldest garden in Warsaw -. If you go to the right at this point, you can look at the modern garden built on the roof of the Warsaw University library. You can visit both gardens for free, and then return to Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and continue your walk.
Riding a chaise with the Tyszkiewicz Palace in the background (1792) The Visitation Church is one of the few that survived the war; we can see it the same as it was after construction was completed in 1761.
Church of the Visitor or Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed Next to the Visiting Church there is a monument to the Primate of Poland Stefan Wyszynski, he was also called the Primate of the Millennium, he was in office from 1948 to 1981. He is highly respected in Poland; a monument to him was also erected in Czestochowa, the spiritual center of the country; a square in the town of Ostroleka is named after him.
Monument to the Primate of the Millennium Stefan Wyszyński 
Houses on Castle Square Polish cuisine
After visiting the palace, it was time for lunch. Naturally I wanted to try Polish cuisine. This is not difficult to do. In the center of Warsaw there are many establishments specializing in national dishes. We chose Restauracja Zapiecek, this is a chain of restaurants, there are several of them in the center of Warsaw. Prices are moderate: soup about 2€, dumplings or dumplings about 4€. The menu with prices can be viewed here.
Restauracja Zapiecek – Polskie Pierogarnie The waitresses of “Restauracja Zapiecek” are dressed in national costumes, they serve Polish “perogi”, as they call dumplings with berries, cottage cheese, potatoes, and Russian style “perogi” are made with meat. In addition to “perogs”, they also serve many other dishes - soups, bigos, sausages with cabbage. Everything was delicious. Poles understand the word “sour cream” in Russian; in Western Europe such a concept does not exist; there it is either cream or yogurt. And we took sangria to drink, not Polish, but very tasty and refreshing.
Pasha with perogies and sour cream During lunch, the Polish grandfather entertained us with songs, including in Russian. I remember exactly that he sang “White Roses” and “Hold on tightly to the steering wheel, driver...”, and also sang our other songs. Not only people of Slavic appearance, but also Indians gave him Russian songs. Then the nuns approached my grandfather and ordered him Polish songs, then he sang something in Yiddish, we only understood the words “Sholom Aleichem...”. What I mean is that it is believed that Poles do not like Russians, but Russian songs are successfully performed on one of the most important streets of Warsaw.
Street singer Old city
Then we continued our walk through the Old Town. The streets there are much narrower than on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and they are completely pedestrian, it is possible that cars enter there, but only to replenish the stocks of shops and restaurants. It is impossible to photograph entire houses in the Old Town, so I took photographs of fragments of architecture that I liked.
As in all countries with access to the Baltic Sea, trade in amber products is very popular in Poland, and in such an architectural frame amber looks royal.
Nice showcase of amber in the Old Town The facade of the house on Pivnaya Street is decorated with images of pigeons. This decoration appeared on the house in 1953 in honor of the protector of pigeons, who remained to live in the ruins after the liberation of Warsaw. I think it’s very cute, the pigeons turned out as if they were alive.
Decoration of house No. 6 on Pivnaya Street The house under the ship was restored after the war in 1953.
House No. 32 on Świętojanska Street In the old town, many houses are decorated using the sgraffito technique. Below are examples.
Clock and house decorated with sgraffito near the Old Market 
House under the little black boy on the Old Market The Jesuit Church was significantly rebuilt, after the war only a pile of rubble remained. Noteworthy are the original gates (2009) by the famous Polish modern sculptor Igor Mirotai. We first became acquainted with his work on . We are still impressed and are already monitoring the opportunity to see his work in the cities we visit.
Jesuit Church of the Virgin Mary and gates by Igor Mirotai (2009) In the Old Town, all roads lead to the Old Market Square, this is where the Warsaw Sirenka or the Little Mermaid stands. It is the symbol and coat of arms of the city. About 200 years ago, a statue of the little mermaid adorned the façade of the town hall, then the building was demolished and the sculpture was installed on the square independently. All sides of the square are named after Polish politicians; their names, however, mean nothing to the average Russian.
