Varsaw, a charming city, waiting to be discovered. Despite the devastation suffered during the Second World War, Warsaw remains one of the most interesting capitals in Europe. The undisputed sovereign of Poland, Warsaw is home to the major institutions such as the Parliament, the President of the Republic, the ministries, and the main state offices. With the Second World War, the Polish capital lost some of its ancient appearance as the “Paris of the North“. In 2012 it hosted some matches of the European Football Championship.
Today its architecture, despite the restoration of many monuments and historic parks, has a predominantly socialist realist character. A striking example of this style is the Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki, or PkiN), located near the central station.
Warsaw, capital of Poland is undoubtedly a unique and charming city. Original in the old part, very modern in the new. Tourism in Warsaw has developed recently and is constantly growing. If you are wondering what the places of interest in Warsaw are, what to see, this guide is just for you.
Warsaw: what to do and what to visit in the Polish town
1 Warsaw, the Old Town
An interesting city tour could start from the oldest part of Warsaw, namely the Stare Miasto (Old Town, indeed), the first urban settlement dating back to the 13th century. A curiosity about the district: thanks to the views made by the Italians Canaletto and Bernardo Bellotto, it has been possible to restore the area to its pre-war destruction appearance. The Old Town is undoubtedly the most picturesque and charming part of Warsaw. It is a UNESCO heritage site. Essential for visiting the historic center is having enough time to enjoy the details of the buildings enriched with small sculptures. Getting lost in these characteristic alleys can be a wonderful experience we recommend you try.
2 Warsaw, Market Square and the Royal Castle
In the Old Town you can admire the Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta), the various charming alleys where many neoclassical and baroque buildings are displayed, the Sigismund’s Column (Kolumna Zygmunta), the Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski) and its Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy).
3 Warsaw, Royal Route
From Castle Square you can walk along the “Royal Route” (Trakt królewski) and enjoy the view offered by Krakowskie Przedmieście, a large tree-lined avenue where the Presidential Palace, the St. Anne’s Church, the monument to the national poet Adam Mickiewicz, and the university city are located. Following the itinerary, you can then wander through one of the most charming streets in the city, namely Nowy Świat, surrounded by noble buildings and a multitude of cafés, restaurants, and trendy shops.
4 Warsaw, New Town
Having left the Old Town, you can head north of Warsaw and go to the new part (Nowe Miasto, New Town) introduced by the Barbican, a semicircular defensive structure that once protected the Old Town.
5 Warsaw, Łazienki Park
For those who appreciate nature, the must-see is the large “Łazienki Park“, with its charming neoclassical palaces, such as the Palace on the Water (Pałac na Wodzie), and its artificial pond occupied by a small island housing a theater.
6 Warsaw, Palace of Culture and Science
The Pałac Kultury i Nauki (Palace of Culture and Science), was donated in the 1950s by the Soviet Union to Poland and built in full Stalinist style, so evidently that it has always been evocative of Stalinism and that in 1989 its demolition was on the agenda, only to be later rejected by the municipal council. Today it houses a refined conference center with various rooms and a panoramic terrace from which you can overlook the entire city, and it is still the tallest building in all of Poland even though the modernization of Warsaw is enriching the city skyline with increasingly futuristic skyscrapers designed by world-renowned architects who literally compete to surpass it in height, such as the Warszawskie Centrum Finansowe (Warsaw Financial Center) designed by the American firm Epstein & Sons and built just a few hundred meters away from the Palace of Culture.
7 Warsaw, theaters and museums
Warsaw offers many cultural insights thanks to the well over thirty large permanent theaters and numerous museums and art galleries.
8 Warsaw, Wilanów Palace
The Wilanów Palace is one of the buildings fortunately less damaged by war attacks. It was a truly luxurious summer residence; its style is not unique but certainly among many, Italian Baroque predominates.
