Weekend in Warsaw: itinerary, attractions, and practical tips to visit it in 2 days

In October, Fabio and I fancied discovering a new European capital, ideally one that’s less touristy and easy to visit over a weekend. Looking at flights, we found a deal to Warsaw: from Milan Bergamo with Wizz Air, at a great price.

Of Poland we’d only visited Wrocław (you’ll find the article here), so we were very curious to discover the capital.

What’s special about Warsaw is that it’s a city entirely rebuilt after the Second World War: every building, square and monument in the old town was brought back to life following the original drawings and memories. Walking through its streets literally means seeing a city reborn from its ashes.

In this article I’ll tell you about our 2-day itinerary in Warsaw, with the most beautiful things to see, practical tips and a few local curiosities that will help you make the most of a weekend in the capital of Poland.

In short: Warsaw is perfect for a 2-day weekend. The first day is dedicated to the Old Town (Stare Miasto), rebuilt after the war and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the Royal Castle and the Łazienki park, ending with the view from the Varso Tower (the tallest skyscraper in the EU). The second day is for discovering the more authentic Warsaw: the Praga district (one of the few not destroyed by the bombing), the sites of the Jewish Ghetto and the local cuisine (pierogi, żurek, bigos). You arrive from Chopin Airport in about 20 minutes, you pay by card everywhere (currency: the złoty) and you get around perfectly on foot.

Where to stay in Warsaw?

Warsaw is crossed by the Vistula river, which divides it into two main parts: the left bank, where most of the tourist attractions are concentrated, and the more alternative right bank.

Nowe Miasto – the New Town (but historic)

Despite the name, it’s an old part: an extension of the Old Town, with little churches, quiet squares and typical eateries. We decided to stay here and had a great time!

Recommended apartment:

Old Town Heart – an apartment 100 metres from the Barbican, with excellent reviews. Find it HERE.

Stare Miasto – the Old Town

It’s the most iconic district, faithfully rebuilt after the Second World War. Here you’ll find the Market Square, the Royal Castle, St John’s Cathedral and the Barbican, the old walls that once protected the city.

Recommended apartment:

Ego Apartments Old Town – in the heart of the old town, just a 5-minute walk from the Royal Castle. Find it HERE.

Śródmieście – the modern, central heart

Here you’ll find lots of hotels, restaurants, shops and the famous Palace of Culture and Science, the symbol of modern Warsaw. From here you can easily reach the Old Town on foot or in a few minutes by tram.

Recommended hotels:

Hotel Polonia Palace: a 4-star at a great price. Practically in front of the hotel there’s the stop for bus 128, which takes you into the centre in exactly 8 minutes. Find it HERE.
Apartament w Centrum: with the stop for the 107 right outside, which takes you to the old town in 5 minutes. Find it HERE.

How to get from the airport to the centre?

We landed at Warsaw Chopin Airport (the most convenient for the centre) at 11 pm. There are two airports: Chopin, about 20–25 minutes away, and Modlin, a bit further out (about an hour from the centre).

From Chopin airport you have two options: take the train (or the bus) or go for an Uber, which in our case was the preferred choice, since we were tired.

With Uber: you book on the app, pay there, you’re given a code and you queue in front of the arrivals area. When it’s your turn, you give the code. Of course you can also use the train or the bus as an alternative. 🙂

Day 1: the Old Town, Łazienki and the Varso Tower

In short: the first day starts in the Old Town (Barbican, Market Square, Royal Castle), continues through the typical sweets and pierogi and the modern centre of Śródmieście, and ends with the Łazienki park and sunset from the Varso Tower.

For breakfast we stopped at To Lubię for a nice slice of karpatka: a typical Polish cake made of two layers of choux pastry filled with a vanilla and butter custard. It looks like a giant cream puff cut into slices, perfect for anyone who loves substantial, slightly retro desserts. I’ll leave you the photo below because it’s worth it!

