Things to do in Warsaw – our 28 best tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | What to see and do in Warsaw? Poland's capital offers a fascinating mix of history and modern city life, with a reconstructed old town, impressive museums, royal palaces, green parks and a wide range of restaurants and shopping. We've visited Warsaw in both summer and winter - here are 28 attractions and experiences you don't want to miss.

Warsaw – our best tips

Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River in central Poland and is quite different from cities such as Krakow and Gdansk. Here, the rebuilt historic city center and monumental buildings from the communist era meet modern skyscrapers and new neighborhoods.

1. Strolling in the Old Town

Warsaw's Old Town, Stare Miasto, is one of the city's major attractions – but the history you see is more complicated than you might first think. The area was almost completely destroyed during World War II and rebuilt after the war using old drawings, paintings and photographs, among other things.

The result is a historic urban environment with colorful facades, narrow alleys, churches and small squares. The reconstruction was so extensive and successful that in 1980 the historic center of Warsaw was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

2. Visit the Old Town Square

In the heart of the Old Town lies Rynek Starego Miasta, the old market square and one of Warsaw's most colorful places. The square is lined with beautifully restored houses with decorative facades and is home to plenty of restaurants and outdoor seating.

In the middle of the square stands the Warsaw Mermaid, Syrenka, who is the symbol of the city and is depicted in many places around Warsaw. According to legend, the mermaid promised to protect the city – and she can still be seen on the Warsaw city coat of arms today.

3. Visit the Royal Palace

The Royal Castle, Zamek Królewski, is located on Castle Square right next to the Old Town and is one of Warsaw's most important historical buildings. For centuries, the castle served as the residence of Polish kings and as the center of the country's political life.

The building was destroyed by the Germans during World War II, but was rebuilt after the war. Today, the castle is a museum where you can visit grand halls and royal apartments, as well as see art, furniture and other historical objects.

4. Take a selfie at Slottstorget

Castle Square, Plac Zamkowy, is located right in front of the Royal Castle and is one of the most photographed places in Warsaw. In the middle of the square stands the 17th-century Sigismund Column, and from here you have nice views of both the castle and the Old Town. An obvious stop for a few photos before continuing along the Royal Route.

5. Stroll along the Royal Route

One of the finest walks in Warsaw is along the so-called Royal Route, or Trakt Królewski in Polish. The historic trail connects the Royal Castle with, among others, Łazienki Park and Wilanów Palace further south.

The most central part runs along Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat, where you pass historic palaces, churches, monuments, shops, cafes and restaurants. This is a great walk to both see the sights and get a feel for Warsaw's city life.

6. Experience Nowy Świat Street

Nowy Świat, meaning ”New World,” is one of Warsaw’s most famous streets and part of the historic Royal Route. Beautiful buildings are mixed with restaurants, cafes, and shops, and the street is pleasant to stroll along both day and night.

Continuing north, Nowy Świat turns into Krakowskie Przedmieście and eventually leads to Castle Square and the Old Town.

7. Admire the Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace (Pałac Prezydencki) along Krakowskie Przedmieście is one of Warsaw's most impressive classicist buildings and serves as the official workplace of the Polish President. The palace has also played an important role in Poland's modern history - the Warsaw Pact was signed here in 1955 and the Round Table Agreement in 1989, among other things.

8. See the Church of the Holy Cross

The Church of the Holy Cross, Kościół Świętego Krzyża, located along Krakowskie Przedmieście, is one of Warsaw's most famous churches. The building has been destroyed and rebuilt several times and is closely associated with the history of Poland.

The church also has a special connection with Frédéric Chopin. The composer is buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris, but according to his own wishes, his heart was brought back to Warsaw. It is embedded in one of the church's pillars.

9. Visit the Chopin Museum

Frédéric Chopin is strongly associated with Warsaw, and those who want to learn more about the composer can visit the Frédéric Chopin Museum in the Ostrogski Palace. The modern and interactive museum tells the story of his life, music, and relationship to Warsaw and Poland. It contains manuscripts, letters, personal items, and other mementos of the composer.

