Of the nice amenities: peacocks are walking on the grass of the park, and squirrels are rushing through the trees, which can be fed with nuts bought at the entrance.
Head of the guard of the park "Royal Lazienki"
A very soulful place where you can relax after a day full of events, listen to music and wander along quiet alleys.
Night life. Bars in Warsaw
For those who can’t sleep, but go to bars \ clubs \ restaurants, we can recommend several popular Warsaw places:
Piw Paw Bar
Day 2
Breakfast
Donuts are very popular and tasty in Poland, and the most delicious donuts in Warsaw, according to many, in a candy store that has been operating for 120 years. This is where our breakfast will be.
Walk along the Vistula on the river tram
If you are in Warsaw from May to August on weekends or holidays, then in the first half you can take a river bus that runs along the Vistula River from Czerniavsky Cape (Cypel Czerniakowski) to the Poniatowski Bridge.
There are only 4 flights per day, the first at 11:00, the last at 17:00, a ticket can be bought on board, its cost is 18 PLN (in the new season of 2016 it may increase slightly)
An alternative option to start the second day: go up to the observation deck of the Palace of Culture and Science, which is located on the 43rd floor of such a Stalinist high-rise building, which was once a gift from the USSR to friendly Poland and became one of the main attractions in Warsaw.
The ticket price for adults is PLN 20.
Copernicus Science Center
Copernicus Science Center
Fans of interactive museums-experimentariums will go crazy with delight in this place.
get to Copernicus Science Center you can take buses 118, 127 to the Biblioteka Uniwersytecka stop, by bus 185, 102, 105, 162 to the Pomnik Syreny stop.
Copernicus Science Center
All exhibits in Copernicus are educational and require your personal participation.
Ticket prices for Copernicus Science Center vary depending on what you want to visit and start from 18 PLN.
Final evening. Warsaw Restaurants
We will finish the trip solemnly and beautifully, so we will go to a restaurant.
Options:
- According to one of the American publications, Boat House is included in the 60 best restaurants in the world (prices for such a title are quite adequate).
- National restaurant Stary Dom
Restaurant "Stary Dom"
3. Favorite TripAdvisor, restaurant of national cuisine Zapiecek Polskie Pierogarnie
P.S. If Poland is called the "Cinderella of the European Union", then Warsaw- it is rather a Phoenix, which, through the efforts of the townspeople, was reborn from the ashes after the Second World War. Now it is a beautiful European capital, which has the Old Town, and a quarter with modern skyscrapers, and science centers, and parks with castles, and a lot of attractions, and most importantly, and you can feel it, the love of residents for their city, which is transmitted and travelers.
Having visited Warsaw countless times, I decided to create a guide to the capital of Poland with what is worth seeing in Warsaw in 1 day.
These are the best attractions, entertainment and other interesting places in the capital with their prices.
Warsaw was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, but the city authorities of the 1950s did a good job of restoring the historic buildings to their former appearance.
Now Warsaw is one of the most popular cities to visit in Poland. In 2015, almost 10 million tourists from all over the world visited it.
So here is my Warsaw travel guide with the best places to visit and the best things to do in a busy 24 hours with a Warsaw itinerary and a map at the end.
What you need to know about Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital of Poland and the country's largest city, with a population of about 2 million people., and many people commute to the city daily from outside. It is located a little east of the center of Poland.
Warsaw has a very convenient location, because from there you can get to other major tourist cities in Poland in 2.5-3 hours: Wroclaw, and Krakow (oddly enough, it will take 3-4 hours).
Warsaw is also ranked in the Budget Traveler Index.
More general information about Warsaw can be found on Wikipedia.
How to get to Warsaw: planning your trip
Getting to Warsaw is easy. There are two airports here: Chopin and Maudlin. The first one is located within the city, and from it you can get to the center of Warsaw by bus or train (you will find the schedule of public transport).
Second, Modlin, located away from the city. You can get there inexpensively by bus, then transferring to another bus, or by train reaching the nearest station, and from there by bus to the airport. The easiest way, especially if you are not traveling alone.
Cheap flights at the right time for you you can find on the website
Also you can get to Warsaw by bus. You can find the schedule of intercity buses
To find suitable hotel or hostel Please enter your dates in the field below.
A1Karting
Facebook rating: 4.5
Address: ul. Jagiellonska 82
Park Linowy Bielany
Rope town in the open air
Facebook score: 4.7
Address: Gwiazzista 79 A
Crimeplace
Crime investigation game.