Old Market Square There is an artificial puddle around the pedestal with the little mermaid; it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot in hot weather, which is what many children and adults do.
Warsaw Sirenka One of the cafes on the Old Market Square was decorated with boxes of Russian ammunition, the boxes are very new, are the Poles really still buying weapons from us?
In Warsaw they also sell these buns made from yeast dough with sprinkles, which in the Czech Republic are called trdlo, in Hungary kurtas-kalach, as they are called in Poland, I didn’t have time to understand, but we ate one bun with a hole for everyone.
Houses on the Old Market Barbican separates Old city from the New, but the New City can be recognized as new only in relation to the Old. As in Prague, Warsaw's New Town was originally a separate settlement outside the city walls and merged with the Old Town only in the 18th century.
The Barbican was restored according to 17th-century drawings after the war; ancient bricks to recreate the Barbican were collected from the post-war ruins of other Polish cities, and upon closer examination it is noticeable that the bricks are of different colors.
Barbican New town
We didn’t explore the new city completely, only the part adjacent to the Old City, and we looked at the Stalin skyscraper from the tram window on the way to our rented apartment. There are still many quite interesting buildings in a very modern style, but this is a topic for another story.
On one of the houses in the New Town there is an illustration of the Warsaw legend about the capture of the little mermaid in the waters of the Vistula by two fishermen. According to myths and legends, the Warsaw Sirenka is the sister of the little mermaid from Copenhagen.
In the New Town We never found Pyatochka Street and Winnie the Pooh, but Kozla Street caught our eye and there is something like this in the New Town.
On Freta Street, the Marie Skladowska-Curie Museum attracts attention. Maria was born in Warsaw and lived in the house where her museum is now located for only one year after her birth, then the family moved to another house, also in Warsaw.
The building of the Marie Skladowska-Curie Museum on Freta Street A special tourist route has been developed in the footsteps of Marie Skladowska-Curie in Warsaw; most of the memorable places are located on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and in the Old Town. Russian tsarism did not allow Maria to receive higher education in Poland or Russia, and she and her husband made most of her discoveries in Paris, but she also did not forget her homeland.
Portrait of Marie Skladovskaya-Curie in the museum window Thanks to her efforts, the Radium Institute appeared in Warsaw, now it is the Institute of Oncology. Marie Skladovskaya-Curie received two Nobel Prizes - in physics and chemistry, and became the first woman professor at the Sorbonne in Paris. Moreover, her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie also became a Nobel Prize laureate along with her husband. In my youth, I read the biography of this great woman, written by her second daughter, Eva Curie. This family undoubtedly brought glory to Poland on the world stage.
Monument to Marie Skladowska-Curie over the Vistula We did not visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum; on Sundays, admission there is as free as the Royal Palace. The Polish and Russian governments have different views on this tragic moment in the history of Poland. In general, this is a topic for a separate article and I will not touch on it now.
Graffiti dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising We reached the multimedia fountain park, but didn’t wait for the show. Usually, if you start walking around the city at 10 am, then by 10 pm or even earlier you no longer have any strength left. The next day we had a long drive to the Adriatic coast and wanted to rest before the long journey.
Light fountains We found Warsaw a very pleasant city. One day, as always, was not enough, especially in the summer, when the weather is conducive to exploring parks and suburban residences. Next time, if we drive past Warsaw, we’ll definitely stop by to look at Lazienki Park and the suburban residence of Wilanów; its palace can be visited on Thursdays for free as well. In Warsaw, an attraction of unheard-of generosity works with museums. Three very interesting museum You can watch it for free, does anyone know the same or similar promotion in other European capitals?
