After our
trip to Warsaw, we decided to collect the most notable sights of this beautiful
city, so that you won’t miss anything and learn useful information about them.
Read below to
learn about the most important sights of Poland’s capital, based on every major
category:
Sights:
Old Town’s Market
(Stare Miasto)
It’s the most
ancient part of Old Town as well as its center.
The general
idea for a market came in mind in 13th century and continued to be
the heart of the city until 18th century. The city thrived because
of the trade, that used to take place there. Furthermore, the square was a
place for public events, fairs as well as an area for public executions.
Moreover, each
one of its sides is named after a well-known figure of Warsaw. Also, it is
important to mention that houses weren’t enumerated, but each one was known by
the name of the family that lived there and by the distinct architectural
characteristics (such as size, color, decoration, etc.)
In the center
of the square, there is the monument of “Mermaid Warsaw”, the symbol of the
city. It is depicted holding a sword and a shield, ready to fight for her
beloved city. Mermaid Warsaw is located in the center of the square, because
this place is considered as the place of resurrection of Warsaw after the end
of World War II.
Since we
talked about the square, we have to say that we saw a small metal statue of a
basilisk. At first, we thought that it was a dragon decorating a house and we
took photos of it, in order to remember it. Later, we learned that it wasn’t
just an ornament, but it had a story behind. A legend says that there was a
basilisk in the cellar of that building, terrorizing the citizens, until one
brave man killed it.
For your
information, there are several buildings around the square that are turned into
museums. For example, the History Museum and Literature Museum are located
there.
Palace of Culture and Science
(plac Defilad 1)
This building houses theaters, cinemas, museums, pubs and the main tourist information office of Warsaw.
It is the tallest building in Warsaw and one of the tallest ones in Poland. More specifically, it is 237 meters and it is believed that someone can see it from everywhere around the city. It is interesting that the Palace of Culture and Science is built is 1955 by Russian workers, as a gift from Soviet to Polish.
Is it worth entering?
You can go inside the building and walk around the 1st floor and the basement for free.
Also, you can go to the 30th floor, where you can marvel at the view of the city from 114 meters. More specifically, the building isn’t as good on the inside as it is on the outside, but on the contrary, the view it offers is unbelievable. The ticket price only for the view is 20 zloti (approximately 4 euros) and for your information there is a coffee place at the 30th floor, so that you can enjoy a tasty coffee while looking at the wonderful view of Warsaw.
Copernicus Monument
(Śródmieście Północne)
Nicolaus Copernicus was
mathematician and astronomer. He was the one who developed the theory that
Earth rotates around the Sun, on the contrary to what people believed. Even
though he died before his theory was globally accepted, today it is officially
accepted and the only true one.
At his enormous statue,
Copernicus is depicted sitting on a chair while holding a bronze model of the
solar system. There are two signs at the monument, the one is written in Latin
and the other in Polish. The first says “To Nikolaus Copernicus from a grateful
nation” and the other says “To Nikolaus Copernicus from his compatriots”.
It is interesting that
Copernicus, Chopin and also Mari Curie, are, many times, considered of a
different nationality, from the world. That’s why Polish try to set this
misconception right, by building many monuments and museums in the name of
them, in the whole country.
Palaces:
Royal Palace
(plac Zamkowy 4,
00-277 )
The moment you enter Old Town, you will be amazed by the
wonderful Royal Castle of Warsaw. It was the official seat of monarchy. The
original building was built in 1619 and rebuilt in 1984. That being said that a
huge effort was made in order to make it look as close to the original as possible.
Today, it is a historic and national monument and it is listed as a
national museum. Since 1980, along with the Old Town, are considered as
cultural heritage by UNESCO.
The ticket price is 30 zloti (approximately 7 euros) and you’re your
information the entrance is free on Wednesdays.
Is it worth entering?
The truth is that the building is really beautiful on the inside but it
doesn’t look like a castle, because it’s actually a museum. However, it has
many wonderful areas, a lot of paintings and statues, some of them are
authentic and some are replicas. Also, it has many stunning gardens inside.
Unfortunately, even if you book a ticket, you still have to wait in line at
least for an hour. Also, you have to leave all your personal belongings at the
wardrobe. The biggest problem however is that you can’t communicate properly
with the stuff, because the majority doesn’t speak English at all. The only
people that can speak English fluently are the tour guides, who you have to pay
extra for a tour.
Presidential Palace of Warsaw.
