Warsaw Travel Day

On the morning of our travel day home, I (Rob) made an early start to go for a final walk around the local neighbourhood. Starting at Krasiński Garden the first stop was at the small lake where a statue of fishermen sits in the centre as numerous waterbirds paddled around it.

Next was Monument Battles of Monte Cassino with fresh wreaths resting against the monument. 

Just outside the park lies Warsaw Ghetto Wall memorial and around the base are inscribed iron plates marking the position of the ghetto wall.

The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews was next, sadly this was closed but the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes lies outside and is a very striking monument. 

I then decided to head to the banks of the river Vistula, the streets were very quite at this time of the morning,  no people, no parked cars just the sound of the wind rustling the leaves.

The bank of the river was just as quiet , just a few bird feeding at the water's edge and the distant traffic crossing the bridges in the distance.

My final stop was Field Cathedral of the Polish Army with its large  imposing doors and memorials to battles past.

There was so much more to see in this city, but that's for another time, we have both been impressed with Warsaw,  a capital city that is a credit to the country.

Warsaw Last full day

On our last full day in Warsaw, we woke to overcast skies and a few spots of drizzle. The weather wasn't quite as inviting as the previous days, but we still had plenty of energy left for a little more exploring.

Our first stop was the University Library Garden, which looked like somewhere we would really enjoy. Unfortunately, it turned out to be something of a disappointment. The signage for visitors was poor, and there didn't appear to be any staff around to ask for directions.

After a bit of searching, we eventually found the entrance and made our way up some rather steep steps to the rooftop garden. Sadly, once we got there, we weren't particularly impressed. We weren't alone in our opinion either, as we got chatting to some other visitors who felt much the same way.

Still, not every attraction can be a winner!

After our usual coffee and cake break, we continued on to the Copernicus Science Centre. This was much more to our liking, with numerous interactive exhibits and activities to explore. We spent a good amount of time wandering around, trying out the various displays and generally having fun with the hands-on exhibits.

It was a great way to spend a few hours, particularly with the rather dull weather outside.

In the evening we stayed local, around Dluga street, we had a excellent evening meal at a local Polish restaurant. We then took a short, pleasant stroll around the local area passing the Polish supreme court building, New Town Market and St Jack's Priory. 

Exploring Warsaw Day 2 part 2

After a quick siesta back at the apartment, we decided to head out again and make our way down towards the river.

Our first stop was the Multimedia Fountain Park, where a series of fountains appeared to dance in harmony, creating an impressive display of water and movement. It was a lovely spot to wander around and enjoy the atmosphere.

We continued on walking stopping to admire the sculptures and artwork that seems to be everywhere in this city.

From there, we continued on to the Royal Castle Gardens. The beautifully maintained lawns and gardens provided a wonderful setting overlooking the Vistula River. The gardens themselves were an impressive sight, and with so few visitors around, it felt almost as though we had the place to ourselves, which made the experience even more special.

We then made our way back into Warsaw’s Old Town, taking our time to simply enjoy the sights and sounds around us. One of the things we particularly enjoyed was admiring the architecture of the historic buildings. 

Knowing that so much of Warsaw was destroyed during the Second World War makes the quality of the restoration even more remarkable. The city has done a wonderful job of bringing its historic centre back to life.

As the day drew to a close, we finished off with an Asian meal at NEM Asian Fusion Restaurant. The food was delicious, and the helpful and friendly staff made it a great way to end another enjoyable day exploring Warsaw.

Make the evening feel more personal

Exploring Warsaw Day 2 Part 1

On yet another lovely day, we set off on foot to explore a little more of Warsaw. Our first stop was the beautiful Saxon Gardens, a peaceful green space in the heart of the city, with its well-manicured lawns, neatly trimmed shrubs and small lakes.

At the far end of the gardens stands the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of Warsaw’s most important memorials. The tomb is guarded by an eternal flame and is the scene of a regular changing of the guard ceremony.

We arrived just in time to watch the ceremony, and the soldiers looked extremely smart in their uniforms and were clearly very well drilled. There was also a motorcycle club visiting the memorial at the same time, which added an unexpected and rather interesting sight to the occasion.

Afterwards, we stopped for a well-earned coffee before continuing our walk towards the Palace of Culture and Science.

We headed inside and took the elevator all the way up to the 30th floor, where we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views across Warsaw and the surrounding countryside. From this height, you really get a sense of just how large and impressive the city is, with its mixture of historic buildings, modern skyscrapers and huge areas of green space.

The train from Kraków to Warsaw

On another lovely summer morning, we made our way to Kraków’s main railway station to catch the Pendolino express train to Warsaw. We decided to treat ourselves and had booked first-class seats for the journey.

The two-and-a-half-hour trip was extremely comfortable, with plenty of room to relax as we travelled through some beautiful Polish countryside. We were also treated to some very nice complimentary snacks and drinks served directly at our seats — a rather pleasant way to travel!

We arrived in Warsaw in the afternoon and, as we stepped out of the station, one of the first things to catch our attention was the enormous Palace of Culture and Science. This striking landmark, built during the Stalinist era as a “gift” to the city, dominates the Warsaw skyline and stands right in the heart of the capital.

From the station, we jumped into a taxi and made our way to our lovely apartment, which overlooks the peaceful Krasiński Garden. After unpacking, we decided to stretch our legs with a short stroll through the gardens.

Our first stop was Tablica upamiętniająca, a striking memorial commemorating the Polish fighters who took part in the Warsaw Uprising during World War II. It was a poignant reminder of the city's turbulent past and the enormous sacrifices made during the war.

From there, we continued towards Warsaw’s beautiful Old Town, eventually arriving at Rynek Starego Miasta, the Old Town Market Square. The square is surrounded by colourful historic buildings and is home to several interesting statues, including the famous Warsaw Mermaid, as well as some of the old-fashioned water pumps dotted around the area.

We continued our walk through the old streets, passing the impressive Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, with its striking façade, before arriving at Sigismund’s Column, one of Warsaw’s best-known landmarks.

By now, we were ready for something to eat, so we stopped at the Polish restaurant Zapiecek for some drinks and dinner. We enjoyed a selection of traditional Polish dumplings, along with a hearty plate of goulash — the perfect way to round off our first afternoon and evening exploring Warsaw.