72 Hours in Warsaw: Things to See and Do

When it comes to traveling, some of us might not have the luxury of spending many days in one place. Whether it’s due to rushed planning or limited vacation time off from work, it can be hectic trying to research and cram in as much as possible into sightseeing a city or country. In the end, it might be exhausting, and it perhaps could detract you from enjoying your adventure away from home.

Having been inspired by the many Internet articles (one of the most-famous including the New York Times’ “36 Hours in…” segment) that showcase ideal itineraries in a set destination, I’d thought that I would also start a similar series on this blog to offer some of my own suggestions of things to do, see, and eat in well-renown cities in the world.

What makes my series different from the others online would be the fact that I’m by no means a professional traveler (e.g. no sponsors, all-paid resorts, etc.), and that what I will suggest are based on my own personal experiences having visited a certain place at least twice, in order to ensure a more-comprehensive outlook on the city itself.

Many online articles in the same vein also tend to cater towards mid-to-upper class travelers who can actually afford hotels and fine-dining restaurants, which I assume many people in their 20’s, even 30’s, can’t have. That’s why I’m catering this series to the budget-friendly, backpack-traveler nomad who doesn’t mind staying in hostels, taking overnight buses, or eating at hole-in-the-wall joints while still getting a fulfilling experience in traveling. This one’s for you, folks! 

PS Check out more of my “72-Hour” posts here!

72 Hours in Warsaw: Things to See and Do

Nicknamed as the “Phoenix City,” Warsaw is a city that’s symbolic of destruction and resilience. It’d been a grand and prosperous hub for Central Europe before getting heavily bombed throughout the Second World War; over 85% of its area had been destroyed, but over the next century has shown an incredible comeback with its reconstruction and burgeoning economy– and it’s still developing today.

This Polish capital is home to just over three million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and is home to a stark contrast between two histories: pre-WWII and post-WWII. Granted, most buildings have been reconstructed (so that many of them are not more than a couple of decades old), but to see the difference between the colorful Old Town and the austere, Bloc-like Palace of Culture and Science offers a variety of architectural structures to examine, from one side of town to the other.

I visited Warsaw twice, the first time in April 2017 and the following two years later in May 2019. Both visits had been brief, two-night stays, but I still managed to see much of the city. Warsaw is large and a bit of a stretch to walk around, but many of the touristy sites are concentrated in clusters, so that you could spend time in one part of town to see a few of the landmarks before catching public transport to another section of the city. Otherwise, you can get a solid workout on-foot!

Personally, I believe 48 hours is enough time to see Warsaw– however, there are plenty of opportunities to take it slow and spend a half-day at one of its many parks (in fact, a quarter of the city is covered in nature!), or to take a day trip to see more of Poland. I will highlight the things to see and do in the Polish capital, should you end up making it over to this under-appreciated city someday:

Day 1

After a light breakfast of coffee and a French pastry at any of the many coffee-chain shops (Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero) along Nowy Świat, one of the major streets in the heart of Warsaw. This one-mile (1.6 km) street was once part of the Royal Route for nobility, and it’s on this path that you can hit up much of the main sights along the way.

If you’re heading from south to north, the first stop would be at the Nicolas Copernicus Monument (Pomnik Mikołaja Kopernika). This statue sits in front of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and we have to thank this 15th-century Polish astronomer for his contributions to science.

Just steps from the monument is the Holy Cross Church (Kościół Świętego Krzyża). One may not be surprised that Poland remains a deeply-religious country, with almost 95% of the population being practicing Roman-Catholics– that said, churches like these are commonplace. But what stands out for this church is what’s inside of it: the buried heart of Romantic composer Frédéric Chopin. Although he spend much of his adult years in France, Chopin remains Polish through-and-through, and his works– lyrical and moody– remain popular in classical music today.

By this point, Nowy Świat becomes Krakowskie Przedmieście, and you’ll pass by the Presidential Palace (Pałac Prezydencki), the seat for the Polish president. Visitors can tour the interior of the palace, but it’s imperative to book ahead of time to avoid the long queues.

Just before reaching the Old Town, you’ll come across St. Anne’s Church (Kościół Akademicki św. Anny), with its bell tower offering the best views of the Old Town Square. Admission is around 4 złoty (0,80€, or $1 USD), but the sights above are fantastic.

Views of Old Town from St. Anne’s Church bell tower.

Old Town is a few meters away, and it’s a good idea to take in the colorful buildings that are a replica of a once-thriving city pre-WWII. Admiring the sight, you can’t help but wonder at Warsaw, once nicknamed “Paris of the North.”

By now, it’s more-or-less lunchtime, and there are dozens of restaurants in the Old Town. Granted, they’re tourist traps, but they still offer affordable, Polish cuisine to try out. Besides the pierogi chain Restauracja Zapiecek (which I do recommend), there are also a few bar mleczny (“milk bars”) that are distinctive of Polish culture, as they were once government-subsidized cafeterias for low-price Polish cuisine. Aside from trying the iconic pierogis, there’s also flaki (tripe soup), kielbasa (sausage) and, my personal favorite, gołąbki (stuffed cabbage). If you’re looking for a grab-n-go kind of deal, there’s also zapiekanka, an open-faced sandwich that’s a popular street food.

Zapiekanka.