Facebook score: no data, may not work now
Address: Ul. 14 Wernyhory
Stacja Grawitacja Warszawa 
Trampoline center with basketball hoops, hanging bridges and platforms, rope city and climbing wall.
Facebook score: 4.6
Address: Bohaterow Wrzesnia 12
Disco:VR
A large VR room with a great atmosphere, cars, big chess, computers and other items for a complete VR immersion.
Facebook score: 4.8
Address: Ul. Garażowa 4
New World 22
Rooms with escape quests
Facebook score: 4.9
Address: Ul. Nowy Swiat 22/4
Pif Paf Paintball
Outdoor paintball, indoor laser tag and shooting range, bumperball
Facebook score: 4.7
Address: Ul. Trakt Lubelski 158
Warszawskie Gry Miejskie Warsawalk 
City tours and city games
Facebook score: 5
Address: Ul. Podczaszynskiego 18/23
Laser Strike
laser tag
Facebook score: 4.6
Room Escape Warszawa
escape quest
Facebook score: 5
Address: Ul. Jana I Jedrzeja Sniadeckich 1/15 | II. Inzynierska 1
horror house
house of fear
Facebook score: 4.9
Address: Ul. Wąski Dunaj 12/18
Enigma Room
escape quest
Facebook score: 5
Address: Ul. Pulawska 33/7
Niewidziana Wystawa
A dark room where you can experience what life looks like for blind people
Facebook score: 4.9
Address: Ul. Aleje Jerozolimskie 123a
PM Shooter
The most equipped shooting range in Eastern Europe (or so they say)
Facebook score: -
Address: Ul. Wojnicka 2
Fear Zone Haunted House
Interactive Museum of Fear
Facebook score: 5
Address: Ul. Dowcip 4
Bubble Football Warszawa by Gmoods
Bumperball (football in balls that can fit a person)
Facebook score: 5
Address: Ul. Smolenska 82/45
Hangar 646
Trampoline center with basketball hoops and large airbags
3D Archery Path
Archery route with animal dummies as targets
Facebook score: 5
Address: Fort Blizne | Lazurowa 185A
VR Project
Virtual Reality Center
Facebook score: 4.9
Address: Metro line M1, Station Świętokrzyska ( Ś więtokrzyska), room 1000F
Ale Zebra
Entertainment center with a lot of slot machines
Facebook score: 4.8
Address: Ul. Kolumbijska 9
Fabryka Trzciny
Alternative art gallery organizing concerts and other events
Facebook score: -
Address: ul. Otwocka 14
Stodola
Concert hall
Facebook score: 4.2
Address: ul. Batorego 10
This was an overview of the best things to do in Warsaw. I didn't mention the prices as they can change over time, the final price depends on many factors (duration, age and more). Nonetheless, most of these activities cost between 3 and 10 euros. Next is an overview of nightlife and the best nightclubs in the capital.
Nightlife in Warsaw: Top 8 nightclubs
Warsaw is a great place for nightlife lovers. The city never sleeps, you can party any day of the week.
My favorite place with a great selection of bars is Pawilony, a row of small bars in the courtyard next to Nowy Świat street in the city centre. They are all very different and you can only take 5 steps to enter the next one. You can find out what bars are there on the official Pawilony website. They are located in the courtyard at ul. Nowy Świat 22/28.
In Warsaw, everyone will find a wide variety of nightclubs to suit their interests. Prices are slightly higher than in most other Polish cities, but much lower than in major European capitals (maybe nightclubs in Minsk are a bit cheaper). Average entry prices are PLN 10-25 (EUR 2-6).
Hybrydy Club
One of the oldest clubs in Warsaw, best for students.
Address: ul. Złota 7/9
Tygmont Live Club
Big club with lots of weekly themed parties
Address: ul. Mazowiecka 6/8
My trip to Warsaw was a pleasant and surprising surprise for me and added one more city to my list of favorites, where I will certainly return. Many people associate Poland and Warsaw with military events, occupation, communism and concentration camps. But the city turned out to be surprisingly interesting, with beautiful architecture and rich culture. Most of all I was subdued by the majestic castles and palaces with gardens and parks, but of course the historical and central part of the city deserve special attention and walks.
By tradition, for many tourists, acquaintance with a European city begins with its historical center.
