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\n\t\tPoland\u2019s historic capital has plenty to offer (Picture: Patrycja Zaras)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tPoland\u2019s historic capital has plenty to offer (Picture: Patrycja Zaras)<\/p>\n
Underrated and often dismissed, Warsaw<\/a> has spent years languishing at the very bottom of Europe<\/a>\u2019s \u2018cheapest city breaks\u2019 lists<\/a>. But as the city finally grows into itself<\/a>, it\u2019s quietly starting to draw interest.<\/p>\n Anyone who\u2019s ever been to Poland<\/a>\u2019s capital tells me the same thing: \u2018I didn\u2019t expect to like it so much.\u2019 It happens so often that I just smile and nod.<\/p>\n Warsaw doesn\u2019t dazzle on arrival. It\u2019s no Paris<\/a>, no Rome<\/a> \u2013 but that\u2019s part of the point. It reveals itself slowly and leaves you wanting to come back.<\/p>\n It\u2019s where I grew up, and over the years, I\u2019ve seen the city go through many stages: struggling, desperate to impress, trying to be something it wasn\u2019t. Now it finally feels like itself.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how I\u2019d spend a weekend there.<\/p>\n Where to start in Warsaw<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s tempting to begin where most tourists do, in the Old Town. And if you like your European cities with cobbles and castles, you absolutely should. <\/p>\n It\u2019s beautiful, a true testament to Warsaw\u2019s phoenix-from-the-ashes brand.<\/p>\n \t\t The Royal Castle \u2013 the red-brick palace that greets you as you enter \u2013 was rebuilt from scratch after World War Two. Nearly 90% of the city was razed during the Nazi occupation; most Varsovians will tell you stories of their grandma bringing a brick to help rebuild it.<\/p>\n If you like history, sign up for a tour. The palace has plenty of stories and surprisingly impressive artwork.<\/p>\n If castles aren\u2019t your thing, keep walking the cobbled streets toward the main square. Depending on the season, you might find an ice rink, food stalls, or events popping up.<\/p>\n The free rooftop you don\u2019t want to miss<\/p>\n While you\u2019re in the area, take the stairs to the rooftop garden on top of the University of Warsaw Library. <\/p>\n One of the largest in Europe, the library hums with tired students cramming for their finals. It doesn\u2019t get much more local than that.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in need of coffee, stop to refuel at STOR, a local favourite serving excellent coffee in a cosy space. It\u2019s the kind of place where you end up staying way longer than planned.<\/p>\n Where to eat like a local in Warsaw<\/p>\n If you\u2019re hungry, head straight for Syrena Irena. You\u2019ll get pierogi (giant stuffed dumplings), herring and borscht in an award-winning setting. <\/p>\n It may be all over Instagram, but for once, the food lives up to the aesthetic.<\/p>\n \t\t Afterwards, grab a bike or e-scooter and head toward the Vistula River. The riverside boulevards have been having a moment for a while now \u2013 now they\u2019re one of the nicest spots in the city.<\/p>\n Long and winding paths trace the Vistula\u2019s edge, offering views that shift with the light and seasons, and no shortage of spots to linger over something cold, salty, or sweet.<\/p>\n If your sweet tooth kicks in, make a detour to Baja Vegan Patisserie. <\/p>\n Come summer, there\u2019s usually a queue for jagodzianki \u2013 pillowy, blueberry buns that vanish as fast as they appear. Outside berry season, a p\u0105czek (filled doughnut) does the trick: soft, rich, and comfortingly old-school.<\/p>\n For something more refined, book a table at Le Braci, a Michelin Bib Gourmand pick that gets both the mood and the menu exactly right. The truffle pasta is unforgettable.<\/p>\n To balance out the pasta, head to \u0141azienki Kr\u00f3lewskie, the largest park in the city. Worth a visit year-round, but especially lovely in summer when free Chopin concerts take place on Sundays.<\/p>\n Bring a blanket and enjoy one of the open-air piano recitals that have been a tradition since 1959.<\/p>\n As the evening rolls in, make your way to Saviour Square, a staple on Warsaw\u2019s food and nightlife map for years.<\/p>\n Charlotte, a French-inspired bistro and wine bar, is always buzzing. If you grew up in Warsaw, chances are you skipped school once to eat their famous bread with white chocolate.<\/p>\n The next morning, pick up where you left off and settle into one of Charlotte\u2019s outdoor tables, order a bread basket and do some people-watching.<\/p>\n Stroll along Warsaw\u2019s \u2018Little Paris\u2019<\/p>\n When you\u2019re ready to move again, make your way to Mokotowska Street. One of Warsaw\u2019s most elegant streets, it\u2019s the city\u2019s answer to Paris\u2019s Rue Saint-Honor\u00e9.<\/p>\n Unlike most of the city, the street survived the war relatively unscathed. The townhouses lining it, with their pre-war fa\u00e7ades and quiet grandeur, offer one of the rare chances to see what Warsaw once looked like, and almost became.