After breakfast we headed towards the Barbican, Warsaw’s old defensive walls. What strikes you is that everything, walls included, was rebuilt after the Second World War, when Warsaw was practically razed to the ground. The reconstruction work was so faithful to the originals that today the Old Town (Stare Miasto) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an “outstanding example of the integral reconstruction of a historic centre“.

A few steps away the Market Square opens up, and in the centre you’ll find the Warsaw Mermaid (Syrenka): according to legend she’s the sister of the one in Copenhagen. Swimming along the Vistula, she’s said to have stopped here and decided to stay to protect the city. She has become the symbol of Warsaw and you’ll find her everywhere, including on the official coat of arms.

A few minutes on foot and you reach Plac Zamkowy, the Royal Castle square, dominated by Sigismund’s Column. We went into the Royal Castle more out of curiosity and, honestly, also to shelter a bit from the cold! Don’t expect anything mind-blowing: it’s a nice visit but not unmissable, although it has to be said that this building has an incredible history. It was the residence of the Polish monarchs, then the seat of the President of Poland, and after the bombing of ’39 it was almost completely destroyed. Today you see it rebuilt stone by stone. HERE you’ll find the official website where you can buy tickets. Alternatively you can buy them on site.

For lunch, of course, pierogi! They’re the famous filled Polish dumplings, which you’ll find practically everywhere. My favourites? With potato and cabbage, or cheese and spinach. They’re pure comfort food. If you’re vegetarian you’ll have loads of options, and they’re cheap (usually €5–6 for a generous portion). I had them at PierOgarnia and at Przystanek Pierogarnia.

In the afternoon we moved towards the modern centre of Warsaw: Śródmieście. Here you’ll find lots of lovely cafés and bakeries: a stop not to be missed is Canela Bakery, famous for its cinnamon rolls. If you prefer something more classic, you can try Vincent, a chain of French patisseries much loved by locals too. Desserts in Warsaw really are everywhere: you’ll also find pączki, fried doughnuts filled with jam or custard: a real bomb, in every sense!

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the beautiful Łazienki Królewskie, the “Royal Park”. It’s one of the most romantic spots in Warsaw: wide tree-lined avenues, squirrels leaping among the trees, the Palace on the Isle that seems to float on the water, and the famous statue of Chopin. In summer free concerts dedicated to the Polish composer are held here too.

To round off the day, we went up the Varso Tower, the tallest skyscraper not only in Warsaw, but in the whole European Union (310 metres with the spire). Its panoramic terrace, Highline Warsaw, opened in September 2025 and is on the 53rd floor, at a height of 230 metres. The view at sunset is spectacular, and I’d recommend booking online because the price varies depending on the time slot. HERE you’ll find the official website where you can book.

We then went for dinner at Podwale 25 Kompania Piwna, a traditional restaurant recommended by loads of Italians (and indeed inside we were almost all fellow countrymen 😅). The food is good, go for it! Just remember, you need to book online.

Day 2: the Praga district and the places of remembrance

In short: the second day crosses the Vistula to discover the Praga district (one of the few that remained original), visits the sites of the Jewish Ghetto and, time permitting, the Wilanów Palace, the “Versailles of Warsaw”.

On the second day we started at Shabby Coffee • Wine • Books, a veeery cute little place where I tried the Polish cheesecake, which here is called sernik. It’s made with twaróg, a fresh cheese similar to ricotta but denser. It didn’t blow me away, I have to be honest, maybe because the basque cheesecake is my favourite cake. 🙂 Although I discovered a basque cheesecake at Sirena Gelato that was wonderful!

Then we moved to the right side of the Vistula to visit the Praga district, passing through Park Praski (right in front of the zoo). Praga is completely different from the rest of the city: it’s one of the few original areas, not destroyed by the bombing. Here you can still see the shared inner courtyards, the household shrines where residents prayed during the war, and lots of street art. If you like urban art or want to discover the less touristy Warsaw, you can’t miss it.

