Make a stopover for the weekend in Warsaw

🕗 7 minutes | December 12, 2024 | The material was prepared in cooperation with the Warsaw Tourist Organization

With its long history, rich cultural offerings and the creative energy of its residents, Warsaw allows you to rediscover yourself with every visit. Whatever your expectations, Warsaw's picturesque places will surprise you in the best possible way. Below is a guide to the attractions that await you during a weekend in the capital, inviting you to explore its many facets. 

Is this your first visit to the heart of Warsaw? Discover the most interesting places that will allow you to feel the essence of the city. Our schedule of events includes must-see attractions to keep in mind during your visit.

Head to the Old Town to see the Royal Castle with two original paintings by Rembrandt. Stroll along the Royal Route, and finally visit the second-tallest building in Poland, the Palace of Culture and Science, with an observation deck on the 30th floor. This building is a great example of Socialist Realist.

Tour Poland in the footsteps of Frederic Chopin, one of the world's greatest composers, who spent his childhood and youth in Warsaw. Visit places associated with the musician or take part in unique cultural events taking place in the city.

Warsaw is a place worth seeing also because of its green areas, which occupy almost half of the city. There are more than 90 parks, and the largest and most beautiful of them is Łazienki Królewskie with its palace complex. In Warsaw, you can also relax on one of the city's eight beaches on the banks of the Vistula River, take a bicycle tour or enjoy a cruise on a comfortable, exclusive boat. And these are just some of the many possibilities!

Did you know that after sunset, Warsaw lights up with twinkling, colorful lights and retro neon signs? If you're looking for the best places to party in Warsaw, visit Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmieście, full of bars and pubs, or head to one of the atmospheric food courts in post-industrial complexes. Plenty of unforgettable experiences also await you on Mazowiecka Street.

If you want to see and explore Warsaw hastily or simply escape the hustle and bustle of the city, take a bike ride along the Vistula boulevards. You can also enjoy a light workout in one of the outdoor gyms, go for a brisk run in one of Warsaw's parks. Or get in a kayak and float down the Vistula River, admiring the panorama of Warsaw from a wholly different perspective. Or maybe you'll be tempted by a trip to Suntago — the largest water park in Europe, located just outside the city?

At the Royal Castle you'll see paintings by Rembrandt and Canaletto, at the interactive Warsaw Uprising Museum you'll learn moving stories from World War II, and at the POLIN Museum you'll discover the rich, thousand-year history of Polish Jews. Find out that the cultural program of events in Warsaw is wealthy — dozens of museums and galleries are waiting for you! Choose something for yourself.

Praga has been a culturally, ethnically and religiously diverse district of Warsaw for centuries. It was not destroyed during World War II, making it regarded as the most authentic part of the city.

Start your tour of Praga with a visit to the Museum of Warsaw Praga and the Museum of Polish Vodka, housed in the historic Koneser distillation and rectification plant. Koneser also offers:

• restaurants and bars,
• Warsaw's unique museums,
• unique stores not available in shopping malls,
• fairs and festivals,
• a rich program of events in the setting of beautifully restored brick buildings of a former vodka factory from the 19th century.

After World War II, architects were given the task of rebuilding Warsaw in a new style: “socialist in content and national in form.” Heading to Warsaw this weekend, discover the architectural heritage of Socialist Realism and its monumental buildings and sculptures from the 1950s. If you want to feel the spirit of a bygone era, be sure to visit one of the milk bars — canteens from that era, offering cheap, homemade and traditional Polish cuisine.

We all know that children are demanding guests. Fortunately, Warsaw is an ideal city to visit with the whole family and offers a wide range of attractions, such as a visit to the Warsaw Zoo or a walk through the Royal Castle Gardens. 

Did you know that before World War II, Warsaw was one of the largest centers of Jewish culture in Europe? Jewish traditions were visible here at every step — from everyday life, to architecture, to art and literature. Discover the world of Polish Jews and learn about their history — join us for a walk in the footsteps of Judaism in Warsaw.

Shopping malls, boutiques, antique fairs and fashion festivals — Warsaw is a great place to shop. You'll find global brands and collections by niche designers. Polish design workshops are also worth a visit. 

Warsaw is the culinary capital of Poland. Here you will find many elegant restaurants awarded in the Michelin guide, atmospheric pubs ideal for meetings with friends, traditional milk bars and open-air breakfast markets. In addition to regional restaurants serving traditional Polish dishes, you can try cuisine from all over the world, including vegetarian and vegan dishes.

If you want to see and visit Warsaw efficiently, be sure to check out our program of events. Make sure there are interesting events taking place during your visit to the capital.

