Warsaw
Not in the story-mood? Scroll down for the Quick Budget Fact Overview: an itemized information summary of Warsaw! ↓
Visiting twice and hiking the country’s longest trail is clearly not enough when it comes to a country like Poland. Poland and I just clicked. So I returned again, and I will return once more. Alright, cards on the table: this time it was more like a necessity, as I had been roaming around the fully-boycotted red zone Belarus for a while, from where you are unable to fly out… unless you cross the border and grab a plane in Warsaw (or Lublin). Yet, I just take this as a way of life sprinkling the occasional bonus on me. Overall, with capital cities, it can be either a hit or miss. You either get this traffic-jammed, polluted, helter-skelter kind of madhouse you just want to march out of the second you get there, or you’re treated on one of those refined, cultured and lively urban hubs with something exciting on offer for every type of visitor. To me the honours to inform you that Warsaw 100% belongs to the last category. Even with the worst possible weather, being blasted from left and right with non-stop downpours and furiously raging snowstorms, it was easy to find the motivation to get out of the house every morning and carpe that bloody diem on the stunning Warsaw streets. Not bad, for a free city trip. Wait, what, rewind… free? Yeah sure, keep on reading:
Warsaw For Free: Getting & Staying There
I arrived in Warsaw via an unusual route: straight from the Belarusian border. Unusual, as that’s not everyone’s standard happy tourism itinerary… ya know, with the raging war and all. Due to all Polish-Belarusian borders being closed except of one (Brest-Terespol), I ended up spending a whooping 13 hours in a non-moving queue at the border. By the time I was finally breathing in the Polish air, the last bus to Warsaw had already departed. Cool. I guess I’ll just hitchhike those additional 3 hours in the dark, while it also starts pissing rain. Somehow, I got there. I always do. Especially with a mix of Belarusians and Poles, who have the hitchhiking culture embroidered in their cultural DNA. A great way to get there free of charge.
(Alternatively, there’s a train from Terespol to Warsaw. Keep in mind that the border towards the train station still is a 5km trip and there’s no bus for that trajectory, so be prepared to walk or hitchhike that distance. Also: You are not allowed to cross this border as a pedestrian, you have to be inside of a vehicle. As Belarusians are terrified of the police and their government, with good reason, they are incredibly reluctant to take along a foreigner with god-knows-what’s-in-their-luggage and an unknown personal history… so hitchhiking here can be a challenge. I managed though. A second alternative is taking a bus from Brest straight to Warsaw, which is a very expensive option but the most convenient one.)
Warsaw For Free: Getting & Staying There
I arrived in Warsaw via an unusual route: straight from the Belarusian border. Unusual, as that’s not everyone’s standard happy tourism itinerary… ya know, with the raging war and all. Due to all Polish-Belarusian borders being closed except of one (Brest-Terespol), I ended up spending a whooping 13 hours in a non-moving queue at the border. By the time I was finally breathing in the Polish air, the last bus to Warsaw had already departed. Cool. I guess I’ll just hitchhike those additional 3 hours in the dark, while it also starts pissing rain. Somehow, I got there. I always do. Especially with a mix of Belarusians and Poles, who have the hitchhiking culture embroidered in their cultural DNA. A great way to get there free of charge.
(Alternatively, there’s a train from Terespol to Warsaw. Keep in mind that the border towards the train station still is a 5km trip and there’s no bus for that trajectory, so be prepared to walk or hitchhike that distance. Also: You are not allowed to cross this border as a pedestrian, you have to be inside of a vehicle. As Belarusians are terrified of the police and their government, with good reason, they are incredibly reluctant to take along a foreigner with god-knows-what’s-in-their-luggage and an unknown personal history… so hitchhiking here can be a challenge. I managed though. A second alternative is taking a bus from Brest straight to Warsaw, which is a very expensive option but the most convenient one.)
Within Warsaw, you can get a variety of public transport tickets on the Jakdojade app, which also works as a useful route planner. It’s obviously not free, but as there is hardly any control on Warsaw’s public transport, I heard of people just buying the one ticket to have something to show, but never validating it, playing the “I’m a clueless tourist role” whenever a ticket controller does show up. But don’t let me be that bad influence on you, keep in mind that obviously public transport can only stay affordable to the public if the operating cost is shared by its users.
