Warsaw


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Warsaw [1] (Polish: Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and, with 1.7 million inhabitants, its largest city. It is located on the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła), roughly equidistant (350 km, 217 mi) from both the Baltic Sea (Bałtyk) and the Carpathian Mountains (Karpaty).


Contents

[edit] Understand

Capitalist insult

The building where Nowy Świat and Al. Jerozolimskie meet, once upon a time, served as the headquarters for the Central Committee of the Polish United Party of Workers (Translation: Communist party). However, after 1990 they were forced out and in 1991 it, in the way of karma, became The Banking Finance Center and home to the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The Warsaw Stock Exchange has since moved, but the beauty of the insult remains.

It is often said that Warsaw bears some resemblance to the mythical Phoenix. Having been completely destroyed, the city somehow managed to lift itself from the ashes. In the aftermath of the 1944 Uprising against the Nazis [2], Warsaw was obliterated with 9 out of every 10 buildings crumbled in ruins. At the end of World War II (1939-45) it was virtually uninhabited, yet with a tremendous reconstruction effort, most of the city was rebuilt as early as the 1950s.

The Communist era (1945-1989) has significantly contributed to the city architecture, with the most noticeable landmark, the Palace of Culture and Science (Polish: Pałac Kultury i Nauki, PKiN) [3], a "personal gift" from Joseph Stalin, dominating the Warsaw landscape.

Since the fall of communism, Warsaw has been developing rapidly, even chaotically at times. Certainly, the harmonization of urban landscape was of little importance to the country's first entrepreneurs, as they were busy plugging gaps in supply by selling various items on a provisional basis.

Warsaw's all about change now. You wouldn't recognize the city if you last saw it ten years ago or so. In the next ten years, it'll be a completely different place again. Off the beaten path, now is the time to see some of the Warsaw's peculiarities before they disappear forever.

[edit] Warsaw Uprising

The Warsaw Uprising, not to be confused with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943, is a strong statement testifying to the spirit and soul of not only Varsovians, but all Poles. After five years under German occupation, the leaders of the Polish underground resistance decided to fight back against the Nazi terrorists. With over 45,000 troops already in Warsaw, the Home Army (also referred to as the "AK") and several allied organizations took up strategic locations around the city and began the Uprising. Nationwide, there was 400,000 or so troops involved in the resistance. The Uprising was to begin at the "W-hour", or on August 1st, 1944 at 5PM, however, because the order wasn't prepared in time the liaisons and couriers were unable to get the word out in time because of the curfew in force. In the the city center, and the districts of Wola and Żoliborz fighting broke out before the "W-hour".

The effectiveness was amazing, especially in the first few days. Within days of fighting the Polish resistance had secured key locations which allowed for the creation of a Polish postal service in Warsaw, the creation of resistance hospitals, and even the opening of cafés that gave Varsovians and the insurgents some much needed rest. Underground newspapers and radio stations popped up almost immediately to counter the German and Soviet propaganda that the uprising was illegitimate.

Fighting continued until October 5, 1944 when the Home Army and its allied organizations surrendered. Despite it's successes and valor in the face of being outnumbered and out gunned, the Home Army was unable to continue its fight without the help of the Allies. America and Britain did very little to support the Uprising, other than dropping some supplies over the city. The Soviet Union took a multifaceted role – allying themselves with the Home Army to win victories against the Germans in other Polish territories, then disarming and imprisoning the Polish soldiers. The Soviet Union purposely allowed the Warsaw Uprising to fail by abandoning the Home Army and Varsovians so it could install a puppet government easier.

After the surrender, the German army, despite its agreements under the surrender treaty, in retaliation for the uprising destroyed over 85% of Warsaw, including the "Old Town" which is rebuilt after the war. Of 987 historically important buildings, only 64 were left untouched by the Germans. The Polish soldiers were rounded up and sent to concentration camps. Warsaw's civilian population was "evacuated" with some being sent to concentration camps camps, or sent to Germany for forced labor, others were sent to various Polish cities.

In the end, the Uprising cost 180 thousand civilians their lives, the lives of an additional 18 thousand insurgents, the capital it's glory, and the Polish nation its long-desired independence. The only thing that persevered was the Polish spirit.

[edit] Climate

Climate Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High(°C) 0 2 7 13 19 22 24 23 18 12 6 2
Low(°C) -5 -4 -1 3 8 11 13 12 9 4 0 -3
Precipitation (cm) 2 2 3 3.5 5 7 7 6 5 4 4 4


Warsaw has four seasons, although, it may, at times, seem like it has two seasons – winter and summer. The summers are cool to warm with temperatures varying from the low-50's (Fahrenheit) to mid-70's (Fahrenheit). Temperatures in the fall can vary wildly. One day, you may experience sub-freezing temperatures and the next day you could experience temperatures in the 60's (Fahrenheit).