<\/p>\n The street is lined with Polish designers, curated boutiques and caf\u00e9s. My top picks are Galilu for perfume, SOTE for Polish jewellery that feels special without being showy, and Lukullus or S\u0142odki S\u0142ony for sweets.<\/p>\n Must-visit museums<\/p>\n From Mokotowska Street, walk to Three Crosses Square and take a right to the National Museum. With over 800,000 pieces of art, it\u2019s worth a visit,whether you\u2019re an art fan or not.<\/p>\n Nearby is the Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw\u2019s most recognisable and perhaps most divisive building.<\/p>\n A gift from Stalin, it still occupies a charged place in the Polish imagination. These days, it marks the centre of the city and houses everything from theatres to caf\u00e9s.<\/p>\n Next door is its minimalist new neighbour, the Museum of Modern Art. This white cube of a building looks plain at first glance, but give it a moment.<\/p>\n Inside, it opens up into a series of expansive, concrete spaces, pared back and quiet enough to let the art do its job, but still striking in their own right.<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re not there for an exhibition, it\u2019s worth stepping in just to see the space.<\/p>\n @wanderlust.affair<\/a> <\/p>\n There are a lot of great museums in Warsaw that impressed us. We learned a lot more about the history of Warsaw and Poland throughout our week and the great thing is that many museums offer free admissions! Here are some of the main ones and which day it is free on:\u00a0 Monday \ud83d\udccdWarsaw Uprising Museum Tuesday \ud83d\udccdNational Museum of Warsaw\u00a0 \ud83d\udccdMuseum of Caricature Wednesday \ud83d\udccdFryderyk Chopin Museum\u00a0 \ud83d\udccdThe Royal Castle Thursday \ud83d\udccdZacheta: National Gallery of Art \ud83d\udccdPOLIN: Museum of History of Polish Jews \ud83d\udccdWilanow Palace (free admissions is limited) \ud83d\udccdPolish Army Museum \ud83d\udccdCentre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle Friday \ud83d\udccdLazienki\u00a0Museum Buildings \ud83d\udccdMuzeum Historii Polski Saturday \ud83d\udccdMuseum of Sports & Tourism Free Everyday \ud83d\udccd Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw \ud83d\udccdAsia & Pacific Museum \ud83d\udccdGasworks Museum \ud83d\udccdGeological Museum #warsaw<\/a> #warsawmuseum<\/a> #warsawtips<\/a> #poland<\/a> #museums<\/a> #free<\/a> #warsawthingstodo<\/a> #fyp<\/a> #travel<\/a> #europe<\/a> <\/p>\n \u266c Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz(806744) \u2013 MaSssuguMusic<\/a> <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Depending on your mood, you could head to Hala Mirowska, a 100-year-old market hall still full of flower stalls and produce vendors, or visit one of the nearby museums.<\/p>\n The Warsaw Uprising Museum is interactive and accessible (even for kids). POLIN, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, is a deeply moving place that offers important context to the city\u2019s complex past.<\/p>\n A perfect ending<\/p>\n End the day at Jassmine, one of the best jazz bars in town. Get there early as seats fill up quickly and for good reason.<\/p>\n The lighting is low and deliberate, the atmosphere relaxed but polished, and the cocktails are better than they need to be.From newcomers to seasoned musicians, the lineup never disappoints.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve made it this far, you might be thinking this sounds suspiciously like a sponsored story. It\u2019s not. <\/p>\n Just a long-form love letter to a city that had it tough, but made it. I hope you enjoy it more than you expected.<\/p>\n Two cities, one trip?<\/p>\n From Warsaw, a four-hour journey by car or by train will take you to Wroclaw, in Poland\u2019s west.<\/p>\n Known as the \u2018Venice of Eastern Europe\u2019, it earned its title thanks to the\u00a012 islands that make up Wroc\u0142aw, each connected by\u00a0bridges<\/a>\u00a0(there are 130 in total) and canals reminiscent of the famous sinking city in\u00a0Italy<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can read our full travel guide for Wroclaw<\/a> here.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHow to get to Warsaw from the UK\t\t\t<\/p>\n There are plenty of direct routes from the UK to Warsaw, most at affordable prices.<\/p>\n The cheapest month to travel is January, when return fares start from just \u00a334. But you\u2019ll have to be prepared to wrap up against the Polish winter chill.<\/p>\n In September, direct one-way flights from London with Wizz Air <\/a>will set you back as little as \u00a316. All in, the round-trip won\u2019t cost you more than around \u00a341.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/poland_warsaw_map-354b.png\")
\n\t\tWarsaw is Poland\u2019s historic capital, in the east of the country (Picture: Metro)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1751119390_418_GettyImages-450912077.jpg\")
\n\t\tOld town in Warsaw, Poland (Credits: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: \u2018Baffling\u2019 UK bus is \u2018world\u2019s most confusing\u2019 and leaves at different times every day<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: I discovered the Algarve\u2019s deserted island with no houses, roads, cars or people<\/a><\/p>\n