Warsaw

Warsaw is the largest city in Poland and has been its capital for over four centuries. It is a cultural, political, economic and scientific centre on a European scale.

Now you can download our free app Warsaw Hostel Guide on your phone or tablet, which makes sightseeing even easier. You will find there useful information about the monuments, tourist attractions, interesting and noteworthy cultural events, restaurants, cafes and bars in the close area. The app works offline so even when you do not have internet access.

Warsaw is a city symbolic of the history of Poland and its inhabitants throughout centuries. It keeps alive the memory of its past, sometimes very tragic, and at the same time is a multicultural metropolis vibrant with life and open to diversity.

What is exceptional about Warsaw is the fact that it is not only a world-class business and political centre, but also a city notable for its culture, with many theatres, museums, art galleries as well as cultural and sport events. With each year, more and more tourists from Poland and abroad come to visit Warsaw. Along with Cracow, it is already the most popular tourist destination in Poland and one of the top destinations in Europe. The entertainment is flourishing – Warsaw is home to the best restaurants, pubs and clubs, a place that never falls asleep, where everyone, no matter the size of their wallet, will find something interesting.

We will be glad to help you plan your stay in Warsaw, we will recommend you exceptional sights, check the opening hours of museums for you and tell you about the cheapest and most convenient ways to get around in the city. Our staff will give you some tips even before you check in, and at the hostel, you will find useful maps, leaflets and tourist guides.

There are many interesting and notable sights in Warsaw, but some you just can’t miss when you visit it.

One of them is the Old Town, one of the most picturesque parts of the capital, built at the end of the 13th century around the Royal Castle. Although destroyed (just like most of the city) during World War II, the Old Town was thoroughly rebuilt and the visitors can admire its beauty again. In 1980, the entire Old Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Another symbol of the city is the Palace of Culture and Science, built in the years 1952-1955, the tallest building in Warsaw, with a height of 237 metres, situated in the heart of the city. The palace houses museums, theatres as well as cultural and art institutions. At the 30th floor, there is a viewing terrace, from which you can enjoy the panorama of the city.

Museums that are particularly worth mentioning include the National Museum, the Fryderyk Chopin Museum, the Warsaw Rising Museum, which documents this episode of World War II and the heroism of Polish insurgents, as well as the recently opened Museum of the History of Polish Jews, remarkable for the abundance of exhibits.

In the Copernicus Science Centre, you can not only have a nice time and learn more about the world you live in, but also find out what it’s like to be a researcher as the visitors are encouraged to run experiments. Visited by children, teenagers and adults alike, the centre is another point on the map of Warsaw that you can’t miss.

Warsaw is situated on the Vistula River, which divides the city into two parts. The left-bank part is distinguished by its big-city style and modernity, whereas the right-bank part, including the Praga district, remarkable for old architecture and a unique atmosphere, has recently become an alternative centre of culture and entertainment. You will find here many art galleries, ateliers of young Polish artists, great clubs and popular pubs and coffee houses.

The National Stadium situated in Praga, built for the 2012 UEFA European Championship in Poland, is the largest object of this kind in Poland. It is there that the greatest and most significant sport and entertainment events in Poland take place.

Neon Museum- if you’re looking for a place quite off the beaten track you’ll enjoy this small museum. It’s located in alternative Praga district, in the area of Soho Factory. The place is dedicated to the documentation and preservation of Poland’s cold war era neon signs. Their exhibition grows bigger every month collecting neons from the whole country. That’s one of my favorite museums ever!

University library garden – the UW Library garden was opened in June 2002. It’s one of the largest and most beautiful roof gardens in Europe with an area of more than 10,000 m2, and plants covering 5,111 m2. As the university garden it’s open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The garden consists of two parts: an upper garden and a lower one connected by a stream and a water-cascade. Not only will you enjoy the view from there but it’s also the best place to take good pictures of the riverside.

One of the best Polish museums – Warsaw Uprising Museum. It’s a museum that leaves a mark on all visitors. Not only because it gives a pure explanation of what was happening in the Polish Capital during the war, why it is like it is now but also because of the way the history is presented. It’s full of interactive displays, photographs, video footage, people’s testimonies and miscellaneous exhibits.Absolutely must see in Poland.

We recommend you the website www.warsawtour.pl , where you can find much useful information about the sights and museums, a list of clubs and coffee houses, a calendar of cultural and entertainment events as well as many tips on how to have a nice time in Warsaw.