Winter in Warsaw can be incredibly cold. Be sure to bring warm clothing, coats, scarves, and gloves. The average high in January is 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

[edit] Tourism

The Warsaw Convention Bureau [4] is the official tourist information agency in Warsaw and can provide visitors with information regarding hotels, attractions, and events. They also have maps for travelers. Unfortunately, the bureau's website isn't well designed and doesn't provide all that great of information, though, it can be helpful. They operate three locations in Warsaw.

There are a few other organizations that are useful when planning or looking for information about a trip to Warsaw. The City of Warsaw [5] has a lot of useful information on its website and would be a good place to get some information. Destination Warsaw [6] has some useful information, but seems to trump up its members' products, restaurants, and services over others. It's main goal is the promotion of Warsaw as a destination abroad. Warsaw Voice [7] an English language weekly newspaper, maintains a good calendar of events [8] on its website.

A wise investment may be the Warsaw Tourist Card [9], which can either be purchased for a 24 hour period or three days. The card will get you into museums for free or for a discount. It also doubles as a ticket for public transportation in Warsaw. You may also be able to get discounts at galleries, sports facilities, shops, restaurants, and discounted tours, car rentals, or accommodation. The card can be purchased at the tourist agency's offices around the city, some hotels, and a few other locations.

[edit] Orientation

As is the case with most major cities, Warsaw is situated on a river. The river's name is Vistula (Polish: Wisła) and it crosses the city vertically, dividing it into two parts, usually referred to as the left bank (Polish: lewy brzeg adj. lewobrzeżna [Warszawa]) and the right bank (Polish: prawy brzeg adj. prawobrzeżna [Warszawa]).

[edit] City center

Historically, the right bank was the first one to become populated, during the 9th or 10th century. However, the present city's central district, called Śródmieście (the Inner City) lies on the left bank. The Old Town is fully contained within the borders of the city center.

The central point of the city is located at the intersection of Al. Jerozolimskie and ul. Marszałkowska, near the entrance to the Metro Centrum subway station. It is good to know that the Palace of Culture is a landmark visible from almost any location in Warsaw. Should you ever get lost in the city, just walk toward the Palace of Culture and Science.

The quarter delimited by Al. Jerozolimskie, ul. Marszałkowska, al. Jana Pawła II and ul. Świętokrzyska, contains the main railway station Dworzec Centralny and the Palace of Culture and Science [10].

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport [11] (IATA: WAW, ICAO: EPWA) is located in the area of Okęcie in Włochy, some 10 km south of the centre point of the city. For many years the airport used to be called just Okęcie, but this reportedly caused confusion and it was renamed.

There are three terminals: Terminal 1 is the "default" terminal; Terminal 2 is the newly-built partly-open one; the Etiuda Terminal (check-in counters E1-E8) is used by budget airlines and for charters. Although they are only some 500m apart, it's best to know from which terminal you will be departing. The Etiuda terminal is currently (as of August 2007) partly-open, only dealing with departing passengers and having few basic facilities (cafes, air conditioning etc.).

For those traveling on international flights, you’ll need to pass through a passport control station before going through security. Getting through security isn’t much of hassle, but the queues, while they may be small, will likely take a fair amount of time, because there are only a few screening points.

Before passing through security, buy your duty free items, newspapers, and food/drinks because there are no shops or restaurants in the boarding area.

[edit] Getting to/from the airport

[edit] By bus

A bus ride on route 175 to/from Warszawa Centralny to/from the Frederic Chopin Airport will, on average, take 30 minutes, although in rush-hour traffic the time can be up to 45 minutes. Depending on weather traffic can be at a complete standstill and traveling a few meters may take upwards of 20 minutes, so be sure to assess traffic conditions and leave early enough to make sure you don’t miss your flight. The bus is also the cheapest way to get to and from the airport. Buy a ticket before boarding and validate it immediately on board.

The three main bus lines are:

  • Bus Route  175 [12] ul. Żwirki i Wigury (Novotel Warsaw Airport) - ul. Raszyńska - pl. Zawiszy (Hotel Sobieski) - Al. Jerozolimskie (Holiday Inn, Marriott) - City Centre - Marszałkowska (Novotel Warsaw Centre) - ul. Świętokrzyska - Krakowskie Przedmieście (Hotel Europejski, Hotel Bristol, Sofitel Victoria) - ... this service goes to the city center, passing near some of the most popular hotels on its way as well as the main train station and passing near the old town.
  • Bus Route  188[13] ul. Żwirki i Wigury - ul. Wawelska - al. Armii Ludowej / Trasa Łazienkowska- M  -Politechnika  - ... this service goes to deep Praga Południe on the right bank, passing through to the south of the city center, and is a better choice if you just want to get to the metro.
[edit] By taxi

Avoid the taxi drivers soliciting for customers, as they overcharge severely. Instead, use one of the companies recommended by the airport authorities (Merc Taxi, MPT Radio Taxi, or Sawa Taxi). They are slightly above market average in terms of prices and have their stops near the exit from Terminal 1) or order a taxi from another corporation by phone (there is no surcharge).

