Exploring the Charming Scenery of Warsaw in Poland during a 3-Day City Trip

Planning a Warshaw city trip and wondering what the vibrant Polish capital has to offer? Look no further as I crafted the perfect Warsaw itinerary! Here, we will explore its rich history, combined with some other fun things.

From strolling through the picturesque Warsaw Old Town to visiting the Polish Vodka Museum, this city blends tradition and modernity like no other. Ready to dive into the best things to do in Warsaw as I cover the best tourist attractions!

You might also like: Visiting Breda while also Discovering the Surrounding Nature

For your information, all these pictures were taken in September 2024.

Summary: Warsaw during a 3-Day Trip

Discovering Warsaw in 3 days was my most surprising city trip this year. You will discover it in this blog post, but first, I want to share a summary.

Day 1: Old Town and the Royal Route
Day 2: Pierogi Class, Vistula River Cruise, and Praga District
Day 3: Lazienki Royal Gardens and Palace of Culture and Science

Best hotels to stay at

Best restaurants to eat

Some information about Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and the largest as well. The city lies next to River Vistula in east-central Poland. In the late 16th century was Kraków the capital city, but the king of the time, Sigismund III, decided to move the capital. It then got a demographic boom thanks to the Industrial Revolution.

But this all stopped because of the bombing and the siege at the start of World War II in 1939. Much of the historic city was destroyed and you can still see it to this day. Lots of the city is rebuilt with skyscrapers, including the tallest building in the European Union. But Warsaw also cared about keeping the history intact. For example, the reconstructed Old Town was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1980, because it represented the destroyed Old Town.

Not only can you learn about the history of Warsaw, but they also include culture in the city. There are many references to Fryderyk Chopin, a famous Polish composer, around the city. For example, there are 15 benches spread across the Royal Route to learn about him. Another well-known person from this city is Marie Curie, famous for her study of radiation.

How to get to Warsaw?

Poland is located in the center of Europe, which borders Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia. As it’s pretty central in Europe, the country is quite easy to visit.

1 | With the plane

There are two different airports nearby Warsaw, with one being the best option to fly into. The first one is the Warsaw Chopin Airport, which is the more heavily used airport. From here, it only takes 15 minutes with a car and 30 minutes with public transportation to get to the city center.

The other airport is the smaller one called Warsaw Modlin Airport. The distance is a bit further as it takes 1 hour with the car and more than an hour with public transportation.

2 | With public transportation

The train system is well-handled and a good way to travel around Poland! No matter the destination in the country, you will be there in no time! With the train, it’s a bit harder to reach Warsaw from other countries as Poland is a huge country and the travel time would be long. It’s also possible to get to the city center by bus from neighboring countries.

3 | By car

You can also come to Poland by car. As you will visit the capital, you’ll probably have trouble finding a parking spot for your car.

How to get around Warsaw?

You can travel around the country by car, by public transportation, or by foot. As some parts are pretty far away, the best thing to do is to buy the 3-day pass on the weekdays for public transportation. This costs 36 PLN for 1 zone and 57 PLN for 2 zones. If you go to Warsaw on the weekend, there is a weekend ticket for 24 PLN for 2 zones. This is such a bargain and you can use it on the bus, metro and trams!

Where to stay in Warsaw?

For my 3-day city trip to Warsaw, I stayed in H15 Hotel Boutique, which is located near the Palace of Culture and Science. The hotel has a restaurant and a fitness, but the most impressive part is the interior. Once you step into the patio, you know what I mean. The hotel features 47 artistically designed rooms. Staying in such a room is definitely a blessing.

Warsaw Itinerary

Warsaw itinerary: Day 1

1 | Arriving in Warsaw and checking into the hotel

We arrived at the Chopin Airport around 12 PM, what perfect is to check into our hotel and drop our luggage off, ready to explore the city already! But not before we had some delicious and typical lunch.