The Old Town of Warsaw is an invaluable UNESCO World Heritage Site and keeps the history of its streets and lanes for more than 700 years.
Acquaintance with the Old Town begins with the Castle Square, where the Royal Palace and Sigismund's Column are located - a meeting place for tourists and residents of Warsaw. Passing along the cobbled streets of the Old Town, we get to the Market Square, where the symbol of the city is located - the monument of the Mermaid (Siren). According to legend,
Dungeons of the Old Town of Warsaw
Dungeons and cellars are a separate part of the Old Town, keeping interesting legends and secrets. One of these legends is dedicated to the basement on the corner of KrzyveKolo street, where a creature named Basilisk lived. He guarded the treasures kept there and turned to stone anyone who tried to get close to them. But one day, a smart wanderer showed the monster his own reflection in the mirror, which greatly frightened him, the Basilisk itself turned to stone from what he saw and ceased to be a threat to the inhabitants of the city.
Underground places in Warsaw have preserved the history of more than 700 years ago and the events of the Second World War.
Here are some of their addresses where you can feel the mysterious and ancient atmosphere:
- Old City Market (28-42)
- st. Bzhozova, 11/13
- st. Sventojanska, 8
10 free museums in Warsaw
1. Frederic Chopin Museum- modern, with multimedia and exhibits dedicated to Chopin (his last piano, bonbonniere, mask and cast of the composer's hand).
Details on the website chopin.museum.pl
On Sundays admission is free.
2. Warsaw Uprising Museum- one of the most popular multimedia museums, where you can learn about the city occupied by the Germans and the post-war communist regime of the inhabitants of Warsaw. The museum hosts lectures, theatrical performances, concerts, film screenings (for example, a three-dimensional film "City of Ruins" about the reconstruction of a destroyed city).
Museum website www.1941.pl. Admission is free on Sundays. And at the museum there is a Rose Garden and an open-air gallery, where I recommend to see the paintings of leading Polish graphic artists.
3. Museum of Modern Art located in a pavilion with an interesting design, where you can not only visit interesting exhibitions, but also read books by artists and architects for free.
Museum website https://artmuseum.pl/en
Entrance is free all days, Monday is a day off.
4. Museum of the Palace of King Jan III in Wilanow. Wilanow is called the Polish Versailles thanks to the architecture of the palace and the summer residence of the Polish king in the Baroque style, a beautiful park with many sculptures and landscape decorations, and a romantic garden by the lake.
The museum of the palace and the favorite residence of the Polish king can be visited free of charge on Thursdays, and more details can be found on the website www.wilanow-palac.art.pl
5. Museum in Royal Lazienki- the summer residence of the last Polish king and due to its location on the edge of the lake, it was nicknamed the palace on the island. In addition to the museum itself, I recommend taking a walk through the wonderful park and visiting all the ancient buildings on its territory - the Amphitheater, the Old Orangerie, the Belvedere and the Myslevitsky Palace.
Museum website www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl
6. Museum of the History of Polish Jews presents 8 multimedia galleries that tell the stories of the Jewish people, from the first settlements to modern communities.
Museum website www.polin.pl
Free admission on Thursdays.
7. Warsaw National Museum collected one of the largest collections of works of Polish and world art - ancient and modern painting, sculpture, graphics, photography and design. The uniqueness of the museum is the LED lighting system for a better presentation of the merits of each painting.
Museum website www.mnw.art.pl
Free admission on Tuesdays.
8. Museum at the Royal Castle- you can see the paintings of the legendary artist Rembrandt.
More information on the website www.zamek-korolewski.pl. On Sundays admission is free.
9. Poster Museum located on the grounds of the Wilanow Palace and offers visitors a large collection of posters and postcards by Polish authors and artists from around the world, including Andy Warhol and Picasso.
Museum website http://www.postermuseum.pl
Entrance on Mondays is free.
10. Contemporary Art Center at Ujazdowski Castle is located near the park and Lazienki Palace. Here you can visit modern exhibitions and creative events, film screenings, and then relax with a glass of wine in the art cafe.
Castle website http://u-jazdowski.pl
Thursdays admission is free.
Chopin's Warsaw
Warsaw is the city of the great composer Chopin, which is reminiscent of even the benches on all the streets in the center. Wonderful benches are created not only for relaxing after walking, but also with the opportunity to listen to Chopin for free by pressing a button.
