The Open Road Travel

When looking for the 10 best things to do in Warsaw, you have a huge variety of options on offer. With the city having such a rich, vibrant history, as well as countless natural beauty spots and iconic landmarks, you will never be short of choices.

However, this can bring with it its own issue of having to try and narrow it down, to ensure you fit everything you really want into the time you have.

That is exactly why we have created this guide to the very best things to do in Warsaw, so you can maximise your time and make the most of it.

So, if you are planning a trip to the “Paris Of The North” but haven’t decided on what to put on your Warsaw itinerary just yet, this is the article for you.

Warsaw is the capital and largest city in Poland, as well as the 7th most populous capital in the European Union. Located on the banks of the Vistula River, the city covers 200 square miles (517 square kilometres), which are divided up into 18 boroughs.

Originally settled in the late 13th century, the city has a rich and vibrant history to offer, bearing traces of various different cultures that have impacted it through the years.

Numerous iconic parks, statues, buildings, and landmarks offer attractions for visitors of all tastes. Warsaw was also an incredibly important city during the Second World War, with many of its most important victories, as well as countless tragic losses occurring here.

When its history is combined with a thriving nightlife industry, a collection of gourmet restaurants and high-end hotels, as well as copious shops and tourist attractions, Warsaw is a global city that is visited by more than 23 million people each year.

Those looking for the best time to visit Warsaw should plan their trip between late May and early September.

This will allow you to miss the bitterly cold stretches of the year that Poland in general is known for, so you can enjoy all of the wonderful attractions on offer, without constantly worrying about the weather.

As we move to our list of the 10 best things to do in Warsaw, I am going to suggest a broad range of options. These will include things to appeal to travellers of all different interests, while ensuring you have something to cover everything that Warsaw is known for.

Wilanow Palace is a 17th century Baroque palace that once served as a royal residence. Known as the “Polish Versailles”, it is one of the most important monuments in the country and makes up part of the Warsaw Old Town Historic Monument.

The interiors are decorated with stunning murals and works of art by highly esteemed Polish artists, while the exterior architecture blends Polish, Italian, and French styles.

It is also surrounded by beautiful gardens, styled in a geometric fashion and filled with vibrant plants and stunning sculptures and carvings.

Since 1805 it has housed the King John III Palace Museum, one of the oldest in all of Poland.

Visitors can come to see the amazing collections of paintings, furniture, gold-smithery, and royal memorabilia, all while enjoying the exquisite beauty of the building and grounds themselves.

The Warsaw Royal Castle was originally built in the 14th century. However, it has since been demolished twice during conflicts, first by the Swedish Army in 1655 and then again by the German Army in 1944, near the end of World War II.

The constant rebuilding and reconstruction allows it to feature a unique combination of differing architectural styles.

While great effort was taken to restore it as closely as possible to how it would have looked in the 17th century, traces of Baroque, Gothic, and Mannerist styles can all be found.

Originally designed as a royal residency, the Royal Castle now operates as an art gallery that welcomes more than half a million people each year.

Once inside, visitors will be able to see stunning collections of artwork, housed in beautifully decorated rooms, dripping with historical significance.

From the outside, its beautiful architecture and features like spires and a clock tower can be enjoyed. It also opens out onto a wonderful square with a towering monument. Since 1980, the entire area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Warsaw Ghetto was established in 1940 during World War II by the German Army and was believed to have housed almost half a million Jews, making it the largest ghetto in Nazi occupied Europe.

Covering an area of just 1.3 square miles (3.4 square kilometres), people were crammed into barely liveable conditions, with an average of more than 9 people sharing a single room.

In the summer of 1942, over half of the population was sent to extermination camps, under the guise of relocation. However, this was stopped by the Ghetto Uprising which occurred in the spring of 1943.

In May of 1943, the German Army destroyed the ghetto themselves, in an effort to try and quell the uprisings. The total death toll of the ghetto is believed to have been around 400,000, through a combination of bullets, gas, disease, or starvation.

Today, the neighbourhood stands as a stark reminder to the horrors of the Second World War. Boundary markers and fragments of the old walls can still be seen, demonstrating how small the area was, considering the size of the population it housed.