2 | Having lunch at Syrena Irena

Because this lunch place is closely located to our next location, we decided to have our lunch here. It’s around 30 minutes away from our hotel, but luckily we had the 3-day pass for public transportation. While stepping inside, we were immediately attracted to try the traditional pierogi. Couldn’t think of a better way to be introduced to Polish cuisine.

3 | Learn more about the most famous composer Chopin

It’s time to start the city trip and let’s begin with nothing less than the museum about Fryderyk Chopin. This is one of the most famous Varsovians and the museum tells the story of the life and the work of the composer. It’s a really interactive museum with original and replica pieces of Chopin’s life.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM and has a free admission day on Wednesday. The other days, the admission for an adult is 30 PLN.

4 | Follow along the Royal Route

After a visit to the Chopin Museum, it’s easy to get on the Royal Route all the way to the Old Town. This route is a former communication route, which transformed into a famous street in Warsaw that features lots of shops, restaurants, and historic landmarks. It connects three former residences of Polish rulers: Royal Castle, Royal Łazienki, and Wilanów Palace.

5 | Step back into time at the Old Town

Lots of cities have old towns and in Warsaw, it’s no different. This will be without a doubt the most busy part of the city. And rightfully so, as it’s extremely stunning and has quite a few sights to see!

The Old Town was nearly totally destroyed during World War II. Still, thanks to the efforts to reconstruct it fully into a replica, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage in 1980!

The most popular things to see in the Old Town of Warsaw are the Market Square with a Mermaid statue in the middle, the Royal Castle, the Barbican, and the Presidential Palace. The Uprising Monument is close to the Old Town, which is a must-see as it’s important to their history.

6 | Take a look at the Norblin Factory

Fabryka Norblina, or Norblin Factory, which was formerly known as ‘Norblin, Buch Brothers and T. Werner’ factory, produced plated metal household goods in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This historical factory has been transformed into a beautiful shopping mall, a vibrant food court, and a cinema. That’s why when walking through Norblin, you are bound to come across an exhibition of products made at the former factory.

The collection includes as many as 400 silver-plated items of tableware. Outside, you can sit on the original benches created from factory trolleys. The blend of history, culture, and renewal makes this the ideal place to spend some quality time before dinner!

7 | Eat a delicious dinner with a specialised beer at Warsaw Brewery

Before it was a restaurant, this location was the most established brewery in Poland, but after World War II, it still operated, but it wasn’t ever the same. Now it transformed, since 2021 into a modern centre with offices, apartments, and bars & restaurants. In the cellars of the former beer store is now the artisanal Warsaw Brewery, and many restaurants, including the one we ate at, which is called Browar Warszawski. Upon entering, the immediate view of a small brewery adds a nice touch.

8 | Complete the day with a visit at the Night Market

If you still have energy left in you, the night market is the place for you! At Warsaw’s former Main Railway station, this food fair is held every weekend. Here, the disused platforms come alive with dozens of stalls, featuring a variety of delicacies, combined with the sounds of music.

Warsaw itinerary: Day 2

9 | Start your day with a cooking class

After eating so many pierogi around the city, it was time to learn how to make our own! This dish is significant in the Polish culture, so it’s nice to be able to make them ourselves. It took us about an hour to make these, which is perfect to plan this into your itinerary! Know that it will take more time if the group is bigger.

At the end of the class, you get to taste them so the best thing to do this class is right before lunch, including vegetarian options. The recipe will be sent to you by email! The price for one person is 200 PLN.

10 | Visit one of the most beautiful libraries with a rooftop garden

This location was not what I expected at all, but it was even better than I imagined! It turns out this University Library has one of the most beautiful roof gardens in Europe and that name is rightfully claimed. It’s free to visit and gives you a panorama of the city. The only thing you’re not allowed to visit is the library itself as it’s reserved for students.

11 | Enjoy a peaceful boat ride at the Vistula River

Another great attraction I like to do in a city is a riverboat ride, so I’m always happy that I can do that in the city I visit! Luckily for me, Warsaw has the Vistula River. Before you go on the boat ride, wander around the kilometers-long riverside promenade, which offers lots of (beach) bars, restaurants, and seasonal clubs.

