Warsaw is such a great place for a city break. It has a gorgeous historic old town, a new town with skyscrapers, plenty of cobblestone streets, museums, and delicious Polish food. Two days is enough time to see the main sights. If you have more time you can take day trips to Gdansk, Krakow, and Auschwitz. This Warsaw itinerary is perfect for your first visit. It includes the main things you need to see and some hidden gems too. 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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What should I visit in Warsaw?
Warsaw’s Old Town
The old town market square should definitely be on your itinerary. In this area you will also find the Royal Castle, the old city walls, St. Anne’s Church, and all those adorable cobblestone streets.
During the winter this is where you’ll find the Christmas tree and the Christmas market.
During World War II the Warsaw old town was almost completely destroyed by the nazis. Only 6 out of 260 historic buildings survived the attacks.
It was later rebuilt with the help of Warsaw’s citizens. The reconstruction took 5 years. This is the first time in history that the entire old town had to be rebuilt.
The old town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Royal Castle
The Royal Castle is located in the Castle Square. It used to be the official royal residence of several Polish monarchs.
It is now a museum where you can explore how the monarchs used to live and learn more about the rich history of Poland.
There are certain times during the day when a guard opens a window that faces the square and plays the trumpet. At the end of the song he waves at the people in the square. It’s really cute.
City walls
Across from the Royal Castle you can find parts of the city walls. They were originally built in the 13th and 16th centuries. And then they were rebuilt after World War II.
The best-preserved fragments of the walls are parallel to Podwale Street. This is where the Christmas market stands are located during December.
Royal Route
The Royal Route or Royal Way is a stretch of road that includes notable buildings and attractions. It is comprised of the following streets: Krakowskie Przedmieście, Nowy Świat, and Aleje Ujazdowske, Belwederska, and Sobieskiego.
It starts at Castle Square in the old town and it continues southward to Wilanów Palace, Sobieski’s personal residence.
The most notable attractions along the Royal Route are the Royal Palace, St. Anne’s Church, Holy Cross Church, the Presidential Palace, the Copernicus Monument, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Łazienki Park, Łazienki Palace.
You can walk the entire route if you have time. If not, just walk between Castle Square and Nowy Świat. This is the most popular part of the route and where you can see most attractions outside of Łazienki Park and Palace, and Wilanów Palace.
Nowy Świat
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.
I stayed very close to this street and it was great. I had plenty of food options only a few minutes away from my hotel.
St. Anne’s Church observation deck
When you’re in the old town area you need to climb the stairs of the tower of St. Anne’s Church to get to the observation deck. It has the best views of the old town.
A ticket costs 10 zloty and they only accept cash. If you don’t have cash on you there is an ATM right across the street from the church.
It’s one of my favorite places in Warsaw and it’s definitely worth visiting if you like amazing views.
Chopin concert
While in Warsaw, you need to go to a Chopin concert in the old town. Frederic Chopin, the famous classical music composer, was born in Poland. Polish people are very proud of this fact.
They offer daily Chopin concerts in the old town, there are benches in 15 locations in Warsaw that play Chopin music if you press a button, the airport name is Chopin, and even the trains play Chopin music while they stop at a train station. I love how much they cherish Chopin and how they created so many cultural experiences around his music.
Church of the Holy Cross
This is a Roman Catholic church and one of the most notable Baroque-style buildings in Poland. What not a lot of people know is that Frederic Chopin’s heart rests here. While his body is buried in Paris, his heart is kept in this church.
Entrance to the church is free, but they only allow visitors while service is not in place.
Palace of Culture and Science
The Palace of Culture and Science is the second tallest building in Warsaw and Poland and the sixth tallest building in the European Union.
It was designed by a Russian architect. It was inspired by Polish historical architecture and the American art-deco buildings. To be fair, it does resemble a bit the buildings in the Wall Street area of New York City.
The building houses theatres, cinemas, libraries, and authorities of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
You can visit the observation deck on the 30th floor. You can buy a regular ticket for this terrace or you can opt for a guided tour where you get skip-the-line entrance, learn about the history of the building from a local guide, explore the beautiful interiors, and listen to funny stories about the building.
I think it’s definitely worth visiting the observation deck. It has a great 360-degree view of the capital of Poland. Apparently it’s the most visited attraction in Warsaw.
Fotoplastikon
Fotoplastikon is a hidden gem in Warsaw. It is the oldest stereoscopic theater still in its original location. I highly recommend you stop by when you’re in Warsaw. It will be a very unique experience. You can read everything about it here.
Łazienki Park
This is the largest park in Warsaw. It is part of the Royal Route. It was designed in the 17th century in the Baroque style for a military commander.
It’s a very impressive park. You should add it to your itinerary. Taking a stroll here could be a great afternoon activity, especially if the weather cooperates.
Museum of Warsaw
The Museum of Warsaw was established in 1936 and it was rebuilt after the war as it is located in the old town market square. It has over 250,000 objects on display from various fields, such as archeology, painting, sculpture, and architectural drawings.
Warsaw Rising Museum
The Warsaw Rising Museum is dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. It opened in 2004, the year that marks the 60th anniversary of the Uprising. The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation to liberate Warsaw from German occupation.
This is a great museum to visit if you like history and want to learn more about the Uprising movement.
Where should I stay in Warsaw?
Mid-budget hotels
Warsaw has plenty of great hotel options in central locations. And they are quite affordable. I stayed at Flaner Hotel, very close to the Old Town and Nowy Swiat.
I loved my stay there. 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 this hotel. The location is perfect and the service is outstanding.
Luxury hotels
If you have a higher budget and are seeking a more luxurious option, then Raffles Europejski or Hotel Bristol are all great options.
Hostels
Unfortunately, I am not the right person to recommend any hostels to you. I am in my 30s and I value comfort, so I will always choose to stay at a hotel vs a hostel. I can see how a hostel is a great option for younger people, but I’m at a different stage in life, so I prefer hotels.
Airbnb
I also tend to pick hotels over Airbnbs because I feel like it’s less of a risk and it’s a more reliable option. One time when I visited Miami with my friends we booked an Airbnb that looked great in pictures but looked really bad in reality. We ended up going to a hotel instead. After that experience I tend to avoid Airbnbs altogether.
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.
Cheese
I visited Warsaw when the Christmas market was open. There were so many stands in the Old Town Square cooking these small oval things on the grill. Some of them were even wrapped in bacon. They smelled delicious.
At first I thought it was some kind of savory pastry. But when I asked at one of the stands what it was they told me it was cheese. That’s it. Simple. Just cheese warmed on the grill.
I love cheese, so I had to try it. The cheese was delicious and a little smoky. And it came with cranberry sauce which complemented it perfectly.
I only saw this treat at the Old Town Market Square, so it might be available only during the Christmas season. Or maybe they have it during other holidays as well.
In any case, if you’re in Warsaw while the Christmas market is up and you like cheese, you should try it.
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.
Chimney cake
Chimney cake is a dessert original to Hungarians from Transylvania, but all countries in Eastern and Central Europe serve this delicacy at Christmas fairs. It’s very popular in Romania too.
It’s a yeasty dough, slightly sweet, that’s cooked on a truncated cone-shaped baking spit. It is usually cooked over a coal fire, but in Warsaw they cooked it in an oven.
Once it’s cooked they roll it in the topping of your choice: walnuts, cocoa, cinnamon, and so on. I usually get mine with walnuts. It’d delicious.
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.