I read plans to explore Warsaw along with parks within 24 hours, but this doesn’t seem like a sound idea to me. We only managed to look at the city center and not completely. In 2017, we stopped by Warsaw again and spent several hours
Before the hostilities on its territory, the capital of Poland was one of the most beautiful Eastern European cities. After World War II, the city was destroyed by 85%, which did not prevent it from becoming serious after a long and painstaking reconstruction. tourist center, rich in unusual locations. The sights of Warsaw, of course, are mostly newly built buildings, although there is also a historical part.
Now ultra-modern Warsaw impresses visitors with mirrored skyscrapers mixed with numerous representatives of religious architecture. The tragic and difficult history of this city today remains only in history books and people's memories. And for travelers, Warsaw is a warm and cozy space for a multifaceted holiday, where the study of the historical part plays a significant role.
What sights of Warsaw to see first?
The sights of Warsaw, as mentioned earlier, are divided into modern ones and those that remained partially intact after the fighting, after which they were restored. Due to their large number, tourists should plan in advance the most successful routes for exploring the city.
This is especially true for those foreigners who plan to see the sights of Warsaw in one day. The variety of cultural and historical monuments requires careful selection in order to see the pearls of the city in a short time. Below are the best attractions of Warsaw, a day of which will be enough to explore.
Top 10 main attractions in Warsaw
Excursions to the sights of Warsaw
When the question of how to invest maximum information and impressions in a minimum of time is acute, a convenient online service comes to the rescue. It is here that vacationers will be able to choose interesting excursion walks that will not only introduce them to the sights of Warsaw, but also teach them to look at similar cities differently. After all, the history of the Polish capital really deserves attention. This is an example of courage and self-confidence, which were duly rewarded. Therefore, for tourists who want to learn more, excursions of different themes will be an excellent addition to their vacation.
Sights of Warsaw and its surroundings with photos and descriptions
The main attractions of Poland in Warsaw are restored historical buildings that have the same ancient appearance, recreated with great difficulty. They were built on the basis of drawings, photographs and old plans, which in itself is a huge achievement for the Poles. The city has a lot of interesting locations that should be seen by tourists. There are those places that are visited without fail, while others remain outside of close attention. But their diversity allows each person to create their own route based on individual desires.
Top 30 attractions in Warsaw
1. Old Town - Stare Miasto
This is the oldest historical district of the city, which is the most visited location. The sights of the Old Town in Warsaw are an opportunity to see those very medieval buildings and squares. In particular, the city walls, Market Square, cathedral. These are restored cultural monuments that were badly damaged during the war. However, painstaking work, sifting through the ruins, looking for decorative elements and returning them to their place did the trick. Today, the Old Town amazes with its grandeur and allows you to feel the atmosphere of antiquity. It is included in the UNESCO heritage list.
2. Royal Castle
Architectural and historical monument is one of the most visited, because it was previously the residence of political figures. Today, within the walls of the majestic fortification there is a museum with permanent exhibitions and temporary exhibitions. This is a reconstructed ensemble, because the war left no trace of the building.
The price for visiting the castle for adults is 30 Polish zlotys (approximately 530 rubles). Children under 16 years old can see one of the most popular attractions in Warsaw for 1 Polish zloty (about 18 rubles). In summer, the average work schedule is from 10-00 to 18-00, in winter - from 11-00 to 16-00.
3. Lazienki Park
Royal Lazienki is another name for an amazing green park located on an island surrounded by canals. Here, at one time, Ujazdowski Castle was built with a beautiful view of the Vistula, Lazne (bath) and the Hermitage. Of course, the war did not spare this secluded corner.
But after completion the park became a place have a relaxing holiday and enjoying the beauty of nature. Here you can feed squirrels by hand, listen to music concerts or birdsong. Making noise and walking on lawns, scaring animals and fishing from ponds is prohibited. There is no cost to visit the park.
4. Museum of the Warsaw Uprising
It would seem, how can you create a place that tells about terrible events in such a way as to leave behind light and pleasant memories from your visit? The Poles succeeded. Modern techniques and special effects reveal all the details of 1944, when the Polish army tried with all its might to overcome the occupation within 63 days.
