Things to Do in Warsaw – TOP Attractions & Activities

What attractions and interesting places can be found in Warsaw? There are various spots on the traveler’s list, such as the Royal Lazienki, the Royal Castle, and the Palace of Culture and Science. Warsaw’s attractions are also located in the Old Town Square, it’s Krakowskie Przedmieście, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This is still the beginning of sightseeing, because a whole guidebook could be written about what to see in Warsaw. Warsaw is big and a trip to it is worth planning in detail. You can find the best information and ideas for visiting the capital in this post.

Warsaw has so many interesting places and attractions that we can only manage to see a snippet of the city for one weekend. And it’s so cool that having visited the Polish capital regularly for several years, I still have a lot to discover. I know that a lot depends on how many days we have for sightseeing, after all, the idea is not to get tired just to travel slowly and enjoy the trip to the capital.

Especially since I now live in Warsaw and know that there is much to admire. Tourist attractions are so numerous that it’s hard to decide. Today I’m going to share a dozen or so inspirations for spending time in Warsaw, not just for a weekend, because the capital can be explored in different ways. Discovering Warsaw’s museums, parks, such as Pole Mokotowskie, visiting the more popular places worth seeing such as Krakowskie Przedmieście, the Presidential Palace or going to the top of the Palace of Culture and Science.

When to go to Warsaw?

There is no better time to visit Warsaw than a weekend. Preferably a long one, because then some of the locals have left the city, the daily hustle and bustle disappears from the streets, and we can count on free seats in restaurants. Sounds great? I invite you to go on!

Palace of Culture and Science

This is probably a must-see for visitors to Warsaw. The view from the Palace is impressive. Admission to the observation deck costs 20 zloty. However, before you buy a ticket online, it’s worth checking if the View Terrace will be open. It is rare that it is closed, but it is better to check.

If you don’t want to go up the top itself, it’s worth stopping for a coffee at one of the restaurants. The prices are really bearable. The best time to sit under the palace is in summer, especially in the evenings it is pleasant to drink (anything) with a view of the illuminated Palace of Culture.

Good to know: on vacations there are incredible queues… not for the elevator leading to the viewpoint, but for the ticket offices! It’s not worth the hassle there, you can easily buy tickets online. They cost the same, and you can spend the time saved on, for example, good coffee (and apple pie!).

Old Town in Warsaw

The interesting places that Warsaw has to offer are located within the Old Town. Warsaw’s Old Town is simply beautiful, surrounded by colorful townhouses, it’s where you’ll find Castle Square along with the Royal Castle and Barbican. Unfortunately, the scale of destruction after World War II was enormous. Therefore, the best preserved parts of the Old Town are… the basements. Of course, after years of reconstruction of the capital, it is hard to guess at first glance which places were most damaged after the war. Such is the charm of the capital ?

I will not hide the fact that a walk to the Old Town in Warsaw always stirs emotions. First of all, it is beautiful there. Second, looking at the post-war photos, we know that it took a lot of work, and it took a really long time to rebuild Poland after the effects of World War II. Third, they often organize pickets in this location (which most tourists avoid, and I guess they are organized every Sunday).  Nonetheless, the Old Town is a beautiful townhouse mostly from the 15th-19th centuries, which were reconstructed after World War II.

A map of the Old Town can be found at this link.

Presidential Palace in Warsaw

The Presidential Palace is located on Krakowskie Przedmieście and is definitely one of Warsaw’s attractions which is hard to miss. The Presidential Palace is the largest palace in the capital. Located between the Alimentelic Church and the Bristol Hotel, it began to be built in 1643, but acquired its current style and exterior in the early 19th century.

Podwale

Podwale Street is located at the foot of the city walls and old moat, surrounding the Old Town. It is here that you will find the Barbican, the Holy Trinity Church-the oldest historic Orthodox church in Warsaw, the barbican in Warsaw or the unusual moving clock on Piekarska Street.

Barbican in Warsaw

The Barbican in Warsaw is one of the attractions of the capital, which is almost entirely a post-war reconstruction. The Barbican, an element of the city’s fortifications, was rebuilt using the original foundations and walls, so today it can be admired as in Krakow or Gdansk.

Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy)

In Castle Square stands the Sigismund’s Column, or the column of King Sigismund III Vasa – the first secular column, which means nothing more or less that previously only saints were presented in this way. From what I’ve read, it caused widespread outrage in Poland at the time.

The Royal Castle in Warsaw

Attractions in Warsaw also include various castles and palaces. Within the Old Town, the Royal Castle is worth seeing. The castle was originally built as a residence of the Mazovian princes, and in 1980 the Royal Castle, together with the Old Town, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle itself is incredibly impressive, and interestingly enough, the Castle’s Small Chapel still holds the royal insignia of Stanislaw August Poniatowski! A visit to Warsaw is also a piece of Polish history.

Market Square in Warsaw

The market square in Warsaw is a piece of history, but also one of historical monuments. It was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, and until the 15th century the buildings were wooden. Many years have passed since then and a lot has changed, but I always feel the history when visiting the Warsaw Market. As I mentioned, there are cellars under the tenements, and more specifically, there are cellars under eight tenements on the Dekert side and under the Burbachow tenement, open to the public. This initiative-museum is called the Route of Cultural Cellars of the Old Town. Besides, the market hosts various events.

Warsaw Market: Warsaw Mermaid

The Warsaw Mermaid, a symbol of Warsaw, is located in the Old Town. It was first unveiled in 1855. Interestingly, in 2008 the statue was replaced by a copy, and the original sculpture by Konstanty Hegel was moved to the Museum of Warsaw. The second Mermaid Monument can be seen on Wybrzeze Kosciuszkowskie Street.

Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

Located in the Old Town, on Swietojanska Street, the basilica is one of the oldest churches of Warsaw, with an extraordinary historical character. Coronations of two rulers of Poland took place there, the first constitution in Poland was sworn in. Today important national ceremonies are held there.

Krakowskie Przedmieście

A walk through Krakowskie Przedmieście is one of the highlights of a trip around Warsaw. It’s where you’ll find the extremely photogenic Hotel Europejski, the Holy Cross Basilica, which is a truly beautiful church, or the Czapski Palace, which now functions as the Academy of Fine Arts. Krakowskie Przedmieście is where you’ll find the Presidential Palace and the Adam Mickiewicz Monument. You can really list for a very long time, because the area around this street is really interesting. You already know the address ?

Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw

This is a place in Warsaw worth visiting when you need a break from the noise of the street. In my opinion, you have to visit it primarily because of the beautiful rosarium and charming corners entwined by vines. Nevertheless, any lover of beautiful places in the UW Botanical Garden should leave satisfied. A regular ticket costs 10 złoty.

Interesting fact! By the Garden you will find a small cafe, if you just sit outside you can count on the company of a variety of birds: from a bunch of titmice, to large magpies. I highly recommend it, because the atmosphere is really nice.?

Attractions in Warsaw: Copernicus Science Center

The Copernicus Science Center is an attraction not only for children, as adults will also be able to learn a lot, and above all have a great time. I myself visited it with my younger brother and family, and we all had a great time ? There are several hundred interactive stations, including an earthquake simulator and a Venetian mirror. We can choose additional activities: biology, chemistry, robotics or visit the planetarium. This is one of the attractions of Warsaw, which you better have on your list ?

Important! Tickets sell out very quickly, and queues at the entrance often resemble those to the Palace of Culture. It’s really a heavily touristed place, so if you’re going to the Copernicus Science Center, it’s worth booking tickets in advance.

The Multimedia Fountain Park in Warsaw

This is a complex of four fountains located in the Square of the 1st Armored Division of the Polish Army. Although I’m not a big fan of such attractions, the Warsaw park is really cool. Well, and even in the middle of summer there were no crowds there ? From the beginning of May until the end of September in the evening (only on weekends) we can go to a special multimedia show, but the fountains are also in operation during the week.

Gardens on the roof. Warsaw University Library

A spot worth visiting for green enthusiasts like me! The Gardens on the Roof of the University Library is one of the largest rooftop gardens in Europe! This Warsaw rooftop garden stretches over 1 hectare. It impresses even those who don’t like gardens and prefer an “urban jungle”. In addition to the gardens on the roof of the University of Warsaw, there is a garden called the “lower” garden, which is connected to the “upper” one by a stream with cascading water. It looks truly fabulous. Right next to the Library we discover the Entrance Garden. The three gardens are connected by charming bridges, footbridges and paths. On the other hand, from the observation deck you can enjoy the beautiful panorama of Warsaw. I love and recommend it to anyone going to Warsaw. BUW is one of the most interesting attractions in Warsaw.