From mid-May to the end of September, on Sundays, free concerts with the composer's works are held in Lazienki Park, gathering many fans of his work.
You can listen to the famous composer in the main concert halls of Warsaw at the annual International Music Festival "Chopin and His Europe", more details on the website www.pl.chopin.nifc.pl/festival
For me personally, this will be one of the main reasons to return to Warsaw for the second time and at a warmer time.
observation decks
1. Warsaw University Library. One of my favorite places in the city thanks to the unusual roof topped with all sorts of flowers and plants. Admission is free, and although from a low height you can see the panorama of Warsaw from many angles.
2. Bell tower of the Church of St. Anne overlooking the Old Town - the most popular viewing point among tourists and overlooking the historical part. Entrance - 5 gold.
3. House of Culture and Science– a preserved Stalinist skyscraper and a favorite place for Warsaw youth with a panorama of the modern part of the city, which can be seen from the 30th floor. Entrance - 20 gold.
For a holiday in Warsaw, we chose the WilanowHotel desilva.pl/en/wilanow/hotel
At first we were a little embarrassed that it is located a little far from the center (about 9 km), but after settling in, we appreciated all its advantages and were satisfied. Cozy clean rooms, a very tasty and hearty breakfast, and most importantly, the Wilanowski Palace with a garden located next to the hotel, which I wrote about above. Even in autumn, it looked fabulous and conveyed the atmosphere of the Polish kings.
And the center and the bus station could easily be reached by public transport day and night. Highly recommend.
Other hotels can be viewed and selected according to fresh reviews and ratings through the service.
Polish cuisine worth trying in Warsaw
Polish cuisine is a mixture of Ukrainian, Russian and Lithuanian, which is quite logical due to the territorial proximity and historical features.
1. Polish soups- Zhurek, mushroom in bread, holodnik (similar to our beetroot)
2. Polish Pies(dumplings) PolishDumplings - a variety of fillings from meat and potato and sweet costing 20-30 zł for a large portion
3. Polish sausages(kielbasa) is no worse than the popular German ones, and in May the taste is even tastier. And in general, all meat products are worth a try.
4. Potato pancakes(placzkiziemniaczane) - similar to Ukrainian and Belarusian zrazy. Served with sour cream and additives of your choice (for example, very tasty with salmon)
5. Sweet symbols of Warsaw— “vuzetki” and “zigmuntovki”, as well as the famous shortbread cookies with jam (kolaczki)
9. Warsaw University
In the photo: the gate at the entrance of the University of Warsaw In addition, if you have time, you can walk to the unique building of the Warsaw Library with a wonderful botanical garden on the roof (it is also called the secret garden of Warsaw) is one of the largest and most beautiful in Europe. Is free!
After the University, the same Krakowskie Pródmieście street imperceptibly turns into Nowy Świat :) If fatigue takes its toll, take bus 116 or 180 right on the same street. The necessary stop is Lazienki Królewski Park.
10. Park Krulevske Lazienki (Lazienki Krolewskie)
Perhaps this is the most wonderful place in Warsaw. However, for those who come to Warsaw for one or two days, the park will have to be skipped or viewed on the run. It is huge, so it is better to allocate at least half a day for it, or better, a full day.
In the photo: evening in the Krulewskie Lazienki park in Warsaw In this park you can meet deer and squirrels, as well as look at the museum, palaces and beautiful 18th century greenhouses.
What to see in Warsaw on the 2nd and 3rd day
For those who stayed in the city longer, I recommend taking a closer look at the sights of Warsaw (not at a gallop in one day) described above, as well as taking a walk from the Vistula embankment, along the central streets of the city, and then go shopping.
In the evenings, it is pleasant to stroll through the bars in the area of Foksal and Chmielna streets.
Shops in Warsaw
Not far from Warsaw is located with quality items of popular brands. During the sales season, discounts up to -90%.
In addition, there are many shopping centers in Warsaw. The most popular shopping places in Warsaw are the Arkadia shopping center and the Golden Terraces mall.
In the photo: the popular Arcadia shopping center in Warsaw The shopping malls have a cinema and food courts, so it's easy to spend a whole day here. Inexpensive fish dishes are sold in the North Fish chain:
Food court in the Arcadia shopping complex Separately, the fish is expensive (considering that it is still fast food), but it turns out to be inexpensive if you take it in a set right away, so carefully study the menu.
