Warsaw Weekend City Guide
This is your weekend city guide to experience the Polish capital to its fullest. Over three days, you will learn about the history of Warsaw and Poland and taste some of the best restaurants and bars in the city. By Sunday, I think you will agree that Warsaw is an underrated European capital.
This guide takes you from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon. Depending on your exact itinerary, you can pick and choose based on what is of most interest to you. If I mention a mode of transit, it’s because the distance between the places is a bit too far to walk. If I don’t, it’s because it’s walkable.
FRIDAY: Old Town and the Warsaw Uprising
🍳 Breakfast: Mon Nom Bistro
A cozy and inviting spot that serves simple well-plated breakfast classics.
🏰 Old Town and the Royal Castle
Warsaw’s Old Town - Sigismund's Column (L) and The Royal Castle (R)
Take a stroll around the new Old Town. Like most of Warsaw, Old Town was destroyed during WWII. It was rebuilt after the war to be a replica of the original. Start your walk by entering Old Town through the Barbakan Warszawski, an impressive gate that transports you back to medieval times. Continue to the Royal Castle to experience the opulence of Poland’s royal past. Explore the castle’s grounds, its stately rooms, and its vast art collection including works by Rembrandt.
🥪 Lunch: Browary Warszawskie
In the mid-1800s, this was the site of one of Poland’s biggest breweries. WWII brought an end to the brewery but in the 1950s, beer production began again. In the 1970s, coca-cola was even produced here. The building was restored in 2021 to be an open-space food hall with a large bar in the middle. There is something for everyone here making it a great spot for lunch.
Getting there: the fastest way to get to Bowary Warszawski from Old Town is to take the tram. It’s about a 20-minute trip. Public transit is reliable and efficient in Warsaw. I highly recommend using it to get around.
This is one of the most impactful museums I have visited. Here you will learn about life in Warsaw under German occupation during WWII and you will discover the unbreakable Polish spirit. It is an emotional and heart-wrenching experience so just FYI.
🌇 Sunset by the Vistula River
Weather permitting, this is a great way to experience a local favourite during the warmer months. Start with a quick trip to the Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie where you can experience its beautiful rooftop garden featuring great views of the Warsaw skyline and the Vistula river. The building itself is also quite stunning. Try to aim for sunset to capture the magic hour.
Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie (L) and its rooftop garden (R)
Just behind the library is the Vistula River, Poland’s longest river, and it is bustling with life on the weekend. I suggest walking along the river starting from this lookout point and heading south. There are many bars and food stalls with plenty of places to sit. This is a popular hangout spot in the evening when the weather is nice so there is often a good atmosphere. It is legal to drink your own alcohol which is why you will always find lots of young people at night.
The Vistula River on a beautiful summer day
Getting there: the fastest way to get to the library from the Warsaw Uprising Museum would be to use a ride-share but the metro is also quite convenient. I like taking public transit in other cities as it gives you a proper feel for the place.
🥩 Dinner: Bez Gwiazdek
If you are willing to splurge on a fine dining experience, Bez Gwiazdek is a great choice to have Polish-inspired food at the highest level. Last I looked, the 6-course menu cost 380zł (70€) per person which, while not cheap, is reasonable for fine dining compared to other major European capitals. A reservation in advance is a must.
Another great option for dinner is to head over to Elektrownia Powiśle where there is a restaurant and a food hall.
🍷 Drinks: Bar Rascal
Bar Rascal is a wine bar on the outskirts of Old Town that serves a lot of interesting natural wines and small snacks in a beautiful setting. In the back, there is an outdoor seating area that is perfect on a warm night. The owners of the bar also run Warsaw’s first natural wine shop, Natural Rascal. If you like natural wine, you’re welcome ;)
SATURDAY: Visiting a Royal Garden
🍳 Breakfast: Charlotte plac Zbawiciela
A French cafe in Warsaw’s famous plac Zbawiciela, Charlotte is the perfect place to people-watch. They serve baked goods, homemade jams, and simple French breakfasts - omelettes, fried sandwiches, eggs, etc. Service can be a bit slow so be warned but if you aren’t in a rush, it’s a great spot to chill.
