15 best places to see in Warsaw in 2023

The capital city of Warsaw is the heart of Poland in more ways than one. On the one hand, it’s the most modern city in Poland; the financial and business center of the country, drawing in people from all over Europe. On the other, it still wears its scars proudly, reminding others of both the horrors and glory of European history and how much a city can endure.

Whether you want to take a trip back in time or just kick back and relax at a trendy cafe, Warsaw has something for everyone. Careful though, it’s easy to fall in love with Warsaw!

Old Town

The must see of any city is the Old Town and Warsaw’s is no exception. Visit the Royal Castle, wander around the narrow streets or go to the crowded, but colorful market square and say hello to the Warsaw Siren. Then imagine that around 80 years ago, all that you see was just a pile of rubble.

During World War II, around 85% of Warsaw’s Old Town was completely destroyed. There was even talk that the Old Town would never be rebuilt. But Warsaw rose from its own ashes like a phoenix and the Old Town was rebuilt with such a great attention to detail that it was put on the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. If that’s not something to admire, I don’t know what is.

If you want to see the Old Town and learn some curiosities about it, you can book our Historic Heart of Warsaw walking tour.

Krakowskie Przedmieście

This is probably the most elegant street in the capital of Poland. Take a stroll along Krakowskie Przedmieście and admire its wide pavements, beautiful greenery, and historic buildings. If you’re a history or architecture junkie, you’ll think you’d died and gone to heaven!

Take some time to admire the Presidential Palace—a building in which communism began to crumble long before the Berlin Wall. Discover the two oldest hotels in Warsaw that hosted stars like the Rolling Stones, Pablo Picasso or Sophia Loren, as well as the most important people in the world: Elizabeth II, Charles de Gaulle, and John F. Kennedy. Check out the University of Warsaw’s unique campus and spend a few moments really taking in the several churches and monuments dotting the street—Krakowskie Przedmieście really has something for everyone.

If you’re lucky and visiting during Christmas, you’ll have a chance to see Krakowskie Przedmieście decked out in some of the most stunning holiday lights and decorations in Europe.

Praga district

If you want to escape crowds of tourists and see a different, more raw side of Warsaw, take a trip to the east side of the river and visit the Praga district. It’s my personal favorite—an area of contrasts where tradition meets modernity. A few streets of Praga still remember the pre-war times since they managed to evade the destruction seen by the western half of the city during WWII. Some of these streets have been used as backdrops in popular movies, The Pianist being the most notable.

Some parts of Praga, however, have gone modern and are now the trendiest parts of the city. It’s an eclectic mix of street art, quaint cafes, and lots of nooks and crannies to discover.

If you want to learn why I fell in love with Praga and want to fall in love with it yourself—join our Bohemian Warsaw walking tour.

Palace of Culture and Science

Some love it, some hate it, but there’s not a single person in Warsaw who’s indifferent towards the Palace of Culture and Science. People still argue about its artistic value, its historical importance, and political meaning. Some see it as a communist relic and a symbol of Soviet domination. Others see it as arguably the most visible and distinguishable site in the city.

To decide who you agree with, you need to see it with your own eyes, and not just from afar. Circle the building to take a look at the socialist art on its façade. Later, go inside to take a look at the decorated interior. If you’re not afraid of heights, take a 60 second trip in an old school elevator up to the viewing terrace on the 30th floor (the Palace is (almost) the tallest building in Warsaw!) and get the most amazing panoramas of the city you’ll ever see. In the summer months, the terrace is also open in the evening—the perfect place for some great night shots or a breathtaking date!

To buy your online ticket, go to http://pkin.pl/en/home/ And to learn more fun facts about the Palace, join our walking tour Behind the Iron Curtain!

Warsaw Rising Museum

A visit to the Warsaw Rising Museum is a must if you want to fully understand the history of Warsaw. This huge museum takes you back to 1944 and the Warsaw Uprising, during which Polish people fought for 63 days to liberate their city from the Nazis. The exhibition is very detailed so it’s perfect for history buffs, but also easy to grasp if you have no background in Polish history. It’s enough to pause at the large column at the start of the exhibition—you’ll hear the beating heart of Warsaw that will give you goosebumps.