In any case, the most you should pay is 3.00 zł (up to 4.50 zł on Sundays; but typically no more than 2.00 zł) per kilometre in the daytime plus an initial fee of no more than 6 zł. You are entitled to a receipt (which must specify the route used) on request. There is no obligation or custom of tipping the taxi drivers. See the Taxis section for a more in-depth explanation of taxi fares.

[edit] By other means

Some hotels offer a shuttle to/from the airport, while some will send taxis out after you.

  • There is a privately-owned bus operating [14], but considering it departs as rarely as every 45 minutes, it won't usually get you there much faster than the normal bus. The ticket costs 10 zł or €3 (~= 12 zł) or $3 (~= 9 zł).
  • For those travelling on from Warsaw to another town serviced by Polski Express there is a stop at the airport and a bureau where you can buy tickets. The routes and timetable are here.

[edit] By train

Warsaw has three stations for long-distance trains:

  • Dworzec Centralny or Warszawa Centralna (Warsaw Central) ul. Emilii Plater
  • Dworzec Wschodni or Warszawa Wschodnia (Warsaw East) between ul. Kijowska and ul. Lubelska (on the right bank)
  • Dworzec Zachodni or Warszawa Zachodnia (Warsaw West) Al. Jerozolimskie near Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich

Unless you really know what you're doing, the best option is Dworzec Centralny (Warszawa Centralna) station, as it has best connections with all the places in the city. All long-distance trains pass through this station and all stop there. It is the only long-distance station underground, so you will know when to get out. It isn't the last station on the route!

Trains running eastwards start at Warszawa Zachodnia, stop at Warszawa Centralna and then at Warszawa Wschodnia, while trains heading westwards make the same trip in the opposite direction (except that they not always stop at Warszawa Zachodnia). The same is true for arriving trains and tourists often find it confusing that the main train station (Warszawa Centralna) is not the last station on the route.

The Berlin-Warszawa Express runs from Berlin to Warsaw most days quite cheaply, and students get discounts as well. It's a 6 hour trip but fairly comfortable if you can avoid the bathrooms. Schedules and tickets are available on Intercity's website [15].

If your train is without reservation, you may get a better seat (or any seat at all in certain trains during peak season only) if you enter the train on its initial station.

[edit] Suburban trains

There is no central station for suburban trains but the most important one is Warszawa Śródmieście (in close proximity of Warszawa Centralna and Metro Centrum). Some destinations you can reach from there are: Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Łowicz, Milanówek, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Otwock, Piława, Pruszków, Radom, Siedlce, Skierniewice, Sochaczew, Sulejówek, Terespol, Tłuszcz, Wołomin, Żyrardów.

Suburban trains going north depart from Warszawa Gdańska (Metro Dworzec Gdański). From there, you can go to destinations like Ciechanów, Działdowo, Mława and Nasielsk.

Similarly, suburban trains going east depart from Warszawa Wileńska (ul. Targowa near Al. Solidarności, also a shopping mall there). Example destinations: Małkinia, Tłuszcz, Wołomin.

[edit] Warsaw Commuter Railway

WKD [16] (Polish: Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa) is separate train service that runs from a distinct platform at Warszawa Śródmieście to Grodzisk Mazowiecki, a city some 50 km west of Warsaw through Pruszków, Milanówek, and Podkowa Leśna.

[edit] By car

Unlike most European capitals, Warsaw has no real bypass, so all transit traffic is routed through the city streets. The following streets, which constitute a circle with the radius of some 10 km (6 mi) from the city centre, can be considered an ersatz ringroad: Trasa Toruńska-Trasa Armii Krajowej-al. Prymasa Tysiąclecia-Al. Jerozolimskie-ul. Łopuszańska-ul. Hynka-ul. Sasanki-ul. Marynarska-ul. Rzymowskiego-ul. Dolinka Służewiecka-ul. Sikorskiego-al. Witosa-Trasa Siekierkowska-ul. Marsa-ul. Żołnierska.

Four European "E-roads" lead to Warsaw: E30 (A2), E77 (7),  E67 (A8), and E372 (17). The E-numbers are usually displayed on signs but it is best to know the national road numbers too, which are the numbers in parentheses.

What follows is a list of streets you will find yourself on when approaching the city from different directions:

The cities listed above are the ones displayed on signs in the city. The abbreviations in (parentheses) show you which neighboring countries can be reached with a road. If you are coming to the city, follow the blue-on-white Centrum signs. One exception is where you are coming from north-east: follow the Praga sign unless you are driving a lorry.

Driving distances to other cities:

In Poland - Białystok 190 km (118 mi); Gdańsk 390 km (242 mi); Kielce 180 km (112 mi); Kraków 290 km (180 mi); Olsztyn 210 km (130 mi); Poznań 310 km (193 mi); Siedlce 100 km (62 mi); Toruń 210 km (130 mi); Poznań 310 km (193 mi)

In other countries - Berlin (D) 570 km (354 mi); Budapest (H) 700 km (535 mi); Kaliningrad (RU) 350 km (217 mi)

Car Hire operators are available across the major towns & cities across Poland. At the Frederic Chopin airport in Warsaw you will find Avis, Hertz, Budget & Sixt. Telephone numbers can be found in the free magazines located in hotel & cafe lobbies. Also refer to the individual companies websites too. It is a legal requirement for you to carry your driving licence, insurance documents & the vehicle registration details at all times. If the Police stop you they are likely to impose a fine.

