For those lucky enough to be stopping in Warsaw for a couple of days during your European adventures, we have put together a 2 day pick-and-choose itinerary which will show you our favourite parts of Warsaw, some which you might of heard of, some which might be new to you, even if you have visited before.
DISCLAIMER: This itinerary includes a lot of walking, so make sure you have comfortable shoes on. Don't worry, there are many parks, cafes, and restaurants in which you can rest your tired feet if you ever feel the need.
For the Design Lovers
Over on the left side of the Wisla, I suggest walking from Plac Zbawiciela to Plac Trzech Krzyzy along Mokotowska Street. It's full of Polish independent designer studios and boutiques. Close to Plac Trzech Krzyzy, you'll find Mysia 3- a concept boutique mall. It's a must see! The layout and interior itself is really interesting, but the stores just complete it. This is where you can find stores like MUJI, NAP, COS, Stenton, Leica, and one of a kind boutiques and pop up shops. If you go to the top floor, you'll find a simple space set up as a bistro, UNLESS…this floor is often used for product releases, press conferences, or other events open to the public.
Now get your head back into Poland mode by walking past the Palm Tree (yes, it's a modern symbol of Warsaw) and then walking down Nowy Swiat for a nice promenade to the Old Town.
For the History Buffs
If you want to learn more about other cultures while you are in Warsaw, check out the new museum featuring the history of Jews in Poland called POLIN. It's an award winning museum that has everyone swooning. Then go for lunch at Charlotte Menora in Plac Grzybowski for Jewish inspired food. I think that Plac Grzybowski is one of my favourite urban nooks in the City- it has a gorgeous water feature in the middle that I could just sit around all day.
In Tune with Nature
Lazienki Krolewskie is a must see on your itinerary, no matter how long you are staying in Warsaw. It's a beautiful Royal Park featuring numerous landscapes, a Palace on the Water, an amphitheater, old and new Orangeries, and PEACOCKS. If you truly want to experience this place to the max, buy some nuts from the old women outside the park and try to bribe some of the red squirrels to sit on you. They are quite friendly. Buy an ice cream or a waffle loaded with whipped cream and head to the adjacent Chopin Rose Garden, where on Sunday afternoons in the summer, accomplished musicians give public concerts to the picnicing crowd. Other parks worth walking through are the Saxon Gardens (Ogrod Saski) in Centrum and Skaryszewski Park close to the National Stadium.
For the Foodies
Nowy Swiat, the restaurant going down to the Old Town is loaded with places to eat, though none of them really stand out to me. If you are looking for something in the Centrum that is well-priced and a wonderful dining experience, I can recommend Bibenda with all my heart. It has got to be one of my favourite restaurants of all time. Vegans will love Mango Vegan Street food on Bracka for its cool interiors and delicious, crispy falafels. Now you might think that crepes are French, but the Poles have taken matters into their own hands at Manekin, an awesome value crepe restaurant on Marszalkowska. You will leave full to the brim, and the options there are limitless. If you want to have the typical pierogi and hunters stew experience on Boleslawiec plates, we recommend Zapiecek. It's a chain, but every location has a folk-inspired interior and the pierogi are all handmade by grannies in the back.
Just a reminder to all travelers: compared to prices in North America, food here is cheap. However, if you are trying to stretch your budget, street food like zapiekanki or kebabs are good value, and you can buy food at shops like Biedronka or Carrefour. For an urban farmer's market experience, check out Hale Mirowskie. If you think you're a good negotiator, try bartering for fresh produce here :)
Urbanists
Ok fellow city lovers, I know that we look for and appreciate seemingly strange things. There are a few really awesomely planned neighborhoods here in Warsaw that you might find worthy of hitting up.
One of these is Saska Kepa, on the Praga side of Warsaw, near the National Stadium. Just get off at the transit stop Plac Waszyntona and walk down ul. Francuska. It's just such a "complete" community with interesting little shops and cafes. It used to be the French/Latin quarter where the artists lived. There is still some "multicultural" flavour remaining. If you turn down any of the side streets, you'll find interesting modernist buildings tucked in beside old-school houses.
Another amazing place to visit, especially in the spring and summer, is Zoliborz. It's an oasis of peace in Warsaw's hustle and bustle, but still dense and very livable. B and I did an audio walking tour that led us through the neighborhood and explained some of the history and the nuisances. We heard about the radial development of the buildings, the rise of the co-operatives that finances and built the apartment buildings, and the architectural significance of many buildings and styles that were used.
If you are a fan of green roofs and urban gardens, visit the University of Warsaw Library (BUW), close to the Old Town. It has one of the biggest green roofs in Europe and provides spectacular views of the Wisla River.