The historical city of Warsaw is the capital city of Poland. It is also the largest city of Poland. The eighth largest city in the European Union, Warsaw is spread on either banks of the river Vistula. Warsaw has a rich past dating back to the 9th -10th centuries. Warsaw has played stage for many historic decisions and events, including the Battle of Warsaw, Warsaw Pack, Warsaw Convention and Warsaw Uprising.
If you are planning to visit this historical city, here is some information you may wish to acquire before visiting the city which has been under the control of the Nazis and the Communists in the recent past, and is currently enjoying an economic boom after Poland became part of the European Union.
Warsaw has a rich cultural heritage, being the home of a number of theaters, musical venues, museums and art galleries. Summers in Warsaw are cool and warm while winters can be freezing cold. If you are planning to visit Warsaw in winter, just pack in enough woolens. As a tourist in Warsaw, you can buy a Warsaw Tourist Card from any of the tourist agency offices scattered around the city. Showing this card, you can enter a museum free or at discount, and also get discounts at shops, restaurants and accommodations. It is also used as tickets in public transport. The card can be purchased for twenty four hours or three days.
The first place to hop in is the Palace of Culture and Science, which is a “personal gift” from Joseph Stalin, and an important landmark of Warsaw. This palace is visible from almost all parts of the city. If you ever get lost, just look out for the Palace, and walk towards it, to reach the city center.
A must visit place is the Old Town, mentioned in the UNESCO World Heritage List, which was completely devastated during World War II, but was completely rebuilt very soon. You can also visit the Royal Castle and the Royal Palace in the vicinity.
There are a number of well maintained parks in Warsaw. The Skaryszewski Park is the biggest among them. Other popular parks are Lazienki Royal Gardens, Field of Mokotów, Saski Garden and Kabacki Forest.
Among the many museums in Warsaw, you should not miss The Warsaw Uprising Museum, which is a very interesting one, and well maintained too. Other museums well worth a visit are the National Museum, the Zacheta Art Gallery and the Center for Contemporary Art.
Compared to other European major cities, Warsaw may not be much interesting to the gastronomic adventurers. But the fact that there are not many food chains means every restaurant will be a different experience. American fast foods are very popular among Varsovians. If you wish to get a taste of life of Poland in the communist era, you may visit one of the still operating Milk Bars. The Milk Bars were supposed to cater cheap meals based on milk products. These bars still retain the ambiance of the 1980s. Another interesting fact to keep in note is that tea and coffee are more popular as thirst quenchers than beer and wodka.
Related Website Directory Categories:
