The 18 Best Things To Do In Wondrous Warsaw
Planning to visit picturesque Poland? Make sure a visit to Warsaw Old Town is in your plans. This UNESCO a world Heritage site is beautiful, complete with a grand Royal Castle, Renaissance-era fortifications, quaint old world squares, majestic churches, and an incredible history. Old Town Warsaw, originally dating to the 13th and 14th centuries, is considered the newest old town in the world as it was meticulously rebuilt after almost 90% of it was leveled by Nazi troops in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. It’s so well-reconstructed, you will feel like you’ve been transported back in time. This post covers the best things to do in Old Town Warsaw.
The 18 Best Things To Do In Warsaw
Old Town Warsaw
Before arriving in Warsaw, I was a little concerned as I had read that, being the capital, it was a more modern city dotted with skyscrapers. And when I arrived at the station, I thought maybe I had made a mistake as it really did seem like a typical modern city. But when I finally arrived in Old Town Warsaw and saw its grand architecture and exquisite charm, I knew I had made the right choice.
To rebuild the city after it was decimated by the Nazis, old drawings, paintings, and photographs were used to meticulously recreate it. The process took about 5 years.
It’s new and old at the same time, taking you back to its pre-war days.
Market Square
The heart of the Old Town is the Market Square, or Rynek Starego Miasta. This charming cobblestoned plaza is surrounded by colorful tenement houses with ornate facades and stately windows. At the center of the square you’ll find a statue of the legendary protector of Warsaw, a mermaid with a sword and shield.
The legend states that she was swimming in Vistula River when fisherman saw her. They planned to capture her, but when they heard her sing they fell in love. Later, when a wealthy merchant tried to imprison her, they rescued her. After this, she vowed to protect the city. She is still beloved today and is a symbol of the city’s strength and perseverance.
This market square is really a delightful space, so don’t miss it. It’s lined with many cafes so having a meal here and people watching is one of the best things to do in Warsaw.
The Warsaw Barbican
Just a couple minutes walk north of the Market Square you can see the remnants of the ancient fortification that once surrounded Warsaw. This is called the Barbican. Its defensive walls once had many conical turrets, along with drawbridges and a moat.
This is the second largest Barbican in Poland, after the Barbican of Krakow, and is one of the most well-preserved Renaissance-era fortifications in Poland. It’s the perfect place to come for a photo.
The Royal Castle
The Royal Castle of Warsaw became the main castle of Poland after the capital was moved here from Krakow in the 17th century. Its lovely facade is Baroque-Classicist with Renaissance and Rococo elements.
Something that I thought was interesting is that both the Warsaw and Krakow palaces both sit on a hill overlooking the Vistula River (Krakow is about a 3 hour drive south of Warsaw).
Note that the palace is closed on Mondays and visits are free on Wednesdays, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly. There is a palace tour via audio guide, which is what I chose. The audio guide conveniently shifts to whichever room you are in, so you can move freely if you don’t want to follow the set route.
At a minimum, make sure to see the Throne Room, the opulently gilded Great Assembly Hall, the Royal Apartments, and the Marble Room.
Castle Square
Castle Square is the square in front of the Royal Palace (technically behind it as it faces the river). This square has seen its share of turmoil. It was witness to fierce fighting against the Nazis during the Warsaw Uprising, anti-communist protests in communist days, and demonstrations in the Polish-Soviet War.
At the center of the square is a column with Sigismund III Vasa, the king responsible for moving the capital of Poland here from Krakow. His election in the 16th century united the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the Kingdom of Sweden.
The Royal Route
The Royal Route, or Trakt Królewski, connects three palaces in Warsaw: the Royal Palace, the Palace at Łazienki Park (the Palace on the Isle), and Wilanów Palace. The main part of the route, however, or the part that has the most sites, starts at the Royal Palace and heads down Krakow Suburb Street, or Krakowskie Przedmiescie. Walking this section of the street and admiring the architecture is another one of the best things to do in Warsaw.
Some of the most notable buildings here include the Holy Cross Church, Saint Anne’s Church, the Presidential Palace, Kazimierz Palace, and the Copernicus Science Center.
Listen To A Chopin Concert
Frederic Chopin is one of Poland’s greatest cultural icons with many concerts honoring his life’s work here. His family moved to Warsaw from a small nearby city when they realized he was a prodigy. He had his first concerts here and studied here into young adulthood with the top teachers.
I went to one of the daily concerts at the Fryderyk Concert Hall and really enjoyed it, although there are many other Chopin concerts in Warsaw. You can choose one near your hotel.
The best concert though, is the free concert in the Royal Łazienki Park on Sundays. There is a concert with some of the world’s finest pianists playing his work at 12 PM and again at 4 PM in summer.
The park is incredibly beautiful and the music is fantastic. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Warsaw and something you should not miss. Even if you’re not a huge fan of classical music.
To get to the Park, you can take the long walk down the Royal Road, or take a taxi.
Holy Cross Church
A strange but true story is that Chopin’s heart is in Holy Cross Church on the Royal Road (Krakowskie Przedmiescie).
Upon his death he instructed his sister to have it removed and returned to Warsaw. First to honor where he grew up, but second because he was afraid of coming back to life after being buried in his coffin. This was a real concern back in those days.
The heart is contained inside the second column on the left hand side of the church.
Saint Anne’s Church
The Church of the Assumtion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or Saint Annes’s Church, is one of the oldest churches in Warsaw (although rebuilt). It has also seen a lot of history, once serving as a gathering place for Polish resistance fighters and later played a role in the Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis.
