Warsaw might be a little underrated compared to other European capitals, but it’s a great place to visit. It has a gorgeous historic old town, a new town with skyscrapers, plenty of cobblestone streets, museums, and delicious Polish food. And if you have more time I highly recommend you also visit Gdansk, Krakow, and Auschwitz. In this blog post I’ll share the best neighborhood to stay in Warsaw the first time you visit, as well as some of the best hotels. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Warsaw Old Town
Hotel Bellotto
The Old Town is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Warsaw because this is where the main attractions, such as the Royal Castle, are.
Hotel Bellotto is a 5-star hotel located in Warsaw’s Old Town in a 16th century palace. It has large rooms beautifully adorned as you would expect from a luxurious hotel.
It has an Italian restaurant on the premises. Miodowa Cafe is also located in one of the hotel’s wings. Back in the 18th century this cafe housed the most famous confectionery and ice cream parlor in Warsaw.
And today they also have a honey dessert bar at this cafe. They serve mini desserts that use different types of honey obtained from suppliers from Italy and Poland.
Mamaison Hotel Le Regina Warsaw
Another luxury hotel in the Old Town area is Mamaison Hotel Le Regina. This is a boutique hotel in the heart of Warsaw in the Mokrowsky Palace. They won the award for the best boutique hotel in Poland.
The hotel is a short walk from the Old Town Square and the Vistula River bank. It’s the perfect place to stay if you want to be withing walking distance of the main historical landmarks.
Krakowskie Przedmieście
Hotel Bristol
Hotel Bristol is an iconic hotel in Warsaw. It’s located on the Royal Route, next to the Presidential Palace. It is a Luxury Collection Hotel that’s part of the Marriott chain.
This hotel has a rich history as it has been operating since 1901 in a beautiful Art Nouveau building. You can also find the famous Bristol Cafe here serving some delicious cakes and chocolates.
The hotel has an indoor pool, a fitness center, a sauna, a steam room, and a spa. It has all the amenities you need to relax and to enjoy a luxurious stay in capital city of Poland.
The hotel is pet friendly, so you can bring your furry friend with you too.
Flaner Hotel
I stayed at Flaner Hotel, which is a short distance from the Old Town and Nowy Swiat.
I loved my stay there. The bed was comfy, the room was clean and spacious, and the decor was a mix of royal velvet and modern furniture.
Their concierge, Darek, went above and beyond to make sure my stay there was amazing. I’ve never experienced this level of hospitality in any hotel I’ve stayed at so far.
I highly recommend Flaner. The location is perfect, the service is outstanding, and the price is a good deal for the level of service you get.
Sofitel Warsaw Victoria
Sofitel Warsaw Victoria is a modern hotel that’s perfect for both tourists and business travelers. It is very close to all the attractions in central Warsaw.
The hotel is beautifully decorated and has spacious rooms with views of Pilsudski Square or the historic district. It has all the modern amenities you would imagine for a 5-star hotel.
Nowy Świat
Hotel Indigo Warsaw – Nowy
Hotel Indigo is an IHG hotel located on the famous Nowy Świat street. Nowy Swiat is translated in English as the New World Street. It is part of the Royal Route.
You can find a lot of restaurants, cafes, and bars here. Its nickname is Restaurant Street.
During summer and while the Christmas market is open this street is closed to car traffic, so people can enjoy walking in this area.
Staying at Hotel Indigo means that you will have plenty of great dining options very close to the hotel. The hotel offers large rooms in a renovated 19th century building.
Chopin Boutique
Chopin Boutique is a 3-star hotel. They have only 34 rooms in a pre-war house located a few minutes away from Nowy Świat on a cobblestone street. The hotel also has a very cute garden.
This is one of the most budget friendly hotels I included on this list and it’s also one of the coziest hotels. It could be a great option for a first stay in Warsaw if you’re not looking for luxury accommodation.
Warsaw Central Station
Warsaw Presidential Hotel (former Warsaw Marriott Hotel)
If you plan on taking day trips while in Warsaw, staying close to the central train station, Warszawa Centralna. This way you don’t have to wake up super early to get to the train station to catch your train. You can just walk there.
The Warsaw Presidential Hotel is a 5-star hotel that’s close to the Palace of Culture and Science, as well as to the central railway station. In this area there are also many stores where you can do some shopping.
And you’ll also be close to one of the coolest hidden gems in Warsaw.
The hotel has spacious rooms and all the luxury amenities you need. They also have an amazing rooftop bar on the 40th floor with great city views. And they claim to also make the best cocktails in town. Not sure if this is true, but I like their confidence.
NYX Hotel Warsaw
The NYX hotel is a mix of edgy design and modern architecture. It’s a 4-star hotel located close to the central station. It has a great rooftop terrace, a restaurant, and a gym. It has great prices, so it could be a good option if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option.
Praga
Moxy Warsaw Praga
If you want to be a bit further away from the Old Town and the hustle and bustle of central Warsaw you can choose to stay in Praga, the neighborhood across the river from the Old Town.
Moxy Warsaw Praga is a 3-star hotel located on the buzzing Zabkowska street in the Old Praga neighborhood. The hotel has a hip, contemporary vibe, typical of Marriott’s Moxy brand. They are a pet-friendly hotel.
The hotel used to be a 19th century Polish Vodka Distillery, so that’s pretty cool. It adds to this hotel’s charm.
FAQs about Warsaw
What should I eat in Warsaw?
Pierogi
Pierogis are Polish dumplings. They have so many different fillings: meat, potatoes, cabbage, mushrooms, barley. I’m sure I’m forgetting some variations. The good news is that you don’t have to pick a flavor. You can get a sample plate of pierogi so you can try all the different variations.
