Why this creative capital should be your next European city break

Warsaw is a resilient city. The Polish capital — straddling the banks of the Vistula River, which flows to the Baltic sea in the north of the country — has an extensive history which dates back to its earliest Middle Ages settlement around 800 years ago. While these intervening centuries haven’t always been kind, the city has rebuilt and reimagined itself countless times, emerging as a modern metropolis where cobbled streets meet contemporary skyscrapers and the staunchly creative spirit can be felt everywhere, from artisan boutiques to its imaginative dining scene.

Warsaw is also an extremely green capital, where manicured parks, wild woodlands and rooftop gardens are never more than a short walk or bike ride away. It’s easy to get around by public transport, too, with a comprehensive network of buses, trams and metro lines that stretch into the city’s furthest corners. Here’s what visitors shouldn’t miss.

Take in storied architecture

Warsaw’s skyline offers a window onto the city’s past, present and future. The best place to begin is the UNESCO-listed Old Town. While its origins are rooted in the 13^th century, the neighbourhood was meticulously reconstructed following the city’s near-total destruction in the Second World War. Its cobbled streets, colourful squares and landmarks, such as St Anne’s Church and the Royal Castle — which reopened to the public in 1984 after it was destroyed during the war — offer an insight into the area’s past. Then, it’s a 25-minute walk through Saxon Garden to Śródmieście Północne (Northern Downtown), where high-rise Warsaw emerges. While the Palace of Culture and Science has dominated the skyline since it was completed in 1955, it’s now joined by modern skyscrapers, including the 1,017ft Varso Tower — the tallest building in Poland and the EU. Head to its 53rd-floor observation deck, opened in 2025, for 360-degree city views that appear endless.

Across the city, former factories and power plants have been given a new lease of life, reborn as hip multipurpose complexes containing restaurants, boutiques, hotels and cultural venues. Over the past 15 years, Browary Warszawskie (Warsaw Breweries), Koneser, Elektrownia Powiśle and Norblin Factory have all gone from dereliction to destination.

Soak up the city’s culture

Whether you’re looking for cutting-edge art installations, deep historical context or classical heritage, Warsaw delivers it in abundance. On Marszałkowska, the Museum of Modern Art shows rotating exhibitions showcasing paintings, sculpture, film and multimedia by both native and international artists. Over on Aleje Jerozolimskie, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, the National Museum brings together an extensive collection of medieval religious art, modern Polish design and sculptures spanning the ages.

Meanwhile, history lovers can step into the world of one of Warsaw's most revered women at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum. Through photos, family documents and notebooks, the biographical exhibition charts the life and work of the Nobel Prize-winning scientist, who was born in Warsaw in 1867. To better understand both the city and country’s history, the Polin museum offers a powerful exploration of the 1,000-year history of Polish Jews through interactive storytelling and award-winning design. And at the Warsaw Uprising Museum — located 20 minutes away from the Polin Museum via the Ratusz-Arsenał Metro station — photos, film and personal testimonies chart the 1944 rebellion that helped define the modern city.

Get a flavour of the culinary scene

Food is at the heart of Polish culture and the capital’s dining scene encompasses everything from traditional cooking to chefs quietly redefining the country's cuisine using the best local ingredients. A total of 23 restaurants are recommended by the Michelin Guide, including Rozbrat 20 — where Bartosz Szymczak delivers his modern interpretations of Polish flavours — Hub.praga, where Witek Iwański combines refinement with seasonality and Nuta, helmed by Italian chef Andrea Camastra. All three have earnt themselves a star. Warsaw is also home to six Bib Gourmand recognised establishments, making it the most celebrated city in Poland when it comes to food.

Thanks to innovative plant-based spots such as Vege Miasto, the oldest vegan restaurant in Warsaw, and Lokal Vegan Bistro, the city has garnered a reputation as a global vegan hotspot. But for a taste of something more traditional, long-standing milk bars — cafeterias often serving dairy-based produce — and family-run restaurants still dish up classics including pierogi (dumplings) and bigos (hunter’s stew) often made with sauerkraut, prunes and a mixture of tender meats. For a sweet treat, travellers can pop into the city’s artisanal bakeries and patisseries, including local favourite Baken or the nation's largest chocolateir, Wedel, founded in the capital. While innovative cocktails can be found in El Koktel, a decadent basement bar with a rotating roster of mixologists.

Get immersed in Warsaw’s green spaces

More than 40% of Warsaw is given over to parks, gardens and other green spaces, so it’s easy to explore on foot or by bike. Łazienki Królewskie is the capital’s best-known royal estate, and for good reason. Just south of the city centre, spread around the waterside Palace on the Isle — which was the summer residence of Stanisław August, Poland's final King before its monarchy was abolished in 1795 — it blends well-kept lawns with classical sculptures, a botanical garden and the occasional wandering peacock. In the summertime, travellers can expect to hear the melodies of Chopin as they tour the grounds, with weekly open-air concerts held by the monument of the composer.

Decades of regeneration have turned once-neglected and inaccessible stretches of the Vistula’s west bank into a thriving pedestrian-friendly promenade. Now, the riverside is lined with trendy cafes, scenic viewpoints and cycle routes dotted along its 6.2 miles. The east side of the promenade is distinctly wilder, with sandy beaches and pockets of woodland that feel a world away from the buzzing metropolis. North of the city lies Kampinos National Park, offering quiet trails amid forests, dunes, meadows and wetlands across its 149sq miles. The park is also home to thousands of animal species, including elks, beavers, red squirrels and the elusive lynx.

Browse design stores and lively markets

Warsaw’s creative spirit shines in its independent boutiques and buzzing markets, where you’ll find handmade jewellery, ceramics and locally designed fashion and homewares. Don't miss a visit to the Śródmieście Północne neighbourhood, where Porcelanowa stocks limited-edition pieces by contemporary Polish ceramicists. Nearby, Matylda Zielińska’s workshop-boutique sells minimalist, handmade jewellery and Fenek Studio creates characterful, mostly monochrome homeware. Meanwhile, TFH Concept Store carries fashion, homewares and fragrances from Central and Eastern Europe (Polish brands include Nuta Fragrances and clothing label OHVERY by Ewa Kamionowska).

Some of the city’s best shopping can be found just south of downtown, in hip Śródmieście Południowe. It’s home to Pan Tu Nie Stał, stocking Polish-designed clothes and accessories, plus the charming bookstore Jak Wam Się Podoba and several vintage clothing stores. In Wola, Bazar na Kole flea market is the place for retro treasures including furniture and vinyl. Across the river in Praga, Koneser centre hosts handmade Polish cosmetics store Mydlarnia Cztery Szpaki. There's also the nomadic Targowisko Sztuki, an art market that travels across the country for emerging makers to sell paintings, sculpture, photography and prints. Last year’s fair took place in mid-April, with dates for 2026 to be announced.