The trick of North Fish is that if you take a set, you will be given a plate of fish, and you can pick up a side dish (salads, rice, potatoes, etc.) yourself - as much as you can fit on the plate. And it fits a lot :)
I liked the MAXX shopping complex, which is located in the very center of Warsaw, the most. There are several TK MAXX in the city, so google the nearest one. If time is short, then this is a great option: good practical things with discounts are what travelers need. It is convenient that everything is in one place, you do not have to spend a lot of time shopping.
In the photo: shopping in the MAXX shopping center, Warsaw However, if you are going from Warsaw to Italy or Germany, then there is no point in spending a day shopping. Those who want to buy quality things really cheap go to one of the - choose Italian and German ones. And in the capital of Poland, it is better to spend a day walking around the city.
Excursions in Warsaw
When time is short and you don't know what to see in Warsaw, it makes sense to take a tour - not boring Wikipedia quotes, but interesting and unusual details from local residents.
You will not find a local guide Yana in travel agencies, her contacts are passed only on recommendations. Because she makes perhaps the most interesting excursions in Warsaw. When you want to find unusual places in the city, hear local stories and legends, as well as explore the best inexpensive cafes and taste delicious hot chocolate, they turn to. Moreover, it is better to contact her immediately upon arrival - in a couple of hours you will learn a lot of interesting things, and even get advice on where to go in Warsaw on the following days in accordance with your preferences.
For practical novice tourists, there is the fastest way to get to know the city - connect to a walking group of tourists for. In this situation, an experienced local guide gives you the best route, allowing you to quickly walk around all the iconic sights of Warsaw and take great pictures from the most correct angles :)
Where to go for free in Warsaw
Concerts
From May 15 to September 25 on Sundays, twice a day - at 12.00 and at 16.00, free concerts are held in Lazienki Park near the monument to Frederic Chopin. Popular works are performed by young pianists.
In July and August, the annual jazz festival Jazz Na Starówce is held every Saturday. Concerts are held in the Old Town, in the open air. It's best to arrive early to take seats closer to the stage.
Museums
Always open free of charge: the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, as well as some galleries.
Thursday is a great day to visit many museums for free. On this day, you can visit for free: the Palace in Wilanow (“Little Versailles”), the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the Warsaw Photoplasticon, the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of Independence, the Zacheta Art Gallery and others.
On Sunday, the Royal Castle is open for free admission, where you can see paintings by Rembrandt.
Where to stay in Warsaw
The city is large, therefore, in order not to waste time on transitions from / to the hotel, I recommend staying at the Metropol Hotel - the name is loud, but the hotel itself is simple and inexpensive. Located in the city center, two minutes from the bus stop and very close to the railway station and bus station in Warsaw. There is also a metro station here. In general, this hotel has an excellent location for those who come to Warsaw for 1-2 days, and for the price it is one of the cheapest hotels in the center of Warsaw.
From some windows of the Metropol, by the way, you can see the spectacular skyscraper of the Palace of Science. View of Warsaw from Novotel Warszawa Centrum
How to get to Warsaw inexpensively
You can get to the capital of Poland from any city in the world without any problems by plane, the only question is the price. Can I save money by taking the bus or train to Warsaw? Not always, but there are several ways.
- From Moscow to Warsaw
– By train it is expensive to travel, from 16,000 rubles round trip. If you want to save money, then the cheapest way is to take a reserved seat to Minsk, and then to Warsaw (see below).
– By bus It will be cheaper, from 6000 rubles round trip.
- But it's more convenient to buy a ticket for airplane. Flights from Moscow to Warsaw cost about 10,000 rubles round trip. - Russia. From Russian cities to Warsaw
– The cheapest way is by plane + bus. Flight to Kaliningrad, from there by bus to Warsaw. Looking for cheap flights - From Minsk to Warsaw.
– By train through Brest. A direct Minsk-Warsaw train does not yet exist, and tickets for a passing train from Moscow are expensive. However, there is a cheap way: buy a single ticket from Minsk to Warsaw for trains 727 and 127. The price is about 35 euros round trip. There will be a transfer in Brest - usually on the same platform, so we just transfer to the train on the other side of the platform. Customs and passport checks will be right on the train. It is better to buy tickets immediately there and back. Or return tickets can only be bought at the box office in Warsaw, they are not sold via the Internet. Return trains from Warsaw to Minsk - 128 and 728.
