Warsaw Guide

Warsaw has emerged from war and communism with the elegance and lasting beauty of an old master rediscovered. Visitors will be charmed by historic architecture and modern structures, cutting edge services and the variety of entertainment on offer. This city has been the capital of Poland since 1596 and is vertically divided by the Vistula River. Most of the major attractions are located in the Centrum area which consists of six diverse districts.
Poland has a convoluted, tortured and therefore dramatic history featuring the good guys and the bad guys - although it was often impossible to determine which was which! Like an excellent character is only strengthened by hardship the Polish culture has endured and was enriched.
The monolithic Palace of Culture remains a handy landmark. As the city’s tallest building it can be seen from almost anywhere and is usefull as an orientation tool. While Warsaw has developed faster than the rest of the country many polish cultural peculiarities such as milk bars and outdoor bazaar’s can still be found.
Winter in Warsaw can be bitter – come prepared!

Do not miss:

Wilanów Palace was the summer residence of the elected Polish King Jan III Sobieski during the 17th Century. It is one of the few places in Warsaw that has not been demolished during strife. Intended as a miniature Versailles by its Italian architect Agostino Lotti it now houses the only modern Poster Museum in the old stables. Activities include canal cruises, art documentaries and music concerts.

The city’s Old Town (Stare Miasto) is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and this 14th Century Castle takes pride of place.

There are many beautiful parks in Warsaw. Saski Garden (Ogród Saski) is the home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Grób Nieznanego Żołnierza), which is now the only remnant of the Saski Palace. The Park of Culture in Powsin is within a 30 minute walk.

Kabacki Forest (Las Kabacki) is the only forest that can be reached by metro (travel to the south terminus). No surprise, it's quite crowded these days. For a better forest, travel to Puszcza Kampinoska.

Other outdoor wonders include the vast Łazienki Royal Gardens (Łazienki Królewskie) which includes the Palace on Water (Pałac na Wodzie), the Old Orangery (Stara Oranżeria) and the amphitheatre. Entry to the park is free.

Museums

Highlights are the National Museum (Muzeum Narodowe), the Centre for Contemporary Art (Centrum Sztuki Współczesnej), the Zachęta National Gallery of Art (Galeria Zachęta) and the Warsaw Uperising Museum. Warsaw also has the only Museum of Posters in the world as well as an Museum of Hunting and Riding and the Railway Museum. From among Warsaw’s 60 museums, the most prestigious ones are National Museum with a wide collection of works whose origin ranges in time from antiquity till the present epoch; the Museum of the Polish Army.
Most museums are closed on Mon and often have free admission once a week.
Visitors must usually enter at least 30 min before closing time.

The best idea of all is the Noc Muzeów (Long Night of Museums). During this festive international occasion droves of enthusiasts spend the evening in and around Varsovian museums and galleries. Café join the fun and stay open late.

Concerts and Clubs

The Capital is home to the Polish National Opera and Warsaw Philharmonic and on the other side of the cultural scale you could head to Śródmieście and go clubbing with those in the know.

What is for dinner

At one side of the spectrum are the kebab’s, milk bars and international cuisine from vietnamese restaurants to local Polish extravaganza’s.

The Polish prefer to indulge in tea and coffee rather than Vodka! The small local café’s littered around the city can be a treat. But if you thirst for something a little more fortifying you could try Foukier ... or any of the international wines on sale.
Bars in Nowy Świat street are good.

Also treat yourself to a Cajpiroska which is a cocktail of strawberry shake or Caribbean ginger tea over shaved ice.

Getting around Warsaw

Get a Warsaw Tourist Card to allow 24 or 72 hour free/ discounted museum access and a Warsaw Travel Card to make using transport a little easier – Do make sure that the card you purchase will cover the period you spend in Warsaw, the areas, the times and the modes of transport you would like to use.

By air
Named for one of its famous sons the Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport has three terminals. Terminal 1 has no shops or restaurants after you pass through security. Terminal 2 only handles arrivals and the Etiuda Terminal is a basic terminal for departures only.

By land
The weather can cause big delays in Warsaw transport – do allow a very comfortable margin on days when inclement weather is predicted.

By bus
By far the cheapest way to travel in Warsaw, there are over 200 bus routes running from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. (later on weekends). Route 148, 188 and 175 run from the airport. Bus route 175 leads through the city center and passes near the old town and main train station. Bus route 188 is the best line for the Metro (one of the latest European underground railway systems), passes south of the city center and runs deep into the right bank (some hotels offer airport shuttles).
Do take careful note of the fact that many bus stops are request-only and you should therefore be very sure of your designated stop!

By Tram
Warsaw also has trams that can be usefull to take during rush hours. Travellers can take the historic T route the operates in July and August with old fashioned tram cars.

By Taxi
Taxi services are available. It is advisable to stick with recommended services and to check the average cost per kilometer with a reputable source to avoid being wildly overcharged! It is also generally more cost effective to avoid unregistered taxi’s (legal taxi’s have a black number displayed on the front door under a window over a white TAXI sign. The base fare is noted on the rear door and the driver’s ID card inside the cab). Tipping your driver is not obligatory but will of course be accepted (Don’t slam the door – they can legally fine you for that!).

By Train
Both suburban and distant destinations can be reached by train. The Central Station is not the last station on the route. Tariffs are not exorbitant and the journeys are quite comfortable.

By Car
It is possible to hire a car throughout Poland. Please note that the legal requirement of carrying your driving license, registration and insurance detail will be enforeced.

By Foot
It is easy to walk through Warsaw – the city centre is flat and relatively compact. In addition New World Street is closed to traffic on summer weekends. In Poland drivers are allowed to turn right at a red light and pedestrians may not legally cross the road unless the light is green.