It is the
impressive presidential residence of Poland. It was built in 1643, as an
aristocrat mansion, but it gained its present form in 1818.
The
Presidential Palace of Warsaw, is the location, where many significant historic
events took place. These historic events are important not only for Poland but
for the whole world too. More specifically, one of these events was the signing
of the first European Constitution, in 1791.
During World
War II, the Presidential Palace of Warsaw was the operational center for the
Nazi army in Poland. However, it remained intact the whole time.
Also, it is
important to mention that the entrance of the palace is bejeweled by the statue
of Joseph Poniatowski, a significant leading figure of Poland. Originally, this
statue was at Saski Palace (“Saxon Palace”). However, during World War II the
palace was destroyed and the Polish moved the statue in front of the
Presidential Palace, after the war.
Palace-Museum of King Jan III
King Jan III bought the area in 1677 and built this Palace, which was surrounded
by a beautiful garden, a farm and a zoo.
It is important to mention that this Palace was built on purpose outside of
the city of Warsaw. The king wanted to have a place to rest with his family,
but it had to be close to the royal palace, in order for him to command his
country.
Inside the palace, you can marvel at its astonishing architecture, its
luxurious rooms and the royal decoration. Moreover, since 1805, an area in the
palace has turned into an art museum. Also, you can walk around its wonderful
gardens, each one of which has a name based on its type (such as Rose Garden,
Baroque Garden, etc.). Lastly, at the edge of the park and by the river, there
is one beautiful artificial lake, that you can admire and photograph.
Is it worth visiting?
The truth is that this sight is located way far from the center of Warsaw.
However, if you own/rent a car or you have plenty of time, it’s worth entering
and marveling at the wonderful gardens and of course the art museum, which is
the oldest art museum in the whole Poland.
Also, beware that the ticket price is a bit more expensive than other Polish
sights.
Parks:
Lazienki Park
It is the
biggest park in Warsaw. At first, it was built as the royal baths of 17th
century. One century later, the last monarch of Poland placed villas, palaces
and many monuments in the area. Since 1918, the park is opened for the public
and operates all year round. Also, for your information, many artistic
events are often organized by famous Polish artists there.
Inside Lazienki
park, there are a lot of significant buildings and monuments of Warsaw. One of
the most famous is the “Palace on the Isle”, which originally was the royal
bath-house. It is decorated with various statues and murals. Right next to it,
you can find the Classical Amphitheater, which is inspired by Ancient Greek and
Roman architecture.
Another
important sight is Myslewicki Palace, with its characteristic semi-circular
shape. It was initially built as the main residence of the king, but as time
passed by, it became the location where all the discussions of significant
matters took place. Many diplomats, kings and leaders, not only Polish but
foreigners too, have stayed in Palace’s luxurious areas and rooms.
Moreover, in Lazienki
park you will find the Museum of Hunting and Horsemanship. This museum was
built in king’s hunting grounds and inside it there are halls themed after this
topic. More specifically, there is a traditional hunting room, full of trophies
from various animals, an exhibition with forest animals, another one with all
the birds native to Poland and a room with trophies of exotic animals from the
five continents. It is indeed sad knowing that all those animals were killed
just to decorate a wall.
Last but not
least, in the Lazienki park, there is a plethora of unbelievable gardens, that
will captivate you. In detail, the gardens that are located there, are the
following: Royal Garden, Romantic Garden, Modern Garden and Chinese Garden. It
is interesting that the park has rich wildlife, since it is the home for many
animal species, such as peacocks, squirrels, mole-rats, hedgehogs, foxes, etc.
For your
information, Belwederski Palace is right next to Lazienki Park. It is called
Belvedere (from the Italian word for “beautiful sight”), since it offers a
magnificent view of the park. Unfortunately, the entrance is forbidden for the
public, because Belwederski Palace is the royal guesthouse for foreign leaders,
who visit Warsaw.
Saxon Park
(Marszałkowska, 00-102)
It’s the
oldest public park of Warsaw. It is a
baroque park, inspired by the park of Versailles. The central route leads straight to the palace,
exactly as French palaces are. In 19th century, the aesthetic was
changed, in order to look like the English one.
Inside the
Saxon Park, you can see a sundial, crafted in 1863 and the Tomb of Unknown
Soldier, which is located at the remnants of the Palace. Moreover, an imperial
style fountain sits on one of the Park’s corners, built in 1855.