– Buses Minsk – Warsaw. There are direct and connecting flights. - Ukraine:
– From Lviv Buses to Warsaw travel 7-10 hours. There are many buses, compare prices in a search engine.
– To Warsaw from Kyiv The fastest way to fly is by plane: there are flights from RyanAir, Wizzair and Ukraine International Airlines. The cheapest way to get there is by bus - bus ticket prices start from 25 euros. - From Riga to Warsaw– from 30 euros by bus.
- Estania. From Tallinn– from 40 euros by bus.
The Warsaw bus and railway station are located in the city center, and planes arrive at Chopin International Airport.
How to get to Warsaw from Chopin Airport
The cheapest way to get from the airport is by bus 175. Travel time is about 40 minutes, tickets are sold at the bus stop. It is convenient that it is not necessary to change the currency, you can pay in the machine with a bank card. Tickets are sold for a certain time, during which you can transfer to another transport.
Rare tourists spend more than one day in Warsaw, and we were no exception, having arranged a one-day break along the way. Naturally, we read pre-reports and impressions from Warsaw by other travelers. They all come to the conclusion that they expected less from the capital of Poland, bad reviews are usually left by people who have not visited Warsaw at all.
Yes, of course, the whole city was destroyed during the war years and it was not possible to restore it completely in its pre-war form. It turned out to be a kind of mix from different centuries, since some objects were restored according to the plans of the 18th century, others according to pre-war plans, some buildings were restored in a simplified version. But UNESCO still included the center of Warsaw in the list of the historical heritage of mankind, because the efforts made for the restoration were simply enormous.
I described how to get to the center of Warsaw in an article dedicated to We started our tour from Charles de Gaulle Square. Let's go along the New World Street (Nowy Świat), which, together with the Krakow Suburb Street, is part of the Royal Route.
You may want to find yourself guided tours in Russian around Warsaw. To do this, I would recommend that you read the article - For Warsaw, the second and last site from the list is relevant.
The Royal Route used to connect the Royal Palace of Jan III Sobieski with his Wilanów country residence. In total it will be about 10 km. We saw only a small part of this historical road from Charles de Gaulle Square to Castle Square.
Interestingly decorated house on Novyi Svet street
Right away, the Polish language began to surprise us, we were in Poland for the first time and were not used to such surprises yet. The day before, we just talked to the landlady in a mixture of Polish, Russian and English and made sure that our languages definitely have a lot of similar words. Slavic languages often have the same word roots, but completely different meanings, below is an example in the photo. "Dermo" is something about skin diseases and dermatology, only I have completely different associations?
Whims of the Polish language, pharmacy sign The signboards of Polish stores were also surprising, in Polish the store would be “sklep”, “zoo sklep” generally evokes memories of “a pet cemetery”. The beauty salon will be exactly the opposite - Salon Urody.
Beauty salon in Polish On this I will finish about the features of the Polish language, come and learn a lot of new things.
Near the monument to Copernicus, Novy Svet Street smoothly flows into Krakow Suburb Street. Despite the controversial issue with the nationality of Copernicus, the Poles consider him theirs. On the square in front of the monument, a scheme of the heliocentric system of the world is laid out with multi-colored stones, and the monument to Copernicus is located in the center of it.
Monument to Copernicus at the Staszic Palace Krakow suburb
The Krakow suburb took shape in the street in the 15th century. This is one of the oldest streets in Warsaw and an absolute tourist must see. Along this street are all the most important buildings in Poland - the University of Warsaw, the Presidential Palace, several old churches, many palaces of Polish magnates, simple houses and famous hotels. Churches and everything connected with religion are of great importance for Poles. The Krakow suburb is a bunch of Polish history. On this street we will meet many people who are the pride of Polish science, art, politics and religion.
In the columns of the Church of the Holy Cross, for example, the heart of Frederic Chopin was walled up, the Polish musician died in Paris, but as a sign of his affection for his homeland, he asked to bury his heart in Warsaw, which was done 39 years after his death. Frederic Chopin was born in a village near Warsaw, studied at the university, and many places in Warsaw are associated with his name.
Church of the Holy Cross (construction 1679-1696, restored 1945-1953) The Poles revere Frederic Chopin very much, even a special tourist route “Following Chopin in Warsaw” has been developed, you can take a brochure with a map in Turistic info. All the places where the composer visited are marked with memorial plaques. Commemorative benches are installed in many places of the route, and on each bench there is a map of the route, such a bench also plays music at the touch of a button. Warsaw has the best Frederic Chopin Museum, which is not surprising given such reverence.
