Dzień dobry! Welcome to Warsaw, Poland’s capital city, which is a perfect destination even for one day! In just a few hours you’ll be able to explore all the nooks and crooks of the beautiful old town, admire the bizarre architectural mix, learn a thing or two about the city’s grim history, and of course taste delicious local cuisine! As Poles, we’ve visited Warsaw a couple of times and today we want to show you the most important attractions you can’t miss during your one day in Warsaw. Let’s go!
Interesting fact. Warsaw’s name in Polish is Warszawa. Among Poles, it’s often called Wawa (say it like ‘Vava’).
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Warsaw, Poland FAQ
Warsaw is located in east-central Poland on the River Vistula. It’s the capital and largest city of the country and the capital of the Masovian Voivodeship, one out of 16 Polish administrative divisions.
Warsaw is best known for being the capital city of Poland. It’s a town with a brutal history and a lot of spilled blood. Warsaw endured the horrors of World War II and was almost completely wiped out. But over the last century, it rose from the ashes like a phoenix making it a modern and vibrant city full of life.
Of course! Warsaw is an interesting place where you’ll immerse in history and see how old is intertwined with new. There you’ll find a bizarre mix of modern glass skyscrapers, concrete giants, and nice medieval-style squares.
One day in Warsaw is enough to see most of the main landmarks and get a good feel of what this city is all about. But it’s definitely not enough to see all that Warsaw offers. So if you want to experience it more, we recommend staying 3 or 4 days.
In our opinion, the best time to visit Warsaw is late spring or early autumn – the weather is warm and sunny, there are fewer crowds, and the prices are a bit lower. Summer months will be ok too, if you have nothing against bigger crowds. We advise against visiting during the winter months as the quality of air is just terrible and you’ll be lucky to see a ray of sun.
Warsaw is a walkable city and most of the main attractions aren’t located too far from each other but to get to some places you’ll need to use public transport (bus/metro/tram). To quickly find connections you might need, use jakdojade.pl website/app.
What to see during one day in Warsaw?
Warsaw Old Town
Warsaw Old Town is one of the prettiest areas of the city and home to many important landmarks. Here you can admire beautiful townhouses, take a photo with the famous Mermaid, explore the former residence of the Polish monarchs, and taste local cuisine in one of the restaurants or cafes. Exploring the old town is one of the most important things to do during one day in Warsaw.
But Warsaw Old Town wasn’t always like this… It was destroyed during World War II almost completely, during the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944. Then over the next few years, it was meticulously reconstructed, making it finally a beautiful place full of life. In 1980, Warsaw Old Town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Warsaw Old Town you’ll find points of interest like Castle Square, Royal Castle, St. Anne’s Church with observation deck, Warsaw Market Square with Mermaid sculpture, Barbican, or Royal Route. The area is best explored on foot.
Warsaw Tourist Office is located in Plac Zamkowy square just a few steps from Royal Castle.
If you want to learn even more about city history, you can also do it with a guided tour, like this popular and well-rated Warsaw Old Town Highlights Walking Tour.
Castle Square
Castle Square (pl. Plac Zamkowy) is a large area in the heart of Warsaw Old Town. It was razed to the ground by order of Adolf Hitler in 1944 and rebuilt in later years in a uniform architectural style. There you’ll find landmarks like Royal Castle, St. Anne’s Church, and Sigismund’s Column (pl. Kolumna Zygmunta). Column commemorates King Sigismund III Vasa, who moved the seat of government from Krakow to Warsaw in 1596. The famous Royal Route also begins right here at Castle Square.
Royal Castle
Royal Castle (pl. Zamek Królewski) is a reconstructed 14th-century red-colored palace proudly standing in Castle Square. For hundreds of years, it served as the residence of Polish monarchs, both kings and presidents. Nowadays, it’s a museum housing an impressive art collection and historical artifacts. It might not look too spectacular from the outside, but its interior is quite dazzling.
If you’re a history or art lover you might want to add a visit to Royal Castle to your one day in Warsaw itinerary. But if not, we recommend spending precious time on different attractions. For more information about Royal Castle ticket prices and opening hours, visit the zamek-krolewski.pl website.
Behind the Royal Castle, you can also find its magnificent Gardens, a hidden gem not known to most tourists. It’s a great place for peaceful walks, admiring colorful flowers, or just relaxing on a bench or soft grass. Exploring Royal Castle Gardens is free during opening hours.
Observation deck on St. Anne’s Church
St. Anne’s Church (pl. Kościół św. Anny) is a church in the heart of Warsaw Old Town featuring a beautiful Neoclassical facade and rich interior. But the cherry on the cake is the spectacular panoramic view from the observation deck located at the top of the church bell tower. After climbing 150 steps, you’ll get nice views over places like Castle Square, the Vistula River, the Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw’s skyscrapers, and more. It’s a must stop for anyone who loves great views.
