What to do in Warsaw?
In this article we will highlight what activities can be done in the Polish capital in the form of culture, entertainment, taste experiences and more.
Despite being one of the fastest growing cities in Europe, with enormous potential and enormous vitality, the people of Warsaw know how to fuse tradition with modernity. The two sides of the city fit together unexpectedly and uniquely at every step - modern and historical structures coexist peacefully. In order to easily reach the Polish capital at a convenient time, the Lux Express website provides a variety of bus schedules from different cities:
Culture
Old Town of Warsaw
Authentic, unaltered buildings and monuments are what you usually look for when walking around the historic city center. Considering Warsaw's 20th-century horrors, the beauty of this area lies in the painstaking and meticulous reconstruction completed by 1962. The extraordinary revival of the Old Town after almost 90% destruction has earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Walking through the alleys and corridors, churches and mansions of Warsaw's Old Town, you would never think that only 70 years ago it was a pile of rubble.
Warsaw History Museum
This museum is focused on the history, culture and art of Warsaw, which was collected by the university and other cultural institutions over many years until it became a separate building in 1936. Since then, the Warsaw History Museum has grown a bit. The History Museum is an independent organization located in 11 buildings in and around the Old Town of Warsaw. The museum houses rare relics from the Second World War and the 1944 uprising, which highlights the rapid changes in Warsaw. While temporary exhibits can be seen in several different places, the main exhibition is located in the old town building.
Warsaw Royal Route
Warsaw's famous "Royal Route" runs from the Royal Palace on Zamkowy Square to the Wilanów Castle in the area of the same name, passing through the Łazienki Park Palace on the island. A walk along the "Road of the Kings" is a must-do on any trip to the city, as it passes a large number of Warsaw's historic buildings, parks, churches and monuments along its 11-kilometer route. In addition, the central section of the route along Krakowskie Przedmiecie and Nowy Wiat takes you directly to many inns, eateries and retail establishments. Although some of the more distant sections of the route may not be particularly spectacular, it is worth the effort to see the lovely Wilanów Palace, gardens and parks.
While walking along the royal route, the following sights will remain on the way:
St. Anna's Church
The first contribution to St. Anna's Church was made in 1454. Several renovations were made in the church. The current appearance was rebuilt in 1788.
Prażmowski's house
The original 1660 construction of the Prazmowski house was reconstructed in Rococo style. Later, after the war, it was rebuilt in the style of the 1660s.
Memorial to Adam Mickiewicz
This memorial honors the most famous Polish romantic poet of all time. On the occasion of his 100th birthday in 1898, the monument was made public.
Carmelite Church
At the end of the 17th century, the Carmelite Church (Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph) was built for Carmelite monks. About 100 years later, the facade was transformed into what it is today.
Monument to Józef Poniatowski
The Danish artist Thorvaldsen created a statue of Prince Józef Poniatowski, who was killed in a battle near Leipzig in 1813.
Copenhagen provided Warsaw with a replacement statue as the first one was damaged during the conflict and it is now displayed in front of the Presidential Palace.
Bristol Hotel
The most influential people stayed at this hotel right after it was built around 1900.
Although the hotel has been renovated since then, the interior still exudes the atmosphere of earlier times, especially in the rooms.
St. Joseph's Church
Entering the church is worth it as you will see some lovely rococo artwork and lovely paintings.
In front of the church is a monument to honor Cardinal Stefan Wyszyski's service to the Polish Catholic Church.
Tyszkiewicz Palace
Built before 1793. Since the Potock family lived here since the 1840s, some refer to the building as the Potock Palace. It is currently part of the University of Warsaw.
Urusk Palace
It was built around 1845. Today it is also part of the university.
University of Warsaw
The area where the University of Warsaw is located is home to a large number of buildings from different historical periods.
For example, the history of the Kazimierzowski Palace, where the rectory is now located, dates back to the beginning of the 17th century.
The Old University Library
Since the founding of the University of Warsaw in 1816, it has been understood that there is not enough room for all students, and as a result, several faculties have been relocated to other areas of Warsaw. It is the largest university in Warsaw.
