48 hours in Warsaw – Weekend Edition
Warsaw In Less Than 48 Words
As the worst damaged city during World War II, Warsaw lay in ruins. Visiting it today will reveal a city that seems never to have been touched by calamity. Leave it to the Varsovians to reinvent the city as a modern metropolis.
Warsaw's Market Square & Old Town, which had been reconstructed after the Second World War (Photo by twiga_swala)
First 24 Hours
Touchdown on the historic city of Warsaw is via the Fryderyk Chopin Airport, the city’s hub for international tourist arrivals. It is located some 10 kilometers from the city center. From there, you can hop on a 175 bus that will take you into the town proper. Ticket costs around 2.40 zlotys, which you can buy at vending machines at the airport terminal. You can also opt to hire a taxi at the main taxi booth which costs around 30 zlotys.
Warsaw is bisected by the Vistula River and comprised by two main parts: the New Town (Nowa Miasto) and the Old Town (Stare Miasto). Learn more about the city’s transportation, layout, and customs at its tourist offices. You can find one at the airport, the central railway station, and Krakowskie Przedmiescie 89. All are usually open daily between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. A copy of the “Warsaw In Your Pocket Guide,” costs 10 zlotys, will guide you as you navigate the city.
MAMAISON HOTEL: Stylish stay
InterContinental Hotel (Photo by uggboy)
Once in the heart of the city, you settle at one of Warsaw’s excellent hotel and accommodations. International franchises offer consistent comfort and services. The InterContinental Hotel (Emilii Plater 49; 22 328 88 88; website) has fantastic views, excellent rooms and facilities while Hilton Hotel (Grzybowska 63; 22 356 55 55; website) has spacious and comfortable rooms, amazing views, and superb food. Sheraton Hotel (Ul. B. Prusa 2; (48)(22) 450 6100; website), on the other hand, has spacious and comfortable beds, clean amenities, and attentive staff.
Local chains, however, compete confidently with the rest. Polonia Palace Hotel (Jerozolimskie 45; 22 318 28 00; website), for instance, provides real value-for-money for its spacious and excellent rooms, plus delicious breakfast choices. Located in the old city center, Mamaison Hotel Le Regina (Koscielna 12; 22 531 60 00; website) has an array of beautiful boutique accommodations.
STALIN’S GIFT: Enjoy the view
Kick off your 48 hour visit to Warsaw by heading to the highest building in Poland, the Palace of Culture & Science (1 Pl. Defilad 00-901). It was originally built by the Soviet Union as a gift to the country in 1955, and is today the 187th tallest building in the world at a height of 231 meters. Around 550 Estonian sculptures decorate the structure. A ride up to its 30th floor, costing 12 zlotys, reveals an observation deck which has perhaps the finest views of the cityscape.
Poland's tallest building, the Palace of Culture & Science, measures 231 meters in height (Photo from Google images)
ROYAL ROUTE: Historical walk
The Royal Route is one of the most popular attractions in Warsaw. Once a communications route of the city’s Old Town, it is now a series of connected streets known for their historical landmarks. It starts at the Castle Square (4 plac Zamkowy 00-277) which contains sights like the Royal Palace and Zygmunt’s Column. The former was the official residence of the Polish monarchs, and its rooms have been converted into museums where you can see various artifacts and artworks. The latter is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. At the square itself, you’ll often see street entertainers and even concerts.
From there, continue down to the Krakowskie Przedmieście street, one of the prestigious avenues in the city. Along it, you’ll see various monuments and architectural sites, such as the Madonna of Passau, Potocki Palace, Czapski Palace and St. Anne’s Church. Next is the Nowy Świat Street, where you can glimpse the campus of the Warsaw University and a monument dedicated to Nicolaus Copernicus.
The Royal Castle beautifully lit during the evenings (Photo by Billy Wirawan)
Walk south to the Triple Cross Square, and you’ll find yourself at Belweder Street, known for the impressive Belweder Palace. The last stop is the Wilanów district, wherein you can find the Wilanów Palace notable for its ornate architecture, lavishly-decorated rooms, and landscaped gardens.
WARSAW GHETTO: Jewish remembrance
Conclude your hike at one of Warsaw’s most harrowing and emotional sites, The Ghetto Wall and Jewish Heritage (62 ul. Zlota). It is a museum dedicated to preserving the city’s Jewish past, as well as the events at the Warsaw Ghetto where the Nazis had imprisoned the city’s Jew population. Exhibits, artifacts, as well as preserved pieces of the ghetto walls are displayed. You can reach the site via a tram ride from the city center to Rondo ONZ station. Entrance is free and the site is open daily.