Various memorials, monuments, and plaques have been installed to remember those who lost their lives here.

Many of the plaques signify important locations, such as Umschlagplatz, where the Jews who were headed to the death camps boarded the trains that took them there.

Among the most prominent memorials are the Warsaw Uprising Monument and the Footbridge Of Memory, a light installation that recreates a footbridge used to connect different parts of the ghetto, which was previously located on the site.

You also have buildings such as the Nozyk Synagogue. A historic synagogue that has been restored to its former glory, it stands as a perfect representation of the will to survive and endure of the Jewish people of Warsaw.

With so much to do and see within walking distance, the Warsaw Ghetto is among the greatest collections of attractions you will find in the city. A Warsaw Ghetto Museum is also currently under construction, although it isn’t scheduled to open until 2023 at the earliest.

For those who can’t wait for the Warsaw Ghetto Museum to open, the Warsaw Uprising Museum will give you a glimpse of what may be on offer.

Located in the Wola district, it focuses on the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 and was opened in 2004 to mark the 60th anniversary of the event. It is filled with artefacts and documents dedicated to the Polish Underground State, the movement behind the uprising.

Everything from weapons to letters written by members are included, to help you better understand not just the battles but the mental state of those involved as well.

To this day, the museum sponsors continued research into the uprising, seeking out interviews with survivors as well as items and documents many thought no longer existed.

With replicas of locations from the era, as well as a 1940s café where you can enjoy refreshments in a similar setting to those around the time of the war, the Warsaw Uprising Museum is a truly fabulous place to learn about one of the most important events in the city’s history.

Lazienki Park is the largest park in Warsaw, covering 76 hectares in the city centre. Originally designed as baths for nobles in the 17th century before being used as a site for royal villas, palaces, and monuments in the 18th century, it has been a public park since 1918.

With all of the structures still remaining from both of the park’s previous uses, it makes a fabulous location for those who want to stroll around and take in some fabulous examples of art and architecture through the years.

Palaces, guardhouses, statues, amphitheatres, orangeries, noble houses, temples, towers, stables, barracks, bridges, ponds, and lakes are just some of the options available for visitors to explore. As a result, people come from all over the world each year to explore its wonders.

Even those less interested in history will find a collection of more natural attractions, such a wildlife, plants, wide open green spaces, and destinations like a Chinese garden.

This makes it the perfect chance to take a break from the city and enjoy some fresh air and the great outdoors for a while.

While Lazienki Palace is located within Lazienki Park, it is an attraction large enough to deserve its own entry on our list. Completed in 1689, the Lazienki Palace is the 17th century bath house that the park itself was formed around.

The palace is designed in the Baroque style and located on an artificial island that separates the lake into two halves. It is then connected to the mainland by two bridges that are among the most iconic features in the park.

The bath rooms located within the palace are all beautifully decorated with paintings and works of art. There is also a paintings gallery, where visitors can go to see some of the smaller pieces displayed together.

Listed for destruction by the Germans during World War II, holes can be seen which were drilled to start the demolition process.

However, as they were never completed, the damages somehow manage to add to the character of the building, inserting even more history into the location.

First built in the mid-17th century, the Warsaw Presidential palace has undergone several dramatic transformations and remodelling’s throughout its life. The palace as it is seen today has appeared as such since 1818, boasting beautiful, Neoclassical architecture.

Originally designed as an aristocratic mansion, it held countless important and historical events until it officially became a government building and the seat of the Viceroy Of Congress Poland in the early 19th century.

Miraculously surviving World War II unscathed, it was the location of the signing of the Warsaw Pact and became the Official Seat of the President of the Republic Of Poland in 1994.

With guided tours available around the property, it is the perfect chance for visitors to learn more about the Polish government through the ages.

Fans of art will also find one of the most famous statues in the city located outside the palace, the equestrian statue of Prince Józef Poniatowski.

The Warsaw Old Town is the oldest part of the city, with its roots dating back to the 13th century.

While largely destroyed during the Second World War, much of the Old Town has been rebuilt and restored in keeping with the traditional image and historical heritage of the area.

Much of the Old Town consists of beautiful squares, surrounded by fortified Barbakan walls that were erected in the 16th century.

