Warsaw Old Town (Stare Miasto)

A popular day trip destination from Lodz or Krakow, Warsaw Old Town is famous for its ornate buildings, expansive squares, and rich cultural history. Walking, cycling, and Segway tours provide fresh air and a close-up view of city highlights such as the Royal Castle, Grand Market Square, and Palace of Culture and Science. Car and bus tours are also available, including group and private excursions in a retro bus or Fiat car. If you’d rather explore on your own schedule, hop-on hop-off bus tours are a good option.

• Warsaw is magical at night with illuminated fountains and buildings.

• Be sure to sample Poland’s iconic dumplings (pierogi) at a local restaurant.

• Warsaw is Poland's city of transformation—a fascinating place for history and culture fans.

Warsaw has two airports—Warsaw Chopin and Warsaw Modlin. The closest airport is Warsaw Chopin, which is roughly 5.5 miles (9 kilometers) from the city center. There is a train link that connects the airport with the city center (Warszawa Centralna station). The public transport system consists of buses, trams, and metro lines—conveniently, they all use the same ticketing system.

There is plenty to see and do in Warsaw throughout the year. When it comes to weather, the best months to visit are between April and October, as Warsaw is typically freezing during winter. If you want to avoid crowds, it’s a good idea to avoid July and August (the peak tourist season).

There are plenty of wonderful restaurants in Warsaw Old Town. If you want to try traditional Polish food with eco-friendly ingredients, be sure to visit Polka. Another Warsaw spot known for its Polish hunting cuisine is Przy Zamku. If you want to try local Polish drinks, Pasieka is an unusual restaurant with mead drinking rooms.

Warsaw Old Town is historically significant as it was built between the 13th and 14th centuries, but then, during World War II, it was almost completely destroyed. Since then, it has been painstakingly reconstructed to restore its historical identity, and it’s also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It’s easy to get to Warsaw Old Town using public transport. Simply get the tram or bus to stops in the city center, such as Stare Miastro 01, which is served by tram lines #4, #6, #20, #23, or #26. Alternatively, you can catch bus #160, #190, N11, or N16.

Yes, there are lots of guided tours available in Warsaw Old Town. These can offer insights into different parts of the city—including its history, architecture, culture, and top landmarks. For more flexibility, some travelers opt for private walking tours; however, there are also shared tours and hop-on hop-off bus tours.

Some of the must-see attractions in Warsaw Old Town include the Royal Castle, the Old Town Market Square, and the Warsaw mermaid statue, which is thought to be the symbol of the city. Museum buffs also flock to the Museum of Warsaw to learn about Warsaw’s past and see preserved artifacts.

Yes, there are plenty of traditional Polish restaurants to choose from in Warsaw Old Town. Gościniec is a popular spot to try pierogis (fried dumplings), placki ziemniaczane* (potato pancakes), and (zurek) sour rye soup. There’s also Restauracja Portretowa that offers a diverse range of local specialties and great cakes, too.

story of Warsaw’s past using a collection of more than 300,000 original objects. There’s also the Royal Castle, which visitors can enter to see its vast art collection, as well as the royal apartments.