Chopin's bench on the Krakow suburb Warsaw University was opened in 1817 under Alexander I in the building of the Kazimirovsky Palace, after the Polish uprising of 1830 the university was closed and reopened only in 1862. Polish students studied at that time at the universities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, Polish departments were opened there, but they were still forced to learn Russian, but on the other hand, how can one live in Russia and not know the language at all?
Main gate of Warsaw University Almost the entire street of the Krakow Suburb is built up with palaces of noble Poles or magnates. Here, on the facade of the palace of the Tyszkiewicz Atlanta, they hold a balcony on stone shoulders. After the Tyszkiewicz Palace, carefully look at your feet, you may want to deviate a little to the left and look at the oldest garden in Warsaw -. If you turn right at this point, you can look at the modern garden on the roof of the Warsaw University Library. Both gardens can be visited free of charge, and then return to the Krakowskie Suburb Street and continue the walk.
Riding in a cart, in the background the Tyszkiewicz Palace (1792) The Visitation Church is one of the few that survived during the war years, we can see it the same as it was after construction was completed in 1761.
Church of the Visitation or Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed Next to the Visiting Card Church there is a monument to the Primate of Poland Stefan Wyshinsky, he was also called the Primate of the Millennium, he was in office from 1948 to 1981. In Poland, he is highly respected, a monument to him was also erected in Czestochowa, the spiritual center of the country, a square in the town of Ostroleka is named after him.
Monument to Primate of the Millennium Stefan Wyshinsky 
Houses on Castle Square Polish cuisine
After visiting the palace, it was time for lunch. Naturally I wanted to try Polish cuisine. To do this is not difficult. In the center of Warsaw, there are many establishments specializing in national dishes. We chose Restauracja Zapiecek, a chain of restaurants with several in the center of Warsaw. Prices are moderate: soup about 2€, dumplings or dumplings about 4€. The menu with prices can be viewed here.
Restauracja Zapiecek - Polskie Pierogarnie The waitresses of Restauracja Zapiecek are dressed in national costumes, they serve Polish “feathers”, as they call dumplings with berries, cottage cheese, potatoes, and russian style “feathers” are made with meat. In addition to "feathers", many other dishes are served - soups, bigos, sausages with cabbage. Everything was delicious. The Poles understand the word "sour cream" in Russian, in Western Europe there is no such concept, there is either cream or yogurt. And we took sangria to drink, not in Polish, but very tasty and refreshing.
Pasha with feathers and sour cream During lunch, a Polish grandfather entertained us with songs, including those in Russian. I remember exactly that he sang "White Roses" and "Hold on tight to the steering wheel driver ...", he also sang our other songs. For Russian songs, he was served not only by people of Slavic appearance, but also by Indians. Then the nuns came up to the grandfather and ordered Polish songs for him, then he sang something in Yiddish, we understood only the words “Sholom Aleichem…”. This is what I mean by the fact that it is believed that the Poles do not like Russians, but Russian songs are successfully performed on one of the main streets of Warsaw.
Street singer Old city
Then we continued our walk around the Old City. The streets there are much narrower than on the Krakow Suburb Street and they are completely pedestrian, it is possible that cars drive there, but only in order to replenish the stocks of shops and restaurants. Entire houses in the Old Town cannot be photographed, so I took photographs of the fragments of architecture that I liked.
As in all countries with access to the Baltic Sea, trade in amber products is very popular in Poland, and in such an architectural setting, amber looks like a king.
Nice showcase with amber in the Old Town The facade of the house on Pivnaya Street is decorated with images of pigeons. This decoration appeared on the house in 1953 in honor of the protector of pigeons, who remained to live in the ruins after the liberation of Warsaw. I think it's very cute, the pigeons turned out as if they were alive.
Decoration of house No. 6 on Pivnaya Street The house under the ship was rebuilt after the war in 1953.
House number 32 on Sventoyanskaya street In the old town, many houses are decorated using the sgraffito technique. Below are examples.
Clock and house decorated with sgraffito at the Old Market 
The house under the little black boy in the Old Market The Jesuit church was significantly rebuilt; after the war, only a pile of rubble remained from it. The original gate (2009) by the famous Polish modern sculptor Igor Mirotai attracts attention. For the first time we got acquainted with his works on. We are still impressed and are already tracking the opportunity to see his work in the cities we visit.
