Interesting places in Warsaw for children. Life in Poland. Monument to the Warsaw Uprising
: after the end of World War II, only a pile of stones remained from the historical center of the Polish capital. Walking around Warsaw today, you can’t help but wonder how much mental strength it took the Poles to restore brick by brick the appearance of Warsaw, which before the war was one of the richest cities of Eastern Europe? Modern Warsaw, may not have the polish that, say, Prague boasts, but at least it looks honest and maintains the self-esteem that it has done for many centuries.
Castle Square and Sigismund's Column
Acquaintance of tourists with historical center of Warsaw, as a rule, begins on Castle Square - one of central squares cities. Thanks to its convenient location - Castle Square is located between the old town and one of the central streets of Krakowskie Przedmieście, leading to the new part of the city - this place is one of the most powerful centers of attraction in Warsaw. Finding Castle Square is easy: the main landmark is the monument to the King of Poland Sigismund III Vasa - a tall column located in the middle of the triangular square.
IN Royal castle, which is also located on this square, houses a museum: here you can see famous paintings with views of Warsaw in the 18th century, written by the Italian artist Bernardo Belotto. Based on the cityscapes of Belotto, it was restored most of historical center of Warsaw.
Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and Chopin Benches
The historical capital of Poland, Krakow, is located three hundred kilometers from Warsaw, so Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, of course, is not formally a suburb of the ancient Polish city. However, the street is named so to pay tribute to the royal city of Krakow, which greatly influenced the history of the entire country.
At the very beginning of the rather wide street, the attention of tourists is attracted by the Church of St. Anne, which was originally built on this site in the second half of the 15th century. In the chapel of the classic church there is now a Observation deck, which offers a picturesque panorama of the old town of Warsaw.
Among others attractions of Krakow Przedmieście Particularly noteworthy are the monument to the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz, the presidential palace and the building of the Ministry of Culture, as well as the Bristol Hotel - the most luxurious hotel in modern Warsaw. The hotel building is one of the few buildings in Warsaw that survived the war. The fact is that the German Nazis founded their own hotel and casino in the Bristol building.
Walking along Krakowskie Przedmieście Street it is impossible not to pay attention to unusual benches. These are the so-called Chopin benches, which in honor of the bicentenary of the great Polish composer were installed throughout the center of Warsaw in the amount of 15 pieces. Each musical bench, when you press a touch button, plays a fragment of one of the works of Frederic Chopin. The benches are installed in places that are in one way or another connected with the life of a musician. For example, the bench located opposite the presidential palace is there because it was in this building that the young Chopin gave his first public concert. Each bench's black granite surface is engraved with a map highlighting all of Chopin's musical bench locations, and a QR code allows you to download Chopin's music to your phone for free.
New World Street
If you pass by the Bristol Hotel and continue straight ahead, Krakowskie Przedmieście Street will smoothly turn into New World Street ( New world), showing the luxurious gates goodbye University of Warsaw And monument to Nicolaus Copernicus. Before the outbreak of World War II, when Warsaw was called the Paris of the East, New World Street should undoubtedly have been called the Champs Elysees East. Today this street, as in the old days, is the main artery Warsaw center: only here can you meet such a large number of elegant townspeople walking towards their favorite cafes and restaurants.
To get to the deserted Marshal Józef Pilsudski Square and watch the changing of the guard near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, after passing the Bristol building, you should turn right. Eternal flame in Warsaw is located under the arches of the restored colonnade of the Saxon Palace. One of Warsaw's most magnificent palaces, built in the 17th century, it was blown up by Nazi German troops after the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. From the main parade square of Warsaw there is a wonderful view of the modern business district and Stalin's generous gift to the Polish people - a Soviet skyscraper 230.68 meters high.
Very close to Marshal Jozef Piłsudski Square there is theatre square , which has long been considered the heart of the Polish capital: today majestic theater buildings, made in the style of classicism, coexist here with standard residential buildings, which the Communist Party left behind - another expressive mark in history of Warsaw.
Old city
The entire Warsaw Old Town was included in the List World Heritage UNESCO as an exemplary example of restoration of architectural and historical heritage. For 20 years, the restoration of old Warsaw after World War II was carried out by volunteers - ordinary Warsaw residents. Thanks to the efforts of a whole generation of Poles, today Warsaw's old town once again attracts tourists from all over the world with its narrow cobbled streets and colorful squares.
