Airport Details
Airport Full Name
Warsaw Airport
IATA Code
WAW
Location:
The airport is situated six miles (10km) south west of
Warsaw.
Airport Facilities
There are shops, bars and restaurants at the airport. Other facilities include banks, bureaux de change, ATMs, a post office and a tourist information and hotel reservations service. There is also an observation deck; a fee is charged and visitors are subjected to a security check. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline in advance. Note that the line for check-in can be very long.
Transfers
Municipal bus lines (No 175 and 188) operate daily from 4.40am to 11pm ferrying commuters to Warsaw city centre and the right riverbank. Journey time is 30 minutes and a single daytime ticket costs 2.40 zl. Tickets are available in the 'Ruch' kiosks and at Tourist Information in the Departures Hall. Some hotels provide a shuttle bus service to and from the hotel on request and a taxi stand is located in front of the Arrivals Hall. The Polski Express bus provides connections to the biggest polish towns. The bus stop is on the Arrivals Hall level of Terminal 2.
Contact
Tel: +48 (22) 650 4220.
Climate Details (C)
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
| Min | -5 | -4 | -3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | -4 |
| Max | 0 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 |
Travel Guides: Warsaw
General Information
As the capital of Poland, Warsaw was one of the most beautiful and sophisticated cities in central Europe until it was almost totally destroyed during the Nazi occupation of World War II. The end of the war saw most of the city reduced to rubble and ruins, and the large swathes of the population had either been killed or interred in Nazi concentration camps.
The city underwent a major regeneration following the havoc of destruction, and the buildings in the heart of the old city were meticulously restored. Most of the historic Old Town was painstakingly rebuilt from a pile of debris, restoring it to its original 17th and 18th Century appearance. The charming Old Market Square, the centre of the rebuilding process, is now a major World Heritage Site attraction.
Warsaw is divided into two distinct halves by the Vistula River, with the Old Town, the modern city centre and most of the attractions on the western side. The eastern side of the river is comprised of uninteresting residential suburbs and business districts. The post-war appearance of Warsaw is a modern urban landscape of high-rise buildings, and the years of communist rule have left an uninspiring architectural legacy of drab concrete structures and uniform prefab-style housing. Dominating the skyline is the city's major eyesore: the massive shape of the Palace of Science and Culture, Stalin's bequest to Polish citizens.
Lying in determined contrast to the concrete greyness are traces of Poland's grand past, including castles and palaces, open parklands, impressive churches and the restored streets of the historic old centre. Signs of former political austerity have been replaced by modern progression, with dreary state shops turned into fashionable boutiques, and consumerism a growing trend.
Although many people give scant regard to Warsaw as an appealing tourist destination, it is still Poland's largest city and the political, economic, scientific and cultural hub of the country. It has many museums and historical monuments, galleries and historic attractions, a variety of restaurants and open-air cafes, and an energetic nightlife. With green open spaces and classical music concerts, this modern bustling city is a far cry from the severe communist-era images of post-war Warsaw.
Getting Around
The Municipal Transport Board in Warsaw operates an extensive bus and tram network and a single-line metro system. Buses and trams ply the streets from 5am to 11pm each day and are the cheapest way to get around. Tickets are valid for all modes of public transport and must be bought in advance from Ruch kiosks, post offices, hotels or restaurants. Travellers must then punch the ticket on the machine inside the bus or tram, one ticket for every change of vehicle. One day passes and group tickets are available. The metro trains run every five minutes to and fro between the southern suburbs and the city centre and is the fastest way of getting around Warsaw. Metered taxis can be hailed on the streets or ordered by telephone from a number of different companies. Visitors are sometimes overcharged, particularly at the airport and central station so it is best to agree on a price before getting in. Taxis ordered by phone are usually a lot cheaper.
Activities
The Royal Way, Warsaw
Known as the Royal Way, this two-and-a-half mile (4km) route stretches from the Royal Castle in the Old Town to the stately King's Palace at Wilanów on the outskirts of the city. It is the most important thoroughfare, bisecting the central city from north to south, and is lined with galleries, museums and historical buildings (including St Anne's Church, where the Polish princes used to swear homage to the King). Along the way are the royal gardens of Park Lazienki, one of the city's beautiful most beautiful green spaces with its lakes, peacocks and the charming 18th-century Palace Upon the Water, the royal summer residence. There is a monument to the famous Polish composer Frederic Chopin, and outdoor concerts of his classical music are held on the lawns in summer. The Royal Way ends at the splendid Wilanów Palace, the former residence of King Jan III Sobieski that was modelled on Versailles. It is now a museum containing a marvellous collection of old paintings and furniture. In the well-kept park behind the palace is the Orangery, housing an art gallery.
