Warsaw

A UNESCO world heritage site, the Old Town charms with its colourful townhouses and the exceptional atmosphere of its narrow streets. When in the Old Town Market Square, you will meet a mermaid – the official symbol of the city. Don’t forget to see the Barbican, stop by the bell on Kanonia Street, and walk along the old city walls. You should also visit the Royal Castle. Apart from the royal apartments, the old seat of Polish rulers also houses an art collection with paintings by Rembrandt and Bernardo Bellotto, also known as Canaletto.

The vast park surrounding the summer residence of the last Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, is where Varsovians like to go for longer walks. The park is home to a winter garden, an amphitheatre, and even a Chinese garden. The biggest attraction, however, is the park’s permanent residents: the squirrels and peacocks. Another site worth seeing is the classicistic Palace on the Isle with its enchanting interior design and gallery of paintings. The park is famous for its Chopin concerts, which take place from mid-May to the end of September every Sunday at noon and 4:00 p.m. Come lounge on the grass and enjoy the music.

This interactive museum is an exceptional place to gain a deeper understanding of Warsaw’s history. It was founded in commemoration of an event that profoundly changed the city: the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. Listen to the oral accounts given by insurgents, go down into the sewers – similar to the ones that insurgents used to move around the city – and see The City of Ruins, a bird’s-eye view of Warsaw burnt to the ground. Don’t forget to see the murals painted by Polish artists on the Wall of Art. The museum building is interesting in its own right since it was previously an old electric power plant for trams.

The Vistula Boulevards are the ideal place for a stroll or a bicycle trip. The exceptional atmosphere of this site is created by the sail-shaped lamp posts and pergolas that offer shade on sunny days. You can stop to rest on one of the stone sculptures in the form of fish and other water creatures, or climb up to the overlook. The promenade is adapted for the needs of people with disabilities and families with children.

The best-known and tallest building in the city, the Palace of Culture and Science, was a gift from the Soviet people to the Poles. Visible from almost any place in Warsaw, the palace is to Warsaw what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris – the perfect landmark. Take the lift up to the 30th floor to see the city panorama from a height of 114 metres. The palace also houses theatres, a cinema, museums, and trendy bistros, as well as the city’s main tourist information point.

The National Museum houses a wonderful collection of well over 830,000 objects from all epochs – from antiquity to contemporary times. Here you will find works of both Polish and world art, including such gems as Jewess with Oranges by Aleksander Gierymski and the large-format Battle of Grunwald by Jan Matejko. Visit the Gallery of Medieval Art to see the unique artefacts there or visit the biggest collection of Nubian cultural artefacts and art in Europe. Don’t forget to check out the schedule of temporary exhibitions.

Wilanów Palace is a true pearl of Baroque architecture in Warsaw. Learn about King Jan III Sobieski, who successfully fended off the Turks in the battle of Vienna and who lived in Wilanów with his beloved Marysieńka. Take a walk in the park and tour the palace interiors; see the portrait gallery and listen to stories of great romances. The building and the park have both kept their original form, despite the partition, war, and occupation. Wilanów Palace is a must-see when visiting Warsaw. In the wintertime, the venue, illuminated with thousands of lamps, transforms into the Royal Garden of Lights.

The POLIN Museum restores the memory of the rich, thousand-year shared history of two peoples: Poles and Jews. The interactive exposition will take you on an incredible journey across centuries. You’ll have the chance to walk the streets of a pre-war Jewish shtetl and discover how Polish and Jewish cultures have intermingled. The edifice of the museum is itself an architectural attraction and a landmark of modern Warsaw.

The Art Nouveau architecture of this indoor food market dating, back to the beginning of the 20th century, has been restored and the edifice modernised, and it has become one of the most important locations in the city’s culinary and social scene. Hop over for dinner or an exhibition – try out the latest trends in urban cuisine and find out what’s hot in town.

This cult cake is as Warsaw as it gets. Its name comes from the W-Z Drive built right after World War II that runs under the Old Town. The cocoa pastry with layers of milky cream simply melts in your mouth and is an absolute must on the menus of all traditional cafés.

Modern takes on classics of Polish cuisine are served at Stary Dom, a superb restaurant whose primary attraction is the cooking done by skilled chefs right by diners' tables; a performance not to be missed is the making of steak tartare before your very eyes. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and reservations highly recommended.

One of the Polish capital's finest dining establishments happens to specialise in Southeast Asian cuisine. Combining flavour inspiration from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and even Singapore, head chef Marcin Sasin delights with finest dining creations made with first-rate ingredients like wagyu beef and often served to share.

In a beautiful setting of a 20th-century villa is Polska Rozana, an exquisite restaurant serving Polish classics to sounds of live piano music. Abundant fresh flowers in the classic interior forge an irresistible old word appeal. Wednesdays see a delivery of fresh fish, and great set menus are served all days of the week.

This vegan restaurant enjoys a significant (and well-founded) following among non-vegans, for its offerings will no doubt please diners of even the most carnivorous persuasion. It's Israeli cuisine at its best: hummus, falafel, and abundant mezze, all in a low-key, unpretentious environment. Coffee specialities prepared with almond milk.

Warszawa Wschodnia is there regardless of the when appetite strikes: the restaurant operates on a 24/7 basis, serving contemporary Polish cuisine with some French influence day and night without fail. Sit at the bar encircling the kitchen and witness chefs at work, crafting dishes before your very eyes.

This is another genuine Warsaw cake whose origins, however, are a bit more modern. The ingredients include almond pastry, chocolate mousse, cranberry jam, whipped cream, and meringue. The name is derived from King Sigismund III Vasa, a statue of whom is mounted on the column in Castle Square.

The old seat of the central censorship office in the communist era has been turned into an alternative department store. The four floors house fashion and interior design shops as well as a photography gallery and a café.

The characteristic black building of Wolf Bracka houses a luxury department store with shops featuring the best-known global brands, an exclusive restaurant, a wine store and a delicatessen. The place draws on pre-war shopping traditions.

Located in the very heart of the city, this shopping mall is known for its characteristic wavy roof. It is one of the most popular shopping places in the city. When your shopping is done, you can take it easy in the cinema on the top floor.

Arkadia is one of the biggest shopping centre in Poland, visited annually by some 20 million customers. It houses flagship stores featuring Polish and global brands, restaurants and cafés, a cinema and a playroom for children.