The afternoon is spent at two destinations, first one being the Warsaw Barbican (Barbakan Warszawski). This 16th-century fortification has since been reconstructed in the 20th century, and it’s a pleasant stroll along its rustic-red walls before a pop-over at the Warsaw Uprising Monument a street away, a commemoration to the lives lost during the 1944 rebellion.

The second, main destination of the afternoon is at the Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski) back in the Old Town. Just like the other sites, it’s a reconstruction of the 14th-century palace for the royal family, and you can pay 20 złoty (5€, or $5 USD) to check out the interior. While smaller than what you’d see in Versailles or the Schönbrunn (in Versailles and Vienna, respectively), the Royal Castle is still elegant and a lovely reflection of what Polish royalty used to be.

Before heading back to your accommodation for the day, a turn-around at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Grób Nieznanego Żołnierza), a monument dedicated to the lives lost during WWII and the Warsaw Uprising. If you’re lucky, you might also come across the Changing of the Guards, which take place hourly. It’s then a matter of returning to your accommodation for a break before heading out to dinner that night (either for pierogis or a heartier meal with a pint of Tyskie beer). You could opt for a fun night out at the bars and clubs, or otherwise rest up for a long day of travel tomorrow…

Pierogis and Tyskie beer.

Day 2

As mentioned, much of Warsaw’s attractions can be covered in 48 hours, which means that you can insert a long day trip into the mix and discover more of Poland. Two options would be to go to Krakow (two hours by high-speed train) or Auschwitz Concentration Camp (four-and-a-half hours by train). There’s also the option to book a guided tour for the latter, to save the headache on time and buying tickets (three-and-a-half hours by tour), but either way, both will be very long days of sightseeing and travel. By the time you return to Warsaw in the evening, you’d most-likely want to grab takeout nearby your accommodation and call it a night.

Day 3

Your last, full day in Warsaw will be an eclectic blend of sites scattered throughout the city outside of the Old Town. There will be some public transport involved, and the first site to get to early is the Warsaw Uprising Museum. As opposed to the historic sites preceding the 20th century two days prior, this museum offers insights into a more-recent history of Poland, particularly the devastating rebellion in 1944. It was an attempt by the Poles to fight off Nazi Germany from claiming the city, and unfortunate the enemy won. Casualties of the Polish resistance group totaled 16,000, with an additional 200,000 civilians killed by execution. The museum offers insight into the tragic rebellion with artifacts from that era– it is free admission on Sundays.

Following the visit, you can either take the tram or walk the 1.2 miles (2 km) to the Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki), another iconic landmark of Warsaw. Imposing and austere, this Bloc-like building was built during the Cold War years but has since detached itself from its Soviet past– today, it houses the cultural arts and venues, including cinema, the Museum of Technology, and event halls. You can also go up to the 30th floor for panoramic views of the city.

Palace of Culture and Science.

At this point, I would suggest checking out some of the lesser-known sites of Warsaw. Two of them I’d recommend, the first one being the Warsaw University Library Garden, located in the university quarters. The surrounding neighborhood is vibrant and youthful, bustling with students getting to classes, but upon stepping inside the entrance to the botanical garden, you’re greeted with silence and peace. It’s a matter of traversing the glass corridor to head outside to the rooftop botanical gardens, teeming with flowers in the spring and views of the Palace of Culture and Science in the distance– a lovely respite in the heart of town.

Botanical gardens at the University of Warsaw Library.

It’s a matter of getting lunch before catching the tram east of the city, across the Vistula River to the Praga neighborhood. This part of town has a different feel than the bustling center, as it’s a bit more industrial and run-down. While I wouldn’t recommend venturing here at night, it’s safe in the day, and the second site to check out is the Neon Museum (Muzeum Neonów), a small exhibition situated in a once-abandoned factory. It’s 10 złoty (2€ or $2.50 USD) to enter, and one can pass a bit of time strolling the three corridors of brightly-lit signs that’d been preserved post-WWII. You don’t need a lot of time to cover them all, but it’s a unique spot to get some very-Instagrammable photos.

Neon Museum.

The rest of the day can be spent at the Łazienki Park, south of the city center. You can take the tram over and spend the remainder of the afternoon strolling the massive, 76-hectare land, home to plenty of greenery and some notable sites, including the charming Baths Palace (Pałac Na Wyspie) and the abstract Frédéric Chopin Monument. Overall, it’s a tranquil afternoon in a natural part of the urban city, and it’s a great way to soak up the sun and picnic, especially on a pleasant day.

You have the option of retiring to your accommodation before having dinner out and, if you didn’t have the chance to go out bar-hopping and clubbing two nights before, you can opt to do so on your last night out. Much of the nightlife is concentrated in plac Teatralny and plac Piłsudskiego (adjacent to each other), or along the Podwale or Mazowiecka streets, around the University neighborhood. Either way, both areas are safe at night, so you can be assured a secured walk home in the end. Just make sure you wake up on time to catch your ride home!

Overall, Warsaw is a large city, but doable in a couple of days. Although it may not be as well-preserved as Krakow or other cities in Poland, it remains the country’s capital and offers a blend of beautifully-reconstructed buildings, poignant museums, and natural parks to check out. It’s an understated destination in Europe and very well-worth a visit over.

Have you been to Warsaw before? Let me know!

— Rebecca