Old Town Market Square has existed as long as the city itself and is considered the heart and soul of Warsaw. Countless restaurants, cafes, and shops are housed within historic buildings, perfectly combining cultural attractions with modern luxuries and amenities.

Castle Square lies on the edge of the district, in front of the Royal Castle, and surrounds the iconic Zygmunt’s Column statue. Canon Square is a much smaller, triangular square.

Previously used as a cemetery, it now features a collection of historic canons and the Bronze Bell Of Warsaw monument.

Canon Square also backs onto the St John The Baptist Archcathedral. Opened in 1390, the Brick Gothic architecture of its façade is a stark contrast to the intricate carvings, columns, and works of art housed within.

The cathedral crypt is the final resting place of many historic nobles and influential figures in the city, and even includes the tomb of the last King Of Poland.

While the nearby St Anne’s Church may not seem as grand, it is home to the Old Town Observation Tower. Active visitors can climb the 150 steps to the summit, to take in some of the most breathtaking panoramic vistas in the entire city.

With the entire Old Town having been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, it is a must visit location, whether you are into history or simply want to soak up the traditional culture of the city.

First opened in 2005, the Copernicus Science Centre sits on the bank of the Vistula River and welcomes more than one million visitors each year.

With more than 450 interactive exhibits that let guests conduct their own experiments and experience the laws of science first hand, it is one of the largest and most advanced science centres in all of Europe.

The centre features a combination of permanent exhibits, as well as a rotation of temporary displays. This ensures it always stays current and is equally appealing for return visitors as it is for those experiencing it for the first time.

The centre also features The Heavens Of Copernicus planetarium, which contains images, films, and displays on the history of the stars, as well as our understanding of them.

When combined with the main building, this makes the Copernicus Science Centre an exciting destination for anyone wanting to learn about both our planet and the galaxy in which it exists.

The Palace Of Culture And Science is one of the most iconic buildings in Warsaw, as well as the second tallest in all of Poland, standing 237 metres (777 feet) tall and boasting 42 floors.

Erected in the early 1950s using a combination of Art Deco, Socialist Realism, and Stalinist Architecture, it is truly a sight to behold without even stepping foot inside. However, those who do are certainly in for a treat.

Among the attractions to be found inside are two museums, including the Warsaw Museum Of Communism, numerous theatres, and a cinema.

There are also a number of government facilities here, such as a large conference hall that hosts many of the city’s most important political events.

More active visitors will also want to take a trip to the 30th floor, where the viewing terrace offers up some of the most stunning views of Warsaw you will find anywhere in the city.

When you combine everything the Palace Of Culture And Science has to offer, it truly becomes one of the most amazing locations in the city, whether you want to learn, relax, be entertained, or simply take in the sights.

The Hotel Bristol is a stunning, 5-star hotel, located along the historic Royal Route and itself considered one of the most exquisite landmarks in the city. It is the perfect choice for those looking to combine historic style and class with modern luxury.

Its Neo-Renaissance architecture is perfectly complimented by Romantic and Art Deco interiors. Each room is beautifully styled and filled with comfortable furnishings and luxuries like LED Satellite TVs, mini bars, and air conditioning.

In the communal areas, you will find plenty of amenities to enjoy during your stay. These include a gym, pool, sauna, steam room, scenic relaxation area, and a spa offering numerous beauty and cosmetic treatments.

There is also a restaurant serving traditional Polish cuisine and a buffet breakfast each morning, as well as a bar and café, where you can purchase drinks and snacks around the clock.

You even have the option to make use of the butler service and enjoy many of the things on offer in these establishments from the comfort and privacy of your room.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, while services including tour booking, banquet and wedding planning, garment pressing and shoe shining, and chauffer driven limos and town cars can all be utilised throughout your stay.

That concludes our list of the 10 best things to do in Warsaw. By now, most of you will hopefully have worked out exactly what you want to see and filled out a full itinerary to keep you busy and entertained throughout the duration of your stay in the city.

So, all that’s left is to start getting things booked. That way, you won’t risk missing out on any of your favourite sights, hotels, or attractions, and can look forward to experiencing everything the city has to offer for yourself, as soon as possible.