Flight and hotel Warsaw
Warsaw whereabouts: city breaks
With one of the most intriguing histories among European capitals and a panoply of different architectural styles, Warsaw is well worth exploring. Be prepared for a skyline as full of Gothic architecture as it is communist concrete. Chopin's music rings in the streets and the tragic tale of the Jewish ghetto is still a palpable wound.
Counteract that sombre history at some of the city's rowdy bars and clubs, and an inexpensive yet impressive culinary scene completes the picture of this perfect European city break destination.
When is best for city breaks in Warsaw?
The weather in Warsaw is most hospitable between June and August, although these months are also peak season in the city. Rooms drop in price between December and February, and the periods from March to May and September to November balance middling temperatures with lower footfall.
What is there to do on city breaks in Warsaw?
Discover the majesty of the Royal Castle, a vast brick pile that was destroyed by the Germans in World War II and then rebuilt. It was a stronghold for Mazovian dukes back in the 14th century before housing royalty in the 17th. Take a tour to see fantastic artworks, including a ceiling fresco by Marcello Bacciarelli.
Retrace the city's uprising against its German occupation in 1944 at the Warsaw Uprising Museum. Interactive displays and film archives bring this fascinating period back to life. A huge volume of original material makes the museum easily one of the city's best.
Relax after all your exploration at ?azienki Park. This leafy hideaway is inhabited by picnicking families and peacocks. On Sunday afternoons between mid-May and September, the park becomes a venue for performances of Chopin.
What is there to see on weekends in Warsaw?
Weekends in Warsaw proffer a rich array of fascinating heritage and contemporary culture that will keep you busy. Here are some of the sights you can spy:
- Warsaw's palaces are numerous and impressive. Wilanów is one of the most fantastic. The summer home of King Jan III Sobieski, this Italian Baroque mansion survived the war without damage. It houses an impressive collection of paintings dating from the 16th century onward, plus a 17th-century sundial sculpture of Chronos, the god of time.
- Marvel at the iconic Palace of Culture and Science, a 'gift of friendship' from the Soviet Union. At 231 metres, this vaunting edifice is Poland's tallest. Inside, a cinema, theatre and museums are topped by an observation terrace from where you can see the rest of the city.
- Be turned on by the Neon Museum, which is housed in an edgy Soho Factory assemblage of industrial buildings. Communist-era neon signage is preserved in this quirky complex, which is all the more impressive after dark.
Eating in Warsaw
Gastronomes will already be well aware of Warsaw's Restaurant Week, in which sixty restaurants take part. Enjoy a low-priced three-course meal during this wondrous Warsaw week. Lukullus Bakery, whose owners trained at Paris's Cordon Bleu and Ferrandi academies, serves up scrumptious rosewater jam doughnuts. A shining Michelin star hovers over Senses, where Poland's classic cuisine receives subtle and innovative treatment. Their pierogi are out of this world.
Though the jellied trotters at Ró?ana restaurant may be out of your price range, everyone can agree that the city's government-subsidised milk bars are a miracle. Prasowy Milk Bar serves two-course meals for next to nothing, and comfort food abounds, with pierogi leniwe ('lazy dumplings') serving as a prime Polish hangover cure. Vodka is available everywhere, but for top-of-the-range cocktails, install yourself at Solec 44, where the food is just as pleasing.
Mementoes of Warsaw
From amber jewellery to folk sculpture, Warsaw is an excellent place for souvenirs. Amber abounds here, and the best of the honey-coloured gems are found on Piwna, ?wi?toja?ska and W?ski Dunaj streets in the Old Town. Guardian angel statues are found throughout the Old Town, especially at ArtisGaleria and Anio?owo. You'll also find dolls clad in traditional costume and some of the world's best linen products in the city's shops.