Unusual places in Warsaw. Sights of Warsaw and everything you need to know about the Polish capital. About other attractions in Warsaw that are worth visiting
The beautiful and mysterious Polish capital is located on the banks of the Vistula River. Warsaw has a long history, which is reflected in its architecture and attractions. The first records in chronicles about Warsaw date back to the 14th century. Warsaw is one of the most beautiful cities in the European Union. Today the city is under the protection of UNESCO.
Let's look at the most important and most interesting sights of the Polish capital with photos and descriptions.
The square is included in all Warsaw tourist guides and is one of the main attractions of the city. It is here that important city events such as parades, rallies, national holidays and concerts take place. The square is named after Józef Piłsudski, who played an important role in restoring state power in Poland. The monument to the politician rises in the center of the square, symbolizing the revival of the Polish State. Interestingly, during the German occupation this square was named after Adolf Hitler. Then, after the victory over fascism, it was renamed Victory Square, and today the name of Pilsudski was returned to it.
In addition to the monument, here you can lay flowers at the memorial of the Dead Soldier, and explore the ruins of the Saxon Palace. This palace has undergone several major reconstructions during its life. It was originally built in the Baroque style and was a royal residence. Later, the palace was rebuilt and redesigned several times. In 1944, the palace was destroyed by fascist troops and only three arcades remained, under which a memorial to the Dead Soldier was erected.
Restaurant "Dom Polski"
On the map of Warsaw, on French Street, within the walls of a medieval villa there is a restaurant traditional cuisine"Polish House". Today the restaurant is one of the most interesting attractions in Warsaw. The gastronomic landmark opened its doors to its first visitors in 1998 and has already been recognized as Restaurant of the Year many times. Today the restaurant has dozens of awards, including a Michelin star, which is awarded only to the best restaurants. This symbol indicates haute cuisine and excellent service. If you come here on Sunday or Monday, you can enjoy wonderful live Polish music performed on cello and violin.
“Polish House” has several cozy rooms where you can sit for a family lunch or dinner. The restaurant is surrounded by a magnificent greenhouse, with exotic plants, fountains and sculptures. The establishment opens daily from 12.00 local time and continues to operate until the last guest leaves. The restaurant's cuisine includes traditional Polish dishes of meat, poultry and fish.
The Church of the Holy Cross began its history back in 1267. In those days, on the site of the modern temple, a small chapel was built, which was later rebuilt into wooden church. The temple was destroyed several times, but was always restored. The church acquired its present appearance in 1696. The church suffered greatly during the Second World War. The temple was looted and blown up by the Germans. Unique icons were lost and the altar was destroyed. However, after the war, the temple was completely restored and today, as before, services are held in the temple, weddings are held and children are baptized. The temple is of exceptional importance for the country, and even its altar, restored according to old sketches, now bears the name Altar of the Fatherland.
A unique attraction of the temple is the statue of Jesus Christ carrying a huge cross. Previously, this monument was made of concrete, but after damage by vandals, it was decided to cast the sculpture in bronze. During the war, the Germans took the statue away, but abandoned it in a roadside trench, where Polish soldiers found it. The monument was returned and after the victory over fascism it was reinstalled in front of the entrance to the temple.
Stare Miasto is the oldest historical district of Warsaw. Its oldest buildings date back to the 13th century. The area is separated from the rest of the city by medieval walls on one side, and a dry river bed on the other. When you enter this place, you are instantly transported back many centuries. Narrow paved streets, merchants' shops and, of course, the market square. Wandering around the old town, you can see completely unusual buildings from the Middle Ages. During the Second World War most of of the old city was destroyed, but after its completion all ancient architectural monuments were painstakingly restored using old photographs and drawings.
In the Old Town you can see such interesting sights as the triangular square, the palace square, the Cathedral of John the Baptist, the Thin House, the Church of the Jesuit Fathers. Old city as a World Heritage Site it is under the protection of UNESCO. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit this attraction every year. It is noteworthy that even the restored buildings here look as if they are really 300-400 years old.