The main square of Warsaw's old town is the Market Square. In the center Market Square there is a monument Warsaw siren- the mythical founder of the city. The mermaid also takes pride of place on the coat of arms of Warsaw; her image can also be found in almost every corner of the city.
Right there on the square is Historical Museum Warsaw, in which you can see how the city looked and lived at different points in its history. From the outside it seems as if the museum occupies eight merchant houses that are literally stuck to each other, but in reality, wandering through the museum halls, it is even impossible to determine which building you are currently in - all these houses form a single whole.
Longest street old town of Warsaw- Beer house. As it is not difficult to tell from the name, it contains mainly beer bars and small restaurants. On the next street there are two large churches in close proximity. Passing by these churches, Poles smile - they say, do you see why Poland is called a Catholic country?
In the end, all the roads of old Warsaw lead to the place where it all began - to the column of King Sigismund on Castle Square. I would love to get lost!
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At the end of the 16th century, Warsaw became the capital of Poland. During World War II, the central part of Warsaw was reduced to ruins by the Nazi occupiers. Over the next half century, local residents, sparing no effort and expense, rebuilt their city again. And, I must say, they succeeded brilliantly. Given the extensive destruction the city suffered and the amount of work that was done to restore it, Warsaw was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Today Polish capital– a rather cozy city with many cafes and restaurants, picturesque landscapes and rapidly developing infrastructure. There are also quite a few interesting attractions in Warsaw, which you can find later in the article.
1. Stare Miasto in Warsaw
Historically, the oldest landmark in Warsaw is the Stare Miasto. But during the Second World War this area was destroyed. A lot of time and effort went into restoring this part of the city. Today Stare Miasto has been completely rebuilt and restored. The extent to which the originality of this place is accurately conveyed - its buildings, architecture and its inherent atmosphere - shows the quality of the work done. Streets typical of the Middle Ages wind between cozy houses with tiled roofs - this area looks the same as it did many centuries ago, making it very popular among tourists.
2. Market Square
In the very center of Warsaw is its main ideological attraction - Market Square. There are always a lot of people here, idly walking or rushing about their business, but life does not stop boiling in the square for a second. Main feature This place is characterized by its preserved medieval atmosphere, which especially attracts tourists. Nowadays, there are still retail shops on the Market Square, local artists sell their works, and droshky drivers deliver their passengers to their destinations. Like several centuries ago the spirit everyday life The Polish capital is seething in this corner. When you come to Warsaw, you definitely need to visit here.
3. Warsaw Palace Square
The main place from which most excursions around Warsaw begin is Palace Square. Here tourists will see many interesting sights of the late Middle Ages. In the central part of the square there is a monument to Sigismund III, erected by his son in the mid-17th century. On different sides of the square there are medieval castles, cathedrals and museums founded at them. It will take a few hours to explore the historical sites of this tourist hotspot, but they won't be wasted. This mandatory place to visit in Warsaw!
The Royal Castle is an attractive tourist attraction that is a must-see in Warsaw. These days it is the most popular museum in the city, located on the eastern side of Palace Square. Unfortunately, the original building did not survive to this day due to the destructive power of World War II. But the townspeople restored the former structure with enviable precision. Within the walls of the castle you can see an exhibition dedicated to Polish culture, and often host various exhibitions, concert performances and symposiums. Even the interior of the castle is worth the time spent exploring it: the picturesquely decorated walls and rich decoration make you admire the castle.
5. Wilanów Palace
The most important attraction of the Polish capital is the Wilanów Palace, located in the southeast of Warsaw. The building was built in Baroque style, and nearby there is a beautiful garden. The palace serves as a symbol of Poland's national pride. It was built at the end of the 17th century and served as a country residence for the royal family. At the beginning of the 19th century, a museum was founded at the Wilanów Palace, which was one of the first in the country. After visiting the palace and visiting the museum, tourists can take a stroll through the local garden. This beautiful place for an excursion!