It’s a sight
you can’t miss, especially when the flowers bloom. We can’t
forget to mention that 70 statues were crafted and placed inside the garden,
but unfortunately only 20 remain, crafted by unknown sculptors of Warsaw.
Multimedia Fountain Park
(Skwer 1
Dywizji Pancernej WP, 00-221)
Near the Old
Town of Warsaw, you can marvel at the most extravagant fountain of Europe. On
summer nights, you can enjoy the water jets dancing, with the company of lights
and lasers, at the sound of music. Furthermore, someone can learn the whole
history and the various legends of Warsaw, through an animated story, displayed
on a mist, using a special kind of projector.
Be advised
that this event takes place during summer months and more specifically from May
to September. In Winter, you will be able to see only the dancing lights, not
the water jets.
Museums:
Warsaw Uprising Museum
(Grzybowska 79, 00-844)
This museum is dedicated to the uprising of 1944 from German occupation,
the post-war era and the communist regime that followed after.
The idea of creating a museum like that came in mind after the end of
communist regime, in 1983, but it opened in 2004 on the 60th
anniversary of the uprising.
Inside Warsaw Uprising Museum’s halls, you will marvel at a plethora of
exhibits, war artifacts, photographs, films and testimonial recordings. In
2006, the museum expanded with a new collection about Allied airdrops. It is
important to mention that there is a replica of a whole airplane inside this
exhibition. A big part of this exhibition is dedicated to the Germans and their
allies. It shows their actions in Warsaw, as they are documented in official
texts or private notes.
Moreover, it is interesting that the museum is structured in a way that
the visitor views the exhibition items in chronological order. More
specifically, the first items you see are from the era before the uprising and
as you walk along the corridors, you end up viewing exhibits from persecution
of insurgents from Warsaw.
Last but not least, remember that the tower of the museum (observation
tower) is an attraction worth visiting, since it offers a panoramic view of
Liberty Park as well as the city of Warsaw.
Fryderyk Chopin Museum
(Pałac Gnińskich, 00-368, Okólnik 1)
Chopin was one of the most famous composers and pianists of 19th
century. One of his most notable work and a well-known song is
“Fantaisie-Impromptu”. There is no way you haven’t heard it.
The museum was established in 1954, but the building that houses it
(Ostrogski Palace) was built in 17th century. It’s one of the most
beautiful museums, especially for those who love music.
Inside, you will be able to see manuscripts, personal notes,
photographs, letters and statues of Chopin himself. Oftentimes, various
concerts take place inside the halls of the museum.
The Ostrogski Palace is also used as the headquarters for Fryderyk
Chopin’s Society, which was created in 1934 by politicians, musicians and
authors, who wanted to gather everything related to Chopin.
It is a museum you should visit, since it is considered one of the most
interactive of its kind and it uses modern audio-visual technology in every
corner.
National Museum of Warsaw
(Aleje
Jerozolimskie 3, Warsaw, Poland)
It’s the biggest museum of Warsaw and one of the biggest ones in Poland.
Established in 1862, it has one of the greatest collections of Nubian Christian
art.
Apart from that, it has a rich collection of ancient Greek, Roman and
Egyptian art, approximately 11,000 pieces. Furthermore, there are many Polish
paintings from the 16th century until now, a collection of paintings
from other countries (Italian, French, German, Russian, Danish), one gallery of
Applied Arts, a section about Oriental Art and the biggest collection of
Chinese Art in Poland. Also, for your information National museum houses the
Numismatic museum.
Copernicus Science Center
(Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 20, 00-390)
At the bank of Vistula river, there
is the Copernicus Science Center. It is the biggest science center of Poland
and one of the most developed in Europe.
It is an interesting and interactive
museum, since visitors can make various experiments and discover science’s laws
on their own, in a practical and creative way.
Moreover, this museum consists of
planetarium, chemistry lab, biology lab, robotic workshop and physics lab.
Also, it is important to mention that Copernicus Science Center organizes every
year the “Science Fair”, the biggest scientific open-air event in Europe.
A few more…
Of course, those aren’t the only
museums in Warsaw. If you want to visit more museums, we must include the
following: Museum of Polish Jews History, Museum of Polish Army
(with exhibits from 10th century, airplanes and tanks), Vodka
Museum (where you learn the history of vodka and you can also have a taste)
and
Museum of Modern Art (with over
200 works of various artists).
We hope that we helped you and that
you also took a ride with us in this amazing city!
Keep traveling!😉
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