Vistula boulevards in Warsaw

It’s a great place to take a walk along the Vistula River, or just stop at a pub. A lot of people bike, rollerblade and it’s a cool place for kids. As for me, it’s a very good spot to take a moment to reflect on Warsaw and its diversity: on the one hand, a fully developed, “urban” riverbank, and on the other, just the wildness of nature. Although maybe it’s more interesting from the other side of the Vistula? Check it out for yourselves, because tastes are not up for discussion ?

Warsaw attractions: Museums of Warsaw

Museum lovers will certainly not get bored quickly, but also those who are not particularly fond of such places will find something for themselves. What museums to visit in Warsaw? The Warsaw Museum, the National Museum, the Hunting and Riding Museum, the Pawiak Prison, the Poster Museum… I could go on and on all day.

Coming back to Warsaw’s museums, it’s worth checking out their complete list, as there’s plenty to choose from. The more entertaining ones include the Museum of Polish Vodka, but there are also less touristy places. For example, I recently visited the Money Center-and I recommend this place to everyone. I’m sure you’ll learn something new, and let’s agree-it’s better to know more about money than less.

You can read more here:

The Best Museums To Visit in Warsaw

Wilanow Palace: one of the most beautiful attractions in Warsaw

The palace was built in 1681-1696, and has remained unchanged despite Warsaw’s turbulent history. It is here that the Museum of the Palace of King John III in Wilanów, for which this Palace was built, is located. Wilanów is surrounded by a beautiful park, with an area of more than 40 hectares. Wilanow Park is an integral part of the palace and garden complex in Wilanow. The two-tiered Baroque garden, as well as the Neo-Renaissance rose garden, are wonderfully impressive. In the park you will also see an English landscape garden and an English-Chinese park. Part of the park is Wilanow Lake and the Sobieski Canal. Note: You can sail on the lake by boat, which can be rented at the pier.

Lazienki Park or Royal Lazienki Park

When visiting the city’s tourist attractions, you can’t miss the Lazienki Park. Lazienki is simply a palace and garden complex, of which perhaps the most characteristic elements are the Palace on the Island and the Belvedere. It covers about 76 hectares, and in addition to the buildings, pavilions and sculptures (my favorite: the bridge and the statue of John III Sobieski!) we can visit four gardens: Royal, Romantic, Modernist and Chinese. Each is interesting in its own way, my favorite used to be the Romantic. And today I love to walk around the Lazienki, watch the squirrels and toss them nuts.

Saski Garden in Warsaw

Few tourists know that this was the first public park in the city. Worth a visit because of the Great Fountain, beautiful sculptures and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Great Fountain is indeed huge, and you have to see it with your own eyes, as photos are unlikely to convey that. It made an incredible impression on me, and I consider the Saski Garden to be one of the most beautiful places in Warsaw.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is all about symbolism and honoring the memory of those who died fighting for independence. In addition, it makes you think about the course of history. It was unveiled on November 2, 1925, under the Saxon Palace, which no longer exists.

In the footsteps of the Warsaw Uprising

Warsaw is a city worth exploring thematically. I have already written about the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which is located in the former City Tramway Power Plant. Nonetheless, there are many more places to follow this theme, such as buildings where fighting took place (such as the PAST building, which is the site of fierce fighting, or the Warsaw Hotel, formerly Prudential ) or monuments commemorating the Warsaw Uprising, cemeteries.

Palm “Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue”

The artificial date palm tree, set up on the General Charles de Gaulle traffic circle, is one of the symbols of the capital. I know there are critics of it, but I like it because I associate it with Warsaw, with art that is interesting and aesthetically pleasing. It is an amazing project by Joanna Rajkowska, who also created the Passage of Roses in Lodz.

Attractions of Warsaw: Warsaw Metro

Yes, I know it’s not the largest subway in the world. But it is definitely the only one in Poland. Not everyone thinks it’s a tourist attraction, but in my opinion, it’s worth putting the subway on your list because it really is quite good, if only comparing it to the one in Los Angeles. It’s clean, fast and hard to get lost in it. And that’s really important when traveling.

