People romanticize Kraków and rave about Prague, but Warsaw often gets overlooked, which made me like it more.
It’s gritty and elegant at the same time: pastel Old Town facades, heavy history balanced with leafy parks and modern wine bars. The city is rebuilt, and the energy feels resilient.
I went on a solo trip from London → Warsaw → Budapest with a day trip in Bratislava. Here’s everything I did and what I think is actually worth your time. (You can also check out my separate blog dedicated to a Warsaw photo gallery.)
All I did for 3 days was walk around, visit museums, and try as much Polish food as I could. It was a great taste of the city — and next time I’m in Central Europe, I’ll be heading to the famed Kraków.
📌 Jump to…
- Where I Stayed
- A Quick History of Warsaw
- Free Museum Days in Warsaw
- The Best View in Warsaw
- Art, Shops & Parks
- Where to Eat in Warsaw
- Is Warsaw Worth Visiting?
Where I Stayed: Oki Doki Hostel
I stayed at Oki Doki Hostel — great location, right across the way from Warsaw Barbican. Social without being chaotic, and a solid base for walking around. Good for solo travelers.
A Quick History of Warsaw
You shouldn’t visit Warsaw without first knowing about its past. Here’s a summary:
Before 1939 – A Thriving Capital
Warsaw was a political center since the late 16th century and was home to a large Jewish community (nearly 30% of population).
1939–1943 – German Invasion & The Warsaw Ghetto
On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded and bombed Poland. In 1940, the Nazis created the Warsaw Ghetto – the largest in occupied Europe, holding over 400K Jews.
1944 – Warsaw Uprising
On August 1, 1944, there was an uprising. Regular Polish people, kids included fought back – for 63 days they fought against the German occupation; the uprising failed. Nazi forces destroyed the city. Roughly 85% of Warsaw was in ruins.
1945–1989 – Soviet Control & the Eastern Bloc
After WWII, Poland became a Soviet-aligned communist state. The Baltic states (like Estonia, and Latvia) were fully absorbed into the USSR. Yugoslavia (including present-day Slovenia and Croatia) was communist but more independent from Moscow.
1989 – The Fall of Communism
In 1989, after decades of resistance, communist rule ended. Poland transitioned into a democratic republic.
Free Museum Days in Warsaw
Warsaw is surprisingly easy to explore on a budget — many of the city’s best museums are free on certain days:
- Monday
- Warsaw Uprising Museum (9:00–18:00)
- Stacja Muzeum (10:00–18:00)
- Tuesday
- National Museum (10:00–18:00)
- Museum of Caricature (10:00–18:00)
- Wednesday
- Royal Castle (10:00–18:00)
- Fryderyk Chopin Museum (11:00–19:00)
- Thursday (Power Day!)
- Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów (10:00–16:00)
- POLIN Museum (10:00–18:00)
- Museum of Warsaw (11:00–20:00)
- Zachęta National Gallery of Art (12:00–20:00)
- Polish Army Museum (10:00–16:00)
- Heritage Interpretation Centre (11:00–20:00)
- Museum of 10th Pavilion of Warsaw Citadel (10:00–17:00)
- Ujazdowski Castle Centre of Contemporary Art (12:00–20:00)
- Praga Museum of Warsaw (11:00–20:00)
- State Ethnographic Museum (11:00–17:00)
- Friday
- Royal Łazienki Museum (10:00–17:00)
- Saturday
- Museum of Sport and Tourism (10:00–17:00)
My favorite Museums:
- Warsaw Uprising Museum – Immersive, with reconstructed streets, personal artifacts, and historical recordings.
- POLIN Museum – Tells 1,000 years of Jewish history in Poland, not just the Holocaust.
- Royal Castle – See what Warsaw looked like before destruction.
Best Views in Warsaw
Varso Tower is the tallest building in the European Union! The public observation deck only opened on September 9, 2025, which is 230 meters above the city.
The Palace of Culture and Science observation deck has 360° view: modern glass towers, Old Town symmetry, and the Vistula River cutting through the city. Go near sunset if you can.
The massive Stalinist tower.
Art, Shops & Parks
Ogród Krasińskich – Tree-lined paths, locals reading, people walking dogs. Perfect mid-day reset between museums.
Syrenich Śpiewów – A small pottery studio where I bought a meaningful necklace. Independent studios like this are Warsaw’s creative heartbeat.
Warsaw Photo Gallery
Check my separate photo blog for more!
The large red-brick castle at the entrance to Old Town. Rebuilt after WWII. Very iconic.
Where to Eat in Warsaw
Warsaw has a surprisingly strong food scene — from elegant modern Polish tasting menus to casual breakfast spots. Polish food is generally hearty, but when done well, it’s seasonal, ingredient-forward, and beautifully executed.
Here’s everywhere I ate:
- Przegryz Bistro – Golden beets + asparagus with hollandaise. Simple. Fresh. Perfectly done.
- Kieliszki na Próżnej – Sea trout in buttermilk. Elevated but not pretentious.
- Alewino – Chocolate fondant with ice cream & caramel miso sauce. I would go back for this dessert alone.
- Cofix Polska – Tuna omelette with pickle. Casual breakfast. Affordable.
- Zapiecek Polskie Pierogarnie – Traditional pan-fried pierogis. You can’t come to Poland and not eat pierogi.
- Vincent Boulangerie Patisserie – Rose pistachio pączki (Polish filled donut).
- Restauracja Warszawska (inside Hotel Warszawa) – Modern Polish cuisine in an elegant, historic setting.
- Szóstka (Hotel Warszawa rooftop) – Contemporary dishes with city views.
Is Warsaw Worth Visiting?
Yes — especially if you like cities with substance.
Warsaw isn’t “storybook Europe.” It’s a city destroyed and rebuilt. It forces you to learn something. Plan around free museum days, walk between neighborhoods, eat well, and take time to understand its history — and Warsaw absolutely delivers.
Warsaw feels different because it is different. Not preserved. Rebuilt. Reclaimed. Reinvented.
And when you walk through it knowing that, it feels good.