The Market Square is located in the Old Town of Warsaw. This trading platform played a huge role in the economy of Warsaw throughout the city’s existence. It was here that local and overseas merchants traded, traveling artists came here, and only here artisans could sell the fruits of their labor. The market square is still a center of trade today. Every tourist can buy a lot of souvenirs or serious things here. Tourists enjoy walking around the square, looking into shopping shops, small restaurants and cafes. A special atmosphere is created by free musicians and artists; just like several centuries ago, they come here to entertain people and earn some money.
Within the Old Square there are several historical attractions that the whole family can visit, such as the Museum of Literature, the Museum of History and the Warsaw Siren statue. The monument was created in 1855 and cast from zinc. Later it was moved to different areas of the city, but in 2008 the Siren was cast in bronze and returned to historical place. The original was given to the city museum. Interestingly, the square is divided into four parts, each of which is named after famous Polish political figures.
Warsaw- city with centuries-old history. Since the 16th century it has been the capital of Poland. The city was repeatedly attacked by enemy states. The greatest damage was caused to Warsaw at the end of World War II. The city was then destroyed almost to the ground. The residents of Warsaw restored it literally brick by brick. Thanks to their work, Warsaw today is thriving and delights residents and tourists with its beauty and unique architectural style.
30 things to see in Warsaw
- Look at the bronze one on Castle Square. It was this monarch who once moved the capital of Poland from Krakow to Warsaw. Also on the square you can touch a medieval monument - a fragment of the fortress wall that in ancient times surrounded the Old Town.
- Visit one of the main attractions, the former residence of Polish monarchs. Various exhibitions are constantly open for tourists here. Here you can wander through the castle halls and enjoy the exhibition of landscapes. By the way, on Sundays entrance to the castle is completely free.
- Take a photo with the Warsaw Siren statue on the Market Square. This statue is a symbol of the city. Locals will be happy to tell you ancient legend associated with it.
- Take a walk through the Royal Lazienki palace and park complex. The area of the complex is 76 hectares. Here you can not only take a walk in the park area, but also visit the famous Myshlevitsky Palace on the island, the Hermitage, see the sanctuary of Diana and many other attractions.
- Take a tour of Wilanów Palace, one of the few buildings to survive World War II.
- Watch the film “Warsaw will never forget” in Historical Museum. The film tells about the impressive extent of destruction of the Polish capital during the Second World War and about the painstaking work of restorers who restored the city. The museum's exhibition is very diverse and occupies 4 floors, so you won't get bored.
- Old city. This is one of most beautiful places Warsaw. Here you can feel the historical atmosphere of medieval Warsaw, stroll along the cobblestone streets, and take a ride in a real carriage.
- Market Square. Here you can buy works by local artists or order your own portrait.
- Book a three-hour bike tour of Warsaw in Russian.
- Visit the Zachęta National Art Gallery (Zachęta Narodowa Galeria Sztuki)
11. Visit the Warsaw Zoo. Now the collection of the Warsaw Zoo includes almost 5 thousand animals, among which there are rare and endangered species.
12. Taste national Polish dishes in small family restaurants, for example, in the restaurant “U Fukera”. Order the famous bigos, zrazy or pyzy. Try marinated pork hooves. Indescribable gastronomic pleasure is guaranteed to you.
13. Experience the taste of real Polish beer (Bazyliszek, Pinta, Artezan) in one of the many pubs in the city. For example, in the PiwPaw pub.
14. Watch a spectacular light and sound water show in the Multimedia Fountain Park.
15. Enjoy the divine sound of the organ in St. Yana, near Castle Square. It was in this cathedral that the coronation of the last Polish king took place.
16. Visit a unique landmark of Warsaw - a two-level garden of exotic plants on the roof of the Warsaw University library. Entry for tourists is free!
17. Visit the Polish Army Museum, and at the same time the National Museum. Why are there two museums in one place? Yes, they are simply located in the same building.
18. Check out the wonderful exhibition at the Chopin Museum in Warsaw.
19. Visit the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, and on the street. Bartycka. Immediately after the war, practically from the rubble of the destroyed city, a 120-meter mound was poured with a monument to Warring Poland on top.
20. Feel like a real researcher, make an independent scientific discovery at the Copernicus Science Center.
21. Look at the Palace of Culture and Science - a gift from the Soviet people to the Polish. This building is the tallest in all of Poland, and also houses the second largest clock in the world. The observation deck of the building offers a beautiful view of the city.
22. Visit the observation deck on the very top floor of the Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki). From this platform you can see the entire capital.