6. Warsaw Historical Museum
The list of the most important and visited attractions in Poland includes the Warsaw Historical Museum. His collection of exhibits is so large that as many as six buildings in the central part of the city were given over to it. The exhibition is located in sixty halls and is dedicated to the history of Poland and its capital from its founding to the present day. A large number of dramatic situations that Warsaw experienced found their place in the museum’s exhibition. This attraction attracts many tourists who want to get acquainted with the history of Poland and Warsaw.
7. Krakowskie Przedmieście
Perhaps one of the best attractions in Warsaw has become an entire street, we are talking about the Krakowskie Przedmieście. Along this street there are a considerable number of important objects for the Polish capital, including medieval castle, a religious shrine and a public university. Every year thousands of tourists walk around Krakow Przemskie Przedmieście. During the Christmas holidays, this street is decorated with colorful lights and garlands, which makes it indescribably beautiful, especially in the evening and at night. But regardless of the time of year, this street remains the most popular in Warsaw.
Be sure to include the Polish Army Museum on your list of attractions to visit in Warsaw. He plays a significant role in the history of the country. Considering the location of Poland - and this is the center of Europe, one can understand that the Polish state had to fight a lot. The history of any state would be incomplete without mentioning its military affairs. It is this gap that the Polish Army Museum fills. By visiting it, guests will get acquainted with the entire Polish military history. There is a large collection of thematic exhibits and military artifacts that belong to each era. Locals They are very proud of their military history, of which the museum is a part. In general, visiting this Warsaw attraction will be very interesting.
9. National Museum of Warsaw
In the same building where the Polish Army Museum is located, you can see exhibitions of the National Museum of Warsaw. This capital landmark was founded in the second half of the 19th century. Initially, the exhibition was more of a private nature and consisted of items that were purchased or donated specifically for the museum, as well as exhibits exhibited by individual owners. Today National Museum Warsaw has collected in its collection many works by eminent artists and archaeological finds, which will take a good few hours to inspect.
10. Caricature Museum
A special pride of Poland is another interesting attraction of Warsaw - the Museum of Caricature. Why is it so valuable for the country? Because it is the only one of its kind in all of Europe. Previously, the museum's collection consisted exclusively of works by Polish masters, but in last years The exhibition was replenished with many exhibits that belong to the hands of foreign cartoonists. Thanks to this step, the museum became international. The doors of the attraction are open for free visits by tourists on Saturdays, and the rest of the time you will have to purchase a ticket.
11. Chopin Museum
One of the main cultural treasures of Warsaw was the Chopin Museum, founded just over half a century ago. This cultural landmark of the capital of Poland is located in the very building in which the young composer gave his first performances. Among the museum's exhibits you can see original things that belonged to Frédéric Chopin, some of which include his music sketches, written documentation and even a piano. And on Sundays here you can listen to concerts from the composer’s works.
12. Lazienki Park
Lazienki Park occupies a special place among the attractions of Warsaw. The beauty of this complex has virtually no equal in all of Europe. Lazienki Park was founded in the 17th century and throughout the years of its existence has attracted many guests with its unique architecture and picturesque nature. On the territory of the park area, tourists will find several buildings from the Middle Ages - a palace, holiday villas and some other attractions. The beauty of the park invites you to walk through it for many hours. You can also make some of the following here: best photos Polish capital. Lazienki Park is a great place to relax in Warsaw.
These are the sights you should see first in Warsaw. If you have already been to this city and know more interesting places– share in the comments. Thank you for your attention!
Rare tourists spend more than one day in Warsaw and we were no exception, taking a one-day break along the way. Naturally, we had previously read the reports and impressions of Warsaw from other travelers. They all come to the conclusion that they expected less from the capital of Poland; bad reviews are usually left by people who have not visited Warsaw at all.
Yes, of course, the entire city was destroyed during the war and it was not possible to restore it completely to its pre-war form. The result was a kind of mix from different centuries, since some objects were restored according to plans of the 18th century, others according to pre-war plans, some buildings were restored in a simplified version. But UNESCO still included the center of Warsaw on the list of historical heritage of mankind, because the efforts put into restoration were simply enormous.
I described how to get to the center of Warsaw in an article dedicated to We began our exploration from Charles de Gaulle Square. We walked along Nowy Świat Street, which together with Krakowskie Przedmieście Street is part of the Royal Route.