Jesuit Church of the Virgin Mary and gates by Igor Mirotai (2009) In the Old Town, all roads lead to the Old Market Square, this is where the Warsaw Sirenka or the Little Mermaid stands. It is the symbol and coat of arms of the city. About 200 years ago, the statue of the little mermaid adorned the facade of the town hall building, then the building was demolished, and the sculpture was installed on the square on its own. All sides of the square are named after Polish politicians, but their names mean nothing to the average Russian.
Square Old Market An artificial puddle works around the pedestal with the little mermaid, it is pleasant to walk on it barefoot in hot weather, which is what numerous children and adults do.
Warsaw Sirenka One of the cafes on the Old Market Square was decorated with boxes of Russian ammunition, the boxes are very new, do the Poles still buy weapons from us?
In Warsaw, they also sell these yeast dough buns with sprinkles, which in the Czech Republic are called trdlo, in Hungary, kurtash-kalach, as they are called in Poland, I did not have time to understand, but we ate one bun with a hole for everyone.
Houses in the Old Market The Barbican separates the Old City from the New, but the New City can only be recognized as new in relation to the Old. Just like in Prague, the New Town of Warsaw was originally a separate settlement outside the city walls and merged with the Old Town only from the 18th century.
The Barbican was rebuilt according to the drawings of the 17th century after the war, the old bricks for the reconstruction of the Barbican were collected on the post-war ruins of other Polish cities, and on closer inspection it is noticeable, bricks of different colors.
Barbican New town
We did not fully explore the New City, only the part adjacent to the Old City, and looked at the Stalin skyscraper from the tram window on the way to the rented apartment. There are still many rather interesting buildings in a very modern style, but this is a topic for a separate story.
On one of the houses in the New Town there is an illustration to the Warsaw legend about the capture of the little mermaid in the waters of the Vistula by two fishermen. The Warsaw Sirenka, according to myths and legends, is the sister of the little mermaid from Copenhagen.
In the New City We did not find Pyatochka and Winnie the Pooh streets, but Kozla street caught our eye and there is such a thing in the New City.
On Freta Street, the museum of Maria Skladowska-Curie attracts attention. Maria was born in Warsaw and lived in the house where her museum is now located only one year after her birth, then the family moved to another house, also in Warsaw.
Museum building of Maria Skladowska-Curie on rue Freta A special tourist route has been developed in the footsteps of Maria Skladowska-Curie in Warsaw, most of the memorable places are located on the Krakowskie Suburb Street and in the Old Town. Russian tsarism did not allow Mary to get a higher education in Poland or Russia, and she and her husband made most of their discoveries in Paris, but she did not forget her homeland either.
Portrait of Marie Skladowska-Curie in the window of the museum Thanks to her efforts, the Radium Institute also appeared in Warsaw, now it is the Institute of Oncology. Maria Skladowska-Curie received two Nobel Prizes - in physics and in chemistry, became the first female professor at the Paris Sorbonne. Moreover, her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie also won the Nobel Prize along with her husband. In my youth, I read a biography of this great woman written by her second daughter, Eve Curie. This family undeniably glorified Poland on the world stage.
Monument to Maria Skladowska-Curie over the Vistula We did not visit the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising; on Sundays, admission there is just as free as in the Royal Palace. The Polish and Russian governments hold different views on this tragic moment in the history of Poland. In general, this is a topic for a separate article and now I will not touch on it.
Graffiti dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising We got to the multimedia fountain park, but we did not wait for the performance. Usually, if you start walking around the city at 10 am, then by 10 pm and even earlier, there is no strength left. The next day we had a long haul to the coast of the Adriatic Sea and we wanted to rest before a long journey.
light fountains Warsaw seemed to us a very pleasant city. One day, as always, was not enough, especially in summer, when the weather is conducive to exploring parks and suburban residences. Next time, if we drive past Warsaw, we will definitely turn around to look at the Lazienki park and the suburban residence Wilanow, his palace can be visited on Thursdays for free as well. In Warsaw, an attraction of unheard-of generosity works with museums. Three very interesting museums can be viewed for free, does anyone know the same or similar action in other European capitals?
I read plans to explore Warsaw along with parks within 24 hours, but this does not seem like a sound idea to me. We managed to look only at the city center and not completely. In 2017, we again stopped by Warsaw and spent several hours