Entrance to the observation deck costs 15zł for a normal ticket and 10zł for a reduced one (November 2025). For current ticket prices and opening hours, visit the taraswidokowy.pl website.
Royal Route
Royal Route (pl. Trakt Królewski) is one of the most famous historic streets in Warsaw. It begins at Castle Square and leads directly to the Wilanów Palace. It’s about 10 kilometres long, but don’t worry, you don’t need to walk it all – the most interesting and important part is between Castle Square and the Charles de Gaulle Roundabout, including two streets: Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat.
Along Krakowskie Przedmieście street you’ll find points of interest like the Presidential Palace, Hotel Bristol – a beautiful historic five-star luxury hotel, Holy Cross Church – famous for being home to the heart of Fryderyk Chopin, and iconic bronze statue of Nicolaus Copernicus. Here, you’ll quickly understand why walking along Royal Route is one of the best things to do in Warsaw.
Nowy Świat street is a picturesque and always full-of-life street lined with many restaurants, cafes, and small shops. It’s a perfect place to grab something to eat. This street ends at the Charles de Gaulle Roundabout that features… a huge palm tree made of steel!
Old Town Market Square
Colorful and vibrant Warsaw’s Old Town Market Square (pl. Rynek Starego Miasta) is the prettiest part of the city. And it’s hard to believe that it’s no older than 70 years! Yes, like everything else in the area it was blown up by the German Army after the Warsaw Uprising and restored to its prewar appearance in the 1950s.
Today it features beautiful townhouses and in the middle, you’ll find a Mermaid statue – the symbol of Warsaw. The square is surrounded by numerous restaurants and cafes, and if lucky you’ll also come across some street performers. During your one day in Warsaw, you definitely can’t miss exploring all the nooks and crooks of the Old Town Market Square. It’s such a delight!
Barbican & City Walls
Warsaw’s Barbican (pl. Barbakan) is a semicircular fortified outpost that was originally part of a series of walls and fortifications that once encircled Warsaw. It’s located between Old and New Towns and dates back to the 16th century. As you might expect, barbican and city walls were largely destroyed during WWII and reconstructed in the mid-20th century (at least partially). Nowadays, it’s one of the most iconic places in Warsaw.
Be sure to take a nice stroll along the walls, and on the walls too. Best place to admire Barbican and walls? From the outside, from the intersection of Podwale and Nowomiejska streets. Also, just a few steps away you’ll find a bronze sculpture of Little Insurgent (pl. Mały Powstaniec) that commemorates child soldiers of World War II.
Explore local attractions
Palace of Culture and Science
When most people think of Warsaw, the Palace of Culture and Science (pl. Pałac Kultury i Nauki) is usually the first landmark that comes to mind – and it’s easy to see why! This iconic building was built in the 1950s and has a total height of 237 metres (which makes it the second tallest building in Poland). Palace of Culture and Science was actually an unwanted gift from the Soviet Union, first known as Joseph Stalin’s Palace of Culture and Science, but it was changed in the wake of destalinization.
Today, the building houses a various cultural institution, including theatre, museums, cinema, congress hall. There’s also Warsaw Tourist Office and viewing terrace. Visiting Palace of Culture and Science is simply a must see during your one day in Warsaw.
The biggest highlight of the Palace of Culture and Science is undeniably the viewing terrace. It’s located on the 30th floor and is reached in only 19 seconds by an elevator. From there, you’ll enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views over all faces of Warsaw – a truly unforgettable experience that quickly became one of the most popular things to do in Warsaw.
Entrance to the viewing terrace of Palace of Culture and Science costs 28zł for a normal ticket and 23zł for a reduced one (November 2025). You can either buy a ticket online (which is recommended) or at the ticket office. For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets visit bilety.pkin.pl website.
Tip. The Palace of Culture and Science looks impressive not only during the day but also at night when it’s beautifully illuminated (just look at the second photo in the post!). So if you’ll still be in Warsaw after dark try to check it out too.
Planning to extend your stay in Poland? 🤩
Warsaw Museums
If you’ll have a little bit more time to spare during your one day in Warsaw, you can also choose to visit one of its many great museums. The most important/interesting ones are Warsaw Uprising Museum, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, and Museum of Life under Communism. Choose one that seems most interesting to you and enjoy!
Warsaw Uprising Museum
Warsaw Uprising Museum (pl. Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego) tells the story of the uprising which started in August 1944 to drive Germans out of the town. Fighting was brutal but despite lesser manpower and guns resistance fighters were able to hold for almost 2 months. Inside you’ll find many exhibits, artifacts, videos, and photographs detailing this tragic Warsaw’s battle for independence.
Entrance to the Warsaw Uprising Museum costs 35zł for a normal ticket, 30zł for a reduced one, and is free on Mondays (November 2025). For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the 1944.pl website. You’ll need about 2-3 hours to thoroughly explore this museum.
POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
If you want to learn about the history of Polish Jews, direct your steps to the POLIN Museum, a modern museum with many interactive exhibits and various historical artifacts, covering over the 1000 years of Jewish history in Poland, from the Middle Ages until today.
Entrance to POLIN Museum costs 45zł for a normal ticket, 35zł for a reduced one, and is free on Thursdays (November 2025). For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the polin.pl website. You’ll need about 2-3 hours to thoroughly explore this museum.
Museum of Life under Communism
Museum of Life under Communism (pl. Muzeum Życia w PRL) will take you back in time to the communist era in Poland which lasted from 1944 to 1989. There you’ll discover why Poland fell under communism in the first place, and thanks to many relics, artifacts, and life stories you’ll discover how everyday life looked back then. Also, compared to other popular museums in Warsaw, this one isn’t so grim and depressing!
Entrance to the museum costs 30zł for a normal ticket and 20zł for a reduced one (November 2025). For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets visit mzprl.pl website. You’ll need about 1 hour to thoroughly explore this museum.
Food in Warsaw
Warsaw is a real heaven for food lovers. No matter what you like, you’ll find it in Warsaw! From typical Polish dishes to a wide choice of international cuisine. We’ve already tried several restaurants and none of them have disappointed us. But we recommend checking out some options and reviews earlier – to avoid falling into some tourist trap with bad food.
What places do we recommend? For breakfast/lunch – Bułkę przez Bibułkę, for typical Polish dishes for dinner – GOŚCINIEC Polskie Pierogi, and if in need of coffee/tea/healthy juice and something sweet to eat – Vita Cafe. All mentioned places can be found in several locations all across Warsaw.
Take advantage of a guided tour
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. During your one day in Warsaw, you can for example take part in this interesting Warsaw Old Town Highlights Walking tour. Or if you love cars, you might want to explore the city in Retro Fiat!
For a wide selection and more well-reviewed tour options, visit GetYourGuide or Viator website.
How to get to Warsaw, Poland?
Warsaw is located about 290km from Krakow, 310km from Poznan, 340km from Gdansk, and 350km from Wroclaw. The most convenient way to get to Warsaw is by car, train, or bus.
Airports near Warsaw
There are two airports in Warsaw: Chopin Airport (only 10km from the city center) and Modlin Airport (40km from the city center). From each of them, you can get to city center by bus or train. You can also take a taxi or rent a car. To learn more about all possible transport options visit lotnisko-chopina.pl for Chopin Airport, and modlinairport.pl for Modlin Airport. You can also use rome2rio.com website.
Where to park in Warsaw?
If you choose to travel by car you need to know that it isn’t very easy to find a parking place for a car (especially a free one). Your best option is probably to find accommodation with parking space and then walk or travel by bus/tram/metro in Warsaw city center.
You can also leave a car in one of the underground parking lots, like Parking Warsaw Spire or Interparking Piękna, or try to find a place along the streets and pay by parking meter or via app.
To Warsaw by train
You can easily get to Warsaw by train, as Poland is quite well connected by trains. For example, a trip from Krakow will take about 2.5 hours, less than 3 hours from Gdansk, and about 4.5 hours from Wrocław. To learn more about connections that might interest you visit rozklad-pkp.pl or rome2rio.com website.
To Warsaw by bus
You can also easily get to Warsaw by bus, especially from other big Polish cities. For example, the trip from Gdansk will take around 5 hours, 4 hours from Krakow, and 5 hours from Wroclaw. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you visit rome2rio.com or Flixbus website.
One day in Warsaw, Poland – Summing up
As you can see by now, Warsaw is an interesting Polish city that deserves at least one day of your time. And now, with our travel guide, you’re ready for an exciting, although short, journey through history, culture, architecture, and food! We showed you the minimum, the most important landmarks that can be seen in just a few hours. Enjoy your one day in Warsaw!
Pss. Do you have more time to spare or are already planning your second trip to Warsaw? Awesome! Be sure to check out our post with all the amazing things to do in Warsaw!
Our video from Warsaw
Our opinion about Warsaw
Among Polish people, Warsaw is probably the most hated big city, and you won’t hear many flattering opinions about it (obviously, apart from the people living there). The city is more of a travel destination for foreigners than locals – not many Poles will go there of their own free will in their free time.
As for us, over the years we visited Warsaw a few times, first during school trips and later only on some business trips. And to be honest, we’ve also never really liked this city. Don’t get us wrong – it’s not bad, but for us it’s just not that interesting or beautiful like other places in Poland.
What do we like about Warsaw? The first thing that comes to mind is an amazing food scene. We also appreciate the large green spaces, and its charming old town. Warsaw is also a great place to learn an important history lesson. What do we dislike? We don’t like the concrete jungle and pompous and unpleasant people. Many homeless and drunk people in the center are quite overwhelming too.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Warsaw?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Warsaw:
