Exploring Poland: 10 Reasons why You Should Visit Warsaw

https://unsplash.com/photos/O3aaejNO228 Mohamed Elnaggar

The Old Town of Warsaw is a lovely square dating back to the late 13th century. It is a good example of reincarnation, as it was completely restored to its near-original condition after the devastation of World War II. The streets are lined with around 40 tall houses exhibiting a fine blend of Renaissance, Baroque, Gothic, and Neoclassical elements, that look much like the original 17th-century structures.

Today, the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its ornate buildings, expansive areas, and rich cultural history. One of the major drawing points of it is the statue of Syrenka – it is a bronze sculpture of the fierce Warsaw mermaid brandishing a sword. In winter, an ice rink surrounds the figure, while in summer there are multiple festivals taking place with plenty of food stalls, drinks, and souvenirs. The Old Town Square is an important attraction, and the statue is an iconic symbol of the capital city.

When it comes to Polish fare, there are plenty of options to choose from in the Old Town. But nothing compares to the contemporary food of Bistro Warszawa. It is a casual restaurant that serves a modern European version of local traditional cuisine. The interiors are elegant and upscale, with vanilla-colored furnishings, wine racks, walls papered with book pages, and soothing white-gray color tones.

If you browse through the menu, you will get a sense of an old vintage café. But the dishes are distinctly modern in their composition. Start your meal with borscht or żurek (sour rye soup) served in a bread bowl followed by pierogi (dumplings) made of duck meat or feta cheese. Relish exceptional entrées like pork chops with vegetables, mussels with chorizo, grilled turbot, and potato pancakes with salmon. End your meal on a sweet note with sernik (Polish cheesecake) with white chocolate or apple pie with ice cream. Bistro Warszawa offers a modern oasis in the heart of the historic Old Town.

https://unsplash.com/photos/ZsFxBVh9WMA Andriyko Podilnyk

Łazienki Park is the largest and the most beautiful green space in the city. It includes manicured plants, an ornamental lake, wooden glades, and strutting peacocks. Also known as Royal Baths Park, Łazienki was once a hunting ground that was transformed by King Stanisław August Poniatowski in 1764 to include a couple of palaces, an amphitheater, and museums.

The area is primarily divided into three main zones – the original 18th-century Italian Royal Garden, the 19th-century Romantic Garden on a hill, and the early 20th-century Modernist Garden that envelopes the Chopin Monument. In 2014, the Chinese Garden was added to the oasis which contains a pavilion and an arbor decorated with hand-glazed tiles and red lanterns. Łazienki Park's centerpiece is a delightful Neoclassic structure called The Palace on the Isle. It houses a treasure trove of paintings and statues collected by Polish royalty over the years.

Located inside the Victorian Orangery in the middle of Łazienki Park, Belvedere is one of the most romantic and prestigious restaurants in Warsaw. The unique building it resides in is over 150 years old and is filled with impressive tropical plants, including an over 100-year-old palm tree. The decor was created by a famous designer, Boris Kudlička. The interiors feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows, wooden tables, wicker chairs, and dangling chandelier lights. In summer, they offer an al fresco outdoor seating where you can enjoy views of the garden and watch peacocks wandering the grounds.

Belvedere’s culinary team is run by Executive Chef Adam Komar, who serves a mixed cuisine of Polish and international flavors. Diners can sample specialty items, such as herring with baked potatoes, venison pâté with cranberry, beef tenderloin with boletus (type of mushroom), roulade of Polish cottage cheese with tomato confiture, and deer with creamy potatoes in rosemary sauce. Artur Bidziński is their in-house sommelier who can help suggest amazing wines to pair with your meal.

https://unsplash.com/photos/U5pWAW6iK6g Oleksii T

Wilanów Palace is one of the most important monuments in Poland as it represents what the country was like before the 18th century. It is a Baroque structure that was commissioned as a home for King John III Sobieski in 1677. Popularly referred to as Poland’s Versailles, this former royal summer retreat features opulent apartments, art collections, decorative gardens, and a lake. Unlike the rest of Warsaw, the palace survived World War II almost unscathed with most of its furnishings and paintings intact. Today, it is a museum that is home to the country’s aesthetic and royal heritage.