If you’re pressed for time, here are my personal must-sees: the little insurgent room, the sewer replicas, the hall with a full-size B-24 Liberator, and the short 3D movie City of Ruins that gives a bird’s eye view of what Warsaw looked like after the Uprising. Plan your visit by going to: https://www.1944.pl/en

Museum of the History of Polish Jews Polin

Jewish history in Poland dates back to the 10th century, even though it’s easy to think about it only in terms of its most influential chapter during World War II. The Museum of the History of Polish Jews Polin was created to raise awareness among Poles and tourists about Jewish history. In fact, it’s the first Jewish museum in the world that doesn’t focus only on the Holocaust.

The museum takes an objective stance on Jewish history in Poland and helps to explain why the life of Jews in Poland was so turbulent over 1000 years. Take note that a millennium of history needs a lot of space so the museum is huge. My simple suggestion is to visit the museum with an audio guide or tour guide. Otherwise, you may just feel a bit overwhelmed. For more information, go to https://www.polin.pl/en

Royal Łazienki Park

If you’re feeling tired after hours of sightseeing and just want to take a break, you’re in luck—Warsaw is one of the greenest capitals in Europe with around 40% of the city covered with parks and forests. One of the greatest of those parks is the Royal Łazienki Park, not far from the city center.

This huge (76 ha) park is the perfect place to take a slow stroll or relax in the shade of old oak trees. Don’t forget to take some nuts or seeds with you as there’s a good chance you’ll see some curious squirrels looking for a free snack :)

Every Sunday during the summer, you can also enjoy a free, open air piano concert beneath Frederick Chopin’s monument. When you’ve had your fill of swans and winding park paths, visit the Palace on the Isle—one of the summer royal residences that is open to visitors. To plan your visit or learn more about the park, visit its official website: https://www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl/en

Wilanów Palace

Not everything worth seeing is in the very center of the city. Off a little to the south, you’ll find a breathtaking example of baroque architecture—the Wilanów Palace, the summer residence of one of Poland’s greatest kings, King Jan III Sobieski. Unlike most buildings in Warsaw, the Wilanów Palace wasn’t destroyed during WWII and what you see is completely original. Oddly enough, what saved the palace was the fact that the Wilanów district became an official part of Warsaw only in 1951!

To plan your visit, go to https://www.wilanow-palac.pl/ When you’re done taking selfies in front of the palace, don’t forget to take a walk in the beautiful royal gardens. If you’re in the mood for something really unusual, go to St. Anne’s Church nearby where you can see a bone of a mammoth, found during the construction of the church.

The Square of Józef Piłsudski and the Saxon Garden

There’s one place where you can see the history of Warsaw in a nutshell. It’s a place where the most important events in the city’s history took place, a place that suffered just as much as other parts of the capital city, and a place that all international delegations visit. Welcome to the Square of Józef Piłsudski.

The square is quite large and might look rather dull until you take a look around. Notice the large cross commemorating the first pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II to Poland in 1979 on one side of the square. On the other, the haunting yet beautiful remains of the Saxon Palace remind onlookers of the horrors the Warsaw Uprising’s end.

Since 1925, this site serves as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There’s an official changing of the guard at the top of every hour that’s definitely worth seeing so time your visit accordingly. Afterwards, wander around the charming Saxon Garden right next to the square. Take a break at the large old fountain at the edge of the garden that was the favorite city escape for Warsaw’s upper class in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Church of the Holy Cross

There are many places related to Frederick Chopin in Warsaw but there's just one you can’t afford to miss-- the Church of the Holy Cross. Located at Krakowskie Przedmieście, this building has the honor of holding the composer’s...heart. Just look inside the church for lots of flowers and a plaque saying “Here rests the heart of Frederick Chopin” to find the pillar in which the heart is held.