The design is Polish Baroque with an impressive exterior and interior. You can also climb the 159-200 steps of the bell tower for a panoramic view of the city. This requires an extra ticket (although it’s just a few dollars), in addition to the church entry ticket, which is less than $5.
Kazimierz Palace
Kazimierz Palace, or Casimir Palace, was built by King Sigismund III Vasa for his son John II Casimir Vasa. Today it’s the Rector’s Office for the University of Warsaw.
The main entrance is off the Royal Route. You can visit inside of you want, but there are no exhibitions. A stop here is mainly to admire the architecture.
The POLIN Museum
It’s difficult for me to decide if the POLIN Museum was my favorite museum or if I preferred the Warsaw Uprising Museum. Both are outstanding. This museum does a fantastic job of showcasing the history of Poland and Warsaw with rooms full beautiful and engaging displays.
It’s best to get the audio guide, which takes about 2 hours. If you choose to skip through some areas, the audio will automatically shift to that section. This means you don’t have to follow the entire guide if you don’t have the full two hours. But I assure you, you will wish that you did.
I found this museum to be excellent and highly recommend it. It’s a little difficult to get to, however, if you do not have a car. It’s located about a 25 minute walk east of old town or you can take a taxi. You may be able to take the metro for a portion of the walk, but the metro in Warsaw is limited. This museum is free on Thursdays.
Warsaw Uprising Museum
The Warsaw Uprising Museum tells the dramatic story of the 1944 uprising against the Nazis that led to the decimation of the city. The stories and artifacts are gripping as we all know the end and the fact they the resistance basically chose to ‘die with dignity’ by fighting back even though widely outnumbered. This, along with the Polin Museum above are both can’t miss museums here.
Along with tons of artifacts, dramatic photos, harrowing stories, and moving movies, there’s also an exhibit called “Reflection. I am like you, surely”. Here you stand before a mirror while your face is scanned. After a few moments, that mirror reflects back a photo of the resistance fighter that you most resemble. Mine was Nieznany Powstaniec from the Milosz Battalion. I found it quite moving, bringing the history here to life.
This museum is free in Mondays, which is when I visited, and it’s was very crowded. Try to get here early to beat the crowds if you visit this day. The audio guide still costs a few dollars, even in the free days, and is recommended. You need to get that in the small shop inside the museum.
The Warsaw Uprising Museum is located not too far from the central train station, so this makes a perfect visit on your arrival or departure (if you arrive by train). They conveniently have lockers outside that fit a roller bag and a personal item for a small fee.
The Museum Of Warsaw
If you want to visit a museum that’s closer to the old town, visit the Museum of Warsaw. It’s located in the Market Square (the one with the mermaid).
I did not make it to this museum, but it gets good reviews. It features the history, culture, and development of the city. They showcase archeological artifacts from the areas earliest settlement, the Middle Ages, the Golden Age, and beyond to modern Warsaw.
This museum is located in several buildings and on several floors. Tickets are less than $10, but it’s free on Thursdays.
The Chopin Museum
If you are a big fan of Chopin, make sure to visit the Chopin Museum. I did not make it here myself, but it gets good reviews by enthusiasts. You can see his piano as well as some of his music scores and correspondence.
The Chopin Museum is located about a 5-minute walks southeast of the Church of the Holy Cross. This museum is free in Wednesdays.
The Palace At Wilanów
This beautiful baroque palace was built as the summer residence of King Jan III Sobieski. Sometimes it’s referred to as the Polish Versailles. You can visit the lavish interior and walk the grounds of the park it sits in. This museum is about a 20-minute drive from the old town. It’s free on Thursdays.
See Warsaw From The Palace Of Culture
If you arrive in Warsaw by train or bus, you will likely see this imposing Soviet-style building on your way to the old town. This is the Palace of Science And Culture. It’s not pretty, but it’s interesting as it was a gift from Joseph Stalin to the people of Poland. When it was built it was the eighth tallest in the world. Now it’s the second tallest building in Warsaw.
The highlight of his building for tourists is the 30th floor observation deck that offers the best view of Warsaw. I did not get a chance to do this, so don’t have much more to add. I have read that it’s often closed though, so check to make sure it’s open before you visit.
What’s in the rest of the building? It contains theaters, cinemas, libraries, auditoriums for concerts and conferences, and educational facilities although you can only see these via a guided tour.
Take A Food Tour
The Food is amazing in Poland, so taking a food tour is an excellent idea. I took the tour by Delicious Poland in Krakow and absolutely loved it, but they also offer food tours in Warsaw and Gdansk. This 3-hour walking tour stops at 4-5 different eateries, where you can try local food, beer, and vodka.
Viator also offers a variety of food tours to look at as well. They all look amazing!
Visit The Vodka Museum
The Vodka Museum is another highly rated museum in Warsaw, mostly for fun though. It’s in Praga, the “working class” side of town across Vistula River. It once was a vodka distillery, but now showcases the history and varieties of Polish vodka.
This museum is about a 25-minute drive by car from old town. If you don’t have a car, it’s best to visit via one of these tours combined with other stops in the city. Or ask about the best local transportation to use from your hotel.
Discover more from Gorgeous Unknown
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
2 Comments
Paula
Thank You for your blog post. I will need to plan a trip to Poland.
You make it sound so inviting. Ciao, Paula
Julie
I was very impressed with Poland. Charming UNESCO towns with tons of history and amazing food!