Church of the Holy Cross
One of the must-see attractions is the Church of the Holy Cross, built in 1696. Frederic Chopin’s heart is on a pillar inside the cathedral. Chopin's last request was for his heart to return to his native Poland.
Staszic Palace
With funding from Stanislaw Staszic, the Staszic Palace was built in the early 19th century in a classical style. In front of the palace, you can see the Nicolaus Copernicus monument, which was opened to the public in 1830.
Kossakowski Palace
The palace was renovated in the mid-19th century, giving it its current appearance. Later, Kossakowski acquired the palace, giving it the name it bears to this day.
The rest of the Royal Route facilities were built mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries. The earliest restaurants and shops began to appear around the end of the 19th century. Two streets - Foksal (with beautiful buildings such as Zamoyski and Przezdziecki Palace) and Chmielna remain the most popular places for walking and shopping.
There are many eateries, cafes, pubs and nightclubs near the intersection of these streets.
As you travel further south, you'll pass Rondo de Gaulle, home to Poland's lone palm tree, Three Crosses Square, home to St. Alexander's Church, Ujazdowski Park, Łazienki Park, and lastly, Wilanow Palace.
Warsaw Uprising Museum
The disused tram station power station in the neighborhood of Wola has been converted into a museum dedicated to the August-October 1944 uprising. The Warsaw Uprising Museum, which debuted in 2004 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, recreates the environment, history, and suffering of the Warsaw Uprising as they tried to free their city from the Nazi occupiers.
One of the saddest periods in modern history is the Warsaw Uprising, although it is often ignored by Western culture. Much of Warsaw was destroyed and thousands of Poles gave their lives in defense of their independence. No other city saw such a slaughter of people, and during the entire World War II, Poland had the highest death rate (17% of the population died).
In the Uprising Museum, pre-war telephone receivers can be used to listen to participants' memories of the uprising.
Kino Palladium, a theater that presents video clips collected by the rebels and shown at the Warsaw Palladium during the uprising, is one of many ingenious installations.
There are also replicas of the fighter transport system, or sewers, and before and after pictures of the city show the brutality of the German response.
Entertainment
Copernicus Science Center
Poland's best science museum, which debuted in 2010 and covers topics ranging from the origins of civilization to the source of light, has over 400 interactive exhibits.
Examples include a moving replica of a human skeleton on a bicycle and an earthquake simulator. In the human and environment zone, you can familiarize yourself with the city's ecosystems and construction technologies. In addition, the web cameras of the Palace of Culture and Science and the Warsaw Zoo broadcast live video from the falcon nest and the gorilla cage, respectively. The facility also features a state-of-the-art planetarium with a 3D sound system that presents programs on the universe, nature and human cultures.
Palace of Culture and Sciences
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It is a massive building that can be seen from almost everywhere in Warsaw. The Palace of Culture and Science, the tallest building in Poland at 237 meters, has 42 floors with four theaters, a multi-screen cinema, two museums, a 3,000-seat congress hall, and offices for government, academic institutions, and the private sector.
Drawing inspiration from Polish historicism and art deco skyscrapers, this massive Stalinist complex was a "gift of the Soviet Union to the Polish people" in 1955, which is just one of the reasons why it evokes mixed emotions.
Warsaw's major international events take place in the congress building, and the building also has an observation platform from which you can see the best panoramic views of the city.
Multimedia fountain park
The Multimedia Fountain Park, one of Warsaw's most important tourist attractions, features two magnificent fountains capable of producing up to 30,000 liters of water per minute through 367 nozzles. The spectacle is even more stunning at night when it's illuminated by 295 LED floodlights, so there's a lot of moving parts that add up to one seriously impressive choreographed display. In addition, the park organizes exhibitions, concerts and live performances every year from May to September!
For families
Warsaw Zoo
The Warsaw Zoo, spread over both banks of the river, is one of the attractions of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, which is ideal to visit with children. The zoo, which has been active for a century and is now one of the busiest in Europe, works together with other wildlife parks around the world to preserve nature and all animals on our Earth. Warsaw Zoo is home to more than 500 species of animals.
Moczydło Water Park
This water park is the perfect place to cool off on hot summer days with pools, water curtains, overflow buckets, a wading pool, a turtle-shaped slide, a water volcano and a safe little playground.
