What to see in Warsaw: 12 tips from Milan Bez Mapy

For me, Warsaw is a great city for a full weekend: good food, plenty of culture and fair prices. I’d fly rather than drive, and I wouldn’t miss the Old Town, the Copernicus Science Centre (Centrum Nauki Kopernik), the Vistula riverbank, the Palace of Culture and Science or the Highline Warsaw viewing terrace in Varso Tower.

Quick factsby Milan Bez Mapy

How many days

At least a full weekend, and pick your hotel carefully

Getting there

Not by car, it’s further than it looks on the map. I flew from Košice with LOT

Where I stayed

Motel One Warszawa-Chopin and ibis Styles Warszawa City suited me; I’d skip the Old Town

Watch out for

The ibis budget Warszawa Centrum, close to the centre on the map, but with terrible public transport links

Getting around

A 24-hour or 72-hour public transport ticket; an Uber or Bolt from the centre to the airport cost me just over €6

Copernicus Science Centre

Book online in advance (I only got in on my second attempt) and allow half a day

What is there to see in Warsaw? I’ve been to Warsaw several times, and I have to say it’s seriously underrated. The city was almost completely flattened in the Second World War and had to be rebuilt from scratch. And you know what? The Poles pulled it off brilliantly: full marks and a gold star.

If I had to sum up Warsaw in one sentence, it would be a city full of excellent food and culture at very reasonable prices. Below are all the observations and tips I’ve collected on several visits over the past few years.

Getting to Warsaw, where to stay and how to get around

Cheap flights to Warsaw

I wouldn’t drive to Warsaw. It may look close on the map, but it isn’t, so I’d fly. I flew from Košice: LOT Polish Airlines flies between Košice and Warsaw, which connects Košice to the whole world. If you’re looking for flights, the tip below has a link where you can compare them. Whether Warsaw is your destination or you’re connecting to somewhere else, I’d suggest giving New York a try: it’s a city close to my heart. Planning a trip outside Warsaw as well? The tip below also has a link for comparing car hire prices.

Where to stay in Warsaw: my hotel tips

I’ve probably stayed in more hotels in Warsaw than in Košice or Bratislava. I know it’s a very personal preference, but I’d avoid the Old Town. It looks historic, but there aren’t many places there to keep you entertained in the evening. In Warsaw I’d go for one of the modern districts, built for people born in the 21st century.

Motel One Warszawa-Chopin suited me very well. It’s close to a former power station that has been turned into a great place to go out. I also liked the ibis Styles Warszawa City, which is near the metro and has plenty to do in the evening around it.

And then there was the one night I spent at the ibis budget Warszawa Centrum. A disaster. On the map it looks close to the centre, but its public transport links are terrible. And I stay at ibis hotels a lot, because I’m in their loyalty programme.

Getting around Warsaw: public transport and taxis

I’d get a 24-hour or 72-hour public transport ticket. It costs only a few euros and gives you unlimited travel on the whole network. You can buy one from machines at the stops or on some buses, and you can pay by card. Warsaw does have a metro, but in my view it’s not enough for a city this big, so buses and trams do much of the work.

Uber and Bolt are fairly cheap too: a ride from the centre to the airport cost me only just over €6. Getting around Warsaw is easy and quick. Google Maps is all you need: it shows you exactly where to go, with every line and every change.

Why was Warsaw in ruins after the war?

The Germans bombed Warsaw as early as the invasion of Poland in 1939. The aim was to cripple the Polish defences quickly, intimidate civilians and take the capital fast. But the worst destruction came in 1944. After crushing the Warsaw Uprising, German troops systematically burned and demolished the city, district by district. By the end of the war about 85% of Warsaw had been destroyed.

That’s why Warsaw feels like a modern city today: new buildings, galleries and museums stand where historic buildings once did. These museums and exhibitions are a reminder of the horrors of war and an important part of collective memory, so that nothing like it ever happens again. More on them below.

And I’ll tell you one thing: the Poles really know how to do museums. They understand that hardly anyone bothers with a boring museum these days, so the exhibitions are interactive, visually striking and often genuinely gripping.

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Things to do in Warsaw: Milan Bez Mapy’s picks

For context: Warsaw has a new part and an old part. The old part isn’t actually that old, though. It’s the historic centre, rebuilt from photographs and records. These are the places I liked most on my trips:

1. The Old Town, its palaces and gardens
2. Copernicus Science Centre
3. The Vistula riverbank and its bars
4. Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki)
5. Elektrownia Powiśle
6. RAJ Pawilony Nowy Świat
7. Ether Rooftop Bar
8. Highline Warsaw viewing terrace
9. Fabryka Norblina
10. Warsaw Rising Museum
11. POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
12. Warszawianka water park

Warsaw Old Town: palaces and gardens

Warsaw’s Old Town is the historic heart of the city, even though most of its buildings were restored after the war, largely from photographs. The Second World War left it almost completely flattened, but with the help of old archives it was rebuilt almost exactly as it had been.