Accommodation-wise I went with housesitting, which is a free exchange benefiting both parties involved: The residence owner has a person feeding/walking the pets, watering the plants and keeping potential burglars at bay, whereas the housesitter has a free place to stay, usually in relative luxury. I generally use Trusted Housesitters, which after trying several platforms turned out to simply be the biggest and most reliable network, with options in all parts of the world (sign-up link here, giving you a considerable discount and me a free month of using it). Another money-free alternative is my beloved Couchsurfing, an online travellers exchange network enabling meetups and hosting. It’s a mistake to approach it as a “free hostel option” though: Someone is giving their time, energy and privacy to you with the idea that you are worth his/her while. Be ready to match the input of time and energy and try to be generous with the person showing you generosity. Cook, bring drinks, invite someone for an activity. Don’t leech on, what goes round comes around.
I know the culinary aspect is a big element of traveling, but traveling on the cheap doesn’t mean you have to miss out. By all means, you’ve gotta eat, so you might as well binge on those delicious local dishes. It just makes a huge budget difference if you eat your pierogi’s downtown (35-40 zloty for a small plate) or buy them fresh from the supermarket and prepare them yourself in 5 minutes (5.5 zloty for 3 plates). Minimal effort, big savings. To save even more on food, install the Too Good To Go app, offering big amounts of about-to-expire food for only a few bucks. There’s a huge number of stores participating in Warsaw, so you’ll always find deals in your close vicinity on basically every hour each day. Most Polish supermarkets have a similar corner with need-to-be-eaten-soon products, with discounts of generally up to 75%. Check out the “Budget Bites” section in the Quick Budget Fact Overview down below for an overview of delicious Polish dishes. ↓
Accommodation-wise I went with housesitting, which is a free exchange benefiting both parties involved: The residence owner has a person feeding/walking the pets, watering the plants and keeping potential burglars at bay, whereas the housesitter has a free place to stay, usually in relative luxury. I generally use Trusted Housesitters, which after trying several platforms turned out to simply be the biggest and most reliable network, with options in all parts of the world (sign-up link here, giving you a considerable discount and me a free month of using it). Another money-free alternative is my beloved Couchsurfing, an online travellers exchange network enabling meetups and hosting. It’s a mistake to approach it as a “free hostel option” though: Someone is giving their time, energy and privacy to you with the idea that you are worth his/her while. Be ready to match the input of time and energy and try to be generous with the person showing you generosity. Cook, bring drinks, invite someone for an activity. Don’t leech on, what goes round comes around.
I know the culinary aspect is a big element of traveling, but traveling on the cheap doesn’t mean you have to miss out. By all means, you’ve gotta eat, so you might as well binge on those delicious local dishes. It just makes a huge budget difference if you eat your pierogi’s downtown (35-40 zloty for a small plate) or buy them fresh from the supermarket and prepare them yourself in 5 minutes (5.5 zloty for 3 plates). Minimal effort, big savings. To save even more on food, install the Too Good To Go app, offering big amounts of about-to-expire food for only a few bucks. There’s a huge number of stores participating in Warsaw, so you’ll always find deals in your close vicinity on basically every hour each day. Most Polish supermarkets have a similar corner with need-to-be-eaten-soon products, with discounts of generally up to 75%. Check out the “Budget Bites” section in the Quick Budget Fact Overview down below for an overview of delicious Polish dishes. ↓
Free Sightseeing Loop
If you want to check off all activities and sights available in Warsaw, you might as well move there. Even clicking through the entire Trip Advisor list could be considered a full day activity. With so many options at hand, why not concentrate on the freebies? We’re Budget Bucket List’ers after all. I mean, the Old Town Area is labelled a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety, so simply going for a downtown stroll matches an open-air-museum-experience. I tried to walk around the historical centre while recording several voice messages to friends and relatives, but every 10 seconds I kept cutting it off because every step along the way I saw a new angle that needed to be photographed. Let’s zoom in on the sights at hand:
If you want to check off all activities and sights available in Warsaw, you might as well move there. Even clicking through the entire Trip Advisor list could be considered a full day activity. With so many options at hand, why not concentrate on the freebies? We’re Budget Bucket List’ers after all. I mean, the Old Town Area is labelled a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety, so simply going for a downtown stroll matches an open-air-museum-experience. I tried to walk around the historical centre while recording several voice messages to friends and relatives, but every 10 seconds I kept cutting it off because every step along the way I saw a new angle that needed to be photographed. Let’s zoom in on the sights at hand:
In order to have a logical freebie-city-walk without too many senseless ups and downs, you can kick off at the Katyn Museum. This free museum is located on the site where several mass graves were located, filled with the remains of over 22,000 officers, policemen, former land- and factory owners, intelligentsia and other “unwanted elements” of the totalitarian Soviet regime under Stalin. A rather grim start of the day, my bad. To uplift the spirits you can follow the riverside of the Vistula and pop into the old town, marked by the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Monument. Marie Curie, isn’t that..? Yes, the double Noble Prize winning physicist and chemist who discovered polonium (named after Poland) and radium, as well as radioactivity. She and her husband figured out how to separate those elements from uranium in order to apply them as a healing remedy, incl. for cancer treatment which soon was adopted as the go-to method on a global scale (before it became clear that radiation damages DNA cells, and as such not only kills cancer cells but also harms healthy bodily elements such as blood, the eyes, teeth and bones). She was the first woman to ever win a Noble Prize, the first person who received two, and the only one who received them for two different fields. Guess what: She is in fact Polish, born in Warsaw. It’s justified to dive a tad further into her personal history and career, which can be done at the Museum of Maria Skodowska-Curie, with free entrance on Tuesdays. The park next to the Marie Curie Statue, the Multimedia Fountain Park, hosts free music- and light shows from May until September (May-Jun-Jul 9:30PM; Aug 9PM; Sep 8:30PM).
