URTRIPS: Warsaw

Warsaw Poland

The image of Warsaw as a grey concrete jungle, a wasteland of homes in the Soviet era, does not match up with the reality of the last 15 years of this vibrant city. This metropolis has much more to offer, loads of things to visit, an impressive cultural scene and a lively nightlife. Warsaw is looking ahead leaving its Soviet past where it belongs. At the end of World War II, 85% of the city was in ruins and the city had to undergo a major reconstruction. The successful reconstruction received recognition in 1980 when UNESCO declared the Old Town of Warsaw World Heritage Site. Located in the Mazowieckie province, in central-eastern Poland, the city is unevenly divided by the Vistula River. Most tourist attractions are on the left bank of the river, while on the right bank we have the up and coming posh district of Prague. The epicentre of Warsaw for visitors is the so-called Royal Route (Trakt Królewski), which runs north-south from the New and Old Towns, past the posh Nowy Swiat shops, palaces that survived the war and the royal gardens Lazienki Park, before arriving at the Wilanów Palace, to the south of the city centre. The city also has many green spaces with lush lakeside parks where rowing boats sail during the sunny summer days and where visitors can find plenty of al-fresco cafes. In the parks, free classical music concerts are also held, with big audiences, a scene that is far from the somber images of communist-era Warsaw. Today the city offers an amazing nightlife, young locals dress smartly to head to the cool bars and groovy clubs in the city. It is definitely a city that comes alive as soon as the sun goes down. Although some people claim that Krakow has the beauty, Warsaw has the culture, the energy and the action.

Recommended airport

Warsaw Okecie (WAW)

Points of interest

Nearby destinations