Varsaw, a charming city, full of discoveries. Despite the devastation suffered during the Second World War, Varsaw remains one of the most interesting capitals of Europe. The undisputed sovereign of Poland, Varsaw 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 former 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.
Varsaw, the capital of Poland is undoubtedly a unique and charming city. Original in the old part, very modern in the new one. Tourism in Varsaw has developed recently and is steadily growing. If you are wondering what the places of interest in Varsaw are, what to see, this guide is what you need.
Varsaw: 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 city settlement dating back to the 13th century. A curiosity about the district: thanks to the views created by the Italians Canaletto and Bernardo Bellotto, it was possible to restore the area to its appearance before the war destruction. The Old Town is undoubtedly the most picturesque and fascinating part of Warsaw. It is a UNESCO heritage site. Essential for visiting the historic center is having enough time available to enjoy the details of the buildings enriched with small sculptures. Getting lost in these characteristic alleys can be a wonderful experience that we recommend you to 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 the related Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy).
3 Warsaw, Royal Route
From Castle Square you can walk along the “Royal Route” (Trakt królewski) and enjoy the spectacle offered by Krakowskie Przedmieście, a grand tree-lined avenue where the Presidential Palace, the Church of St. Anne, 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
Leaving the Old Town, you can move 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 great “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 hosting 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 much so that it has always evoked Stalinism and that in 1989 its demolition was on the agenda, only to be rejected by the city council. Today it hosts 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, although the modernization of Warsaw is enriching the city’s 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, theatres and museums
Warsaw offers many cultural opportunities thanks to the well thirty large permanent theatres and numerous museums and art galleries.
8 Warsaw, Wilanów Palace
The Wilanów Palace is one of the buildings fortunately less affected by war attacks. It was a truly luxurious summer residence; its style is not unique but certainly among the many the Italian baroque predominates.