I had incredible pierogis at Gościniec Polskie Pierogi. This is a Polish restaurant where you can try all the traditional dishes. The food is delicious, the service is great, and the prices are affordable. They have multiple locations in Warsaw so you can go to the one closest to you.
Bigos
Bigos is a cabbage and pork meat stew that is served in a toasted bread bowl. It’s delicious, but it’s a very hearty meal. You most likely won’t be able to finish an entire bowl, but if you’re traveling with someone it’s the perfect meal to share.
I tried bigos in two places: Gościniec Polskie Pierogi and Podwale 25. I went to two locations of Gościniec Polskie Pierogi and they were both amazing. My recommendation is that you eat here.
I can’t say the same thing about Podwale 25. This is a famous restaurant in Warsaw. Even some locals recommended it to me. But I was disappointed by both the food and the experience.
My Podwale 25 experience
The bread bowl was not toasted properly and it started to get soggy after a few minutes. That soggy texture is not very appetizing. Then, they put way too much meat in the stew. To the point that you can’t enjoy it because it’s mostly meat. The lemonade I ordered was mostly ice.
My friend ordered a chicken Caesar’s salad and they brought it to her without the chicken. The waiter was a very young guy who was not speaking English. It was probably his first night working there. He did not understand what we ordered. When we told him he got the order wrong he didn’t know what to do. We waited for about 30 minutes and nothing happened.
Absolutely horrible service. For a popular establishment like Podwale 25 you can’t hire a teenager server who doesn’t speak English. On top of that, when we got to the restaurant and I told the person at reception that we had a reservation they told me to wait in a very rude way. Then they had to sort out some food delivery orders and then they proceeded to take another party to their table, a party that came to the restaurant after we got there.
All these things made my experience really bad. At the end of the night I went to talk to the manager to give her this feedback in person and, even though she was rushed and barely wanted to listen to what I was telling her, she told me I didn’t have to pay for that meal. At least they did that.
I would not return to Podwale 25. I think the restaurant got so popular that they don’t care about customer service and the quality of their food anymore. Probably best to skip this restaurant.
Kielbasa sausage
Kielbasa is a traditional Polish sausage. You can get just the sausage at the Christmas market, or you can opt for a slice of bread with lard or butter, topped with sausage and caramelized onion.
The stands that sell Kielbasa also offer 3 free toppings: pickles, fried onion, and spring onion.
I thought mixing sausage, onion, bread and butter would be too heavy of a combination, but I enjoyed it a lot. I shared a slice of bread with my friend and half the portion was enough for me.
It’s a hearty, but delicious meal.
What is the best time to visit Warsaw?
I visited in mid-December so I can explore the Christmas market as well. The city is beautifully adorned and everything feels very festive. So if you want to experience the magic of the holiday season in Warsaw then December is a great time to visit.
It will be quite cold if you visit in December. If you’re not a fan of cold weather then you should visit in the spring or fall.
I tend to avoid Europe summer travel because it gets so hot and there are so many tourists everywhere that it takes away from the experience for me. I’d rather wait a few months and go in the fall so I can properly enjoy the destinations I’m visiting.
How can I get around Warsaw?
Warsaw is a very walkable city. It also has a great subway system with stations near all major attractions in case your hotel is further away from the city center. And there are plenty of bus options too. Public transportation options are great in Warsaw.
How can I get to the city center from the Warsaw Chopin airport?
Train
You can take the train from the airport. If you take the S2 route it will stop at Śródmieście and Powiśle, key central stations. Śródmieście station also has connections to other parts of the city.
If you take the S3 route it will take you to the Northern side of central Warsaw. Make sure to know where your hotel is located before deciding which train you should take.
Trains usually run once every hour from 6am to 10 or 11pm. If you arrive outside of these hours I suggest you get an Uber/Bolt or a taxi.
Bus
There are plenty of bus options that take you to the city center from the airport. The best bus choice for reaching the Old Town area is bus 175. It runs every 15-30 minutes from 4:30am to 11pm.
Other bus options to consider, depending on where you’re staying, are buses 188, 148, and 331.
If you arrive at night, the only bus option available is bus N32. This bus has direct service to Centralna station and it runs every 30 minutes from 11pm to 4:30am.
Taxi / uber
This is the most convenient option since it leaves you right in front of your hotel. Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Nomad eSIM (use code IOAN43TM for 25% off your first purchase). You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
Is Warsaw safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes, I felt very safe in Warsaw. Eastern Europe is much safer than much of Western Europe these days in my opinion. There aren’t pickpockets, people don’t try to scam you on the street, and you can walk alone at night with no issues.
Do I need cash for my trip to Warsaw?
Yes, you will need a bit of cash for St. Anne’s church observation deck. Other than that I paid for everything with a credit card. There are plenty of ATMs in the city, so if you forget to get some at the airport there won’t be any problem.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the country you’re visiting instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do I have to tip in Warsaw?
Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.
Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?
I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. Especially if you visit during the summer months. Booking in advance will give you peace of mind.
Do people speak English in Warsaw?
Yes, they do. Everyone I interacted with in Warsaw spoke English. I still recommend you learn a few words in Polish ahead of your trip though. I do this for every country I visit. It’s just a nice gesture and locals will appreciate the effort.
Do you recommend Warsaw as a solo destination?
Yes, I recommend Warsaw as a destination for solo female travelers. There are so many things to do, the food is delicious, the people are great, and I felt very safe.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.