Warsaw – the city of 1001 possibilities. The capital city of Poland is the perfect proposal for a creative weekend. A trip following the traces of the extraordinary Polish history, a lifestyle trip in search of Polish design, a nightlife exploration or a business rendezvous. Discover the charms of Poland’s largest city!
In the metropolis located on the Vistula River, roads leading from all over Europe meet. You will notice it from your first encounter with the hustle and bustle of a city of almost two million inhabitants. Jerozolimskie Avenue, which cuts through the centre of the city, is filled at all hours of the day, and often even at night, with a line of cars, buses, and trams. Residents, travellers, businessmen, and popular personalities fill the pavements, hurrying to their duties or setting off on their next journey. It is said that Warsaw never sleeps, and its life goes on intensively around the clock, fuelled at night by neon lights and music booming from fashionable clubs. The metropolis has become a melting pot where many nations, world views and human stories meet, creating the most international community on the map of Poland.
Day 1
In the footsteps of history and architecture
The past of Poland’s capital is marked by the trauma of World War II. The city was almost completely demolished by the Nazis, including the oldest, historic part. Rebuilt after the war, largely thanks to the determination of its inhabitants, it became something resembling a scarred wound. The architecture reflects the complicated history that has affected the people of Warsaw. Echoes of pre-war urban planning mix with post-war aesthetics, delineated by communist-socialist realism, modernism and finally, what characterises contemporary metropolises – a dynamically expanding forest of skyscrapers.
Among them, surrounded by glass and steel skyscrapers, stands the one which started the race towards the clouds – the 237 m high Palace of Culture and Science, opened in 1955, one of the symbols of the city and a sign of its complicated past. It’s worth planning a tour of the building to admire the representative interiors, where communist dignitaries used to spend their time, where New Year’s Eve parties were held with people dressed only in grey, and where you can enjoy an open-air view of the city. Strolling through the corridors, you can lose track of time, for there are other fascinating places: The National Museum of Technology, the Museum of Evolution, four theatre stages, including the 6th Floor Theatre, founded, among others, by the famous actor Michał Żebrowski, as well as cinema and restaurants. It is worth going upstairs to the terrace, to admire the spectacular view of Warsaw, including two nearby skyscrapers, which are also part of the capital’s landscape – LIM Center (often referred to as the Marriott Hotel) and Złota 44, designed by the renowned architect Daniel Libeskind.
A museum crossroads
Enthusiasts of cultural experiences have plenty to choose from in Warsaw! You can follow the historical path and discover the backstreets of the local past, or immerse yourself in the sensations offered by contemporary art. An important place on the map is the Warsaw Uprising Museum that commemorates the heroic, yet tragic, events of the Second World War. A visit to the building filled with props, created according to a modern concept, becomes something more than just a lesson about history – it is an authentic experience that takes us back to the years of the bloodiest conflict in history.
Zachęta, or the National Gallery of Art, is a must for all contemporary art enthusiasts. The origins of the gallery date back to 1860, and the magnificent building remembers a tragic event in history – the fatal assassination of Polish President Gabriel Narutowicz in 1922. Today, it hosts important exhibitions by international artists, which are visited by Warsaw’s social upper crust.
Day 2
We buy and taste
Warsaw serves as the Polish fashion capital, where the most famous needle and thread artists live, meet and present their designs. You can often meet photographers, stylists, journalists, and models on the streets, running to their next photoshoot. Finally, we will delve into the stylish interiors of boutiques to discover gems of local design.
The eye of passers-by is drawn to Złote Tarasy, located in the very centre of the city, and formed by the Californian studio The Jede Partnership into a fancy ‘blob’. It was intended to be the new city centre, filled with shops, restaurants, and commercial premises over 2 million square feet. The glass roof and vegetation creeping inside create the impression of being outdoors, while remaining protected from rain or snow. It is not far from the second cult location where Varsovians have been doing their shopping for decades – Wars, Sawa, Junior and Sezam Department Stores, built in the 1960s. They form the so-called Eastern Wall – a total of 23 buildings with an impressive area of 680,000 cubic metres.