You might want to find yourself excursions in Russian around Warsaw. To do this, I would recommend that you read the article - The second and last site from the list is relevant for Warsaw.
The Royal Route previously connected the Royal Palace of John III Sobieski with his Wilanów country residence. In total it will be about 10 km. We examined only a small part of this historical road from Place Charles de Gaulle to Castle Square.
Interesting decorated house on the street New World
The Polish language immediately began to surprise us; we were in Poland for the first time and were not yet accustomed to such surprises. The day before we just talked with the landlady in a mixture of Polish, Russian and in English and we were convinced that there are definitely many similar words in our languages. Slavic languages often have the same word roots, but completely different meanings; below is an example in the photo. “Dermo” is something about skin diseases and dermatology, but I have completely different associations?
Quirks of the Polish language, pharmacy sign I was also surprised by the signs of Polish stores; in Polish the store will be “sklep”, “zoo sklep” generally brings back memories “of a pet cemetery”. The beauty salon will be exactly the opposite - Salon Urody.
Beauty salon in Polish This is where I will finish about the features of the Polish language, come and learn a lot of new things.
Near the monument to Copernicus, New World Street smoothly flows into Krakowskie Przedmieście Street. Despite the controversial issue of Copernicus' nationality, the Poles consider him one of their own. On the square in front of the monument, a diagram of the heliocentric system of the world is laid out with multi-colored stones, and the monument to Copernicus is in the center of it.
Monument to Copernicus at Staszica Palace Krakowskie Przedmieście
Kraków Przedmieście took shape as a street in the 15th century. This is one of the oldest streets in Warsaw and an absolute tourist must see. Along this street are located all the most important buildings in Poland - the University of Warsaw, the Presidential Palace, several ancient churches, many palaces of Polish magnates, simple houses and famous hotels. Churches and everything related to religion are of great importance to Poles. Krakow Przedmieście is a clot of Polish history. On this street we will meet many people who are the pride of Polish science, art, politics and religion.
For example, the heart of Frederic Chopin was walled up in the columns of the Church of the Holy Cross; the Polish musician died in Paris, but as a sign of his attachment to his homeland, he asked to bury his heart in Warsaw, which was done 39 years after his death. Frederic Chopin was born in a village near Warsaw, studied at the university, and in Warsaw many places are associated with his name.
Church of the Holy Cross (construction 1679-1696, restored 1945 - 1953) The Poles highly revere Frederic Chopin; they have even developed a special tourist route “In the footsteps of Chopin in Warsaw”; you can pick up a brochure with a map from Turistic info. All places where the composer visited are marked with memorial plaques. In many places along the route there are memorial benches, and on each bench there is a map of the route, and such a bench also plays music at the press of a button. Warsaw has the best museum of Frederic Chopin, which is not surprising given such veneration.
Chopin's bench on Krakowskie Przedmieście The University of Warsaw was opened in 1817 under Alexander I in the building of the Casimir Palace; after the Polish uprising of 1830, the university was closed and reopened only in 1862. Polish students studied at the universities of Moscow and St. Petersburg at that time, Polish departments were opened there, but they were still forced to learn Russian, but on the other hand, how can you live in Russia and not know the language at all?
Main gate of the University of Warsaw Almost the entire Krakowskie Przedmieście street is lined with palaces of noble Poles or magnates. So on the façade of the Tyshkevich Palace, the Atlantans hold a balcony on stone shoulders. After the Tyszkiewicz Palace, look carefully at your feet, you may want to deviate a little to the left and look at the oldest garden in Warsaw -. If you go to the right at this point, you can look at the modern garden built on the roof of the Warsaw University library. You can visit both gardens for free, and then return to Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and continue your walk.
Riding a chaise with the Tyszkiewicz Palace in the background (1792) The Visitation Church is one of the few that survived the war; we can see it the same as it was after construction was completed in 1761.
Church of the Visitor or Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed Next to the Visiting Church there is a monument to the Primate of Poland Stefan Wyszynski, he was also called the Primate of the Millennium, he was in office from 1948 to 1981. He is highly respected in Poland; a monument to him was also erected in Czestochowa, the spiritual center of the country; a square in the town of Ostroleka is named after him.