The Palace and Amphitheater in Łażienki Park
This is Warsaw’s most famous park and it is home to King Stanisław August’s 18th-century palace which served as his summer residence and bathhouse. You visited his other home - the Royal Castle - on Friday. In addition to the palace, you can check out the two massive greenhouses in the park that allowed the king to have oranges all year round.
🥪 Lunch: Bar Mleczny Mokotowska 22
This restaurant is in the style of a traditional milk bar, a government-subsidized cafeteria common across Poland during the communist era. Milk bars were where people could get a homemade meal at an affordable price. Today, milk bars are still in existence but they are no longer government-subsidized. They continue to be popular by offering hearty food at affordable prices. This is a great way to experience Polish cuisine on the cheap. You may need the help of Google Translate to understand the menu but I’m sure a friendly local will be more than willing to help you.
🏢 Palace of Culture and Science
The most prominent, and controversial, building in Warsaw’s skyline. This Art Deco-inspired piece of soviet architecture was an unwanted gift to the people of Poland from Joseph Stalin in 1955. Today, the building remains a sore point for many Poles given Poland’s troubled past with Russia.
Getting there: you can take the tram to the Palace of Culture and Science from Bar Mleczny. It’s about a 10-minute ride.
🖼️ The National Museum in Warsaw or POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
Both of these museums are wonderful but for the sake of time and not squeezing too much into the day, I’d pick the one that interests you most.
A modernist museum featuring Polish and world paintings and sculptures from ancient and contemporary times. If you are an art lover, there is a massive collection here to enjoy for as little or as much time as you’d like.
POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
Before WWII, over 3,000,000 Jewish people were living in Poland. After the war, the numbers dropped into the tens of thousands. In cities throughout Poland, the large number of Jewish people meant that shop signs and newspapers were not only in Polish but in Yiddish too. This modern museum honours the history of Polish Jews.
Getting there: if you’re feeling adventurous, try using a city bike to get to POLIN from the Palace of Culture and Science. It’s a flat route and about a 10-minute ride. The next best option is to use a ride-share which is also about a 10-minute ride.
🥩 Dinner: Wozownia
This is a hip bar and restaurant close to Nowy Świat that has a whole lot of ambiance and good vibes.
🍩 🥛 Eat Polish Donuts and Try a Traditional Cherry-Infused Alcohol
For dessert, if you like donuts, you must try a Polish pączek. My favourite place is Cukiernia Pawłowicz just off of Nowy Swiat.
On Nowy Świat, you’ll find Pijana Wiśnia. They serve one drink and one drink only - a traditional cherry alcoholic beverage that is very tasty and smooth. This is a Ukrainian drink but in Poland, there is something similar called nalewka, which can be made from many different types of fruit including cherries.
Getting there (if you are coming from POLIN): if you’re feeling adventurous, try using a city bike from POLIN to Cukiernia Pawłowicz. It’s a flat route and about a 10-minute ride. The next best option is to use a ride-share which is about a 15-minute ride.
🪩 Games and Drinks: Zagrywki
A fun bar playing good music with a great vibe. They have pizza, beer and cocktails plus a lot of fun games like shuffleboard, skee ball, mini golf, karaoke, and more.
SUNDAY: Relaxing on the Right Side of the River
🍳 Breakfast: SOUR Deli Bar
Cute, cozy, and delicious. Need I say more?
💡 Catch a Glimpse of Poland’s Past at the Neon Museum
📸: Neon Museum
Neon street signs were commonplace in post-WWII communist Poland. This is a small museum and I’m not going to say the most interesting in terms of its layout as ultimately it’s just a large room with a lot of neon signs. But if you like graphic design and neon signs, it’s cool to see so many of them in one place.
🚶 Walk along Francuska street in Saska Kępa
Francuska 30 Cafe & Bar in Saska Kępa
Life moves slower in Saska Kępa. Here you can walk the tree-filled Francuska Street and enjoy the cute shops, cafes and restaurants.
Getting there: if you’re feeling adventurous, use a city bike to get to Saska from the Neon Museum. It’s a flat route and about a 10-minute ride. The next best option is to use a ride-share which is about a 5-minute ride.
