Top things to see in Warsaw

WARSAW

Anything you can dream of you’ll find in the Polish capital: interesting history, a wealth of events, exciting nightlife, Michelin-star restaurants, and an abundance of green areas. Check out the charming Old Town and take a stroll down the Royal Route. Learn about the city’s history in Warsaw’s many interactive museums. Spend a wild evening by the Vistula and chill out listening to a Chopin concert at Łazienki Park. No doubt, Warsaw is a must-see on the tourist map of Europe.

1. The Old Town

A UNESCO world heritage site, the Old Town charms with its colourful townhouses and the exceptional atmosphere of its narrow streets. When in the Old Town Market Square, you will meet a mermaid – the official symbol of the city. Don’t forget to see the Barbican, stop by the bell on Kanonia Street, and walk along the old city walls. You should also visit the Royal Castle. Apart from the royal apartments, the old seat of Polish rulers also houses an art collection with paintings by Rembrandt and Bernardo Bellotto, also known as Canaletto.

2. Łazienki Królewskie

The vast park surrounding the summer residence of the last Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, is where Varsovians like to go for longer walks. The park is home to a winter garden, an amphitheatre, and even a Chinese garden. The biggest attraction, however, is the park’s permanent residents: the squirrels and peacocks. Another site worth seeing is the classicistic Palace on the Isle with its enchanting interior design and gallery of paintings.

The park is famous for its Chopin concerts, which take place from mid-May to the end of September every Sunday at noon and 4:00 p.m. Come lounge on the grass and enjoy the music.

3. Palace of Culture and Science, 1 Plac Defilad

The best-known and tallest building in the city, the Palace of Culture and Science, was a gift from the Soviet people to the Poles. Visible from almost any place in Warsaw, the palace is to Warsaw what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris – the perfect landmark. Take the lift up to the 30th floor to see the city panorama from a height of 114 metres. The palace also houses theatres, a cinema, museums, and trendy bistros, as well as the city’s main tourist information point.

4. Wilanów Palace

Wilanów Palace is a true pearl of Baroque architecture in Warsaw. Learn about King Jan III Sobieski, who successfully fended off the Turks in the battle of Vienna and who lived in Wilanów with his beloved Marysieńka. Take a walk in the park and tour the palace interiors; see the portrait gallery and listen to stories of great romances. The building and the park have both kept their original form, despite the partition, war, and occupation. Wilanów Palace is a must-see when visiting Warsaw. In the wintertime, the venue, illuminated with thousands of lamps, transforms into the Royal Garden of Lights.

5. Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, 79 Grzybowska Street

This interactive museum is an exceptional place to gain a deeper understanding of Warsaw’s history. It was founded in commemoration of an event that profoundly changed the city: the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. Listen to the oral accounts given by insurgents, go down into the sewers – similar to the ones that insurgents used to move around the city – and see The City of Ruins, a bird’s-eye view of Warsaw burnt to the ground. Don’t forget to see the murals painted by Polish artists on the Wall of Art. The museum building is interesting in its own right since it was previously an old electric power plant for trams.

6. The National Museum, 3 Aleje Jerozolimskie

The National Museum houses a wonderful collection of well over 830,000 objects from all epochs – from antiquity to contemporary times. Here you will find works of both Polish and world art, including such gems as Jewess with Oranges by Aleksander Gierymski and the large-format Battle of Grunwald by Jan Matejko. Visit the Gallery of Medieval Art to see the unique artefacts there or visit the biggest collection of Nubian cultural artefacts and art in Europe. Don’t forget to check out the schedule of temporary exhibitions.

7. The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, 6 Anielewicza Street

The POLIN Museum restores the memory of the rich, thousand-year shared history of two peoples: Poles and Jews. The interactive exposition will take you on an incredible journey across centuries. You’ll have the chance to walk the streets of a pre-war Jewish shtetl and discover how Polish and Jewish cultures have intermingled. The edifice of the museum is itself an architectural attraction and a landmark of modern Warsaw.

8. The Copernicus Science Centre and Planetarium, 20 Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie

The Copernicus Science Centre is a real treat for science lovers. Have a go at making your own experiments and find out what it felt like for Neil Armstrong to take his first step on the Moon. Find out why we experience fear and learn about the mysteries of the senses. Visit the Sky of Copernicus Planetarium and watch the incredible show, and don’t forget to check out the Robotic Theatre. Once you’ve seen everything, chill out on the lawn in the Discoverers’ Park. This attraction is not only for children.

9. Chopin Museum, 1 Okólnik Street

The Fryderyk Chopin Museum is located in the historic Ostrogski Palace, and is one of the most modern biographical museums in Europe. The exhibits on display include the composer’s grand piano, as well as manuscripts of Chopin’s letters and musical compositions.

10. Boulevards by the Vistula

The Vistula Boulevards are the ideal place for a stroll or a bicycle trip. The exceptional atmosphere of this site is created by the sail-shaped lamp posts and pergolas that offer shade on sunny days. You can stop to rest on one of the stone sculptures in the form of fish and other water creatures, or climb up to the overlook. The promenade is adapted for the needs of people with disabilities and families with children.