Monument to the Primate of the Millennium Stefan Wyszyński 
Houses on Castle Square Polish cuisine
After visiting the palace, it was time for lunch. Naturally I wanted to try Polish cuisine. This is not difficult to do. In the center of Warsaw there are many establishments specializing in national dishes. We chose Restauracja Zapiecek, this is a chain of restaurants, there are several of them in the center of Warsaw. Prices are moderate: soup about 2€, dumplings or dumplings about 4€. The menu with prices can be viewed here.
Restauracja Zapiecek – Polskie Pierogarnie The waitresses of "Restauracja Zapiecek" are dressed in National costumes, they serve Polish “perogi”, as they call dumplings with berries, cottage cheese, potatoes, and Russian style “perogi” are made with meat. In addition to “perogs”, they also serve many other dishes - soups, bigos, sausages with cabbage. Everything was delicious. Poles understand the word “sour cream” in Russian; in Western Europe such a concept does not exist; there it is either cream or yogurt. And we took sangria to drink, not Polish, but very tasty and refreshing.
Pasha with perogies and sour cream During lunch, the Polish grandfather entertained us with songs, including in Russian. I remember exactly that he sang “White Roses” and “Hold on tightly to the steering wheel, driver...”, and also sang our other songs. Not only people of Slavic appearance, but also Indians gave him Russian songs. Then the nuns approached my grandfather and ordered him Polish songs, then he sang something in Yiddish, we only understood the words “Sholom Aleichem...”. What I mean is that it is believed that Poles do not like Russians, but Russian songs are successfully performed on one of the most important streets of Warsaw.
Street singer Old city
Then we continued our walk through the Old Town. The streets there are much narrower than on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and they are completely pedestrian, it is possible that cars enter there, but only to replenish the stocks of shops and restaurants. It is impossible to photograph entire houses in the Old Town, so I took photographs of fragments of architecture that I liked.
As in all countries with access to Baltic Sea, the trade in amber products is very popular in Poland, and in such an architectural frame, amber looks royal.
Nice showcase of amber in the Old Town The facade of the house on Pivnaya Street is decorated with images of pigeons. This decoration appeared on the house in 1953 in honor of the protector of pigeons, who remained to live in the ruins after the liberation of Warsaw. I think it’s very cute, the pigeons turned out as if they were alive.
Decoration of house No. 6 on Pivnaya Street The house under the ship was restored after the war in 1953.
House No. 32 on Świętojanska Street In the old town, many houses are decorated using the sgraffito technique. Below are examples.
Clock and house decorated with sgraffito near the Old Market 
House under the little black boy on the Old Market The Jesuit Church was significantly rebuilt, after the war only a pile of rubble remained. Noteworthy are the original gates (2009) by the famous Polish modern sculptor Igor Mirotai. We first became acquainted with his work on . We are still impressed and are already monitoring the opportunity to see his work in the cities we visit.
Jesuit Church of the Virgin Mary and gates by Igor Mirotai (2009) In the Old Town, all roads lead to the Old Market Square, this is where the Warsaw Sirenka or the Little Mermaid stands. It is the symbol and coat of arms of the city. About 200 years ago, a statue of the little mermaid adorned the façade of the town hall, then the building was demolished and the sculpture was installed on the square independently. All sides of the square are named after Polish politicians; their names, however, mean nothing to the average Russian.
Old Market Square There is an artificial puddle around the pedestal with the little mermaid; it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot in hot weather, which is what many children and adults do.
Warsaw Sirenka One of the cafes on the Old Market Square was decorated with boxes of Russian ammunition, the boxes are very new, are the Poles really still buying weapons from us?
In Warsaw they also sell these buns made from yeast dough with sprinkles, which in the Czech Republic are called trdlo, in Hungary kurtas-kalach, as they are called in Poland, I didn’t have time to understand, but we ate one bun with a hole for everyone.
Houses on the Old Market Barbican separates Old city from New, but New town can be recognized as new only in relation to the Old. As in Prague, Warsaw's New Town was originally a separate settlement outside the city walls and merged with the Old Town only in the 18th century.
The Barbican was restored according to 17th-century drawings after the war; ancient bricks to recreate the Barbican were collected from the post-war ruins of other Polish cities, and upon closer examination it is noticeable that the bricks are of different colors.