[edit] By bus

Regional and long-distance bus connections in Poland are traditionally called PKS. Once it was a legitimate abbreviation for the state-owned monopoly. Now, however, bus routes are operated by a bunch of completely independent companies, some of which had simply chosen to retain the old PKS as a part of their name. In Warsaw, there's PKS Warszawa [17] but PKSes from various other cities also operate. Most PKS buses arrive and depart from either of two major terminals:

  • <listing name="Dworzec PKS Warszawa Zachodnia" alt="" address="Al. Jerozolimskie" directions="near Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich" phone="" phoneextra="" tollfree="" emai="" fax="" url="" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">The bigger of the two, next to the railway station by the same name, buses going west of Warsaw. Most buses arrive at Dworzec PKS Warszawa Zachodnia. To get to the city center from here, walk to the other side of Al. Jerozolimskie and take a bus: 517, E-5  (peak hours only), 405 (peak hours only), 127 , or 130  to Dw. Centralny (one bus stop short of Centrum). During the night, buses N35  and N85 run to Dw. Centralny (main station) every 30 minutes beginning at 23:52.</listing>
  • <listing name="Dworzec PKS Warszawa Stadion" alt="" address="al. Zieleniecka" directions="near Stadion X-lecia" phone="" phoneextra="" tollfree="" emai="" fax="" url="" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">For buses going east of Warsaw. </listing>

Then, there's also a competitor to post-PKS companies, the Polski Express. It serves the most popular destinations, such as Białystok, Bydgoszcz, Częstochowa, Elbląg, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Katowice, Kraków, Łódź, Lublin, Pabianice, Płock, Szczecin, Toruń along with some holiday resorts, such as Kudowa Zdrój and maritime Kołobrzeg, Krynica Morska and Ustka. The departure point is at al. Jana Pawła II near Dworzec Centralny (there are also shuttle services from and to the airport every half an hour)

  • <listing name="" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" phoneextra="" tollfree="" emai="" fax="" url="" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags=""> </listing>

[edit] Get around

[edit] Public transport

The public transport system in Warsaw is generally well-developed, with some 200 bus routes and 30 tram lines. The route descriptions on the tram stops are easy to follow (although bus stop notices are more complex) and the tickets are cheap. It can be painfully slow, however, to travel between destinations far from the city center.

There is also a modern underground line going from south to north on the left bank, and a recently-introduced Rapid Urban Railway (Polish: Szybka Kolej Miejska or SKM) which has proved to be a big disappointment.

[edit] Metro (subway)

Warsaw's subway system, called Metro, opened in 1995 and is one of the newest underground railway systems in Europe. Operated by Metro Warszawskie sp. z o.o. [18] it runs daily from early morning until midnight at 3-10 minute intervals. Trains and stations are clean and neat. The system, however, is a bit awkward, because it's one line that with trains running two directions. As a result, the subway does not go to many tourist destinations, several stations will take you in a general vicinity of some attractions. There is, however, a planned second route, which is supposed to originally consist of 7 stations and is slated to be completed in 2011 or 2012, but that may be a tad too optimistic.

[edit] Buses

Buses operate usually from 5AM to 11PM, but you should always check the schedule. The intervals can be anything from as little as 5 minutes (crowded routes during peak hours) to nearly 2 hours (certain suburban routes). Usually, you will wait 20 minutes at most.

Bus route numbers consist of three digits. Only the first digit has any meaning, the latter being merely ordinal. Here's the key to understanding Warsaw bus route numbers:

Normal Expedited Suburban
All-Day Service 1xx 5xx  7xx 
Certain Hours Only (Usually Peak) 3xx  4xx  8xx 

Other than that:

  •  Nxx  are night routes.
  •  2xx  are special routes, which operate only a few days in a year.
  •  E-x  are express routes, which link the farthest districts to the city centre and operate during peak hours only.
  •  Z-x  are routes in place of trams.

There are a few routes that are of certain interest to tourists:

  • 175  and  188  operate to and from the airport.
  •  100 [19], a circular route that links some of the most interesting tourist attractions and is often served by a double-decker. Get in at Castle Square for the best seat.
  • 180 [20], the Warsaw Sightseeing Route between the Powązki Cemetery and Wilanów.

A map of the tourist routes is available.

Requesting a stop - certain bus stops are request-only (Polish: na żądanie):

  • If you want to get off, press the stop (red) button. In certain old buses, the button is located above the door (and it's not red).
  • If you want to get on a bus, wave your hand (or star-jump, or do whatever it takes to attract the driver's attention).

Sometimes, the door will not open automatically. To open it, locate the button drzwi (blue) and press it. Then you have 15 seconds until the door closes back.