If you’d like a guided tour of Warsaw, you’ll find some here:

Expect colourful houses, winding lanes, beautiful palaces and well-kept gardens. It’s an ideal place for a stroll, a coffee or a sit by the fountains. My favourites were the Warsaw Royal Castle Gardens and the Patio café.

Copernicus Science Centre

The Copernicus Science Centre is a modern science museum that children and adults will both enjoy. It stands on the bank of the Vistula and has interactive exhibitions on physics, biology, astronomy and technology. The exhibits are very hands-on: you can experiment, explore and even try space flight simulators. It’s a great way to spend half a day, and you come away having had fun and learnt something.

• Tip from Milan I’d book online in advance, because I only got in on my second attempt. Here’s the link to their official website.

My most memorable moment at the museum? For the first time, I got to try what it’s like to use a wheelchair. Travelling in a wheelchair is a topic I cover on the blog too: in the accessible travel category I have several articles, most of them written in collaboration with Natália Turčinová. The Copernicus Science Centre also has a wheelchair set aside for visitors to try, along with obstacles you have to get past in it.

The Vistula riverbank

The Vistula riverbank is a perfect place to relax, go for a walk or spend an evening by the water. In summer there are plenty of beach bars, music events and food trucks.

Locals like to come here to unwind, have picnics and meet friends. It’s a modern, very lively space where you can see Warsaw’s culture up close. One evening we settled in here with a negroni and made the most of a late summer evening in Warsaw. A lovely atmosphere, I can tell you.

Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki)

The Palace of Culture and Science is Warsaw’s best-known landmark and also one of its more controversial buildings. Built in the 1950s as a gift from the Soviet Union, it symbolised the presence of communism in Poland.

The architecture is imposing, a mix of socialist realism and art deco touches, and today the building houses museums, offices, cinemas, theatres and conference halls. At first, though, locals didn’t like it much: many saw it as a symbol of occupation and the totalitarian regime. The builders also worked in some highly symbolic details, such as Soviet stars and decorations echoing the ideology of the time.

Despite the criticism, it has become a popular sight, mainly for the viewing terrace on the 30th floor, open daily from 10am to 8pm. For me, though, the view was nothing special. I’d rather go up to one of the sky bars I mention below.

Elektrownia Powiśle

Elektrownia Powiśle is a former power station turned into a modern place to meet, eat and shop. There are bars, restaurants and shops, and cultural events too. The architecture mixes industrial style with modern elements, which gives it a character of its own. It’s an ideal spot for an evening stroll, meeting friends or a coffee with a view of the city.

• Tip from Milan I’d come here for lunch. There are several places inside that serve all kinds of food at great prices. I had a bowl of ramen.

RAJ Pawilony Nowy Świat

RAJ Pawilony is a cluster of small pavilions and venues on Nowy Świat street, serving local food, coffee and street food. It’s a great place to get to know Warsaw’s food scene, try local specialities and soak up the atmosphere of a street full of life.

At weekends the street is even closed to traffic, and it’s packed with people and bars. At times it was a bit too wild for me (I’m not a fan of drunk teenagers), but you can still find some nice corners here.

Ether Rooftop Bar

It’s not the only rooftop bar in town, but being in Warsaw and not watching the sunset from a skyscraper bar would be a sin. Ether Rooftop Bar is one of the best rooftop bars in Warsaw, and you sometimes need a reservation. It has a panoramic view of the city, including the old and the new centre. It’s on the roof of the NYX hotel (Chmielna 71), on the 19th floor, and opens daily from 4pm to 1am, but only in good weather.

It’s ideal for an evening drink, the sunset or photos of the city from above. The atmosphere is modern and sophisticated, as good for a romantic evening as for a get-together with friends. I got in without a booking because they happened to have a free table. It’s not really a restaurant, but they do serve some light dishes. Time your visit for sunset.

Highline Warsaw viewing terrace in Varso Tower

Warsaw got a new attraction in 2025: the Highline Warsaw viewing terrace on the 53rd floor of Varso Tower, the tallest building in the European Union. At 230 metres it offers a 360° panorama of the city, and you get up there in a glass lift. It’s open daily from 10am to 10pm, with last entry at 9pm.