Within the Old Town everything is in close walking distance. You’ll soon bump into the Warsaw Barbican, a relic of the historic (1540) fortifications network that once surrounded the city. In reality its defensive value was negligible and it was only used once to defend the city: when the Swedes invaded Poland in 1656. If it looks rather new to you, you might be on to something: the entire thing was largely destroyed during WWII and almost entirely rebuild for the touristic value, as was almost the entire downtown area. Hm * strikes imaginary beard *, I’m always a bit conflicted about this concept… it took away the magic of Riga for me, but somehow Warsaw feels less staged and gimmicky. A place that was also entirely destroyed is the Rynek Starego Miasta, the Old Town Market Place forming the lifeline of the city since the early 13th century. After the Poles dared to raise their fist to the Nazis during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, the Luftwaffe bombed the city’s masterpiece to shreds. Nowadays, you can admire a rebuilt version. The same goes for Plac Zamkowy, or Castle Square, at the end of the street, which had its Royal Castle (free on Wednesday) flattened with the ground. Besides a renovated version of this iconic building, which political function made place for an art museum, the square contains the Tin-Roofed Palace and the Column of King Sigismund III of Poland (the country’s first).
Within the Old Town everything is in close walking distance. You’ll soon bump into the Warsaw Barbican, a relic of the historic (1540) fortifications network that once surrounded the city. In reality its defensive value was negligible and it was only used once to defend the city: when the Swedes invaded Poland in 1656. If it looks rather new to you, you might be on to something: the entire thing was largely destroyed during WWII and almost entirely rebuild for the touristic value, as was almost the entire downtown area. Hm * strikes imaginary beard *, I’m always a bit conflicted about this concept… it took away the magic of Riga for me, but somehow Warsaw feels less staged and gimmicky. A place that was also entirely destroyed is the Rynek Starego Miasta, the Old Town Market Place forming the lifeline of the city since the early 13th century. After the Poles dared to raise their fist to the Nazis during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, the Luftwaffe bombed the city’s masterpiece to shreds. Nowadays, you can admire a rebuilt version. The same goes for Plac Zamkowy, or Castle Square, at the end of the street, which had its Royal Castle (free on Wednesday) flattened with the ground. Besides a renovated version of this iconic building, which political function made place for an art museum, the square contains the Tin-Roofed Palace and the Column of King Sigismund III of Poland (the country’s first).
In between the Rynek Starego Miasta and Plac Zamkowy, on a suddenly very quiet and seemingly forgotten square, stands the Wishing Bell. If you visit the city with a tourguide in tow (s)he will inevitably tell you to touch the bell and walk around it to have any wish granted. Yet, the bell is laced with a rather gloomy legend. According to folk tales, Marynia, the daughter of a local bellmaker, had a love affair with another bellmaker called Kajetan. However, Hans, her dad’s apprentice, also had the hots for Marynia and wanted to take over the business. To get Kajetan out of the way he mixed his wine with arsenic, and added tin to the bronze mixture of a bell Marynia’s dad was making to have him mess up that project. As a result, when the bell was rung, the instrument broke straight away and Kajetan dropped dead at the same instant. As that’s how that works. Evil Hans did not score the girl, however, because as heartbroken as she was she ran straight to the convent, while her dad kept his own job… reason enough for Hans to go insane and commit suicide. The broken bell was placed on the square, said to be haunted by both of the dead boys.