23. Enjoy delicious sweets prepared according to old Polish recipes in the Blikle home confectionery.
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 listed cultural heritage UNESCO 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 a 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 the Old 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.
- Street New World(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 is the tallest building in Poland (including 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 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.)
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My conclusion: Warsaw is worth a visit. Come and see for yourself. I think that you will also like the Polish capital!!!
The hotel is located in the city center at 9 Karowa Street in Krakowskie Przedmieście, close to the Royal Castle, the National Theater and the Presidential Palace.
Construction of the hotel began in 1898 under the leadership of Stanisław Roszkowski, Ignacy Paderewski and Edmund Zaremb. Initially, the hotel project was developed in the Secession style by Tadeusz Stryenski and Franciszek Monczynski, but it was changed: Vladislav Marconi made the façade of the building in the neo-Renaissance style. The hotel had a power plant, central heating, ventilation and an elevator. There were about 200 rooms at the disposal of visitors.
The hotel has hosted political debates since 1919 and served as a hospital during World War II.
Now the Bristol Hotel is one of the most luxurious, where George Bush Sr., Naomi Campbell, Charles de Gaulle, Gerard Depardieu, Marlene Dietrich and many others stayed. The hotel has 2 restaurants, two banquet halls, a library, a swimming pool, a solarium, a sauna, a gym and a casino. No matter what hotel guests wish to see or do in Warsaw, the concierge is ready to assist at any time of the day. The hotel rooms will amaze you with their unique interior and comfort. There are rooms for the disabled, 3 floors are designated for non-smoking visitors, as well as rooms with original furnishings. The hotel's restaurants offer international cuisine and an extensive wine list.
Palace of Culture and Science
The Palace of Culture and Science is located in the center of Warsaw, it is the most famous building in Poland. In addition, the palace is the tallest building in the city, its height is 234.5 meters. There is a viewing platform on the 25th floor.
The high-rise building was built as a gift to Poland from the Soviet Union. The project was created by architect Lev Rudnev, who spent a lot of time familiarizing himself with Polish architecture and choosing the style of the building. At the time of construction, the Palace was the second tallest building in Europe, now it is among the top ten tallest buildings European Union.
Currently, the skyscraper is used as an office building; the Palace houses the Warsaw Congress Center, which can accommodate 3,000 people. The center occupies more than 10 thousand square meters of exhibition space. It is possible to combine halls, which allows you to organize intimate meetings, exhibitions and fairs. Also in the Palace there are cinemas, museums, scientific institutes, a theater, and swimming pools.
What sights of Warsaw did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Sigismund's Column
The Column of King Zygmunt III Vasa is the oldest secular monument in Warsaw. A 22-meter column, on top of which stands Sigismund III with a cross in his left hand, symbolizing the fight against evil, and a saber in his right, was erected in the middle of Palace Square.
It was installed in 1644 by the son of Sigismund III, King Vladislav IV. Although the idea of such a grandiose monument appeared even earlier, Sigismund III Vasa himself wanted to perpetuate his victory over the rebels of Nicholas Zebrzydobski, who were dissatisfied with the king’s rule. Indeed, Sigismund was a bad ruler: he dragged Poland into a long and exhausting war with Sweden. Despite the fact that the king was not successful in terms of his professional career, many people liked him. He was an enlightened man, loved art, and was himself involved in sculpture and painting.
It is worth noting that the column of Sigismund III became a symbol of Warsaw and has always delighted people.
The monument stood until Warsaw Uprising, sharing the fate of the city, but in 1949 it rose above the square again.
The Royal Castle is located in the historical center of Warsaw and is one of the main attractions of the capital of Poland. The history of its construction is directly related to the construction of the city itself and begins in the 12th century.
During its rich life, the castle has been replaced by dozens of eminent owners, and has undergone additions, reconstruction and restoration many times. The most tragic moment in the castle's history was in 1944, when the Nazi invaders completely destroyed it and destroyed the remains of the ruins with explosives. It was possible to reconstruct the castle only in 1988; it was restored as it was in the 18th century - decorated in the early Baroque style.
Currently, the castle is open to visitors; in its halls you can admire antique furniture, paintings, sculptures and other works of art.