If you want to start your tour of Warsaw's picturesque sites from the Old Town, take a walk along the Royal Route. Along the way you'll see the Church of the Holy Cross, which houses the heart of Frédéric Chopin, the gate of Warsaw University and the Presidential Palace. Beforehand, visit the intimate Frédéric Chopin Museum in the Ostrogski Palace and sit on one of the granite benches that allow you to listen to the outstanding composer's music at the touch of a button!

In the evening, a great way to start the weekend would be to enjoy a concert of Chopin music in one of the concert halls near Castle Square, such as Chopin Point, Time for Chopin or Frédéric Hall. In the neighborhood, it's also tempting to take a stroll through the Royal Castle Gardens, which open up to a panoramic view of the Vistula River. 

For photography lovers, we recommend a visit to the top floor of the Museum of Warsaw, located in the western part of the Old Town Square. When traveling with children, visit the World of Illusions or the Museum of Dolls' Houses, Games, and Toys. 

Walk through the Barbican and stroll among the restaurant gardens on Freta Street leads past the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Museum to the New Town Square and the Fountain Park, where picture, water, music and light shows are held in the evenings. 

A walk along Dluga Street past the Warsaw Uprising Monument and later along Miodowa Street will take you to Theater Square. There you can sit in one of the cafés overlooking the illuminated building of the Grand Theater and National Opera. This is a truly picturesque place in Warsaw.

If time permits, consider visiting the Zacheta Gallery, walking past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the border of Pilsudski Square and Saxon Garden. End the evening at one of the many restaurants on Nowy Swiat or Swietokrzyska Street. 

Start your day with an aromatic coffee in one of the many cafés on Savior Square — the heart of the city's social life. Moreover, nearby is Constitution Square and the famous socialist realist MDM housing development. It hides a true gem of a bygone era — the Museum of Life in the People's Republic of Poland, surrounded by monumental architecture, bas-reliefs, and chandeliers. 

After a sentimental trip back in time, try the iconic Wuzetka cake and orangeade, the iconic carbonated beverage of the era. Afterward, head for a meal in Hala Koszyki or around Wilcza, Hoża and Poznańska Streets, where you'll find a wide selection of vegan restaurants and light Polish cuisine with a modern twist. 

Nearby, the Palace of Culture and Science awaits you, from whose observation deck on the 30th floor you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of Warsaw. The Palace houses many institutions such as theaters, restaurants, cafés and the Kinoteka cinema, as well as seasonal exhibitions.

For history buffs, a must-see is the Warsaw Uprising Museum, an interactive and unforgettable history lesson. Moreover, not to be missed is the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, located in Muranów, a neighborhood built on the ruins of the Warsaw Ghetto. 

For art lovers, on the other hand, we recommend a visit to the modernist building of the National Museum, housing an impressive collection of more than 830,000 works of Polish and world art, from ancient to contemporary. 

In the afternoon, take a tram or subway to the right bank of the Vistula River to discover the atmosphere of old Warsaw in the Praga District. Stroll through mysterious courtyards and residential areas, learning about the history of old factories and tenements. 

In Praga, you can try the famous casseroles from Bazar Różycki or attend weekend outdoor concerts on Ząbkowska Street, sitting in one of the summer gardens, visiting galleries or browsing books and vinyl at flea markets. 

Also visit the nearby Koneser Praga Center, located on the grounds of the former Warsaw Vodka Factory “Koneser.” It's the perfect place to spend an evening — here you can buy works by Polish artists and designers, visit the interactive Museum of Polish Vodka with its fantastic cocktail bar, and enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants. 

Lazienki Krolewskie Park will be the perfect place for a walk in the morning. Relax by the Chopin Monument — the site of popular Sunday outdoor concerts — and visit the Ujazdowski Castle with the Center for Contemporary Art next door. Behind it, you'll have a beautiful view of Agrykola, Legia Warszawa stadium and the Vistula River. 

The Powiśle district and the Vistula Boulevards are literally a stone's throw from the Lazienki Krolewskie Park. You can walk, rent a Veturilo bike, or see the Warsaw area from a Vistula River perspective with a Kropka or Kreska boat cruise. Along the way you'll pass numerous summer gardens, food stands and cafés on moored barges. 

While near the Świętokrzyski Bridge, be sure to check out the Copernicus Science Center. The garden located on its roof offers a magnificent view of the Vistula River, the Old Town and the PGE National Stadium. Right next door, take a walk on the green terraces on the roof of the University of Warsaw Library, surrounded by lush vegetation. 

Consider a stroll through the charming Old Town Square or the sleepy Mariensztat, located next door, where you will feel the atmosphere of a small Polish town.