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Things to do in Warsaw
Warsaw's old town is full of different sights for visitors to enjoy. The ancient market square is a major attraction for visitors and its buildings contain some unique architecture.
The cobbled streets are populated by traditional Polish restaurants, cafes and shops and the square itself becomes a centre of activity during the summer months when it is filled with cafe tables and street performers.
Warsaw was originally a fortified city and although it outgrew its original boundaries many centuries ago, large sections of its original city walls have survived to this day. You can spend plenty of time wandering around them, as the vast majority are still intact and this can offer a unique way to see the old town quarter of the city.
Probably the most impressive building in Warsaw is the imperious Royal Castle. Largely reconstructed during the 1970s and 1980s, it emerged like a phoenix from the flames of the Second World War, when it was badly damaged. The vibrant red brick is punctuated by darker elements which are relics from the previous structure and were rescued from the ruins.
Sitting on a plateau overlooking the Wisla River, the Royal Castle became of particular importance when King Zygmunt III Vasa made Warsaw Poland's capital and had the building extended. It was used by the Polish royal family from the early 17th until the late 18th century, before becoming the seat of the Polish parliament. Today it is a fine museum displaying pieces from Warsaw's past, including tapestries, period furniture and coffin portraits.
A must for visitors to Warsaw is the baroque Wilanow Palace, which was established in 1677 by King Jan III Sobieski. Tours of the interior of this splendid palace are available daily, while there is also the opportunity for visitors to explore the gallery which is contained within it.
Lazienki Park and its orangery offer some of the best public events during the warms summer months in Warsaw. Every year the Chopin festival is held at the Chopin Monument in this park and there is also a variety of free concerts which take place here.
The park is also home to a number of beautiful royal buildings, including the Palace on the Water and the 17th century Ujazdowski Castle, which now plays host to the Centre of Contemporary Art.
St John's Cathedral is said to be the oldest place of worship in Warsaw. It was completely rebuilt after being destroyed during the Second World War and now houses a large selection of important gothic works by Wit Stwosz. It also contains an unusual covered footbridge which connects it to the Royal Palace, which was established following an assassination attempt on King Zygmunt III.
For a poignant reminder of Warsaw's turbulent past, take a trip to the city's old Jewish ghetto. Before the Nazi invasion in 1939, the city had a Jewish population which was second only to New York. Few of Warsaw's Jews ever made it back to the city once they had been moved by the Nazis and the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes marks the centre spot of where the ghetto used to be. Only three sections of the huge ghetto wall remain, providing visitors with a bleak reminder of the atrocities that happened in Warsaw during the 1940s.
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Things to Do