Royal Road
The so-called Royal Route in Warsaw connects two historical monument- Royal Palace and royal summer residence in Lazienki. In the Middle Ages, a country road passed here, then a suburb grew to these places, and centuries later it became a picturesque city alley.
The Royal Road consists of three parts. The first section begins at Castle Square - this is Krakow Przedmieście. This is one of the most beautiful streets in the Polish capital. After the reconstruction of the street was completed, it turned into a wide boulevard, in the middle of which a narrow lane was left for cars. Along the pedestrian part there are cubes on which reproductions of views of Warsaw are mounted. The author of these paintings is Canaletto, the court artist of the last king, who worked in the 17th century.
After walking through Krakow Przedmieście, you find yourself on New World Street. On both sides there are numerous shops and restaurants. Here is also the famous confectionery shop A. Blickle, which has existed on this site since 1869 and has never closed. Near New World Street there is the ultra-modern multimedia Frederic Chopin Museum.
The third section of the Route is Ujazdowski Alley, along which there are picturesque palaces and 19th-century villas built by wealthy Warsaw residents. Now foreign embassies have settled in them. Ujazdowski Alley, completing the walk along the Royal Route, will lead you to the beautiful Royal Lazienki palace and park complex.
Warsaw Uprising Museum
The Warsaw Uprising Museum, located in the building of a former tram depot, is one of the most visited places by tourists in the Polish capital. It was opened in the year of the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of hostilities in Warsaw and became a symbol of memory of all who fought and died for the country's independence. On an area of more than 3,000 square meters, you can see several thousand exhibits and photographs telling the story of the uprising, from prehistory to the moment when the rebels left Warsaw.
The heart of the museum is a steel monument that runs through all floors of the building, on the walls of which the chronology of events is engraved. The sound of a beating heart that comes from the monument symbolizes life in the city in 1944. The museum tower offers a panoramic view of Warsaw, from here you can see the Wall of Memory in Freedom Park. Carved on it are 10,000 names of the rebels who fell in those terrible years. The bell, weighing more than 200 kilograms, installed in the central part of the wall, is dedicated to Brigadier General Antoni Chruscel.
A cinema hall has been organized for visitors where they can watch the film “City of Ruins”, which reconstructs the flight of the Liberator bomber in 1945 over the destroyed and devastated Warsaw. At this moment, one can most clearly imagine the horror and scale of destruction. Here you can also see a copy of that same bomber.
Presidential palace
The Presidential Palace is the residence of Polish rulers, the most Grand Palace in the country. Initially, the palace was built by the great hetman Stanislav Konetspolsky in 1643 according to the design of the court architect Constantino Tencallo. The decoration was carried out in the style of Genoese residences and with the first Italian garden in Warsaw.
In the XVII - XVIII centuries the palace often changed owners until in 1818 it was bought by the Polish government and began to be used as the residence of the governor of Poland. In subsequent years, the building was almost completely rebuilt in the classicist style, only the first floor was preserved in its original form.
In the 19th - 20th centuries, the palace was also repaired and reconstructed more than once. Currently, the Presidential Palace performs certain government functions. Since 1993, Polish presidents have lived there, and since 2010, the palace has been used only for business purposes.
Are you interested in knowing how well you know the sights of Warsaw? .
Museum of the Polish Army
The Polish Army Museum is located in Warsaw, near National Museum. The second largest museum in Poland was founded in 1920 and even has several branches on the territory of this state. The Polish Army Museum is famous for its rich collection of military objects. Over the centuries, this museum has been replenished with weapons, armor and military relics.
Several halls of the Museum of the Polish Army carefully preserve the military history of Poland, from the emergence of the Kingdom of Poland to the present day. Here you will see the armor of the hussars, the military equipment of the kings, the famous gilded helmet of the era of Bogoslav I, the saddle of Napoleon I and Polish military equipment of the 20th century, located in the open-air courtyard.
In addition, oriental armor and weapons originating from Japan, Mongolia and Ottoman Turkey are also exhibited here.
The most popular attractions in Warsaw with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places Warsaw on our website.
Individual and group
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.
An interestingly decorated house on Novy Svet Street
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 might 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 The Barbican separates the Old City from the New, but the New City can only be recognized as new 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 are still many quite interesting buildings in a very 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 museums can be viewed 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