The artificial wave pool, a favorite of both adults and children, is undoubtedly the most popular attraction in Moczydo Water Park.
AIRO park
This park offers a variety of activities to keep you jumping around as much as you like. You can compete with other kids on mini-karts, play in the interactive sandbox of the playroom, defy gravity with a wall run and many other exciting things!
Taste experiences
Specjaly Regionalne
With hundreds of excellent reviews, Specjaly Regionalne is the perfect place to try authentic Polish food. A wide range of delicious meals are available, combining healthy, locally sourced ingredients with authentic flavors. The restaurant's most famous dishes are the roast duck and pies, which are very much loved by the visitors.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are one of the most fun and engaging things to do in Warsaw, whether your goal is to cook a delicious meal or impress your friends with your newfound culinary skills.
Learn how to make traditional Polish pies from local chefs while participating in traditional liquor tastings. There are even some alcohol-making classes that offer the really thirsty a few bottles to take home!
Stary Dom restaurant
With high ceilings, chic design and an extensive wine selection, the upscale Polish restaurant evokes a lovely, historic and welcoming environment. It is a real icon of Warsaw, where you can taste real Polish dishes.
Despite not being in the city center, the very popular eatery is easily accessible by public transport and well worth the trip for its huge portions.
Active vacation
Warsaw adventure park
Rope course is a fun and exciting way to improve your personal growth and team building skills. It's a relaxed activity that the whole family is likely to enjoy. Swing, climb and zip your way through challenging rope-based obstacle courses.
Rope course is conveniently located a 15-minute walk from the old town and offers various courses for both adults and children up to four years old.
The Masurian Highlands
You can go canoeing in the Masurian highlands to get some peace and quiet on your trip!
Just a few hours from the city, this stunning area is full of all kinds of flora and fauna, as well as some very stunning bodies of water.
Grab your oars and experience this verdant region as you navigate peaceful river paths past quaint towns, verdant forests and stunning flocks of birds.
Hot air balloon flight
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Take to the skies on a hot air balloon ride for a bird's eye view of Poland's capital - perfect for adventurers, nature lovers and romantics!
You'll arrive at your take-off location after a short trip outside the city, and your pilot will send you on a one-hour flight into the clouds over central Poland.
Depending on how your trip goes, you can land in either the verdant Narew National Park or the picturesque village of Tykocin, known for its baroque synagogues.
Nature
Warsaw University Library Garden
Open from March to November, this one-hectare site is a little dreamland with fountains, streams, pergolas, gazebos and lawns. The library windows and skylights give it a fantastic feel.
Landscape architect Irena Bajersaka has been solely responsible for this since 2002. The Vistula River, the PGE National Stadium and the Copernicus Center are all visible from stunning city views.
Jewish cemetery on Okopowa Street
This Jewish cemetery, which dates back to 1806, is 33 hectares in size, making it one of the largest in the world. Okopowa Street Cemetery has more than 250,000 marked graves, as well as a number of mass graves for victims of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Much of the location has been taken over by nature, which together with the Art Nouveau and historicist monuments gives the cemetery a grand and somber quality.
A small part of the cemetery was reopened after the Second World War for the returning Jewish community of Warsaw.
Saxon garden
Frederic Chopin, who spent the first seven years of his life in the Saxon Palace, often visited the Saxon Garden. It is an amazing experience to walk through the park, which was visited by Mrs. Justyna Chopin and her young children Frycek and Ludwika a lot.
The complex, known as the Saxon axis, houses a park and several royal houses. This building belonged to Augustus II the Strong and was built between 1713 and 1733. The king hired Jan Krzysztof and Mateusz Daniel Poppelmann to build the building and the garden. In 1727, the public was allowed into the garden. It was renovated to imitate an English garden when Chopin was alive.
Today's Saxon Garden is located next to Plac Pilsudskiego, with a fountain built in 1855. Henryk Marconi, who also created the well-known classicist water tower known as the "Reservoir", was the creator of this fine cup-shaped fountain.In the latter decades of the 20th century, two monuments were added to the park. Stefan Starzynski got one of them, while Maria Konopnicka got the other.