Talking of which. The Little Insurrectionist Sculpture, portraying a kid with a machine gun, commemorates the many child soldiers who fought among the resistance forces during the WWII Warsaw Uprising. The event itself has a separate monument, located just around the corner (not to be confused with the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, referring to the unsuccessful Jewish resistance act during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising). Next to it you’ll also find 1 of the 15 musical Chopin Benches, placed on significant locations that played a role in the life of yet another Warsaw V.I.P. (Very Important Pole). Just like Marie Curie, he has a museum dedicated to him: the Frederyk Chopin Museum, free on Wednesday. However, unless you are a real die-hard fan of classical music, the museum has a tendency to become yawn-inducing rather quickly.
If you need a peaceful place for a picnic: the Krasinski Garden and Palace are just around the corner.
If you need a peaceful place for a picnic: the Krasinski Garden and Palace are just around the corner.
Walk southwards, crossing the famous Senatorska Street, onto the 15.5-ha Saxon Garden. Founded in the 17th century, it’s not only the oldest public park in Warsaw, but also one of the first public parks worldwide. Within the gardens you’ll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument of all those who sacrificed their lives for the motherland in WWI, for their name to be entirely forgotten… by a state that’s now operating out of the Presidential Palace around the corner. If you reserve ahead of time, you can embark on a free tour through the premises. Other worthy sights in the neighbourhood include the Czapski Palace (former crib of Chopin), the unpronounceable Tyszkiewicz Palace and the free-to-visit museum History Meeting House.
A visit I particularly enjoyed was the one to the Warsaw University Library, a postmodernist anomalous freak of a building that will freeze your walk for a second when approaching it. I wish my university was that cool. Besides a practical artwork-in-use and a centre of knowledge, it also comes with a botanical garden at the side to keep those intellectual thoughts flowing on a study break. The entry including the use of all study spaces and materials comes with a small fee, but I received a free tour around the property upon request at the entrance (right next to the giant pillars with the statues of Lvov-Warsaw School of Philosophers looking down on you). In the same neighbourhood you’ll find the Elektrownia Powisle building, which is nothing more than a shopping mall, be it a cutting-edge steampunk’y one that does well on a quick selfie.
A visit I particularly enjoyed was the one to the Warsaw University Library, a postmodernist anomalous freak of a building that will freeze your walk for a second when approaching it. I wish my university was that cool. Besides a practical artwork-in-use and a centre of knowledge, it also comes with a botanical garden at the side to keep those intellectual thoughts flowing on a study break. The entry including the use of all study spaces and materials comes with a small fee, but I received a free tour around the property upon request at the entrance (right next to the giant pillars with the statues of Lvov-Warsaw School of Philosophers looking down on you). In the same neighbourhood you’ll find the Elektrownia Powisle building, which is nothing more than a shopping mall, be it a cutting-edge steampunk’y one that does well on a quick selfie.
One of my favorite streets during my Christmas-time visit turned out to be the Nowy Swiat Street, which was originally the main road leading up to a number of aristocratic palaces and villages on the southside of Warsaw. Just like almost everything else in the city, it’s not in its original state, as it was entirely rebuilt after the Nazis bombed it to pieces. If you’re in the mood for yet another free museum: you’re at walking distance from the NBP Money Centre, featuring exhibitions on the economics and history of those good ol’ benjamins.
The most iconic building in Warsaw must be the Palace of Culture and Science, hosting cinemas, libraries, university faculties and theatres (initially with the name “Joseph Stalin” in front of it, before his regime of terror and genocide went out of fashion). It’s not free to enter, but it’s impossible to oversee. Quite literally, as it’s not only the tallest building of the city, but also of entire Poland. Make sure to pass by both at day and night time, as colourfully lit up it’s an entirely different image. It’s located in the former Jewish ghetto area, of which the Fragment of the Ghetto Wall (as well as the Jewish Cemetery) still stands as a silent witness. Chlodna is the bar and restaurant district of this area, while Fabryka Norblina caters to the flashy hipsters and snazzy millennials.
The most iconic building in Warsaw must be the Palace of Culture and Science, hosting cinemas, libraries, university faculties and theatres (initially with the name “Joseph Stalin” in front of it, before his regime of terror and genocide went out of fashion). It’s not free to enter, but it’s impossible to oversee. Quite literally, as it’s not only the tallest building of the city, but also of entire Poland. Make sure to pass by both at day and night time, as colourfully lit up it’s an entirely different image. It’s located in the former Jewish ghetto area, of which the Fragment of the Ghetto Wall (as well as the Jewish Cemetery) still stands as a silent witness. Chlodna is the bar and restaurant district of this area, while Fabryka Norblina caters to the flashy hipsters and snazzy millennials.
