Warsaw snapshot
Travel guide to Warsaw - a city risen from the ashes
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Warsaw, the capital city of Poland, has made a remarkable recovery from World War II when nearly 90% lay in ruins. Situated in eastern Poland a third of its population was Jewish when the Nazis occupied the city in 1939.
Today there is virtually no trace left of their heritage after the city was besieged in World War II and Jews and many other Poles were shipped out to die in concentration camps all over the country.
The Soviet occupation which followed saw not just a wasteland of concrete utilitarian housing we expect from that era but also, surprisingly, a painstaking reconstruction of the original city centre. The result is its designation today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Warsaw spans the Wisla (Vistula) River with most of the tourist sites on the left bank and along the 'royal route' which runs past the palaces and gardens that somehow survived the war.
Green spaces typify much of the city which is full of leafy parks that host outdoor classical concerts, popular lakes and outdoor cafes.
The city's Old Town is a magnet for visitors and home to an impressive collection of cultural attractions including a string of very impressive museums.
Key attractions are the Royal Castle and its museum full of period furniture, tapestries and an impressive porcelain collection, and nearby Lazienki Park which holds a Chopin festival each summer.
The Wilanow Palace and park has a unique poster museum. Chopin left the city when he was 20 years old but the family home is open to the public.
There is a bus and tram network connecting most parts of the city as well as a small metro line. Congestion in the city centre is notorious and there are very few car parks.
Most international rail services arrive at Warsaw Central where tourists are warned to take care of belongings at all times after a spate of thefts. There are regular trains to Krakow, Berlin and Prague.
The main road route to the city is the east-west E30, connecting Warsaw with Lodz, Poznan and Berlin to the west and Belarus to the east. The north-south E77 links Warsaw with Gdansk and Krakow.
Fryderyka Chopina International Airport is 10km south of the city, one of the most up-to-date in Europe, and serves around 6 million passengers from 80 regular international destinations. Approximate flight times from London are 2.5hrs.
Make sure you include Booked.net if searching for hotels in Warsaw. They list a good number of quality hotels, available at competitive prices. Also, you don't have to pay any extra fees for booking, administration or cancellation.
Every month our travel writers comb the web for city break deals to Warsaw. Visit our Warsaw holiday shop to browse through the latest offers.
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