Barbican New town
We didn’t explore the new city completely, only the part adjacent to the Old City, and we looked at the Stalin skyscraper from the tram window on the way to our rented apartment. There's still quite a lot interesting buildings in a completely modern style, but this is a topic for another story.
On one of the houses in the New Town there is an illustration of the Warsaw legend about the capture of the little mermaid in the waters of the Vistula by two fishermen. According to myths and legends, the Warsaw Sirenka is the sister of the little mermaid from Copenhagen.
In the New Town We never found Pyatochka Street and Winnie the Pooh, but Kozla Street caught our eye and there is something like this in the New Town.
On Freta Street, the Marie Skladowska-Curie Museum attracts attention. Maria was born in Warsaw and lived in the house where her museum is now located for only one year after her birth, then the family moved to another house, also in Warsaw.
The building of the Marie Skladowska-Curie Museum on Freta Street A special tourist route has been developed following the footsteps of Marie Skladowska-Curie in Warsaw, most memorable places located on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street and in the Old Town. Russian tsarism did not allow Maria to receive higher education in Poland or Russia, and she and her husband made most of her discoveries in Paris, but she also did not forget her homeland.
Portrait of Marie Skladovskaya-Curie in the museum window Thanks to her efforts, the Radium Institute appeared in Warsaw, now it is the Institute of Oncology. Marie Skladovskaya-Curie received two Nobel Prizes - in physics and chemistry, and became the first woman professor at the Sorbonne in Paris. Moreover, her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie also became a Nobel Prize laureate along with her husband. In my youth, I read the biography of this great woman, written by her second daughter, Eva Curie. This family undoubtedly brought glory to Poland on the world stage.
Monument to Marie Skladowska-Curie over the Vistula We did not visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum; on Sundays, admission there is as free as the Royal Palace. The Polish and Russian governments have different views on this tragic moment in the history of Poland. In general, this is a topic for a separate article and I will not touch on it now.
Graffiti dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising We reached the multimedia fountain park, but didn’t wait for the show. Usually, if you start walking around the city at 10 am, then by 10 pm or even earlier you no longer have any strength left. The next day we had a long drive to the Adriatic coast and wanted to rest before the long journey.
Light fountains We found Warsaw a very pleasant city. One day, as always, was not enough, especially in the summer, when the weather is conducive to exploring parks and suburban residences. Next time, if we drive past Warsaw, we’ll definitely stop by to look at Lazienki Park and the suburban residence of Wilanów; its palace can be visited on Thursdays for free as well. In Warsaw, an attraction of unheard-of generosity works with museums. Three very interesting museum You can watch it for free, does anyone know the same or similar promotion in other European capitals?
I read plans to explore Warsaw along with parks within 24 hours, but this doesn’t seem like a sound idea to me. We only managed to look at the city center and not completely. In 2017, we stopped by Warsaw again and spent several hours
Warsaw general information about the city
Warsaw has been the capital of Poland since 1596 (officially since 1791). This is the most Big City countries both in area and in number of inhabitants. Warsaw is located on both banks of the Vistula, which divides the city into two almost equal parts. The city seemed more modern to me than ancient. However, it, of course, also has historically significant buildings, most of which you will find in the Old Town (in the Śródmieście area - Śródmieście). Most of the buildings are not original, but were restored, so during the Second World War the city suffered greatly and was then restored over the decades so that current generations have the opportunity to touch the beauty. In 1980, the historical center of Warsaw was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list and is under its care.
This part of the city is truly beautiful and a must visit.
Warsaw – Sights of the old town
We were very lucky, we lived right in the Old Town, on Freta Street, thanks to which we had the opportunity to see a lot of interesting things on the way to the exhibition. Our apartment was very close to the Barbican, formerly a fortified outpost of the city, today historical monument, which, together with the fortress walls, turrets and arched passages, is one of the favorite tourist spots.
Our path to the bus stop also lay through Staraya market square(Rynek starego miasta) with many magnificent buildings and cozy cafes and Castle Square. On the triangular Castle Square there is the Royal Palace (Zamek Królewski) and in the middle the Column of Sigismund (Kolumna Zygmunta).
In the Royal Palace you can see the royal chambers, the ballroom, the castle church, etc., as well as visit the art gallery.