Night buses operate on 38 routes: N01 to  N95 . The first digit indicates the area of Warsaw the bus travels to. All parts of the city are covered, but travelling to distant locations is particularly time-consuming. All buses operate at 30-minute intervals and depart from their central stop at Dw. Centralny 15 and 45 minutes after the hour, which facilitates changing.

When travelling on a night bus, it is essential to know the location of your bus stop at Dw. Centralny. There is a map that will help you.

All night bus stops except Dw. Centralny and Centrum are request stops. Signal well in advance as some night bus drivers may be too busy accelerating to notice.

There is also a map of all the night bus routes.

Note that not all bus stops that have Centrum in their name are in the city center. For example, there is a bus route 525 that goes from Centrum (the real city center) through Centrum Optyki in Praga Południe to Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka in Wawer. This is always clear from the route map so please read it carefully.

[edit] Trams

Although trams are not faster than buses unless there is a heavy traffic jam, they may have some appeal for a tourist as it is easier to predict where they are going - they usually go straight ahead and only rarely turn.

Trams have two-digit numbers below 50 (for the curious, the 50+ numbers were used by the long-lost trolley buses). Trams with numbers above 40 operate during peak hours only. A map of tram routes is available to assist you in planning your journey.

There is a special route  T  operated by historic cars from pl. Narutowicza. You can see the route on a map. Note: 'T' only runs in July and August.

The tram services can end as early as at 10PM.

[edit] Tickets

Although there are many carrier companies, tickets are issued and controlled by the single Warsaw Transport Authority (Polish: Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego or ZTM) [21] and are valid for all means of transport except the trains.

Tickets can be purchased in kiosks and any shop that displays the Sprzedaż biletów ZTM ("WTA tickets sold here") stickers. For buses and trams, the tickets can also be bought on board from the driver, however, there is a surcharge of 0.60 zł (normal) or 0.30 zł for anyone entitled to a discounted fare.

The ticket system is quite complicated, but as a tourist you shouldn't need to trouble yourself about knowing all the details. What you need to know, however, is that a single ticket costs 2.40 zł and there is a 48% concession for ISIC (international student ID) card holders, such tickets cost 1.25 zł.

Immediately validate your ticket after boarding the bus, subway, or tram. Travelcards, however, only need to be activated on your first journey, except in the underground where touching in and touching out (or inserting a ticket) is required to open the gate to the station.

Travelcards are probably the simplest way of paying for public transportation, if you're spending more than a day in the city and want to see as much as possible. Frankly, if you will need to take a bus, subway, or tram at least three times in a given day, it's best to simply buy one of these cards, especially as they are valid for all modes of transportation, including night buses. There are several options for purchasing travelcards, but the most sensible for most travelers would be either a 24 hour ticket, a three day card, or a one week card. Additionally, there are one month and three month travel cards for those who are staying in Warsaw for a longer time.

24 hour travelcard 
Valid for 24 hours after being validated. The card runs 7.20 zł (normal ticket), 3.60 zł (50% reduction), or 3.70 zł (48% reduction).
3 day city travelcard 
Valid for 3 days after being validated. This card runs 12 zł (normal ticket), 6 zł (50% reduction), or 6.20 zł (48% reduction).
One Week city travelcard 
Valid for one week after being validated. This card runs 24 zł (normal ticket), 12 zł (50% reduction), or 12.40 zł (48% reduction).

[edit] Taxis

The maximum base fare (taryfa 1) is 3.00 zł/km (although no corporation charges more than 2.40 zł/km) and applies to journeys within the city (zone 1) on weekdays. Taxi drivers can charge 150% of the base fare (taryfa 2) at night or on weekends and public holidays, 200% of the base fare (taryfa 3) for journeys in the suburbs - look out for blue rectangular signs saying taxi 2 strefa (Taxi Zone 2), and 300% of the base fare (taryfa 4) at night and in the suburbs or on weekends and public holidays).

In addition, they can also charge you 6 zł initial fee (slamming the door), 40.00 zł an hour for waiting, for getting to you if you are not in the first zone, and for getting back to the boundary of the first zone if you left in zone 2. There are no surcharges for additional passengers (normally up to 4 should fit), or for luggage.

They cannot charge you for anything else. There is no obligation or custom of tipping the drivers. The driver is required to give you a receipt on request. The full route must be written on the receipt. If the route was suboptimal, the fare can then be challenged. Call City Guard (Polish: Straż Miejska) at 986 (+48 22 986 from a mobile phone) should there be any problems.

The aforementioned prices apply only to officially registered taxis; others (non-taxi carriers) may charge you whatever they feel like, so they are best avoided.

A legal taxi will have: its number displayed on the front door under the window (black digits on white), a TAXI sign (not TAX1 or TAKI), a sticker with the base fare displayed on the passenger (rear) door window, and the driver's ID card visible inside the cab.