10. Check out the Palace of Culture

The Palace of Culture, or the Palace of Culture and Science as it is actually called, rises like an impressive silhouette against the Warsaw skyline. This building is especially impressive in the evenings when it is lit up in all sorts of colors.

Built in 1952-1955, the building was a gift from the Soviet Union to the Polish people, although Poland apparently had to pay some of the 'gift' itself. You can think what you like about this building, which is not loved by everyone, but it is undoubtedly one of the highlights of Warsaw today.

11. Go up to the viewing platform

The 231-meter-high building was one of Europe's tallest buildings until the 2000s, and is currently ranked 21st after a series of tall towers, mainly located in Moscow. For those who are not satisfied with seeing the tower from the outside, there is also the opportunity to go to the observation platform, which is located on the 30th floor.

12. Go on a guided city walk

Warsaw's history is complex and much of what you see today becomes much more interesting when you know the background. We took a guided city walk ourselves and found it very informative – buildings, squares and monuments that you might otherwise have just passed by suddenly took on a completely different meaning.

There are both traditional guided tours and so-called free walking tours, where you usually pay the guide by tipping afterwards. You can also find themed tours focusing on, for example, World War II, Jewish history, the communist era or Polish food.

13. Experience the Warsaw Uprising Museum

The Warsaw Uprising Museum, Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego, tells the story of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, when the Polish resistance movement rebelled against the German occupation forces. The uprising lasted 63 days and was followed by the brutal destruction of the city.

The museum is large and modernly designed with photographs, films, personal stories and historical objects. It is a strong museum that provides a much deeper understanding of Warsaw's dramatic history during World War II.

14. Experience the Polin Museum

POLIN – the Museum of the History of Polish Jews – is one of Warsaw’s most important museums. The large permanent exhibition tells the story of around a thousand years of Jewish life in Poland, from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Located on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto, the museum covers both a rich cultural heritage and the dark chapters of the Holocaust.

15. Visit Pawiak Prison

Built as a prison in the 1830s, Pawiak played a particularly dark role during the German occupation of Warsaw during World War II. Tens of thousands of people were imprisoned here by the Gestapo, and many were executed or sent to concentration and extermination camps. Today, it houses a museum that tells the story of the prison and the people who were imprisoned here.

16. See the Jewish Cemetery

The Jewish Cemetery on Okopowa Street was founded in 1806 and is one of the largest Jewish burial grounds in Europe. The large and partly overgrown area contains around 200,000 graves and many beautifully decorated tombstones. Several important figures from Warsaw's Jewish history are buried here.

17. Stroll in the Praga district

Across the Vistula River lies Praga, a district that is quite different from Warsaw's more polished city center. The area survived the destruction of World War II better and is therefore home to older buildings that have not needed to be reconstructed in the same way as the Old Town.

Praga has long been a working-class neighborhood, but in recent years has developed into an exciting area with street art, culture, cafes, restaurants and alternative businesses. Here you can experience a slightly different and more local side of Warsaw.

18. Take a boat trip on the Vistula River

If you want to see Warsaw from a different perspective, you can take a boat trip on the Wisła. From the water, you get great views of the city skyline and can also see the contrast between the historic buildings and Warsaw's modern skyscrapers.

During the summer months, there are various types of tours on the river, from simple sightseeing boats to smaller boats and evening tours. The range and departure times vary with the season.

19. Stroll along the Vistula River

Of course, you don't have to take a boat to experience the Wisła. Along the river there are promenades and areas where Warsaw residents like to meet, walk, cycle or sit by the water.

The central left bank features modern boulevards with seating, cafes and restaurants, while the eastern side of the river has a much more natural character. During warm summer days and evenings, the area along the Vistula is a popular meeting place.

20. Enjoy the tranquility of Łazienki Park

When you want a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, Łazienki Park is a perfect destination. The large park is a green oasis with leafy walking paths, ponds, historic buildings and plenty of squirrels and peacocks.

The park was mainly laid out in the 18th century and was part of the summer residence of Polish King Stanisław August Poniatowski. Set aside a few hours – there is much more to discover here than just greenery.

21. Visit the Łazienki Palace

One of the highlights of Łazienki Park is the beautiful Łazienki Palace, also known as the Palace on the Island. The building is idyllically located on the waterfront and served as the summer residence of Poland's last king, Stanisław August Poniatowski.