🥖 Lunch: Viet Street Food Bistro
After the Vietnam War, a large number of Vietnamese people escaped to Poland. Today, they are one of the largest minorities in Poland. You will be surprised at how many Vietnamese restaurants serve authentic and delicious food in Warsaw. Viet Street Food Bistro is one of my favourites.
🏖️ Relaxing at the Beach
A summer evening on Poniatówka beach
Poniatówka is a popular beach on the right side of the river across from the city centre. It’s a nice place to lie down and enjoy Warsaw’s skyline. At night when it’s warm, it can be a party spot but it is a laid-back place during the day. You can unwind for the afternoon and bid farewell to the city.
Getting Around the City
Google Maps is the most reliable way to plan your route whether you’re walking, biking, or taking public transport.
Ridesharing is the fastest way to get around the city not withstanding traffic which can be bad during rush hour. Ridesharing is affordable in Warsaw and is a great way to get from the airport to your accommodation. Uber, Bolt and Freenow are the most popular options.
City Bikes can be rented all around the city using Veturilo. It’s a cheap and popular option in the summertime. You need an account with money pre-loaded so it’s worth doing this in advance.
Warsaw has great and reliable public transport. At every metro, and on most trams and buses, there are ticket machines where you can pay by card. Additionally, you can use the application, jakdojade, to look up routes and buy digital tickets.
Warsaw has a lot of different scooter rideshares - Lime, Dott, and Bolt to name a few. They are all over the city. You scan a QR code via an app and you are off to the races. It’s a fun way to move around the city. I have only ever used Lime and Bolt. The scooters can go up to 20km/h so be careful and only ride if you feel comfortable.
Good Things to Know
You can pay by card almost everywhere in Warsaw. It’s very uncommon for a place to only accept cash. That said, it’s always good to have a little cash just in case.
Caffe Nerros are great coffee shops for reliable wifi, good coffee, and a welcoming atmosphere. They are also perfect if you need to do a bit of work.
The water is safe to drink in Warsaw. In older buildings, I would ask about it because of their old pipes but in newer buildings, it’s safe.
Grocery shops and chain stores are not open on Sundays, but independently owned shops are.
Warsaw has tons of bike lanes so it’s a great city to explore by bike or scooter so long as you feel confident to ride and are aware of the basic rules of the road.
Warsaw is one of the safest capitals in Europe but, like in all big cities, there is crime. The biggest issue I’ve heard about during my five-year tenure is people having their drinks spiked so be vigilant and don’t accept drinks from strangers unless you watch the bartender pour it.
An Affordable Hostel Option
There are a lot of hotels and homestays (Airbnb, Booking.com) available in Warsaw. When we got married in Warsaw, we recommended the Oki Doki hostel in Old Town to our guests and they loved it. It has affordable private rooms that are comfortable and clean along with great common areas. The location couldn’t be better for exploring the city. If you want to find your own accommodation, I suggest either looking in Old Town, Mokotów, Śródmieście, or Powiśle.
More Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants
During the week, you can ask about lunch deals in most restaurants. It usually costs 30-50 PLN and includes 2-3 dishes.
Arigator (ramen)
La Sirena: The Mexican Food Cartel (Mexican and tasty cocktails)
Rusiko Restaurant (Georgian)
alewino (modern Polish)
Mąka i Woda (Italian)
Żebra i Kości (steakhouse with Polish classics)
Baczewski (modern Polish)
Kieliszki na Próżnej (modern Polish)
Butchery and Wine (steakhouse)
Bar Bambino (milk bar)
Dal Dalla Gelato (gelato)
Coffeedesk Kawiarnia - Tamka (cafe)
I wrote another post about my favourite places to eat that remind me of home in Toronto if you’d like more options.
Bars
Wermut (bar with a paper-mâché skyline of Warsaw on the ceiling)
Kraken Rum Bar (bar with snacks)
Kulturalna (bar in the Palace of Culture and Science)
Bar Studio (bar in the Palace of Culture and Science)
Kita Koguta (cocktail bar)
Raffles (bar in a fancy hotel next to Old Town. It’s a bit pricey but worth it for one drink)
BackRoom Bar (cocktail bar)
Lunapark (on the right side of the river, this a big outdoor space with bars and food stalls but it’s only open during the summer months)
I hope you found this weekend guide helpful. Please let me know what you think in the comments below!