The museum is open to the public on weekdays from 8-00 to 18-00. On weekends you can come in from 10-00 to 18-00. The day off is Tuesday, and Sunday free entrance. Price on other days: full – 18 zlotys (315 rubles), reduced 14 (245 rubles).
5. Wilanów Palace
The Wilanów palace and park ensemble, due to its rather distant location from the center of Warsaw, became a landmark that was perhaps the only one to survive the war without loss appearance. The Baroque palace was built in 1677 and has managed to preserve its exterior and interior. Today, tourists come here to admire the original furniture, frescoes, portraits and sculptures that this place carefully preserves.
The average working hours of the museum are from 9-30 to 16-00, on Sunday from 10-30 to 18-00. An hour before closing, visitors are no longer allowed in. The cost of visiting for adults is 20 zlotys (350 rubles), preferential categories - 15 (263 rubles), you can enter the park for 5 (87 rubles) and 3 (52 rubles) zlotys, respectively.
6. Museum of the History of Polish Jews
The interactive museum, which occupies a significant area, tells the story of the history of the Jewish people in Poland. It was opened in 2013 on the territory of the former Warsaw ghetto. The building is decorated in Art Nouveau style and houses a large number of exhibits. Here, moments of the thousand-year history of the Jews are revealed, right up to the military events, when they suffered an unenviable fate in Warsaw and other cities.
You can visit the museum site as part of a tour to learn more, and also take an audio guide. Free admission on Thursday.
7. Market Square
Located in the Old Town, Market Square remained for a long time the main center of trade and simply a wonderful meeting place. It is framed on all sides by fancy multi-colored facades, and now the heart of the city is ready to become a cozy corner for tourists. The square is especially beautiful in winter when it opens free skating rink, and everything around is decorated with elegant Christmas lights.
There are many different cafeterias and interesting authentic establishments here. You can drink a cup of coffee in the Old Town for 10-15 zlotys (175-262 rubles).
8. Copernicus Science Center
In 2010, the amazing Copernicus Science Center opened in Warsaw and since then it has been mandatory place visits for tourists arriving in Poland. Its popularity is due to the opportunity to touch any exhibits, conduct experiments on your own and endlessly explore various areas of the center. This landmark of Warsaw is perfect for visiting with children.
The cost of the premises is 22 zlotys (385 rubles) for adults, for students and pensioners - 16 (280 rubles), for schoolchildren - 13 (227 rubles). Children under 2 years old can enter for free.
9. Frederic Chopin Museum
Fans of creativity (especially music) will certainly be happy to visit exhibitions dedicated to the world-famous Polish composer. You can see two branches at once: the Chopin House and the Little Salon of the Chopin Family. In addition to the exhibition, where collections of photographs, documents, manuscripts, sheet music and much more are presented, visitors will be able to attend musical events here on some days. The museum has five exhibition levels, including even an audio room.
The museum is open from 11-00 to 20-00. There is a children's room. Ticket price is 22 zlotys (385 rubles) for an adult, 13 zlotys (227 rubles) for a reduced price, and on Tuesdays admission is free.
10. Castle Square
The square is located between the Old Town and the Royal Palace. The latter is where its name comes from. In the center of the square stands the column of King Sigismund, erected in this place back in 1644. After its destruction during the war period, it had to be restored until 1949. Later it became a pedestrian zone. Castle Square received its modern appearance already in 1988.
This is a good location to create beautiful photos, easy walking and spending time in small cafes.
11. Lazienki Palace
The residence of the last Polish king was located right on artificial island, for which it also received the name Palace on the Water. The design is made in the style of early classicism. The building is framed by Lazienki Park and two colonnaded bridges. Wonderful example architectural monument history definitely deserves attention.
12. Column of Sigismund III
The structure appeared on Warsaw Square back in 1643-1644. The monument itself was made of bronze, and the pedestal was carved from stone. It is installed right in front of the Royal Palace. The depicted Polish king supports a large cross with his left hand. In turn, with his right he holds a curved saber. The authentic column was destroyed in 1944 and restored in 1949. The column was made of granite.