There is also an observation platform on Castle Square from which you can admire fantastic (I believe that they must be) views of Warsaw. Unfortunately, we were in quite a bit of trouble over time, so we weren't able to personally verify that the platform was actually worth climbing.
If you just wander through the streets and alleys of the Old Town, then at every step you come across something beautiful and interesting from an architectural point of view. Among other attractions in Warsaw, for example, the Church of St. John the Baptist, the Jesuit Church and the Warsaw Bell are noteworthy.
Adjacent to the Old Town is the New Town (Nowe Miasto), which also has many attractions (churches, castles and other interesting things). In my opinion, the Old and New Towns are best “explored” on foot.
In the evening in the New Town you can watch the free show “Singing Fountains” (I’m not sure if it’s daily, we were there on a Saturday evening). The multimedia fountain park is located on the Vistula embankment, in Podzamcze Park. The show is packed with people, so get there early if you want to get the best seats. Photos didn't turn out well 🙁
Warsaw – Other attractions
What could I recommend for sightseeing in the capital of Poland besides the Old Town?
In my opinion, worthy of a visit and inspection:
– Krakowskie Przedmieście
This is a street where you can see many majestic buildings, palaces and monuments.
– New World Street (Nowy Świat)
There are also a lot of attractions here.
– Frederic Chopin Museum
The Poles are very proud of their famous compatriot; many streets are named in his honor, as well as the Warsaw airport, there are museums and monuments.
– Marshal Josef Piłsudski Square (Plac marsz. Józefa Piłsudskiego)
This area is part of the Saxon Axis and was formerly called Saxon Square. The Saxon palace was destroyed during the war. Today, the perimeter of the square is lined with elegant hotels and other magnificent buildings.
Here you can also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Located nearby Saxon Park(Ogród Saski), its fountains, alleys with benches and shady trees invite relaxation.
– Palace of Culture and Science
This building is one of the symbols of Warsaw and this is the most high building in Poland (together with the spire its height is 237 meters). They say that the high-rise can be seen from any corner of the city. I believe this is true. (We, of course, did not have the opportunity to visit all parts of the city, but from where we were, it was not difficult to find the Palace of Culture and Science). The architecture of the Palace of Culture and Science should be familiar to readers; the palace was built in the style of Stalin's skyscrapers in Moscow. This is a gift from the Soviet Union to the Polish people (from time to time, during times of aggravation of political relations, proposals are made to demolish the building, fortunately, so far common sense has prevailed, and the building remains in its place as before). On one of the upper floors there is an observation deck from where you can admire a breathtaking panorama of the entire Warsaw. Unfortunately, we didn’t get there either (((
– Krasiński Park (Ogród Krasińskich) and Krasiński Palace (Pałac Krasińskich)
This park is not very large, but picturesque and cozy. The park has alleys with benches, recreation areas, children's playgrounds, green lawns, a pond with ducks and a beautiful palace. Everywhere you can see parents walking with their children, people walking their dogs, young people sitting on the grass and basking in the first warm rays of the spring sun. Well, I think you understand me, here the locals find their oasis for relaxation.
Of course, the sights of Warsaw are not exhausted by this list; these are the places in the Polish capital that we were able to personally get to. There are many more interesting things, first of all this is Lazienki (palace and park complex). Well, never mind, there will be another reason to return to Warsaw.
Warsaw – How to get from the airport to the city?
You can get from the airport to the city by bus, train and taxi.
Bus number 175 runs every 20 minutes and goes to the center of Warsaw (journey time about 30-
35 minutes/direction: Lotnisko Chopina odloty - Dworzec zentralny). The stop is located immediately in front of the arrival terminal. Bus tickets can be purchased from a ticket machine at the bus stop or directly on the bus.
Suburban trains are designated by the abbreviations SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska; Internet: www.ztm.waw.pl) and KM (Koleje Mazowieckie; Internet: www.mazowieckie.com.pl). You get to the station directly from the terminal. It's easy to find if you know where to look (after going through security and collecting your luggage, exit the arrivals area and go right). Lines of different colors are drawn on the floor at the airport to guide passengers, one of which leads to the station. I don't remember the color, but you can ask the police. They just helped us find our way))). Trains depart approximately every 30 minutes. Tickets are also sold from vending machines.