[edit] Walking

Considering that the strict city centre is a flat area whose sides measure only some 2 kilometres, it is a good idea to take a stroll through it. There are two streets that serve the purpose of a promenade:

  • ul. Chmielna (Hop Street), which is fully pedestrianized
  • ul. Nowy Świat (New World Street), which is closed to traffic on summer weekends

Let's suppose you start your walk from Metro Centrum (this is a popular place where people arrange to meet one another). Get to the other side of ul. Marszałkowska through the underpass. The round building adjacent to the intersection is called the Rotunda. It is a bank branch and the pavement in front of it is another popular meeting place. Going along the ul. Marszałkowska you pass some department stores and after 500 m or so, turn right into ul. Chmielna. At the end of it, turn left into ul. Nowy Świat and go straight ahead. This street, which then changes into Krakowskie Przedmieście, will lead you to Castle Square and Old Town.

Walking is a great way to explore the city, but please stay alert while crossing the streets. Be aware that in Poland drivers are allowed to turn right even at a red light. Also, unlike some other countries, it is not legally OK to walk across the street at a red light, even if there is no traffic.

[edit] By car

There is a paid-parking zone in the center of the city. This applies M-F 8AM-6PM. Parking costs 2.40 zł for the first hour. Subsequent hours cost more although there is no hour limit. 0.40 zł is the minimal payment. You can pay with coins (must be exact amount - the parking meters give no change) or with the Warsaw City Card (not the tourist card).

[edit] See

[edit] Itineraries

  • One Week in Warsaw – a suggest itinerary for travelers in Warsaw for a week or would like to stay in Warsaw for a few days and base their itineraries on the what they could best take advantage of.
  • The Royal Road (Trakt Królewski) was originally a track linking the Royal Castle to the Royal Palace in Wilanów (Pałac Królewski w Wilanowie), some 10 kilometers farther. There are many points of interest along the route, and there's a Poster Museum (Muzeum Plakatu) in Wilanów too.

[edit] Parks

  • Łazienki Royal Gardens (Łazienki Królewskie) Vast and beautiful gardens. See the Palace on Water (Pałac na wodzie), the Old Orangery (Stara oranżeria) and the amphitheatre. Entry to the park is free; the museums have small fees.
  • Botanical Gardens (Ogród botaniczny) - actually, there are two of them: the small one next to Łazienki (entrance from Al. Ujazdowskie) and the big one in Powsin.
  • Field of Mokotów (Pole Mokotowskie) is a large green area with a pond and a few pubs, next to the metro station Pole Mokotowskie. Many students are hanging around there on hot days.
  • Saski Garden (Ogród Saski) between ul. Marszałkowska and pl. Piłsudskiego with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Grób Nieznanego Żołnierza), the only remnant of the Saski palace.
  • Skaryszewski Park (Park Skaryszewski) is the biggest park in Warsaw, in Praga Południe. Starts at Rondo Waszyngtona.
  • Kabacki Forest (Las Kabacki) is the only forest that can be reached by metro (travel to the south terminus). No surprise it's quite crowded these days. The Park of Culture in Powsin is within 30 minutes walk. For a better forest, travel to Puszcza Kampinoska.

[edit] Museums

Most museums are closed on Mondays and they often have free admission once a week. Visitors must usually enter at least half an hour before closing time.

  • <see name="National Museum" alt="Muzeum Narodowe">Located in Śródmieście. </see>
  • <see name="The Warsaw Uprising Museum" alt="" tags="Museum">A well managed and interesting museum, you shouldn't miss this museum if you're in Warsaw. The museum is in Wola.</see>

[edit] Do

[edit] Concerts and performances

Warsaw is home to several professional musical and play companies. Being the capital city means the Polish National Opera [22] and the Warsaw Philharmonic (Also, National Philharmonic) [23] call Warsaw home. There are a number of other companies, including play companies and theaters that will likely be of interest to travelers.

[edit] Festivals

  • <do name="Warsaw Film Festival" alt="Warszawski Festiwal Filmowy" phone="" phonextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.wff.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" tags=""> </do>
  • <do name="Warsaw Summer Jazz Days" alt="" phone="" phonextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" tags=""> </do>
  • <do name="Jewish Culture Festival - The Singer's Warsaw" alt="Festiwal Kultury Żydowskiej - Warszawa Singera" phone="" phonextra="" tollfree="" email="festiwalsingera@shalom.org.pl" fax="" url="http://www.singersfestival.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" tags=""> </do>
  • <do name="Warsaw Autumn" alt="Warszawska Jesień" phone="" phonextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://warszawska-jesien.art.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" tags=""> </do>
  • <do name="Old-Polish Music Festival" alt="Festiwal Muzyki Staropolskiej" phone="" phonextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" tags=""> </do>
  • <do name="Garden Theaters Contest" alt="Konkurs Teatrów Ogródkowych" phone="" phonextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" tags=""> </do>

