HomeWelcome to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, a captivating city with a distinctive atmosphere and definitely worth visiting.
This metropolis is located in the heart of Europe, at the junction of the trade routes from the West to the East and from the North to the South of the continent. The history and atmosphere of this magnificent country is a fascinating combination of the influences of Western and Eastern Europe, and where tradition meets modernity. Warsaw will certainly enchant you.
This is an invitation to get to know this city full of contrasts, where historical monuments and modern architecture coexist on every street. Historical palaces, buildings and older architectural structures, destroyed during World War II, have been faithfully reconstructed in such a way it is impossible to tell any of the original prewar buildings from those rebuilt after the war. The urban structure of this city is set in open spaces of green squares and municipal parks.
Come and visit this vibrant European metropolis. Take back unforgettable memories from your time spent here. And for those who decide to stay a bit longer, Warsaw will certainly provide you with a great many new experiences.
Come and visit the Old Town, the historical center of the capital. In summertime, it becomes a stage for open air concerts, theater group shows, and a painter's gallery. Romantic lanes, going down to the banks of the Vistula River, and stylish cafes, full of music, are a perfect setting for moments of relaxation after visiting museums or shopping. The Old Town is also aa very special area for sacral art lovers. We encourage you to go into the Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Babtist, the St. Martin's Church or the Church of Our Lady of Grace.
After the destruction of the war the Old Town was rebuilt with such skill and care to the details that UNESCO granted it the World Cultural and Natural Heritage status.
From the Old Town, take a walk down the Royal Route, along representative streets of the city. The Royal Route connects the Royal Castle and the Palaces in the Royal Łazienki and in Wilanów. Its current form is a result of joint efforts of several centuries, and it impresses everyone with palaces, churches, tenement-houses, and splendid governmental buildings. A walk along the Royal Route is a journey down through the centuries. It might only last an hour or so, but it enables you to get to know something of the extraordinary history of our capital. After, by bus or car, go to Wilanów and admire the summer residence of King Jan III Sobieski, a magnificent palace with richly decorated interiors. And then a stroll along the pathways of the charming park.
The Powązki Cemetery, one of the Europe's oldest and largest necropolises, is worth visiting. We can also see the traces of cultural heritage and presence of Jewish people who lived in our city: the Nożyk Synagogue, the Umschlagplatz - a commemorative symbol of the Ghetto and the Holocaust Victims, the Monument of the Heroes of the Ghetto, remaining fragments of the Ghetto Wall (at No 55 Sienna Street).
The Warsaw Citadel is an essential visit. This imposing and somewhat overwhelming fortress from the 19th century is one of the best preserved examples of military architecture in Poland.
Visit the Warsaw Rising Museum which is one of the most popular museums in the capital. Opened on the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the battle for Warsaw, it is the tribute the city's inhabitants have paid to those who fought and died for the freedom of Poland and its capital.
For many years now tourists visiting Warsaw have been impressed by the Palace of Culture and Science (completed in 1955) located in the city-center on the Europe's largest square. The Palace is still the highest building in Poland (234.5 m). It dominates the Warsaw skyline and is a good orientation point for those who don't know the city.
Socialist Realism buildings from the 1950's, specially designed for political mass rallies, capture the attention of passengers-by. Examples of this architecture are: the Marszałkowska Housing District (MDM), Constritution Square with its monumental lighting 'candelabras', and the building at No 30 Wspólna Street with huge columns, now the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
We would also like to invite you to visit the Warsaw Praga district. This is the oldest part of the right-bank of Warsaw, officially incorporated within the city at the end of the 18th century. The name Praga comes from the village in the area as mentioned in historical sources from 1432. The Praga District was not destroyed during World War II and today it has become a very interesting site in which many artists have chosen to open their workshops and atelier, clubs, galleries and alternative theaters. One of the main attractions of Praga is the Warsaw Zoological Garden.
Warsaw is a modern, dynamic city, continuously changing and expanding. Many new, splendid buildings have been built, harmonizing with the cityscape, for example: the new Warsaw Library on Dobra Street, the Warsaw Trade Tower on Chłodna Street, the Atrium, the PZU and the Westin Hotel on Jana Pawła II Avenue, the Rondo 1 buillding on ONZ Rounaboust, the Focus on Armii Ludowej Avenue, the Hilton Hotel on Grzybowska Street, the Intercontinental Hotel on Emilii Plater Street and nearby, the Złote Tarasy, a shopping-entertainment center.
Text from the guidebook Warsaw in Short (7.20MB) published by Warsaw Tourist Office (www.warsawtour.pl).