From the airport to the city we took the S2 (travel time 25 minutes/direction: Lotnisko Chopina - Warszawa Śródmieście), and then changed to the metro. Our ticket with unlimited transfers cost 4.40 zlotys each.
Tip: If you need to get to the center of Warsaw, choose a 75-minute ticket with transfers possible.
The taxi stop is located at the exit of their airport. I can’t say anything about the cost and quality of services; we didn’t use taxis in Poland.
Public transport in Warsaw
Net public transport in Warsaw includes metro, buses and trams.
Metro stations are marked with the letter “M”:
City transport in Poland is modern and works without delays. You can check the schedule at the stops. There is one very convenient application Jakdojade.pl, with which you can easily find and select suitable transport. The application can be downloaded for free.
Tickets are sold from vending machines, which are operated in Polish, English and German. You can pay with coins, banknotes or credit cards.
Warsaw has two zones: zone 1 is the city limits, including the airport, zone 2 is the suburbs. A 20-minute ticket costs 2.20 zlotys. A ticket with an unlimited number of transfers costs 20 minutes 3.40 zlotys and 75 minutes 4.40 zlotys. These tickets are only valid in zone 1.
Tickets purchased at the bus stop must be validated as soon as you board vehicle(for this purpose there are small yellow machines inside buses and trams). If tickets are purchased from a machine on a bus or tram, then they do not need to be composted. Inside, the ticket machines only accept credit cards for payment (we only came across these).
Where to eat in Warsaw? - What Polish dishes are worth trying?
The capital of Poland offers its visitors a large number of restaurants, cafes, bistros and snack bars. There are especially many of them in the city center.
You will find the best price offers in milk bars (Bar Mleczny). Today, these establishments have nothing to do with milk and offer mainly Polish cuisine. We found one such bar near our house on Freta Street. It was delicious, but the decor was cafeteria-style and not very clean.
I really liked the Piwna Kompania establishment, located under the city rampart at Podwale 25, the landmark is the Barbican:
Very fast service, despite the large number of visitors (the restaurant is wildly popular; in the evening there is a line of people wanting to get in), very tasty cuisine, a wide selection of Polish dishes and normal prices.
We ordered the signature mushroom soup, I have never tried such deliciousness:
Two bowls of soup, potato salad, a cup of tea and a glass of juice cost us 51 zloty (about $13 for two). Pretty cheap.
What Polish dishes can I recommend? Be sure to try these traditional Polish dishes: Pierogi (similar to our dumplings, available with different fillings), Bigos (stewed cabbage with meat and sausage), Zrazy (stuffed meat rolls), Żurek (potato soup , sausages and eggs), Naleśniki/naleśniki (pancakes with different fillings or gravies) and Placki ziemniaczane/placki (pancakes or just potato pancakes).
I must say that Polish cuisine is generally similar to Russian and Ukrainian, there are no special unusual things. But very tasty and satisfying. Yes, the dishes are simply gigantic, we almost always rolled out of the cafe in buns)))
Be sure to visit one of the street cafes in the Old Town. Amazing atmosphere. Prices are a little higher, but it's worth it. The cafe on Freta Street 4/6 serves delicious coffee with ginger. There is also a store with a huge assortment of coffee. You can try some “new” variety by ordering it in a cafe, and if you like the drink, you can buy it later in the store (in Polish, in the crypt)))) You can buy coffee in beans or ask for it to be ground. We took with us a couple of bags of delicious coffee flavored with ginger 😉)
By the way, I no longer ate pancakes in Warsaw, but in Krakow. (I’ll write a post about my trip to Krakow very soon.)
How to save money on a hotel or apartment on vacation?
I'm looking on the Rumguru website. It contains absolutely all discounts on hotels and apartments from 30 booking systems, including booking. I often find very profitable options, I can save from 30 to 80%
How to save on insurance?
Insurance abroad is required. Any appointment is very expensive and the only way to avoid paying out of pocket is to choose an insurance policy in advance. We have been registering on the website for many years, which give the best prices insurance and selection along with registration takes only a couple of minutes.
My conclusion: Warsaw is worth a visit. Come and see for yourself. I think that you will also like the Polish capital!!!