Travel Diary - Warsaw

How to get the most of the city that rose once again.

It might sound a bit old style but I just can’t resist the charm of old towns; don’t take me wrong I love steel framed skyscrapers and shiny architecture but there’s something about pedestrian alleys and stone paving that make me feel like a kid. The amount of history that those walls have seen and suffered, the decorated wooden ceiling and hanging chandeliers that you glimpse from the street, and local old men shouting something incomprehensible to each other while entering the butchery or the most outdated greengrocer just make my heart paw.

Warsaw’s Old Town is much more than this.

After the Second World War all is left of the “old town” is the name; completely obliterated by the Germans during the conflict, Warsaw has been meticulously rebuilt in the following years according to its original characteristics, well deserving its spot along UNESCO’s heritage sites since 1980.

Warsaw is proud of the struggles it has fought and its powerful sense of nation emerges behind every corner.

Getting lost around the colourful buildings and city walls, exploring the red-brick Castle overlooking the river and trying typical polish food around Nowy Świat are only few of the things one can do here.

Parks and Museums

Warsaw is home of some terrific spaces of lush greenery and, as you might imagine, their charming atmosphere becomes almost magical when covered in snow by the winter season.

Plan to spend some time exploring Łazienki Park and its magnificent Palace on the Water; not far is the beautiful Belweder Palace, designed in Baroque style during the 17th century and previously the presidential home, this place is no doubt one of the city’s most romantic spot to admire the park in all its beauty.

If you want to feel like princess Sissi for a day make sure you also visit Wilanow Palace, a beautiful Baroque royal residence dating back to XVIIth century.

Few steps away from the old town starts the unmissable Saxon Garden (Saski Park), originally designed in the typical “Versailles style” this picturesque spot is the oldest park in the city and one of the first publicly accessible parks in the world. In the east part of the park you’ll notice the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, erected after WWI as a symbol of bravery and heroism and located under the arcade of Saxon Palace, of which now the only remnant is the triple arch of the Tomb.

Whether you are looking for art or you just need to warm up after all this walking, Zacheta’s National Gallery of Art is just few meters away; the gallery has an interesting collection of XXth and XXIst century pieces as well as temporary exhibition and occasional events so it’s best to check out their website when visiting.

When walking around the city center it’s hard not to notice the majestic Palace of Culture and Science, originally commissioned by Stalin as “gift from the Soviet people” the 230 meters high tower rapidly became an icon of Warsaw and offers tourist the chance to enjoy the most breathtaking view of the city from its 30th floor terrace.

My favourite museum in town is surely the Polin; opened in 2014 this fascinating post-modern building designed by Finnish studio Lahdelma & Mahlamäki is home to a narrative exhibition which presents a 1000- year history of Polish Jews.