For a more green and zen city experience, you have the option to head southwards where Park Agrykola, the Chinese Garden and the peaceful Palace on the Isle within the Royal Baths Park (Warsaw’s largest) are located. Other historical landmarks in the area include the 18th century Royal Theatre and Orangerie in the affluent Ujazdow Area, set amid lush gardens, statues and ornate venue houses… as well as the neoclassical Belwederski Palace, which serves as one of the several presidential residences and state guest houses for foreign visiting heads of state. In the area you’ll also find the Geological Museum, which doesn’t charge an admission fee.
Free sights a bit further out of town, requiring usage of Warsaw’s efficient public transport system, include the Xawery Dunikowski Museum of Sculpture, the Potocki Mausoleum within the grand Wilanow Park, the Brodno Sculpture Park, “Paradise Beach” on the banks of the Vistula River, and the Kabaty Woods full of trails and bicycle routes.
Free sights a bit further out of town, requiring usage of Warsaw’s efficient public transport system, include the Xawery Dunikowski Museum of Sculpture, the Potocki Mausoleum within the grand Wilanow Park, the Brodno Sculpture Park, “Paradise Beach” on the banks of the Vistula River, and the Kabaty Woods full of trails and bicycle routes.
If you’re the museum-type-of-guy/gal, I’ve got another big saver for you. Did you know that all most prominent ones offer free access one day a week, with Thursday as the big budget penny-pincher-day?
An overview:
My personal favorite is the National Museum, the largest one of entire Warsaw and a must-go for art devotees. Keep an eye out for the works of Poland’s most gifted, such as Stanislaw Wyspianski, Jan Palowski or Leon Wyczolkowski. Of course, you’ll find many familiar ones as well, coming from the hands of world famous artists, including Brueghel, Rembrandt, Renoir and Botticelli.
An overview:
- Free on Monday: Warsaw Rising Museum, Jewish Historical Institute, Legia Warsaw Museum (also on Tue/Wed), Station Museum, Chamber of Remembrance at Warsaw Insurgent’s Cemetery.
- Free on Tuesday: National Museum, Museum of Maria Skodowska-Curie, National Technical Museum, Museum of Caricature, Museum of the Earth.
- Free on Wednesday: Royal Castle, Frederyk Chopin Museum.
- Free on Thursday: Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanow, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Museum of the 10th X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel, State Etnographic Museum, Praga Museum of Art, Heritage Interpretation Centre, Ujazdowki Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Museum of Warsaw, Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Polish Army Museum, Warsaw Photoplasticon, Wola Museum of Warsaw, Museum of Printing, Mausoleum of Struggle and Martyrdom, Museum of Independence, Pawiak Prison Museum, Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszynski, Asia and Pacific Museum, Museum of Pharmacy, Heritage Interpretation Centre.
- Free on Friday: Polish History Museum, Royal Lazienki Museum, Myslewicki Palace.
- Free on Saturday: Museum of Sport and Tourism.
- Free on Sunday: Museum of Literature.
- Free on November: Royal Castle, Royal Lazienki Museum, Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanow.
My personal favorite is the National Museum, the largest one of entire Warsaw and a must-go for art devotees. Keep an eye out for the works of Poland’s most gifted, such as Stanislaw Wyspianski, Jan Palowski or Leon Wyczolkowski. Of course, you’ll find many familiar ones as well, coming from the hands of world famous artists, including Brueghel, Rembrandt, Renoir and Botticelli.
Quick Budget Fact Overview
Poland Facts
Short History Recap
966: Duke Mieszko I, founder of the Polish state, adopts Catholicism. 1025: Boleslaw I proclaims Kingdom of Poland. 1569: Union of Lublin → Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ‘94-95: Reformers lead failed armed uprising → Commonwealth partitioned among Prussia, Russia and Austria → loss of independence. 1815: Congress of Vienna→ Kingdom of Poland, ruled by Russia → revolts lasting a century. ‘63-’64: Kingdom annexed to Russia. 1918: Independent Poland after WWI. ’20: Soviet Red Army offensive repulsed. ’32: Non-aggression pact with Soviet Union. ’34: 10-years non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany.’39: Nazi Germany invades Poland: WWII. Soviet Union invades from the east: Poland divided between Soviet Union & Germany. Holocaust. ’40: Soviet secret police → systematic massacre 22,000 Polish army officers / professionals / civil servants. ’41: Germans build concentration camps in Poland. ’45: Poland's borders set by Potsdam conference → loses territory to Soviets / gains from Germany. ’47: Communist People's Republic after Soviet-run elections. ’55: Soviet-run Warsaw Pact. ’81-‘83: Martial law.’90: Market reforms + large-scale privatization. ’91: 1st parliamentary elections since fall of communism. Soviet troops start to leave Poland. ’99: NATO. 2004: EU. ’08: Agreement US to host a controversial American missile defence system. ’13: Warsaw trade union protests. ’16: Parliament rejects bill to institute a near-total abortion ban. ’17: NATO troops in Poland to enhance security following Russia's annexation Crimea.
