Fun Time Fridays - Warsaw
Warsaw is usually overlooked by its more colorful cousin, Krakow. However, the city is interesting with a great combination of restaurants, nightlife and history. The main sites are quite walkable and the Old Town (completely destroyed during World War II and reconstructed) is remarkable. That’s where you’ll find the “history;” much of the rest of the city is more “modern” (built following WWII) and is of that interesting Communist-era architecture form. It is worth a walk around both parts to get a real feel for the city, plus the people are quite open and friendly. Warsaw still isn’t up there on the list of must-visit’s so prices are reasonable, and you won’t be overwhelmed with a ton of other tourists.
The Old Town is a beautiful square surrounded by shops and restaurants. Carefully reconstructed following WWII, it is now a UNESCO protected site. It’s especially lively in the summer when street performers appear and all the cafes move their tables outdoors. The Royal Palace is a huge red can’t miss structure; there’s an art museum inside. Nowy Swiat is the area for bars and restaurants. A wander through the large and beautiful Lizienki Park and Palace is great for a sunny day and some “fresh” air. During the summer many free concerts and other events are held in the park.
The Monument to the Warsaw Uprising Fighters is a moving, life-size memorial. Located outside, it is free to see. Prior to WWII, Warsaw had a very large Jewish population. A portion of the ghetto wall the German’s built to house the Jews can still be seen. The Palace of Culture and Science can not be missed – the huge wedding cake shaped building towers over the center of the city. You can go inside for a bird’s eye view of Warsaw and the surrounding countryside. And if you ever get lost, just look up and start walking towards it. It can be seen from nearly all areas of the city and you’ll soon find yourself “found” again.
If you are looking for a cheap, authentic meal, order the pirogis. If you are looking for an interesting experience with your cheap meal, find a milk bar. These are holdover restaurants from communist days when they served cheap, filling meals based on milk products. After the fall of communism, many of these shut down, so it is worth searching out one of the few remaining. And quite often, the food is edible, and even enjoyable.
It’s the gritty, but cosmopolitan; reconstructed history combined with 1950’s built hipness and a ton of skyscrapers and new development that makes Warsaw such a fascinating city. For more information visit the City of Warsaw or the Warsaw Tourist Office.
Photo Credit: Monument to the Warsaw Uprising Fighters, Warsaw, Jacy Meyer
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POSTED IN: Culture, Eastern Europe, Sightseeing in Europe
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