Walking down Jerozolimskie Avenue, towards the palm tree placed by the artist Joanna Rajkowska on de Gaulle’s roundabout, you will reach the modern Vitkac building. This largest luxury department store in Poland has become a real Mecca for fashionistas. Opened in 2011, the space, covered from the outside with, among others, exotic wood and quartz, offers access to products signed by great world designers, such as Balenciaga or Alexander McQueen. It also houses an exclusive delicatessen, a wine bar and a restaurant. Vitkac’s close neighbour is Mysia 3 – a shopping and art space worth visiting to discover new collections by COS and top Polish designers, such as Orska, Balagan and Elementy. Mysia also often hosts local events, such as handicraft fairs, exhibitions, and workshops. It is worth checking out what is currently on the agenda!
From here, it is not far to the most trendsetting streets in Warsaw – Mokotowska, Koszykowa and Hoża. You will find boutiques of famous Polish designers in this area, such as Łukasz Jemioł, Chylak, Le Petit Trou, Bizuu, The Odder Side, 303 Avenue, or popular showrooms Lui Store and Moliera 2. In search of a local, trendy experience, try going near the Vistula river – to the post-industrial complex of Elektrownia Powiśle.
Are you hungry? Warsaw offers almost everything the culinary soul could desire! If you’d like to feel the city’s party atmosphere and eat in one of the popular tapas bars, head for Hala Koszyki or the aforementioned Elektrownia Powiśle. There you can discover quick dishes from all over the world, and in the evening you can turn the mood up with a drink or a glass of Prosecco.
Lovers of interior design gems who like to take stylish photos for Instagram while they eat, will satisfy their senses in bistro Zorza, with a breathtaking interior reminiscent of the art deco style. The fact that the place has played an important role in many magazine photo shoots adds some spice. Another place worth visiting is Weles cocktail bar, which takes its name from early Slavic mythology. The sophisticated decor, reminiscent of a Masonic lodge, was inspired by… secret societies.
If you want to pass by some Warsaw celebrities and feel the party atmosphere, especially on a warm evening, I recommend visiting the area of the climatic Plac Zbawiciela, considered to be the Mecca for hipsters. You can visit popular pubs, such as Charlotte (delicious bread!) or Plan B, discover the flavours of the nearby fusion bar Regina (unique interior!), or simply stroll around the neighbourhood to feel, especially in the evening, the breath of freedom and liberty. Pizza lovers, especially those who love Neapolitan pizza, should visit Pizzaiolo on Krucza Street, whereas all those who have lost their minds (and taste buds) for ramen will be satisfied after visiting MOD. Beirut / Kraken, for years one of the most popular culinary-bar spots in the centre of the capital, is also perfect for an evening out.
Day 3
A breath from the city
Tired of all-day sightseeing and night escapades? Warsaw suggests that you catch your breath in its magnificent parks and gardens, remembering the times when kings and court ladies strolled through them. Make sure to visit Łazienki, a palace and garden complex founded in the 18th century by King Stanisław August Poniatowski. Here you can get lost in time and space, literally and figuratively, discovering the enchanting museum and four gardens: royal, romantic, modernist, and Chinese. In the middle of an artificial lake, on a picturesque island, is a classicist palace, connected to the mainland by two bridges. Don’t be surprised to find wild animals living here – they’re harmless to humans, of course!
Lovers of urban escapism should also visit another of the beautiful green areas – Skaryszewski Park, located on the right bank of the Vistula River. From here, it is not far to the Praga district, which is considered an iconic place on the map of Warsaw. The former factory district, once full of dark alleys, where – according to urban legend – you could lose your pay cheque (and every so often – your health), was some time ago discovered by creative Varsovians and turned into one of the most fashionable addresses. I recommend you take a walk and discover many atmospheric places not always touched by modernity, meet local craftsmen and pubs, and if you feel like delving deeper into history, visit the Museum of Warsaw Praga.
If, on the other hand, you feel like following the traces of the beautiful aristocratic history of Poland, head for the Palace of King Jan III Sobieski in Wilanów near Warsaw. The residence of the eminent monarch, who tipped the scales of victory at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, is a real jewel in the architectural crown of the capital. It houses a fascinating historical museum that takes us back to the times when Poland was one of the largest countries in Europe (note: in high season it is a frequently visited tourist attraction). The Baroque mansion is surrounded by a vast park, the sightseeing of which allows you to forget about the hustle and bustle of the big city – and about the fact that you soon have to go home!