Poland Facts
- Capital: Warsaw
- Language: Polish
- Population: ± 36.8 mln (Warsaw: 1.8mln)
- Sq km: ± 322,575 (Warsaw: 517.2)
- Currency: Zloty (zł - PLN)
- Electricity Outlet: E / 230 V / 50 Hz. Check here.
- Country Code Phone: +48
- Emergency Phone: 112
- Visa: Schengen visa (Croatia is part of the EU). Easy visa application here.
- Vaccinations: None.
- Climate: Continental Climate (Dfb)
- High season: June-August
Short History Recap
966: Duke Mieszko I, founder of the Polish state, adopts Catholicism. 1025: Boleslaw I proclaims Kingdom of Poland. 1569: Union of Lublin → Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ‘94-95: Reformers lead failed armed uprising → Commonwealth partitioned among Prussia, Russia and Austria → loss of independence. 1815: Congress of Vienna→ Kingdom of Poland, ruled by Russia → revolts lasting a century. ‘63-’64: Kingdom annexed to Russia. 1918: Independent Poland after WWI. ’20: Soviet Red Army offensive repulsed. ’32: Non-aggression pact with Soviet Union. ’34: 10-years non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany.’39: Nazi Germany invades Poland: WWII. Soviet Union invades from the east: Poland divided between Soviet Union & Germany. Holocaust. ’40: Soviet secret police → systematic massacre 22,000 Polish army officers / professionals / civil servants. ’41: Germans build concentration camps in Poland. ’45: Poland's borders set by Potsdam conference → loses territory to Soviets / gains from Germany. ’47: Communist People's Republic after Soviet-run elections. ’55: Soviet-run Warsaw Pact. ’81-‘83: Martial law.’90: Market reforms + large-scale privatization. ’91: 1st parliamentary elections since fall of communism. Soviet troops start to leave Poland. ’99: NATO. 2004: EU. ’08: Agreement US to host a controversial American missile defence system. ’13: Warsaw trade union protests. ’16: Parliament rejects bill to institute a near-total abortion ban. ’17: NATO troops in Poland to enhance security following Russia's annexation Crimea.
FREE Sights / Activities
PAID Sights / Activities
Full list here.
Evening Entertainment
Local Festivals
- Sights: Old Town, Nowy Swiat Street, Chlodna Street, Senatorska Street, Presidential Palace / Palac Prezydencki (free tour by reservation https://www.president.pl/president/tours-of-the-presidential-palace ), Rynek Starego Miasta Market Square, Monument to Warsaw Uprising Fighters, Monument to Maria Sklodowska-Curie, Chopin Monument, Chopin’s Bench, Statue of the Little Insurgent, Nowy Swiat Building, Wishing Bell, Krasiński Palace, Tyszkiewiczow Palace, Copper Roof Palace, Belvedere Palace, Czapski Palace, Castle Square / Plac Zamkowy, University of Warsaw Library & Botanical Garden, Palace on the Island, Grob Nieznanego Zolniera, Elektrownia Powisle, Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, Cmentarz Zydowksi Cemetery, Warsaw Barbican, Fragment of Ghetto Wall, Fabryka Norblina, Multimedia Fountain Park, King Sigismund’s Column, Umschlagplatz, Vistula Boulevard, New Town Square, Old Orangery, Centrum Praskie Koneserm, Mauzoleum Potockich & churches.