On the 49th floor there’s a rooftop lounge with refreshments, and on the 46th floor a multimedia room about the history of Warsaw. At 310 metres, Varso Tower overtook London’s Shard to become the tallest building in the EU.

Fabryka Norblina

Fabryka Norblina is a historic complex that was once a factory making metal goods. Today it’s a modern cultural and shopping venue with shops, restaurants, cafés and galleries. The preserved industrial architecture gives it a distinctive character and makes it popular with locals and tourists alike.

I actually liked it more than Elektrownia Powiśle. It has a slightly posher feel, and some of the restaurants even serve oysters. Still, I’d recommend trying both. What to see in Warsaw? Architecture that serves people.

Warsaw Rising Museum

The best museum in Warsaw? I haven’t been to them all, but I really liked this one. The Warsaw Rising Museum is a memorial and exhibition space dedicated to the resistance during the Second World War.

Interactive exhibitions, authentic artefacts and multimedia presentations bring home the tragedy and heroism of the city’s people. It draws you in and makes you think about history and the courage of the people who fought for freedom and against the Germans. When Hitler occupied Warsaw, life moved from the streets underground. The whole city had secret tunnels, used to move the Poles and Jews who were hiding here. Today you can try out a section of these tunnels right in the museum.

POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews

The POLIN Museum is dedicated to the history of the Jewish community in Warsaw and Poland. The modern building is striking in its own right, and the exhibitions are detailed and interactive. You learn about the culture, traditions and tragedies of the Jewish community.

It’s a reminder of important historical events and of the community’s cultural heritage. If you visit the Warsaw Rising Museum, make time for POLIN too.

Warszawianka water park

Warszawianka water park is a modern leisure centre with pools, water slides and a wellness area, in case all that walking has worn you out. It’s ideal for families, sporty types or anyone who wants to cool off on a hot day. Besides the fun, there are relaxation areas, sports activities and a sauna complex.

Warsaw nightlife: where to go out

Warsaw has a mix of modern bars, rooftop lounges and lively streets full of restaurants and clubs. For a pleasant, relaxed start to the evening, I’d go to the Vistula riverbank, where beach bars and food trucks set up in summer. Locals come here for drinks, picnics and to meet friends, and the atmosphere is laid-back and summery.

For a stylish evening with a panoramic view, I’d pick Ether Rooftop Bar, a modern rooftop bar overlooking both the old and the new centre. It’s ideal for the sunset, a drink and photos. If you want a reservation, plan ahead, because it’s sometimes full. If you’re after livelier, slightly more alternative places, RAJ Pawilony on Nowy Świat is excellent: at weekends the street turns into a pedestrian zone with lots of bars and street food. It’s busy and sometimes noisy, but the atmosphere is authentic and local.

For culture plus a night out, Elektrownia Powiśle is great: a former power station turned into a social hub, with bars, restaurants and smaller events. Fabryka Norblina is in a similar vein, with a slightly posher feel and restaurants serving good-quality food.

For proper partying and clubs, it’s worth heading to the modern districts such as Powiśle or the streets around the centre, which are full of clubs, music bars and cocktail bars. Warsaw’s nightlife covers everything from laid-back bars to lively dance clubs, so whatever your mood, you’ll find somewhere that fits.

• Tip from Milan In the evening I’d steer clear of the Old Town, where the restaurants are mostly touristy and the nightlife is thin. Locals head for the newer districts and modern bars.

Where to eat in Warsaw

Warsaw’s food scene is ridiculously good. Here’s a list of places where I ate well, but do go and find a few of your own too.

• Być może: a lovely breakfast spot
• Va Bene: an excellent Italian restaurant and pizzeria with a great vibe
• Zapiecek in the Old Town, for local Polish cooking (they have several branches around Warsaw)
• Włoski Strajk Italian Sharing: I haven’t been, but my friend Robo, who lives in Warsaw, says it’s his favourite restaurant in the city

Is Warsaw worth visiting? Why go and how long to stay

Warsaw won me over with its mix of history, culture and modern life. Although it was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War, it managed to rebuild itself, and today it feels dynamic and full of life.

With a whole weekend in Warsaw, you could give one day to the Old Town and the royal gardens, then pick either the Warsaw Rising Museum or POLIN. On day two, plan in the Copernicus Science Centre, a walk along the Vistula, or Elektrownia Powiśle or Fabryka Norblina. In the evening, go with your mood: in this article I recommend the Vistula riverbank, the places around Nowy Świat and a rooftop bar. Treat this as a rough selection of my tips, not a fixed itinerary.

You might also like my article on a trip to the Guido mine and the Queen Louise Adit in Poland.

Happy travels!