For lunch… guess what? Pierogi, again! But if you want to mix it up a bit, here are a few typical dishes to try:

Placki ziemniaczane, potato pancakes served with sour cream or mushroom sauce.
Żurek, a thick soup made from fermented rye (not for everyone, but very typical).
Bigos, a cabbage and meat stew, considered the “national dish”.
And of course the milk bars (bar mleczny), popular canteens that started in the communist era, where to this day you can eat home cooking at really low prices. Many are still subsidised by the state, and the most expensive dish costs something like €5.

In the afternoon we visited the sites of the former Jewish Ghetto. In various parts of the city you’ll find bronze lines set into the pavement: they mark the perimeter of the original ghetto. Not far away, on ulica Waliców, stands one of the few houses left standing after the war, a kamienica with bullet marks still visible on the walls. It’s a place that leaves you speechless, a symbol of memory and resistance.

To round off the trip, we’d planned to visit the so-called “Versailles of Warsaw“, the Wilanów Palace, a splendid baroque residence surrounded by gardens. Unfortunately, as it was 1 November, it was closed, but I absolutely recommend it if you’re there at other times: it’s one of the most beautiful and least touristy attractions in the city. (I’ll leave you the direct link to book tickets here.)

How to get around Warsaw

We always got around on foot, because in the end the city isn’t huge. We took Uber (there’s Bolt too) once in the evening to get back from the Varso Tower and we realised that for €5-6 you can really go anywhere. Alternatively you’ll find trams, buses and a metro at a tiny cost everywhere. As always, to work out which one to take, use Google Maps’ “transit” function: enter your starting point, then your destination and “transit”. It’ll show you the right one to take.

Do they use euros in Warsaw? The local currency

A reminder that they don’t accept euros, because they use the local currency: the Polish złoty. You’ll often find exchange offices to change cash, but we didn’t change anything because they accepted cards everywhere! As always, my Revolut card did everything by itself, with instant exchange.

Other places to see in Warsaw

If you have an extra day, or simply want to enrich your weekend, here are a few stops that are absolutely worth it.

Warsaw Uprising Museum

An interactive museum telling the story of the 1944 revolt against the Nazi occupation.

Chopin Museum

Dedicated to Poland’s most beloved composer, Frédéric Chopin, with multimedia experiences that let you listen to his music in an immersive way.

Palace of Culture and Science

A controversial icon of Warsaw, a gift from Stalin in the days of the Soviet regime. You can go up to the panoramic terrace and enjoy a view over the city, as an alternative (or in addition) to the Varso Tower. From the reviews, everyone tells me the Varso is more spectacular.

Warsaw is a city that tells you its story as you walk: destroyed and rebuilt, melancholic and modern at the same time. In two days you can see a lot, so in my opinion it’s perfect for a weekend. Honestly? I loved Wrocław more, so the next stop: Kraków! 🙂
I hope this itinerary and my tips will be useful in planning your weekend in Warsaw. 💙

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And if you want to use Get Your Guide for your trip to Warsaw, just a reminder that with the code ANGELAISAI5 you get a 5% discount on any activity!

What to pack for Warsaw (the things that saved us)

Frequently asked questions about Warsaw

How many days do you need to visit Warsaw?

A 2-day weekend is perfect for seeing the heart of the city: the Old Town, the modern centre and the Praga district. If you have an extra day you can add the Wilanów Palace or a few museums, like the Uprising one. The city isn’t huge and is very walkable, so it gives you a lot even in a short time.

How do you get from Warsaw airport to the centre?

The most convenient airport is Chopin, about 20-25 minutes from the centre; Modlin is further out (about an hour). From Chopin you can take the train, the bus or an Uber, which is what we chose on our evening arrival: practical and good value.

Do they use euros in Warsaw?

No, in Poland they use the złoty, not the euro. The good news is that you can pay by card almost everywhere, so there’s no need to change cash: I got on really well with Revolut and its instant exchange.

What to eat in Warsaw?

The signature dish is pierogi, the filled Polish dumplings, but it’s also worth trying żurek (fermented rye soup), bigos (cabbage and meat stew) and placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes). For desserts, don’t miss the karpatka and the pączki. And to eat local while spending very little, look for the milk bars, the popular canteens still subsidised by the state.