Warsaw People & Culture

I don't want to write a tip for Warsaw... I want to write a tip for the small mountain village in South Poland I passed through once only once, and could never find again because I never noted the name... and the roads in Poland are notoriously confusing (not to mention dangerous - do NOT begin a road rage contest with a Polish truck driver on his own turf - you will LOSE). That place was one of the most unbelievable little pockets of beauty I've ever seen, stone cottages two stories and higher, a babbling brook with cows just wandering about the place - I swear I saw a black haired Tess of the D'Urbevilles out getting ready to milk them. Idyllic, but like all idyllic scenes - it's be ruined if you stopped and tried to fit into it. Anyway my tip on Warsaw: don't get stuck in rush hour traffic. In fact, don't drive into town at all, go by foot and just find yourself a nice place to stay... then walk out at night and meet all the lovely people - they make eye contact! They say hello to strangers!

Loved the city hated the people

A very interesting and unusual city. Quite diverse with beauty and not so pretty sites. People seem happy and positive. Lots of crime when we were there a few years back...hopefully that has changed. Some interesting "US" type clubs with great music.

Too late, the market on the Stadium's gone;] Well - Warsaw - big city with a lot of unemployed place. Architecture - mixture of everything - the People's Republic of Poland style, some skyscrapers, a little bit of older buildings and an enormous tent with a market under it - all this in the city centre. Not very impressive. The Old Town, Królewskie Przedmieście(Royal Tract) and Nowy Świat(New World?;]) are beautiful, though and worth of seeing.

Try to avoid going alone around Central Railway Station in Warsaw, or inside it in late night hours, specially girls..its getting better from year to year but still a lot of homless people ...

Coming from Poland I can tell you allot of good things, Warszawa unfortunatly is not one of them. The city suffered terrible destruction up to 90% in the second world war...and eventhough it forms the capital and business center of Poland, the Polish culture seems to have been dissolved in the globalisation of this huge city.

Warsaw is my hometown, but I still don't feel I know it inside out. I guess it's almost impossible to really get to know the city but for every tourist I reccommend the central part of it. Supposing you arrive in Warsaw by train, the first place to go is Zlote Tarasy shopping centre, where you not only can do some proper shopping, eat something and grab a coffee but also admire the building itself, which is an excellent example of modern architecture. When you're done, go straight to Palace of Culture and Science -the tallest building in Poland where you can admire the panorama of Warsaw. It's only a 3-minute walk from the shopping centre but it's enought to notice the eclectic architecture of the central Warsaw. You can see 17-th century stylled building right next to modern sky scrapers. The next place to go is Chmielna Street which is famous for its numerous cafes. You don't necessarily have to stop for a coffee but you must try some typical polish doughnuts [pączki] which are sold there. I guarantee - these are the best pączki in the world! Right next to Chmielna Street is Nowy Swiat Street, which is the best place for shopping [mostly high fashion but not only!]. This is where you feel the European touch. And it's only a 15-minute walk to the Old Town. While walking you will be passing the Warsaw Uni campus, some beautiful churches and many beautiful historical bulidings reconstructed after the WWII. The Old Town itself is a long story, you'll find out for yourself when you get there. Some other places to see are: picturesque Lazienki Park, Wilanow, Teatr Wielki [the National Theatre building from 19th century], Belweder and many museums: the National Museum, Centre for Contemporary Art [CSW] and my personal favourite - Warsaw Uprising Museum.

It's very ideal to stay in hotels in the range of " Palace of Culture and Science ," "the old town," and a boulevard named "Nowy Swiat."

When walking through the towns and cities in Poland you will notice that locals do not dress in jeans, shorts, or other common casual ways like in the US. I recommend to bring slacks or skirts to fit in with the culture.

Walk around the gigantic palace of culture! A gift from Stalin to the city.

A very interesting and unusual city. Quite diverse with beauty and not so pretty sites. People seem happy and positive. Lots of crime when we were there a few years back...hopefully that has changed. Some interesting "US" type clubs with great music.

My every day Warsaw .

Jazz...
Jazz Club Tygmont
6 Mazowiecka Street

Jazz Cafe
69 Warszawska Street
05-092 Łomianki
tel. (0-22) 751 41 12

Dance
Enklawa Club
00-048 Warsaw
12 Mazowiecka Street
tel. (22) 827-31-51/52

Coffee Break:

Czuły Barbarzyńca:
31 Dobra Street ,
00-344 Warszawa
tel. (0-22) 826 32 94,

Cinema
Kino Paradiso
62 Solidarności Street
Tel, 515144007

Theatre
Stara ProchOFFnia
00-259
2 Boleść Street (Old Town)
tel. 635 89 64 ; 887 - 68 - 80;

Peaceful Place

Bench in the park near the music school at Bednarska Street where you can smoke cigarettes and listen to the sounds of instruments.

Favorite Streets

Nowy Swiat- Bednarska-Krakowskie Przedmieście Miodowa-Kozia, and little side streets near the Old Town Square.

Have a good time:-)

Never think of riding bike in a street - keep to the pavement or you'll get smashed. Drivers in Warsaw are famous for their bravado and tend not to see vehicles smaller than theirs. Never leave your bike in a solitary place, bike theft in Warsaw is a national sport and there is no mechanical method to avoid it but simply to keep an eye on the bike.

I don't want to write a tip for Warsaw... I want to write a tip for the small mountain village in South Poland I passed through once only once, and could never find again because I never noted the name... and the roads in Poland are notoriously confusing (not to mention dangerous - do NOT begin a road rage contest with a Polish truck driver on his own turf - you will LOSE). That place was one of the most unbelievable little pockets of beauty I've ever seen, stone cottages two stories and higher, a babbling brook with cows just wandering about the place - I swear I saw a black haired Tess of the D'Urbevilles out getting ready to milk them. Idyllic, but like all idyllic scenes - it's be ruined if you stopped and tried to fit into it. Anyway my tip on Warsaw: don't get stuck in rush hour traffic. In fact, don't drive into town at all, go by foot and just find yourself a nice place to stay... then walk out at night and meet all the lovely people - they make eye contact! They say hello to strangers!

Vegetarians should definitely check out Biosfera. They also got vegan dishes and extremely friendly staff. :) It's just a couple of stops south from the central metro stop so easy access.

Loved the city hated the people

Warsaw is a very interesting place. Old town is beautiful, and... well, you're in a town that suffered in WWII. You must go to the Warsaw occupation museum: my life changed after going there.

When in Warszawa and eager for a coffee, you should check out CoffeeHeaven. Plenty can be found all over Warsaw, including the airport.