[edit] Sports

[edit] Learn

[edit] Universities

  • <listing name="University of Warsaw" alt="Uniwersytet Warszawski" address="ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 26/28" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 552 00 00" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.uw.edu.pl/" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">The University of Warsaw is Poland's largest university and offers a large variety of courses and programs to choose from. University of Warsaw currently has some 50,000 students enrolled. </listing>
  • <listing name="Warsaw University of Technology" alt="Politechnika Warszawska" address="Pl. Politechniki 1" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 234 72 11" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.pw.edu.pl/" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="University, Technical university">The biggest Polish technical school. </listing>
  • <listing name="Warsaw School of Economics" alt="Szkoła Główna Handlowa" address="Al. Niepodległości 162" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 564 60 00" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="informacja@sgh.waw.pl" fax="" url="http://www.sgh.waw.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">Poland's largest economics school. </listing>
  • <listing name="Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.sggw.waw.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">Originally an agricultural school, now a rapidly expanding university. </listing>
  • <listing name="Collegium Civitas" alt="" address="Plac Kultury i Nauki, 12th floor, Plac Defilad 1" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 656 71 87" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.collegium.edu.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">A private school, located inside the Palace of Culture of Science, whith majors in Sociology, Political Science, American Studies, International Relations, and Human Rights and Genocide Studies. For those interested, some programs are conducted in English. </listing>
  • <listing name="Akademia Medyczna" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.amwaw.edu.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">A medical college. </listing>
  • <listing name="The Academy of Arts" alt="Akademia Sztuk Pięknych" address="" directions="" phone="" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.asp.waw.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags=""> </listing>
  • <listing name="Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego" alt="" address="ul. Dewajtis 5" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 561 88 00" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="info@uksw.edu.pl" fax="" url="http://www.uksw.edu.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="University, Private university">A well-known Catholic university. </listing>
  • <listing name="Leon Kozminski Academy" alt="" address="ul. Jagiellońska 59" directions="Located in the Praga Połnoc district" phone="+48 (0/22) 519 21 00" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="uczelnia@kozminski.edu.pl" fax="+48 (0/22) 814 11 56" url="http://www.kozminski.edu.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="University, Private university">A private school, which specializes in law and business management majors.</listing>
  • <listing name="Clark University" alt="" address="ul. Łucka 11" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 656 36 65" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="warszawa@swpiz.pl" fax="+48 (0/22) 656 36 15" url="http://www.clarkuniversity.eu" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">A branch of the US' Clark University. This branch offers M.A. degrees related to business management.</listing>

[edit] Polish language

  • <listing name="Institute of Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners" alt="" address="ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 32" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22)' 5521530" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.polonicum.uw.edu.pl/en/" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">Part of the Warsaw University. 1200 zł for a standard course or 1800 zł for an intensive one. </listing>

[edit] Work

Home to many international companies Warsaw has an excellent job market for potential expats. Of course there are several immigration hurdles, but landing a job should not be overly difficult, if you have the right skill sets.

If you're a backpacker and looking for short-term employment this may be somewhat more difficult, as you are legally required to have a work permit. You could possibly find short-term work in the hospitality industry, or possibly as an ESL teacher or tutor students in English.

If you'd like to work in Warsaw, or Poland for that matter, but don't want to do all the hassle of finding a job opportunity, there are some employment recruiting agencies you can use in your search for a job. Just a few are:

  • <listing name="Adecco Poland" alt="" address="Al. Jerozolimskie 123A" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 529 76 40" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.adecco.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long=""> </listing>
  • <listing name="Randstad" alt="" address="Al. Jerozolimskie 56c" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 462 25 00" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.randstad.pl" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long=""> </listing>

[edit] Buy

Touts

Warsaw has a large number of touts, who mainly congregate at the subway station "Centrum", near the northeastern corner of the Palace of Culture and Science. They pass out fliers and brochures for all kinds of imaginable and useless services. If you don't want to start a collections of fliers, a simple and easy way to beat the touts at their own game is to simply make a gesture indicating stop with your hand while stating in English "No, thank you" or "I can't understand Polish". This works surprisingly well, especially on touts who pass out fliers for English language instruction schools.

[edit] Payment options

[edit] Cash

It is not essential to buy the local currency before you arrive. Warsaw has many accessible ATMs (labeled bankomat) where cash can be withdrawn. Remember that you may be charged by your home bank for the transaction though. To get started, 300 zł should suffice for taxis, coffee, beer and and a few meals.

[edit] Credit and debit cards

Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron, and Maestro as well as some other obscure cards are widely accepted and if they're not then there's usually a plenty of ATMs around (Polish: bankomat). AmEx and Diners' Club are less popular and may not be accepted. There may be a minimal purchase value for card payments, usually 10.00 zł or so in shops, but can be 20.00 zł, or even 50.00 zł in bars.

[edit] Shopping malls and markets

Most people nowadays do their shopping in the malls (Polish: centrum handlowe pl. centra ~, often abbreviated CH). These are usually located in the suburbs (with some notable exceptions) and open until 10PM. Apart from shops, malls also have entertainment areas with cinemas, bars, etc. Some also have sports facilities.