- Museums: Always free: NBP Money Centre, Geological Museum, History Meeting House, Katyn Museum, Brodno Sculpture Park, Xawery Dunikowski Museum of Sculpture in Krolikarnia. Free on Monday: Warsaw Rising Museum, Jewish Historical Institute, Legia Warsaw Museum (also on Tue/Wed), Station Museum, Chamber of Remembrance at Warsaw Insurgent’s Cemetery. Free on Tuesday: National Museum, Museum of Maria Skodowska-Curie, National Technical Museum, Museum of Caricature, Museum of the Earth. Free on Wednesday: Royal Castle, Frederyk Chopin Museum. Free on Thursday: Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanow, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Museum of the 10th X Pavilion of the Warsaw Citadel, State Etnographic Museum, Praga Museum of Art, Heritage Interpretation Centre, Ujazdowki Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Museum of Warsaw, Zacheta National Gallery of Art, Polish Army Museum, Warsaw Photoplasticon, Wola Museum of Warsaw, Museum of Printing, Mausoleum of Struggle and Martyrdom, Museum of Independence, Pawiak Prison Museum, Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszynski, Asia and Pacific Museum, Museum of Pharmacy, Heritage Interpretation Centre. Free on Friday: Polish History Museum, Royal Lazienki Museum, Myslewicki Palace. Free on Saturday: Museum of Sport and Tourism. Free on Sunday: Museum of Literature. Free in November: Royal Castle, Royal Lazienki Museum, Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanow.
- Hikes / Nature: Lazienki Krolewski w Warszawie Park, Saxon Gardens, Skaryszewski Park Park Ujazdowski, Botanical Gardens, Park Wilanowski, Park Agrykola, Vistula River Beach, Zalew Zegrzynski, Park Moczydlo, Kabacki Forest, Chinese Garden.
PAID Sights / Activities
- Sights: Viewing Terrace, Palace of Culture and Science, Ujazdow Castle.
- Museums: Copernicus Science Center, Pinball & Arcade Museum, Warszwaski Muzeum Komputerow i Gier, Polish Vodka Museum, Art Box Experience, Museum of Dollhouses, Games and Toys / Muzeum Domkow Lalek Gier i Zabawek, Polish Army Museum (open air area free), Museum of Life under Communism, Neon Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Muzeum Warszawskiej Pragi, Museum of Blessed Pr Jerzy Popieluszko, Warsaw Archdiocese Museum.
- Other: PM Shooter Shooting Range, Browary Warszawskie Brewery, Hangar 646, Gorka Szczesliwicka Skiing Area.
Full list here.
Evening Entertainment
- Nightlife Areas: Praga District, Powisle District, Nowy Swiat Street / Foksal Street, Pawilony, Mazowiecka Street, Plac Zbawiciela, Vistula Boulevards.
- Theatres: Polish National Opera / Teatr Wielki, Teatr Narodowy, National Philharmonic, Capitol Theatre Scene, Och Teatr, Musical Theatre Roma, Teatr Polonia, Komedia Theatre, TR Warszawa, Studio Theatre, Teatr Dramatyczny, Ochota Theatre, Potem-O-Tem, Jewish Theatre, Nowy Teatr, Teatr Kamienica, Teatr Niewielki.
Local Festivals
- Orange Warsaw Festival (music) - Apr
- Sztuka Ulicy (street festival) - Jun
- Jazz Na Starowce Festival - Jul
- Singer’s Warsaw Jewish Culture Festival – Aug-Sep
Budget Bites
Sleep Cheap
- Main Supermarket Chains Croatia: Carrefour, Biedronka, Eurospar, Zabka.
- Markets: Bazar Olkuska, Hala Mirowska, Hala Gwardii.
- Local Dishes: Pierogi (dumplings), Rosol (broth/ chicken soup), Golabki (cabbage roll), Polskie Nalesniki (Polish pancakes – sweet or savory), Lazanki z Kapusta i Grzybami (noodles with pork), Sledz w Oleju z Cebula (herring in oil with onion), Bigos (meat and sauerkraut stew), Kotlet Schabowy (breaded pork cutlet), Kotlet Mielony (flat, pan-fried meatball), Gulasz (Goulash), Zurek (sour rye soup), Kluski Slaskie (dumplings), Pyzy & Knedle (large oval-shaped dumpling), Kartoflanka (potato soup), Flaki (beef /pork), Karkowka (pork neck), Golonka Gotowana (ankles of pig), Zrazy (meat roulade), Zeberka Wedzone (smoked spare ribs), Zimne Nogi (jellied pigs feet), Placki Ziemniaczane / Kartoflane (fried potato pancakes).
- The Veg Situation: Going veg is ridiculously easy in Europe and also in Poland. Every supermarket has its own vegan/vegetarian section and there are many vegan restaurants… check them here. Some veg traditional Polish dishes: Barszcz (dumplings with mushroom filling), Cymes (carrot salad), Kasza Gryczana (cooked buckwheat), Ziemniaki Gotowane (boiled potatoes sprinkled with parsley or dill), Tluczone Ziemniaki (mashed potatoes), Sałatka Warzywna (vegetable salad), Surówka (raw sauerkraut, apple, carrot, onion salad), Sałatka Burakowa / Buraczki (warm beet root salad), Ogórek Konserwowy (preserved cucumber), Pieczarki Marynowane (marinated mushrooms).
