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Stories from Warsaw, Poland

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Warsaw City Guide, in one place.

Culture

Arts + Culture

All of Arts & Culture

Chopin’s museum and the summer recitals in Łazienki, the Grand Theatre – National Opera, the National Philharmonic, the National Museum and the new Museum of Modern Art.

The portico, pediment and bronze quadriga of the Grand Theatre – National OperaArts + CultureArts & Culture in WarsawChopin, opera, concerts, galleries and film

Areas

Warsaw by area

From the Old Town to Praga, each district has its own guide: the rebuilt heart and the Royal Route, the centre and its towers, Powiśle by the river, Muranów and Wola, Praga across the Vistula, the royal gardens of Łazienki, Wilanów and Żoliborz.

The rebuilt townhouses of the Old Town Market Place on a quiet morning, with the Mermaid statueArea guideOld Town & New TownThe rebuilt heartThe townhouses of Krakowskie Przedmieście on the Royal Route in springArea guideThe Royal RouteKrakowskie PrzedmieścieThe Palace of Culture and Science against a clear blue sky, with the city’s new towers beside itArea guideŚródmieścieThe centreThe roof garden of the University of Warsaw Library, looking over the VistulaArea guidePowiśleBy the riverThe Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, with wreaths laid at its footArea guideMuranów & WolaMemory and the new west

On foot

Warsaw’s centre is best on foot and by bus 180, which follows the Royal Route from the Old Town all the way to Wilanów.

  1. Area guidePragaThe right bank
  2. Area guideMokotów & ŁazienkiRoyal gardens
  3. Area guideWilanówKing Jan III’s palace
  4. Area guideŻoliborzThe Citadel and the villas

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: tickets for the metro and trams, the airport buses and trains, the złoty, and itineraries for a first visit and a luxury weekend.

The rebuilt townhouses of the Old Town Market Place on a quiet morning, with the Mermaid statueBefore you goWarsaw essentialsEntry, złoty, the airport and 112A red and yellow Warsaw tram in the city centreGetting aroundBy metro, tram and trainTickets and the airport linksThe Old Town Market Place at dusk, its painted townhouses lit and café tables set out on the cobblesItineraryThree days in WarsawThe classic first visitRaffles Europejski Warsaw on the Royal RouteLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe clock tower of the Royal Castle in Warsaw against a deep blue skyItineraryThe Gold weekendRaffles Europejski, NUTA and the opera
  1. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendNobu, hub.praga and Wilanów

Our advice

Start on Castle Square

Begin at the Royal Castle and Sigismund’s Column, walk up to the Old Town Market Place and the Mermaid, then come back down and follow the Royal Route south: the whole of Warsaw’s history unfolds along the way. The Royal Castle

Day trips

Beyond the city

Żelazowa Wola, Kampinos, the Treblinka Museum, Łódź and Kraków: Chopin’s birthplace, a primeval forest, a place of remembrance, a film city and the old royal capital.

The Chopin Monument in Łazienki, with roses and deckchairs in the foregroundBeyond the cityŻelazowa WolaChopin’s birthplaceAn autumn path through the forest at the edge of Kampinos National ParkBeyond the cityKampinosThe primeval forestMemorial stones bearing the names of countries at the Treblinka MuseumBeyond the cityTreblinka MuseumA place of remembranceBeyond the cityŁódźThe film and textile cityBeyond the cityKrakówThe old royal capital

Our advice

Give POLIN a morning

POLIN tells a thousand years of Polish Jewish history; allow a morning for it, then walk quietly to the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes and on to Umschlagplatz. POLIN

In depth

In depth: Warsaw’s back stories

Warsaw cuisine, the rebuilt city, Chopin, eating, the grand hotels, film, history and where to buy: the stories behind the city.

The great Christmas tree lit up on Castle Square beside the Royal CastleChristmas & New YearChristmas in WarsawThe tree, the markets and the Wigilia tableŻurek, sour rye soup with egg and sausage, served in a bread bowlEatWarsaw CuisineŻurek, pierogi, pączki and the Wigilia tableFeatureWarsaw, the classic and the newThe rebuilt city and the new towers

In season

In summer, Chopin recitals are played in the open air beside his monument in Royal Łazienki; in Advent, the great tree lights up Castle Square.

  1. FeatureWarsaw on filmThe Pianist, A Real Pain and The Doll
  2. HistoryA short history of WarsawThe royal capital, 1944 and the rebuilding
  3. The back storyChopin’s cityThe museum, the opera and the Philharmonic
  4. The back storyEating in WarsawThe stars and the Bib Gourmands
  5. The back storyThe grand hotelsRaffles Europejski to Nobu

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