After wandering on the promenade, it’s time to get on the boat! In the past, the Vistula River was used as a main communication and transport route where wooden boats transported goods to Warsaw. But now, you can go on a cruise to see the city from the riverside! The cost for this boat ride is 70 PLN for an hour.

12 | Shop a little at Elektrownia Powiśle

This power plant supplied energy for the city for almost 100 years but now attracts all those who enjoy good food and lots of shopping. You can see that history meets with modernity, as there are still leftovers from the power plant in the shopping mall. It’s open from 11 AM till 9 PM everyday.

13 | Step back in the past with the Neon Museum

Warsaw has many things, including unique museums. In this neon museum, you’ll get to see over 200 original signs, all having their unique story. It’s a must-visit for any street art lover or a sucker for good photography as it’s the perfect place! All those signs were saved after having their best time during the communist era.

It’s not the biggest museum, but still a fun thing to add to your itinerary. The museum is open every day from 12 PM to 6 PM from Monday to Saturday and from 11 AM to 5 PM on Sunday. It costs 18 PLN for an adult and 15 PLN for children, students, and pensioners.

14 | Tasting at the Vodka Museum

You can’t come to Poland and not try some Polish vodka. And what better way to do this, than by visiting the Polish Vodka Museum. Here, you can learn about the 500-year history of the most famous Polish alcohol, and its evolution and production as well. At the end of the tour, you can compare different flavors of vodkas from rye, wheat, and potatoes under supervision.

The museum visit takes around 80 minutes in total, including the tasting. the cost for an adult is 70 PLN. The museum is open from 12 PM to 8 PM from Tuesday to Sunday and is closed on Monday.

15 | Have a relaxing dinner at CMA by Mateusz Gessler

After all that exploring, it’s time to sit back and enjoy a delicious dinner at CMA by chef Mateusz Gessler, who likes to bring both Polish and French cuisine together. One exceptional thing is that the restaurant is open 24 hours! It’s perfect before or after a party!

Warsaw itinerary: Day 3

16 | Wander around the open air museum Lazienki Royal Gardens

The Łazienki Royal Gardens is a great place to start your last day as it’s a beautiful open-air museum where you can go for long walks amid stunning nature and architecture. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

The park is open from Monday to Sunday from 6 AM to 9 PM with a free entrance (no dogs are allowed). There are a lot of museum buildings you can visit, but you need to buy an entrance ticket and they are available at the cash desks.

17 | Listen to a Chopin concert

In the middle of the Łazienki Royal Gardens is a free Chopin concert that goes every Sunday from May to September. It happens at 12 and 4 PM and it’s the perfect way to sit back and enjoy the sounds of Fryderyk Chopin’s timeless compositions, which are performed by the best pianists from Poland and around the world!

18 | Eat your last Polish meal in the Eatery

It was time to enjoy our last lunch in the middle of the city and it was such a great choice as it was such a delight to eat here. The restaurant had a way to mix traditional Polish cuisines in a modern way. Everything we got on our plate was truly a work of art!

19 | Have a beautiful view at Palace of Culture and Science

As a goodbye, seeing the whole city at the top is a must! And what better way than at the top of the second tallest building in Warsaw and Poland! The building serves various public and cultural institutions such as theatres, cinemas, libraries, and more. The many sculptures surrounding the building represent figures of the fields of culture and science.

It’s also possible to go to the top for a top-notch view around the whole city! This sightseeing terrace offers a view 114 meters high and can be reached after just a 19-second elevator ride. The price for an adult is 25 PLN and is open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM.

Enjoy? Share it with your friends!

Travel blogger

Hello, I’m Ellen and welcome to this blog! I’m in love with exploring the world and hopefully I get to inspire you with these blog posts and pictures to feel the same. You will find detailed itineraries, hidden gems, tips and so much more!

My personal favorites