Tracing the Murals

Warsaw is also interesting murals. Amazing ones are near PKP Wola, but there are so many that it’s hard for me to list the most interesting ones. Taking the SKM to Śródmieście from the Ursus side can inspire an interesting photo shoot. For what it’s worth, downtown has recently seen the creation of ecological murals to help improve the city’s air.

On the background of the murals, the Praga District particularly stands out – with its courtyards and colorful murals.

Warsaw – Tourist Attractions

What to visit in Warsaw? Here every district hides something interesting. Not only Downtown is a mine of history or interesting places. For example, many love to explore Zoliborz, others – Praga. And I would add from myself that Ursus, is very strongly associated with the strikes in June 1976. There is much to read about and what to visit, if only by traveling in the footsteps of former forts.

Cinema, theater and musical events

Everyone likes different things, and going to a musical or concert is often easier in the capital than anywhere else. We can see actors from the “big screen”, go to the concert or other event of our dreams. Some attractions are available free of charge, such as art exhibitions or film screenings. There is probably no other city in Poland with so many exhibitions. Besides, you can go to the National Stadium for a concert or sightseeing.

Warsaw For Free

Some attractions in Warsaw are available for free. That’s why it’s simply a good idea to check sites or groups like “Warsaw for free” and see if anything interests you. You can look in calendars of events or on Facebook by checking events near you, narrowing down the hours or the place (e.g. only the center).

More about:

Warsaw for Free. 10 BEST Free Things to Do

Good To Know About Travel To Warsaw

Information for those planning an extended weekend in the capital. Mondays are the time when some attractions are closed, such as the National Museum. For this, on Thursdays you can often count on free admission, but whether you will get in… it already depends on the chosen date. That’s why it’s better to check the availability of attractions in advance on websites. It’s best to check the information on the attraction’s website or their social media, because those that are among the largest or most popular are often the most heavily trafficked on weekends.

I know that many of you want privacy and to travel in a smaller group. The best dates to visit, in my opinion, are a long weekend in Poland, such as May or August, when locals leave the city. The same is in the summer, when the children are on vacation. That’s also when it’s easier to book accommodation near popular destinations and have a good base for Warsaw’s attractions.

Where To Stay in Warsaw

Depending on our preferences and budget, in Warsaw we can rent an apartment, a room or simply stay in a hotel. Sometimes it is better in terms of price (and time) to stay in the center, because, for example, we will spend more on public transportation, or it will take more than half an hour to get to the Palace of Culture (and what if we have to go back for something?). Besides, hotels in Warsaw are another tourist attraction that might as well be a museum.

A lot depends on how many days you set aside to explore the city. On weekends, hotels often have better prices, because business travelers usually return home, and also on e.g. AIRBNB is somehow not particularly expensive, renting a nice apartment for the following weekend without special search and negotiation costs 400 PLN/night.

Transport in Warsaw

In Warsaw we can get around by subway, streetcar, train or bus, we can take a car or a cab. It is up to us which option we choose. How will it come out best and cheapest? It depends on how many people we are traveling with and the distances involved. It’s worth checking travel times on apps or google maps and see what suits us best.

There’s no denying it, sometimes it’s more profitable (time-wise and even financially) to take a traditional cab or another one from the app. I didn’t use the option of catching a cab – the fee of a few zlotys at the start is discouraging enough, when I paid 10-12 zlotys for Uber/similar apps ? As for traveling around Warsaw – everyone has to recalculate for themselves what is both convenient and cost-effective for them.

Restaurants in Warsaw

In Warsaw, there are a lot of restaurants and different cuisines. We will eat here deliciously, homely, exotic. Sometimes more expensive, but most often the prices are OK. I myself love Bombay Masala, a restaurant located among skyscrapers. I like to have coffee in the park where the Royal Lazienki are located, or by the Palace of Culture and Science. A wonderful cafe is located by the UW Botanical Garden. Many interesting restaurants can be found in different neighborhood, and practically everywhere there is some kind of milk bar (like homemade food).

Dear friends, let me know below what are your favorite places in Warsaw. I’ve prepared other posts from Warsaw for you:

The Best Museums To Visit in Warsaw

Warsaw for Free. 10 BEST Free Things to Do

Free Museums in Warsaw – List and Free Days