13. Warsaw Citadel
The 19th century Russian fortress in the city appeared after the Polish uprising that occurred in 1830. Nicholas I erected the structure in order to protect the territory of Russia. Warsaw Citadel is one of the names, another is Alexander's. Now a memorial complex is located in the brick building and in the nearby square.
14. Warsaw Zoo
This Warsaw attraction is best suited for children. The huge zoological garden is home to 553 species of animals. It was opened back in 1926 and has expanded significantly since then. During the war, many animals died, some were deported, and were also distributed to zoos in Germany. The pig farm remained operational on the territory of the zoo, where hundreds of Jews from the Ghetto were hiding.
15. Saxon Garden
A large city park was founded in 1727 and immediately became publicly accessible to all locals. It was created based on the prototype - the Versailles Park, so the design is Baroque. In the 19th century, the garden acquired English features, a fountain and a water tower were built. After the war, the park was significantly damaged, but over time it was restored.
16. Ujazdow Castle
The park of the same name features the decorated former residence of the Polish king Augustus II. The Baroque style building was erected in 1659-1665. Unfortunately, in this case too, the war played a cruel joke and completely destroyed it. They began to restore the building already in 1975, and made significant progress in reconstruction. Nowadays there is a center for contemporary art there.
17. Krakowskie Przedmieście
The 1 km long avenue connects the ancient part of the city with the modern center. Walking along the road, tourists will discover many attractions of Warsaw. The modernization of this location took place in 2006-2008, and during this time wide sidewalks and a new narrow pavement made of Chinese granite appeared here. From here you can easily reach palace and park ensemble Lazienki.
18. Palace of Culture and Science
In the capital of Poland there is a colossal tower in the Soviet style - a gift to the Poles from the Soviet Union and Stalin personally. The Palace of Culture and Science is still a rather controversial building, which has been repeatedly considered to be destroyed. Now it houses exhibition halls, a cinema, a planetarium and a museum, an office complex and much more. They are held in the yard various events. The highest Polish observation deck is open on the 30th floor.
19. Warsaw Barbican
The fortification is part of the fortress walls, which were erected in the 16th century. The semicircular fortified outpost is one of the very few historical monuments remaining on the territory of Warsaw. The fortification structure was part of a complex of fortifications that surrounded the capital of Poland. It was restored after the war in 1952-1954.
20. National Museum
The art museum opened in 1862, but received its own building only in 1927-1938. A significant part of the rich collection was taken away by the Germans, and the rest was incinerated during the uprising. It was possible to replenish the museum fund only in 1961-1964, when large-scale excavations were carried out. Nowadays, ancient, oriental, early Christian, modern Polish, decorative and other art, engravings, sculptures, coins, medals, books, photographs and iconography are collected here.
21. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Museum
The exhibitions are dedicated to an outstanding female physicist whose life and work deserve attention. Family documents, valuables and household items, photographs, laboratory supplies and known radium minerals are collected here. There is no laboratory here as such. But there is an opportunity to purchase a variety of souvenirs: from postcards to magnets.
22. Museum of the Polish Army
Exhibition halls are located in a single building with National Museum. Here, exhibits telling about the history and victories of Polish military personnel are collected and presented to the public. An extensive collection of armor, standard uniforms of the Polish army, battle paintings, samples of weapons - all this is worth getting acquainted with within the walls of the museum. Most of dedicated to the participation of the Polish army in World War II.
23. Church of St. John the Baptist
The Gothic brick cathedral is a functioning Catholic church. Its foundation dates back to 1390, but like many other landmarks in Warsaw, the temple was bombed, almost erasing the building. The interior of the church suffered the most damage. Later, the supposed original appearance was recreated.
24. Church of the Holy Cross
The temple was built in Baroque architectural style. The basilica was created in the period 1679-1696, but was destroyed during the fighting in Poland. The temple was rebuilt already in 1945-1953. In front of the building stands a bronze statue of Jesus Christ carrying a cross. The church on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street belongs to the ancient Catholic order - the Lazarists.