In addition to admiring the palace from the outside, you can visit the historic interiors. There are also several other interesting buildings, monuments and pavilions around the park.

22. Listen to a Chopin concert in the park

During the summer months, free concerts featuring Frederic Chopin are held in the Royal Łazienki Park on Sundays. Bring a packed lunch and a blanket and enjoy the grass.

23. Visit Wilanów Palace

One of the highlights of Łazienki Park is the beautiful Łazienki Palace, also known as the Palace on the Island. The building is idyllically located on the waterfront and served as the summer residence of Poland's last king, Stanisław August Poniatowski.

In addition to admiring the palace from the outside, you can visit the historic interiors. There are also several other interesting buildings, monuments and pavilions around the park.

24. Shop in Złote Tarasy

Right next to Warsaw Central Station and the Palace of Culture is Złote Tarasy, a large and modern shopping center easily recognizable by its undulating glass roof. It offers a wide range of shops, restaurants and cafes.

The location makes the shopping center easy to combine with sightseeing in central Warsaw. It can also be a good stop if the weather isn't cooperating.

25. Shop in Arcadia

For even more shopping, head to Westfield Arkadia, one of Warsaw's largest shopping malls. It has a large number of stores with both Polish and international brands, as well as restaurants, cafes and a cinema. The shopping center is located north of the city center and is easily accessible by public transport.

26. Try traditional Polish food

Polish cuisine is hearty and offers soups, stuffed pies, poultry and various types of cabbage, among other things. There are of course more exclusive restaurants with modern and innovative dishes, but many times home-cooked food can also taste really good.

We can recommend the restaurant Specjaly Regionalne at Nowy Swiat 44 where we had dinner one evening. For starters we both had the Polish soup zurek, which is our favorite. For main course Peter chose goose and I ordered pierogi with four different fillings: spinach, duck, cabbage & mushroom and potato & cheese. Really tasty and good!

We also had good food for lunch at restaurant Bibenda, at Nowogrodzka 10. This restaurant may have felt a bit simpler, but the food was still reasonably priced and tasted good. Here we started with a cucumber soup and then it was goose again, this time with pumpkin puree and beetroot.

27. Experience the Christmas market in Warsaw

If you're visiting Warsaw in December, be sure to check out our Christmas market which is perhaps one of the most illuminated and sparkling Christmas markets we've ever seen. At this market you'll also find lots of crafts and local delicacies such as honey, sausages and grilled cheese.

28. Practice winter sports in the national stadium

the National Stadium in Warsaw, or Narodowy w Warszawie as it is called in Polish, is usually used for both football matches and concerts. In winter it is also used for winter sports for families, and you can come here to go ice skating or ride down an artificial ice slope in a round vehicle that looks like a rubber boat.

Best areas to live in and explore

Old Town (Stare Miasto)

The best area for those who want to live amidst the city's history, cobblestone streets and classic sights. Here you are within walking distance of the Royal Palace, the market square and many restaurants.

City Center and Śródmieście 

Perfect for those who want to stay close to shopping, restaurants, public transport and the city's modern city life. Here you will find the Palace of Culture and several of Warsaw's best hotels.

When we visited Warsaw, we stayed at the Polonia Palace, a classic four-star hotel right in the center of Warsaw. The hotel opened in 1913 and is located close to the Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw Centralna and shopping, with good connections to other parts of the city.

We especially appreciated the central location, the grand environment and the fresh rooms. When we stayed here in December, the hotel was also really nicely decorated for Christmas. A good option for those who want to stay comfortably and centrally during a weekend in Warsaw.

Praga 

One of the city's most exciting areas, transformed from a working-class neighborhood to a trendy cultural district, you'll find art galleries, bars, cafes and a more local feel.

Łazienki and the southern center

Suitable for those who want to live a little quieter but still centrally located. The area attracts with large green areas, beautiful walking paths and proximity to Łazienki Park.

See more in Poland

Want to see more of Poland? Here you will find more tips and reports:

• Things to do in Krakow
• Things to do in Lodz 
• Things to do in Wrocław
• Things to do in Sopot