Wilanów Palace has an adjoining 45-hectare park that contains a variety of landscaping. Its central part comprises a fabulous two-level Baroque Italian space which extends from the palace to the lake. The south of the park is Anglo-Chinese in design, and the northern section is an English landscape. There is also a Renaissance-inspired rose garden and an Orangery with an art gallery.

If you are a fan of Italian cuisine, then the upscale Milanovo Restaurant near Wilanów Palace is the place to be. It was created to bring original Mediterranean flavors to Warsaw. The front of the house possesses elegant interiors: polished tables, velvety soft leather chairs, hanging diffused lights, and a calm white color palette giving it a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

The owner, Maciej Lubiak, created an authentic menu consisting of original recipes from Naples. Milanovo’s specialty is canotto pizza baked in a hand-built brick oven using the freshest ingredients. Visitors can relish delicious dishes like pasta carbonara, pesto gnocchi with mushrooms, spaghetti bolognese, pizza Margherita and Diavolo, broiled mussels with garlic bread, Ligurian shrimps made with garlic and olive oil, and steak tenderloin with baked tomato. In desserts, do not miss out on their scrumptious homemade tiramisu and crème brûlée.

https://unsplash.com/photos/xcPw1-5OHTk Kamil Gliwiński

The Palace of Culture and Science is a towering 231 meters-high building that was commissioned by the Soviet Union in 1950. Located in the center of Warsaw, it was the tallest structure of its time dominating the skyline of the city with its spire. Today, it is a multi-functional complex comprising offices, shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

The palace is sometimes referred to as Beijing because its initials are PKIN (the abbreviated Polish name), after the China capital’s old name – Peking. The tall real estate houses many attractions like three theaters, a multiscreen cinema, a few museums, and a concert hall that hosted the Rolling Stones in 1967. Visitors should not miss out on the 30th-floor observation terrace that provides beautiful panoramic views of the city.

Platter is a newly opened flagship restaurant of the InterContinental Hotel in Warsaw by Karol Okrasa – a renowned Polish celebrity chef locally known for his TV shows and cookbooks. Platter’s decor is lavish: white tablecloths, leather-furnished chairs, velvety red sofas, and tubular light fixtures in a cream-yellow color tone.

The menu is inspired by the childhood memories and extensive travels of Chef Okrasa. Guests can enjoy the ever-changing seasonal 6 and 8-course tasting selections representing elevated Polish food with international accents. Some of the unique items you can sample here are lamb shoulder with vegetables, crispy zucchini flower with yuzu, marinated tuna with kohlrabi and tarragon, roasted sturgeon with cabbage in burnt butter sauce, and juicy duck breast with carrot confit.

https://unsplash.com/photos/p6gxHYb43v0 Lāsma Artmane

The Royal Castle is a mammoth red brick building that stands watch over the entrance to Warsaw’s Old Town. It was constructed in the 14th century as the official residence of the Dukes of Masovia. Having been destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt to its original specifications and converted into a museum.

Today, the impressive structure, with a tower in the middle, is filled with authentic period furniture and original artworks. Some of the highlights of the castle are the King’s Apartments, the Great Apartments, the magnificent Assembly Hall, the lavishly decorated Throne Room – where you can find 22 paintings by Bernardo Bellotto, and the Lanckoroński Collection with two portraits by Rembrandt. Other artifacts include the Numismatic Cabinet – full of coins and medallions; and the Tin-Roofed Palace – filled with tapestries and decorative art.

Soul Kitchen is a casual restaurant that would smash all your misconceptions about Polish food. It recently underwent a complete makeover as the earlier space was more suited for business lunches. Now, the new improved dining venue is positively festive in its decor, made up of scuffed brickwork, tall bar stools, long communal dark wood tables, and yellowish warm light.

Chef Wit Szychowski is at the helm of the kitchen, where he and his team create a seasonal menu of soul-touching food. You can find small-to-medium plates of gourmet dishes, including halibut gravlax, crayfish with green beans and leek, braised beef with fennel, grilled filet mignon with asparagus in creamy mustard sauce, and steamed dumplings topped with pan-fried mushrooms.

Warsaw is a complete tourist destination that has something for every kind of traveler. Whether you are a classical music freak, science nerd, visual-art aficionado, or history buff, you will not be disappointed in Warsaw.

Have you ever been to Poland? Share your experience with our community in the comment section below. And don’t forget to check out our latest food & travel guides and restaurant reviews.