25. Church of St. Casimir
The church, erected at the end of the 17th century, was strikingly different in appearance from the reconstructed building. During the fighting, the temple was used as a shelter for the civilian population. After its destruction, restoration took 15 years. The organ and bells have been preserved in the cathedral. Palladianism was chosen for construction - an early form, the basis of which is strict adherence to symmetry.
26. Church of St. Anne
The church is located in the historical part of the city and is decorated in a neoclassical architectural style. This is one of the oldest buildings in Warsaw and has undergone many changes and reconstructions. The original appearance of the church was preserved in archival photographs of the city. Now the temple combines several styles, including high baroque, neo-Renaissance, late Gothic and others.
27. Monument to the Warsaw Uprising
The famous structure was erected in 1989 at the entrance to the tunnel system, which was used by the Poles to escape from German troops. The Warsaw Uprising is a tragic chapter in the history of the state. The monument should remind people of the thousands of heroes who gave their lives for their country. It depicts Home Army soldiers rising from the ruins.
28. Monument to the Ghetto Heroes
Another landmark of Warsaw, designed to preserve the memory of military events, is the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes. It is dedicated local residents who survived the destruction of the city. This is a stone parallelepiped, with figures of rebels of different ages and genders carved on one side. On the other you can see the suffering faces of elderly people and women.
29. Monument to the young rebel
The bronze statue is dedicated to the children who were also part of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. The little boy in a large helmet with a Polish ribbon and holding a weapon does not seem funny - his eyes are full of determination. The monument was erected in the city in 1983. This is another reminder of the terrible events that deprived Polish children of their childhood.
30. Monument to Chopin
The bronze monument is a tribute to the memory of the great composer. It is located in Lazienki Park. The stylized composition represents the figure of Chopin sitting under a Masovian willow tree. This is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Warsaw. The image is found on printed and souvenir products.
Sights of Warsaw and its surroundings on the map
As you can see from the information above, the city is rich in various interesting locations, so I want to see more. But how can you cover the maximum number of cultural, historical and architectural monuments if the idea of ordering an excursion is not attractive?
A map of Warsaw with attractions in Russian will greatly facilitate the process of drawing up for vacationers. best routes to explore the city. It’s convenient and practical, besides, you can always spy on the road or adjust it to suit yourself.
Warsaw general information about the city
Warsaw has been the capital of Poland since 1596 (officially since 1791). This is the most Big City countries both in area and in number of inhabitants. Warsaw is located on both banks of the Vistula, which divides the city into two almost equal parts. The city seemed more modern to me than ancient. However, it, of course, also has historically significant buildings, most of which you will find in the Old Town (in the Śródmieście area - Śródmieście). Most of the buildings are not original, but were restored, so during the Second World War the city suffered greatly and was then restored over the decades so that current generations have the opportunity to touch the beauty. In 1980 historical Center Warsaw is listed cultural heritage UNESCO and is under its care.
This part of the city is truly beautiful and a must visit.
Warsaw – Sights of the old town
We were very lucky, we lived right in the Old Town, on Freta Street, thanks to which we had the opportunity to see a lot of interesting things on the way to the exhibition. Our apartment was very close to the Barbican, formerly a fortified outpost of the city, today a historical monument, which, together with the fortress walls, turrets and arched passages, is one of the favorite tourist spots.
Our way to bus stop also lay through the Old Market Square (Rynek starego miasta) with many magnificent buildings and cozy cafes and Castle Square. On the triangular Castle Square there is the Royal Palace (Zamek Królewski) and in the middle the Column of Sigismund (Kolumna Zygmunta).
IN Royal Palace You can see the royal chambers, the ballroom, the castle church, etc., and also visit the art gallery.
