6 Things That Will Surprise You About Warsaw
There are, unfortunately, two main ideas that tourists have about Warsaw. The first is that it was all destroyed and there’s nothing to see there. The second is that it was destroyed and rebuilt with communist blocks and is ugly and gray. With that goes dirty and unsafe streets, lack of technological advancements, and people who speak no English. All of this couldn’t be further from the truth.
We’ll go through a few things that we’ve found keep surprising tourists visiting Warsaw.
1. Warsaw is safe
Warsaw (and practically any other city in Poland) is probably the safest a city could be. Crime is extremely low and if it does happen, it is usually non-violent crimes like pickpocketing, vandalism, etc.
Single travelers and women can feel more than safe travelling around Warsaw, even in late night hours. That said, obviously demonstrate common sense and caution in everything you do. Carrying around massive amounts of cash, flashing your wealth or mindlessly wandering around areas you don’t know in the middle of the night might draw attention from someone unwanted.
This is true for the whole city. Many tourists arrive in Warsaw already terrified of the Praga district because they’ve heard a whole bunch of horror stories. Praga used to be a no-go, but the city invested very heavily into its revitalization since 2000 and now it’s the bohemian (and quite expensive) part of the city with quaint little cafes and clubs and local artist shops.
2. Warsaw is clean
Warsaw is probably one of the cleanest cities and capitals in Europe and the city tries hard to keep it that way. The things you’ll encounter a lot during your stay here, so buses, trams, metro trains, city streets, parks, cafes and restaurants, and most public toilets are quite clean and pleasant.
The interesting thing is that although the city is quite clean, tourists often notice that there are few trash cans around. That’s not an excuse to just dump your trash anywhere though! Also, when in shopping centers or supermarkets, take a look around because many of these places will have recycling bins to sort your trash and help the environment.
Another interesting thing some notice is that there are practically no stray cats or dogs roaming around the city. If stray animals are found they are usually taken by the appropriate authorities to local animal shelters.
3. Warsaw’s city transport is great
Trust me, there is no real reason for visitors to take Ubers everywhere.
Warsaw’s city transport consists of trams, buses, and the metro (i.e. subway, underground). These networks crisscross the entire city, giving you a pretty good variety of options for travelling around the city.
Warsaw is a large city and the capital, so streets do get congested during rush hour on weekdays. If travelling during rush hour, trams and especially the metro are a good option to avoid standing in traffic.
The metro is by far the fastest and safest travel option you have in the city. It takes an average of 2 minutes to get from one stop to the next and the metro runs around every 3-4 minutes on weekdays and 5-6 minutes on weekends.
Buying a ticket is super simple because buses, trams, and the metro use the same ticket. So if you buy a 40 minute ticket, you can validate it on the bus and then switch over to a tram with no issue (as long as you’re still in the 40 minute range). If you plan on travelling a lot or are here for longer, consider getting 24-hour or multiple day tickets; you’ll save a ton of money that way, especially if you’re travelling around Warsaw on a budget.
For longer distances, like going to the outskirts of the city, suburbs, or day trips from Warsaw, check out the WKD or SKM trains. They run rather frequently and are a cheap and comfortable option.
Visiting in warmer months? Warsaw has an excellent rent-a-bike program called Veturilo. It’s the perfect option if you love taking a bike or if you want to quickly cover a short distance. Be aware that Warsaw’s bike path system is slowly but surely expanding so there might not be bike paths every single place you go. Pay attention to street signs as some sidewalks are shared by pedestrians and bicycles. If there’s no bike path or shared sidewalk, you should bike along the street.
4. Warsaw is financially advanced
Despite the fact that we still get questions along the lines of “do they have cash machines in Poland?”, Poland is one of the most advanced countries in Europe as far as financial technology is concerned and is now primarily a cashless society.
There’s no reason for you to get ripped off at the many money exchange offices in Warsaw, you can pay absolutely everywhere by debit/credit card, Revolut,etc. That said, if you’re planning to visit one of the local markets in Warsaw, it would be good to have some cash on hand. Remember that if you do need cash, you can use one of the many cash machines in the city. Check with your bank as they might offer better conversion rates when taking money out of a cash machine than an exchange office.
We recommend this money exchange office because it has the best rates we’ve seen in the city so far. Never exchange money at the airport, their rates are horrible!
5. Warsaw is really green
Warsaw is one of the greenest cities and capitals in Europe–20% of the city’s area is covered with parks, forests, and green spaces. They are literally everywhere, so if you’re staying here for a little longer, it’s definitely worth checking them out.
Especially in the summer months, they’re a perfect place to rest and enjoy the weather and are a perfect place to take your family to. Here are a few we’d recommend:
Lazienki Royal Park – the grounds of a former royal residence, it’s by far the most stunning and beautiful park in the city and it has plenty of attractions. We’d even argue that it’s one of the most beautiful parks in Europe!
Pole Mokotowskie – this is more of a city park focused on letting residents unwind. There are areas to play sports, a pond, bike paths, and lots of walking paths to take leisurely strolls along.
Ogród Saski – the former garden attached to the destroyed Saxon Palace is a nice place to rest and relax if you’ve spent a lot of time sitesighting in the historical district.
Las Kabacki – this huge forest sits in the south of Warsaw, not far from the metro station Kabaty. Great for walking or bike riding.
If you’re a fan of parks and natural spaces in the city, you’ll definitely want to learn more about Warsaw’s green spaces!
6. Warsaw is beautiful
Tell us someone said that there’s nothing to see in Warsaw and we’ll tell you that’s someone who’s never really seen the city.
Warsaw is unique because it’s not just one kind of city, but several kinds of cities put together. There is the rebuilt medieval heart, the bohemian district of Praga, the modern skyscrapers near Rondo Daszyńskiego (called “Manhattan” or “Isengard”), the workers’ district of Wola, the charming villas of Mokotów and Żoliborz, the socialist-realism of Constitution Square, the theaters and museums of the city center. There’s something for everyone and if you didn’t know Warsaw’s tragic history, you would never realize it was destroyed during World War II by looking at it now.
Planning on coming to Warsaw to see the charm for yourself? Don’t forget to sign up for a private Warsaw walking tour and let us show you the best, most beautiful, most interesting and unique places in the city we call our home!