Despite being Poland’s capital and largest city, Warsaw often gets glanced over for its further neighbor, Kraków. I recently had a little over 24 hours in Warsaw to tourist. I decided to stay in the city instead of taking the 2.5 hour train ride to Kraków once I started doing some research.

What People Say: Looking on the internet and speaking with different people, the general consensus about Warsaw was that 1) it was bombed during WWI by Germany (therefore the architecture is bland), and that 2) there just isn’t much to do.

The Reality: THEY WERE ALL WRONG. (Not about the bombing, but about the fact that there isn’t much to do. ) I fell in love with the food, people, and sights. While Warsaw isn’t the biggest city with the most to see, there is still so much to do! If I had to plan my trip all over again, I would spend 2-3 days in Warsaw before heading to Krakow.

Looking for a weekend itinerary? Scroll to the bottom for a full itinerary.

[ WARSAW OLD TOWN ] 

They say the Warsaw Old Town is the youngest old town in the world. Why? In World War II the area was completely demolished by German bombs. Afterwards, it was rebuilt as an exact replica. If you only have a short time in Warsaw, the Old Town is a must. There is so much to see in such a small space!

This is a great place to grab a meal before walking around.

View from St. Anne’s Church

• Hours: Open 09:00 – 15:00, Sun 10:00 – 19:00.
• You can climb to the top of the church which offers a great view of the old town for 6 PLZ (about $1.50)

Castle Square & Royal Castle

• The main attraction in the Castle Square, is of course, the castle. The first time I walked by the castle, I missed the entrance to the courtyard on the right side (if you’re facing the front).
  • Hours: M-SAT 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, SUN 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Tickets: 30 PLN ($8.30) for adults, 1 PLN ($0.28) for for children under 16

Old Town Market Place

Rynek Stare Miastro is the main square. It is great for al fresco dining and people watching.

Barbican

The Barbican (the red brick gate) is a short walk from the old town market place. This is part of the gate that used to protect the city.

Copper-Roof Palace

If you don’t look closely, you may miss this quaint palace behind the Royal Castle. You have to follow the little staircase to the right of the royal castle (if you’re facing it) to end up here.

To Eat in Old Town 

• In general, Nowy Swiat St. is a great street for breakfast. Lots of little coffee shops and restaurants. See some of my favorites from the trip below:
• “Sam”
  • About: Sam is a popular breakfast bistro on the outskirts of the old town. They are known for their homemade bread.
  • Address: Ul. Lipowa 7a, Warsaw, Poland
• Hidden, Hidden Bistro And Bar
  • About: This bistro is hidden in the corner of what used to be known as “Butcher’s Square.” Albeit having a gory history, the square is now quaint and perfect for a quiet Polish meal.
  • Address: Szeroki Dunaj 13, 00-001 Warszawa, Poland
• Green Caffe Nero
  • About: Located on the main street in Old Town, this is a great spot for quick breakfast of baked goods and coffee before doing some sight seeing.
  • Address: Krakowskie Przedmieście 81, 00-079 Warszawa, Poland

[ WARSAW VISTULA – RIVER FRONT ]

Locals shared that the banks of the Vistula are great for nightlife – you can walk along the riverfront and find lots of great eateries along the way. You can find the specific food recommendations for Vistula in the “To Eat” section.

Suggestion: Walk along the river, starting from BarKa (Metro Station: Centrum Kopermika)

To Eat in Vistula

• BarKa
  • About: gourmet food trucks
  • Address: skwer Imienia Tadeusza Kahla, 00-001 Warszawa, Poland
• Miami Wars
  • About: great food, bonfires, and a fantastic view of the river 
  • Address: Bulwar Zaruskiego, 00-001 Warszawa, Poland

[ PALACE of CULTURE & SCIENCE ]

• Close to the Warsaw train station
• Most popular place to admire view – large terrace on 30^th floor

[ LAZIENKI PARK & PALACE ]

Lazienki Park & Palace is a must-visit while in Warsaw. There are beautiful views, stray peacocks roaming around the grounds, and ample space to walk. While there you can also take a boat ride along the lake, have lunch or bring a picnic. If possible, I would devote at least 2-3 hours here.

To eat in Lazienki Park ( & surrounding area)

• Przegryź
  • About: Locals claim that you can find the best pierogis in Warsaw
  • Address: Mokotowska 52, 00-543 Warszawa, Poland
• Talerzyki
  • About: polish small plates
  • Address: Mokotowska 33/35, 00-560 Warsaw, Poland
• Amfiteatr
  • About: Located next to the amphitheater in the park, this little garden cafe is great for a light lunch or afternoon snack.

[ EUROPEAN SQUARE – PLAC EUROPEJSKI ]

To Eat in the Business Center Area

• STIXX Bar & Grill
  • About: Trendy restaurant for a modern take on Polish classics.
  • Address: plac Europejski 4A, 00-844 Warszawa, Poland
• Czerwony Wieprz 
  • About: Traditional polish cuisine
  • Address: Żelazna 68, 00-866 Warszawa, Poland

[ MUSEUMS ]

• The National Museum
• Warsaw Uprising Museum
• Royal Summer Palace (In Lazienki Park)
• Polin, Museum of the History of Polish Jews

[ MUSIC ]

• Polish National Opera
• Free Chopin Concerts on Sunday’s at 12 PM  & 4 PM in Lazienki Park

[ WEEKEND ITINERARY]