One of the few remains of the Ghetto Wall (Photo by Dave Bleasdale)
DINNER TIME: Fine cuisine
Conclude your first 24 hours in Warsaw by recharging at the superb restaurants all over the city. Popular among tourists are Dom Polski (ul. Francuska 11; 48 (022) 616 – 24 – 32; website) for Polish cuisine; Tomo Sushi (Krucza 116/22; +48 (0)22 434 23 44; website) for cozy ambience and excellent sushi; Bazyliszek, Restauracja (Rynek Starego Miasta 1/3; +48 (22) 831 18 41; website) for excellent service and quality dishes; Le Cedre (61 Al Solidarnosci; (022) 670 1166; website) for authentic Lebanese cuisine and excellent wine selection; and Fukier (Rynek Starego Miasta 27; (+48) 022 831- 10- 13; website) for its high-class fine dining.
Next 24 Hours
The statue of St. Anne with the Virgin and Child, which is exhibited at Warsaw's National Museum (Photo by Giorgio Monteforti)
The second day can be treated as a chance to explore Warsaw’s other attractions. Learn more about the city’s history and culture by visiting its museums. One of the most popular is the National Museum of Warsaw (3 Al. Jerozolimskie 00-495), one of the largest in Poland. More than 11,000 pieces of art works from the past 3000 years, including Egyptian and Mesopotamian artifacts, Venetian paintings, and medieval religious paintings are displayed.
Another is the Fryderyk Chopin Museum (ul. Okolnik 1) which features original manuscripts and documents left behind by the famous composer, as well as photographs, sculptures, and impressive frescoes. If you’re lucky, you might arrive on time for piano recitals of Chopin’s works.
LAZIENKI PARK: Take a stroll in the park
The Łazienki Park, the largest in the city, covers an area of 76 hectares and offers a breather to the cultural excursions. You can reach it by taking a bus to the Ujazdów Avenue near downtown Warsaw. Go for relaxing walks in its tree and garden-covered landscape, while feeling the cool breeze. You can even take a picnic at its grass patches.
The park is not only for strolls, but for sightseeing as well. Visit first the so-called Palace on the Water, or the Łazienki Palace, built atop an artificial island on a lake. You will have to cross one of its two arcaded bridges to reach the site. Inside, you’ll find royal baths, and impressive ballroom and art galleries. Next, you can head to the Amphitheater, which is a taste of Rome in Warsaw. You’ll also find nearby a unique Egyptian temple on the southwest banks of the Łazienki Lake. Last is the Water Tower, a neo-Classical landmark in the image of a Roman mausoleum. It houses a museum of jewelry.
NOWY SWIAT: Shopping haven
Go for shopping binges at Warsaw’s showcase boulevard, Nowy Świat. It is known for its fashion boutiques, antique shops, designer boutiques, perfume shops, and ornate lampposts. Check out the shopping arcades at Ulica Chmielna, Ulica Marszalkowska, and Aleje Jerozolimskie as well. Galeria Centrum (Ulica Marszalkowska 104/122) is the largest shopping mall in the city. If you’re after flea market finds, you can’t go wrong at Stadion Dziesieciolecia, which you can find in an old football stadium across the river from Nowy Świat.
Nowy Swiat (New World) on a regular day (Photo by Travel Ideas)
NIGHTLIFE: Go wild at the conclusion of your 48 hour trip
Wrap up your second day to Warsaw by indulging in the clean fun offered by its bars and clubs. Warsaw’s young, glamorous and beautiful people flock to Organza (Ul. Sienkiewicza 4; 00 48 22 828 2525; website). Another fashionable haunt is Cinnamon (Pl. Pilsudskiego 1; +48 22 323 7600) that welcomes celebrities, fashion models, and businessmen. Clubbers, on the other hand, party at Klub 55 (1 Pl. Defilad 00-901; +48 (0) 503016219; website) which holds electronic and drum-and-bass nights on weekend and has a dance floor for wild clubbers and sofas for the laidback crowd.
Known for their drinks are Sense (19 ul. Nowy Swiat 00-029; +48 22 826 6570; website) which offers 100 vodka selections and Paparazzi (12 Mazowiecka Street 00-048; 22 828 42 19; website) which is renowned for its cocktails.
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