- National Drink: Vodka.
Sleep Cheap
- Hostels / Hotels / Guesthouses: Hostels and alternative accommodation are very cheap in Poland. The easiest way to go is Booking.com, ordered from cheap to expensive. Without being paid to say so, they have the biggest selection, are transparent about the final price. If you use it often enough, Genius-discounts are applied. Air BnB is not what it used to be, price-wise, and seem to focus on the more upscale boutique stays nowadays.
- Couchsurfing: allows you to stay with locals. Nowadays it has a moderate sign-up cost (unless you put a third-world country as homebase), but paying extra for verification is unnecessary: Positive reviews are way more important. Once active, there are no costs for staying at someone’s house. In order to get accepted, make sure to write an elaborate review explaining why you applied to this specific profile and think you and your host are a good match (copy-pastes tend to be ignored). The Couchsurfing community in Poland is a very active one. If your’re bikepacking you can also look into Warm Showers, which is a bikepacking community focussing on 1-night stays.
- Wild Camping: is officially illegal in Poland, but still widely accepted. If you would like to do so, make sure you hide well and be rather stealthy and steer clear of the national parks where there’s active control.
Mama Said
Transport
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- Safety: Poland is very safe and assaults or robberies are uncommon. Just take the usual precautions as you would in any other bigger city.
- Tap Water: is safe to drink.
- The best credit/debit card for traveling is Wise, as they use the live conversion rates with minimal exchange fees. Wise also has the lowest fees for sending money to foreign accounts. Revolut is comparable, but they have higher exchange fees in the weekend and less wallet-options. Also, you can only wire money to Revolut in the currency you opened the account with, whereas Wise has IBAN’s from a wide variety of currencies (including zloty), so you don’t have to pay a double exchange fee.
- Simcard: Buying a local simcard is by all means cheaper than using your international roaming option. The main providers in Poland are Play, Orange, Plus and T-Mobile. Orange has the biggest coverage, Plus the smallest (although it should still work fine). Unlike every other country in the EU, Poland is not part of the EU data roaming agreement. This means that your data won’t work outside of the country. E-sims are also increasing in popularity, which can be ordered online. As usual, never buy a sim at the airport, where you’ll be ripped off with expensive tourist packages. Instead, buy it in the phone stores in the cities (where they’ll ask for ID) or even in kiosks, post offices and gas stations (no ID needed).
Transport
- Walking: Warsaw is bigger than you think. Within the Old Town, all sights are within walking distance, but if you want to cover some other areas public transport will be necessary.
- Cycling: Biking is an option, but can be a rather hectic endeavour in a busy city like Warsaw. That said, if you feel confident on a bicycle, you can try Veturilo, Warsaw’s bike-sharing system.
- Public Transport: Public transport in Warsaw is efficient and widely available. The city is served by trams, metro, buses and SKM trains (urban rapid rail). There’s one integrated ticket system for all modes of transport, the prices varying by zone, time (20-min / 75-min / 90-min / 24h / 3-day / weekend) and if the L-lines (neighboring communities) are included or not. You can buy a ticket at the ticket machines located inside of most vehicles, bus stops and metro stations. There are also multiple apps selling tickets, like Mobiwawa, Mobilet, Mpay, Skycash, Jakdojade, Zbiletem and GoPay. I used Jakdojade, as it also works as a very useful routeplanner. Don’t forget to validate the ticket upon entry.
- Taxi / Uber: Warsaw has taxi apps such as Uber, Bolt and iTaxi.
- Train: Poland has a train network, with several stations in Warsaw. It is operated by PKP and it’s possible to buy tickets online here. The main bus stations of Warsaw are located at the same spot as the train stations. Budget lines such as Flixbus widely operate in Poland, with questionable service.
- Car Rental: This is quite affordable in Poland. The best deals can generally be found when the car is picked up from the airport.
- Airport: Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). The airport is connected to the downtown area by several bus and train routes. Simply enter your location in any navigation app.
- Hitchhiking: is relatively safe and easy in Poland. I hitchhiked on plenty occasions, including form Belarus into Warsaw during nighttime, and I always managed with relative ease (as a woman alone). More info on hitchhiking in and out of Warsaw can be found on Hitchwiki.
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