Opening Times:
Wilanów Palace: open daily except Tuesdays from 9am
to 4pm. From 15 May to 18 September, the Palace is open until 6pm
on Wednesdays and until 7pm on Sundays. The park is open daily from
9am until dusk
Admission:
Palace: 20 PLN, which includes a guide. Park: 2 PLN, but
free on Sundays
Historical Museum of Warsaw, Warsaw
The History Museum is one of the best of Warsaw's impressive array of museums. Its three storeys are crammed with fascinating exhibitions, covering every aspect of Warsaw's history and life from its beginnings to the present day, and there are old photographs, clippings and articles on display from everyday pre-war city life. The museum's special feature is a documentary film showing the destruction and reconstruction of the city, with footage shot by the Nazis during their calculated and systematic annihilation. The film is shown in English at 12pm, from Tuesday to Saturday. Please note that the Historical Museum of Warsaw is currently closed for renovations, but will be re-opening in 2012.
Opening Times:
Open Tuesday and Thursday from 11am to 6pm; Wednesday
and Friday from 10am to 3.30pm; and Saturday and Sunday from
10.30am to 4.30pm. Closed on Mondays
Admission:
6 PLN (adults), 3 PLN (concessions). Free on Sundays. An
English-speaking guide costs 20 PLN
Old Town (Starego Miasta), Warsaw
The busy Old Town provides the historic focal point of Warsaw, having been rebuilt in the original 17th and 18th Century style following the almost total destruction of the city during the war. The picturesque Old Market Square (Rynek) is at the centre, surrounded by restored buildings and colourful three-storey merchant houses with Baroque and Renaissance facades, lively open-air restaurants, art stalls and the Historical Museum of Warsaw. Around the two old central water pumps, the atmosphere is a constant buzz of activity with buskers, painters and musicians providing entertainment for the milling crowds, while around the fringes the clattering of hooves signals the arrival of another traditional horse-drawn carriage. Leading from the square is a network of cobbled streets and alleyways that contain beautiful Gothic churches and former palaces of the aristocracy. The impressive Royal Castle was once the home of the Polish Kings and is now a museum displaying tapestries, period furniture, portraits and other decorative collections. The narrow streets also lead to the ramparts and watchtowers of the medieval walls surrounding the old city, providing unforgettable views of the heart of Warsaw.
Chopin's House, Warsaw
Famous Polish composer Frederick Chopin lived just 32 miles (53km) outside of Warsaw, and his manor house has been converted into a lovely, relaxing tourist attraction. There is a leafy park surrounding the house, and an assortment of 19th-century furniture and instruments within. There are concerts hosted on Sundays in the summertime. A must-see tourist attraction in Poland for culture buffs.
Admission:
12 PLN, which includes entry to the park, house and
concert.
Bialowieza National Park, Warsaw
Bialowieza National Park, located on the border between Poland and Belarus, is a heavily protected area that guards the last remnants of a primeval forest that used to cover most of Europe at the time of the last ice age. This ancient woodland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an absolutely enthralling place to visit. Visitors can take a guided tour of the forest, and feel as though they are trespassing in a land that time has forgot - the towering trees and the sweet, rich smell of the soil that has sustained life for millennia will not easily be forgotten. An additional bonus is that the Bialowieza National Park is also the last place on earth that tourists can see European bison, huge beasts that once roamed across the continent, living undisturbed in their natural habitats. An ecotourism destination of international repute, the nearby city of Bialowieza can already begun to cash in on the popularity of the National Park, as numerous luxury spa resorts have opened up, offering high-class treatments and supremely comfortable lodgings.
Admission:
Forest tours cost about EUR40
Polish Poster Gallery, Warsaw
The Galeria Grafiki i Plakatu (Polish Poster Gallery), located in the splendid Old Town area of Warsaw, houses what is undoubtedly the finest collection of graphic art and posters in the country - and perhaps even in Eastern Europe. The Polish Poster Gallery was established in 1975, and now proudly exhibits over 5,000 posters and pieces of graphic art, all of which display some facet of Polish culture. Visitors will see theatre, music and cinema posters - as well as the pick of the lot, fantastic Polish Solidarity political posters - designed by greats such as Cieslewicz, Stasys, Gorowski and Sadowski. The posters have an iconic style, and are an interesting way to get to grips with Polish culture. The museum also has a great selection of prints for sale (about 2,000 different designs), and these make for fantastic gifts for friends and family back home.
Events
Piano Festival
For five days at three stunning venues in the Polish capital, the Ludwig van Beethoven Association presents some of the finest young virtuosos and masters of the piano. The aim of the festival is to promote piano music in a wider sphere and gain attention for the talented performers as they perform masterpieces from the greats: Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Bach, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev and, of course, Beethoven. A wonderful festival, and a great Polish tourist attraction for music-lovers.
Date:
October 2012 TBA
Venue:
Warsaw Philharmonic Hall; Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Hall;
Royal Castle Grand Hall
Mozart Festival
Every summer, music lovers from around the world flock to Warsaw to attend the highlight of the city's music season, the Warsaw Chamber Opera's Mozart Festival. Presentations of the complete stage works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart include some of his most popular operas, including Don Giovanniand The Marriage of Figaro, as well as symphonies and instrumental ensembles.
Date:
15 June to 26 July 2012
Venue:
Warsaw Chamber Opera