Polish Vodka Museum

Vodka is a traditional Polish alcohol so it’d be a shame if you left Poland not knowing that, or, what’s worse, without having tried it. Luckily for you, the Polish Vodka Museum offers you both!

The museum is located in an old vodka distillery which takes you back to the time before everything was stainless steel and computerized. Although it’s open from Tuesday to Sunday, it’s a good idea to book your ticket in advance (can be done online on https://muzeumpolskiejwodki.pl/en/) since it’s quite popular and it can be difficult to get a tour last minute.

A ticket buys you a 60-minute guided tour during which you’ll learn a lot about the history of vodka, its production, and different customs related to this spirit. The final touch is a complimentary tasting of three different vodkas, each one produced from different ingredients. After the tour, feel free to do some shopping at the distillery shop—vodka makes a great souvenir!

Nowy Świat

While most tourists will sooner or later take a stroll up and down Krakowskie Przedmieście, not all of them make it to a nice, shorter street that continues south—Nowy Świat.

Nowy Świat might not be as grand as Krakowskie Przedmieście, but it definitely represents a more modern Warsaw. It’s the most expensive street in the city and is full of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. You’ll never see the street empty, especially during the evenings and on the weekends when locals and visitors enjoy themselves and their meals at street side tables. Grab a snack, enjoy a drink, get a coffee to go, or sit down for a nice dinner; Nowy Świat has something to offer for everyone.

Wedel chocolate shop

Whether you have children or just want to nurture the child within, the Wedel chocolate shop is worth trying. Wedel is the oldest Polish chocolate company, dating back to 1851. You can buy Wedel products in practically every single shop in Poland, but it’s worth popping into one of the several cafes they have around the city.

Indulge yourself in Wedel chocolate in almost every single form you can think of: cakes, cookies, ice-cream, pancakes, the list goes on. My personal favorite, however, is their hot chocolate—absolutely delicious, real, melted chocolate that’s perfect for cold days. Oh, and the caramel with sea salt is to die for, in case you were wondering.

Of course, no trip to Poland is complete without trying the most traditional Polish sweet—Ptasie Mleczko (which literally translates into “bird’s milk”. Try it and you’ll see why :)). See how Wedel can sweeten up your life here: https://www.wedelpijalnie.pl/en/offer

Life Under Communism Museum

Poland was a Soviet satellite country for around 40 years. If you ask Polish people what they think about that part of history, you’ll get very mixed messages. But one thing’s for certain - these years had a large impact on both Warsaw and Poland. It wasn’t just anticapitalistic politics and unsustainable economics—it was also the ordinary, everyday life of millions of Poles. This is exactly what this museum wants to show you.

Entering the museum is like taking a journey back in time. Make a call from an old, tapped phone booth, sit in the most iconic car, the Maluch (“Tiny”), and order some oranżada, a drink that I really loved when I was a child (spoiler: I don’t love it anymore :)) You can see the museum on your own, with an audio guide, or with a tour guide. To learn more, just go to their website: https://mzprl.pl/?lang=en

Copernicus Science Centre

If the question you ask most often is “why?” or if your inner child wants to go out and play, the Copernicus Science Centre is the place for you. It’s the largest science center in Poland, with seven galleries located on two levels. The whole center covers the area of around 15 000 m2 so there’s definitely a lot to see and experience!

The center is completely interactive so you learn through sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. What makes it truly amazing is that it caters to both kids and adults so it’s a great place to visit with the whole family or a group of friends. If after a whole day of experimenting you need to give your brain a breather, take a moment to admire the modern planetarium or take a stroll in the gardens.

The entrance ticket is a magnetic card that lets record the results of your experiments and access them later online. Book your ticket online or learn more on http://www.kopernik.org.pl/en/

There you have it! These are by no means the only things to see in Warsaw, but it will definitely give you a good place to start. Have any questions or feel your travel plan is missing something? Just let me know and I can help you set up the perfect Warsaw sightseeing itinerary!