There is also an observation platform on Castle Square from which you can admire fantastic (I believe that they must be) views of Warsaw. Unfortunately, we were in quite a bit of trouble over time, so we weren't able to personally verify that the platform was actually worth climbing.
If you just wander through the streets and alleys of the Old Town, then at every step you come across something beautiful and interesting from an architectural point of view. Among other attractions in Warsaw, for example, the Church of St. John the Baptist, the Jesuit Church and the Warsaw Bell are noteworthy.
Adjacent to the Old Town is the New Town (Nowe Miasto), which also has many attractions (churches, castles and other interesting things). In my opinion, the Old and New Towns are best “explored” on foot.
In the evening in the New Town you can watch the free show “Singing Fountains” (I’m not sure if it’s daily, we were there on a Saturday evening). The multimedia fountain park is located on the Vistula embankment, in Podzamcze Park. The show is packed with people, so get there early if you want to get the best seats. Photos didn't turn out well 🙁
Warsaw – Other attractions
What could I recommend for sightseeing in the capital of Poland besides the Old Town?
In my opinion, worthy of a visit and inspection:
– Krakowskie Przedmieście
This is a street where you can see many majestic buildings, palaces and monuments.
– New World Street (Nowy Świat)
There are also a lot of attractions here.
– Frederic Chopin Museum
The Poles are very proud of their famous compatriot; many streets are named in his honor, as well as the Warsaw airport, there are museums and monuments.
– Marshal Josef Piłsudski Square (Plac marsz. Józefa Piłsudskiego)
This area is part of the Saxon Axis and was formerly called Saxon Square. The Saxon palace was destroyed during the war. Today, the perimeter of the square is lined with elegant hotels and other magnificent buildings.
Here you can also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Saxon Park (Ogród Saski) is located nearby; its fountains, alleys with benches and shady trees invite relaxation.
– Palace of Culture and Science
This building is one of the symbols of Warsaw and is the tallest building in Poland (including the spire its height is 237 meters). They say that the high-rise can be seen from any corner of the city. I believe this is true. (We, of course, did not have the opportunity to visit all parts of the city, but from where we were, it was not difficult to find the Palace of Culture and Science). The architecture of the Palace of Culture and Science should be familiar to readers; the palace was built in the style of Stalin's skyscrapers in Moscow. This is a gift from the Soviet Union to the Polish people (from time to time, during times of aggravation of political relations, proposals are made to demolish the building, fortunately, so far common sense has prevailed, and the building remains in its place as before). On one of the upper floors there is an observation deck from where you can admire a breathtaking panorama of the entire Warsaw. Unfortunately, we didn’t get there either (((
– Krasiński Park (Ogród Krasińskich) and Krasiński Palace (Pałac Krasińskich)
This park is not very large, but picturesque and cozy. The park has alleys with benches, recreation areas, children's playgrounds, green lawns, a pond with ducks and beautiful palace. Everywhere you can see parents walking with their children, people walking their dogs, young people sitting on the grass and basking in the first warm rays of the spring sun. Well, I think you understand me, here the locals find their oasis for relaxation.
Of course, the sights of Warsaw are not exhausted by this list; these are the places in Polish capital, where we were able to personally reach. There are many more interesting things, first of all this is Lazienki (palace and park complex). Well, never mind, there will be another reason to return to Warsaw.
Warsaw – How to get from the airport to the city?
You can get from the airport to the city by bus, train and taxi.
Bus number 175 runs every 20 minutes and goes to the center of Warsaw (journey time about 30-
35 minutes/direction: Lotnisko Chopina odloty - Dworzec zentralny). The stop is located immediately in front of the arrival terminal. Bus tickets can be purchased from a ticket machine at the bus stop or directly on the bus.
Suburban trains are designated by the abbreviations SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska; Internet: www.ztm.waw.pl) and KM (Koleje Mazowieckie; Internet: www.mazowieckie.com.pl). You get to the station directly from the terminal. It's easy to find if you know where to look (after going through security and collecting your luggage, exit the arrivals area and go right). Lines of different colors are drawn on the floor at the airport to guide passengers, one of which leads to the station. I don't remember the color, but you can ask the police. They just helped us find our way))). Trains depart approximately every 30 minutes. Tickets are also sold from vending machines.
