Warsaw in 5 days

Poland's phoenix capital: a rebuilt old town, sobering history, green riverbanks and a buzzing, affordable scene. Best time to visit: May-September. Average daily budget: $60 to $110 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Stare Miasto (Old Town), The meticulously rebuilt UNESCO old town with the Royal Castle, market square and city walls.

Morning: Old Town & Royal Castle. Wander the rebuilt market square and tour the reconstructed Royal Castle and cathedral.

Afternoon: Explore Stare Miasto (Old Town), The meticulously rebuilt UNESCO old town with the Royal Castle, market square and city walls.

Evening: Warsaw Uprising Museum. A powerful, immersive museum telling the story of the 1944 uprising against Nazi occupation.

Eat: Pierogi, Polish dumplings with sweet or savoury fillings

Day 2, Iconic sights

Base: Śródmieście, The central business district around the Palace of Culture, with shops, museums and skyscrapers.

Morning: POLIN Museum. The acclaimed Museum of the History of Polish Jews, on the site of the former ghetto.

Afternoon: Explore Śródmieście, The central business district around the Palace of Culture, with shops, museums and skyscrapers.

Evening: Łazienki Park. Stroll the city's elegant royal park with its palace-on-the-water and free summer Chopin concerts.

Eat: Żurek, sour rye soup served in a bread bowl

Day 3, Local neighbourhoods

Base: Praga, The gritty, artsy east bank that survived the war, now full of galleries, bars and street art.

Morning: Sunset over the Vistula from the wild, sandy east-bank river beaches.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Praga, The gritty, artsy east bank that survived the war, now full of galleries, bars and street art.

Evening: Neon and craft beer in the artsy, pre-war streets of Praga district.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Bigos, the hearty hunter's stew of cabbage and meat

Day 4, Day trip or nature

Base: Powiśle & the riverbank, The trendy, green river district with beaches, bars and the Copernicus Science Centre.

Morning: The panoramic 30th-floor terrace of the Palace of Culture and Science.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Powiśle & the riverbank, The trendy, green river district with beaches, bars and the Copernicus Science Centre.

Evening: Milk bars (bar mleczny), cheap canteens serving classic Polish comfort food.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Pączki, jam-filled Polish doughnuts

Day 5, Slow finish

Base: Stare Miasto (Old Town), The meticulously rebuilt UNESCO old town with the Royal Castle, market square and city walls.

Morning: Slow start: coffee in Stare Miasto (Old Town), then an unhurried walk before the heat or the crowds.

Afternoon: Explore Stare Miasto (Old Town), The meticulously rebuilt UNESCO old town with the Royal Castle, market square and city walls.

Evening: Dinner at Pierogi, Polish dumplings with sweet or savoury fillings, then a quiet drink wherever the locals are in Stare Miasto (Old Town).

Eat: Pierogi, Polish dumplings with sweet or savoury fillings

Hidden gems

Sunset over the Vistula from the wild, sandy east-bank river beaches.
Neon and craft beer in the artsy, pre-war streets of Praga district.
The panoramic 30th-floor terrace of the Palace of Culture and Science.
Milk bars (bar mleczny), cheap canteens serving classic Polish comfort food.

Getting around

Warsaw has a clean, cheap and efficient network of metro, trams and buses on one ZTM ticket, plus suburban trains. The centre and old town are walkable, and the airport links to the centre by train or bus in about 20 to 25 minutes. Tickets are inexpensive, and a 24-hour pass is excellent value for a day of sightseeing.

Safety

Warsaw is a safe, welcoming city and very comfortable for solo travellers including women, day and night. Crime against tourists is low; the main caution is occasional pickpocketing on busy trams and around the central station, plus typical care after a night out. Public transport is safe and reliable even late in the evening.

Warsaw in 3 days | Warsaw in 7 days | Full Warsaw guide