From the airport to the city we took the S2 (travel time 25 minutes/direction: Lotnisko Chopina - Warszawa Śródmieście), and then changed to the metro. Our ticket with unlimited transfers cost 4.40 zlotys each.
Tip: If you need to get to the center of Warsaw, choose a 75-minute ticket with transfers possible.
The taxi stop is located at the exit of their airport. I can’t say anything about the cost and quality of services; we didn’t use taxis in Poland.
Public transport in Warsaw
Net public transport in Warsaw includes metro, buses and trams.
Metro stations are marked with the letter “M”:
City transport in Poland is modern and works without delays. You can check the schedule at the stops. There is one very convenient application Jakdojade.pl, with which you can easily find and select suitable transport. The application can be downloaded for free.
Tickets are sold from vending machines, which are operated in Polish, English and German. You can pay with coins, banknotes or credit cards.
Warsaw has two zones: zone 1 is the city limits, including the airport, zone 2 is the suburbs. A 20-minute ticket costs 2.20 zlotys. A ticket with an unlimited number of transfers costs 20 minutes 3.40 zlotys and 75 minutes 4.40 zlotys. These tickets are only valid in zone 1.
Tickets purchased at the bus stop must be validated as soon as you board vehicle(for this purpose there are small yellow machines inside buses and trams). If tickets are purchased from a machine on a bus or tram, then they do not need to be composted. Inside, the ticket machines only accept credit cards for payment (we only came across these).
Where to eat in Warsaw? - What Polish dishes are worth trying?
The capital of Poland offers its visitors a large number of restaurants, cafes, bistros and snack bars. There are especially many of them in the city center.
You will find the best price offers in milk bars (Bar Mleczny). Today, these establishments have nothing to do with milk and offer mainly Polish cuisine. We found one such bar near our house on Freta Street. It was delicious, but the decor was cafeteria-style and not very clean.
I really liked the Piwna Kompania establishment, located under the city rampart at Podwale 25 (Podwale 25), the landmark is the Barbican:
Very fast service, despite the large number of visitors (the restaurant is wildly popular; in the evening there is a line of people wanting to get in), very tasty cuisine, a wide selection of Polish dishes and normal prices.
We ordered the signature mushroom soup, I have never tried such deliciousness:
Two bowls of soup, potato salad, a cup of tea and a glass of juice cost us 51 zloty (about $13 for two). Pretty cheap.
What Polish dishes can I recommend? Be sure to try these traditional Polish dishes: Pierogi (similar to our dumplings, available with different fillings), Bigos (stewed cabbage with meat and sausage), Zrazy (stuffed meat rolls), Żurek (potato soup , sausages and eggs), Naleśniki/naleśniki (pancakes with different fillings or gravies) and Placki ziemniaczane/placki (pancakes or just potato pancakes).
I must say that Polish cuisine is generally similar to Russian and Ukrainian, there are no special unusual things. But very tasty and satisfying. Yes, the dishes are simply gigantic, we almost always rolled out of the cafe in buns)))
Be sure to visit one of the street cafes in the Old Town. Amazing atmosphere. Prices are a little higher, but it's worth it. The cafe on Freta Street 4/6 serves delicious coffee with ginger. There is also a store with a huge assortment of coffee. You can try some “new” variety by ordering it in a cafe, and if you like the drink, you can buy it later in the store (in Polish, in the crypt)))) You can buy coffee in beans or ask for it to be ground. We took with us a couple of bags of delicious coffee flavored with ginger 😉)
By the way, I no longer ate pancakes in Warsaw, but in Krakow. (I’ll write a post about my trip to Krakow very soon.)
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My conclusion: Warsaw is worth a visit. Come and see for yourself. I think that you will also like the Polish capital!!!