Immediately, the two malls likely to be of interest to travelers are:

  • <buy name="Arkadia" alt="" tags="Mall">Located in Śródmieście. One of the more popular malls in Warsaw. </buy>
  • <buy name="Złote Tarasy" alt="Golden Terraces" tags="Mall">Also located in Śródmieście, adjacent to the Centralna train station, is a very modern and popular mall.</buy>

[edit] Eat

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget 30 zł or less
Mid-range 31 zł - 60 zł
Splurge 61 zł and up

Eating in Warsaw is nowhere near the treat as it would be in Paris or London, but with that said, eating here can be fun and interesting, if you know where to look and avoid where the Poles go. Sadly, an increasing staple of Varsovians' diets are KFC, Burger King, Subway, McDonald's, and Pizza Hut. Thankfully, Poland lacks large numbers of chain restaurants which means that just about every restaurant will be a new experience if you stray away from the safe options of fast food, T.G.I. Fridays, or Hard Rock Cafe.

For those on a budget, there are many kebab shops sprinkled around Warsaw, especially in Śródmieście, which offer decent food and portions for the fair price of 5 - 10 zł a pop. Other cheap alternatives are milk bars, which are discussed later in the section, and vietnamese restaurants.

[edit] Fast food

Grease lovers will be happy to know there's no shortage of fast food in Warsaw. The most popular brand names are of course McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut, but there are also a few Subway sandwich shops and even a Burger King, which is somewhat a surprise after being nudge out of the market a few years back by McDonald's. The problem with these fast food joints is that the quality and not-very-generous portions are valued far above what should be paid for a meal.

[edit] Milk bars

Remnant of the communist era, milk bars (Polish: bar mleczny, bary mleczne) were originally created in the sixties to serve cheap meals based on milk products. After the fall of communism, most of them closed down but some survived and still bear the climate from the old days: almost everything inside looks, feels and smells like in the 1980s. Milk bars attract students and senior citizens, because of the low prices (soup and the main course together may cost as little as 10.00 zł). The food served by milk bars can actually be quite palatable. Even if you can afford more expensive meals, milk bars are interesting because they offer somewhat a view of life before democratization in Poland.

[edit] Drink

The whole of the Old Town and places such as pl. Trzech Krzyży, ul. Nowy Świat, ul. Chmielna, Krakowskie Przedmieście in Śródmieście are oversaturated with cafés. Coffee typically costs about 10.00 zł there. Beer can cost anywhere from 5.00 zł to 15.00 zł for half a liter (the supermarket price being about 2.50 - 3 zł). Drink prices in clubs can go up to 50.00 zł (and possibly more). Drinking alcoholic beverages in public places is prohibited but this is often disrespected, by locals, with regard to parks.

Speak easy

If you're looking to mingle with real Varsovians there's a well-kept secret row of namesless, dark bars located off of Nowy Świat. They are reportedly good for those wishing to participate in the more decadent side of Varsovian water holes. In truth, the places attract a younger crowd whose goals are to socialize over a beer, which will usually only cost you 6 zł for a half liter. If you'd like to give one of these bar's a try walk through the gateway at Nowy Świat 22. You'll find a few small buildings with bars tucked away. The number one tip about visiting one of these bars is: go early, especially as you won't be able to find a single seat past 10PM.

[edit] Clubs

Clubs are in no shortage in Warsaw and are very popular ways to spend just about every night out. There are several clubs littered about on ul. Mazowiecka in Śródmieście, which are actually quite nice for the most part and where the chic head to.

Student clubs are of course popular and usually decently priced, but can be roulette. Normally, the centrally located Hybyrdy is a good option for night out. Other student clubs, like Remont, located in Śródmieście, and Park, located in Mokotów, are less predictable and quality usually is not the utmost concern for these clubs' clientele, although, if the sole point is to get drunk then these are some of the better places to go for a cheap drink.

While there are quite a few clubs in Śródmieście, and more specifically the city center, there are other clubs to be found in the other districts, including Wola and Mokotów.

[edit] Concerts

Warsaw's music scene can sometimes be disappointing, but, do not fear for Warsaw does have an abundance of musical delights, you just need to know where to look, or rather listen.

[edit] Tea and coffee

Throw stereotypes out the door. For Poles, one of the most important staples to quench their thirst is not wódka or beer, but rather tea and coffee. As such, you'll likely come across dozens and dozens of cafés. There aren't any Starbucks in Warsaw, yet, but Poland does have its own version – Coffee Heaven [24], but, unfortunately, its coffee products are a let down compared to the heavenly delights of Frappucinos. No worries, though, AmRest [25] is slated to start opening Starbucks in Eastern and Central Europe. The real treat of Warsaw, however, are small cafés that are littered about Warsaw. For the most part, a good coffee can be had for 5 - 10 zł a cup, while a cup of tea can be purchase for the same, unless you happen to order a small kettle, in which case you'll probably pay something between 20 - 30 zł.

[edit] Sleep

Being the new up-and-coming city in the EU has meant that Warsaw has seen an influx in investment by hotel companies and will continue to see growth of the hospitality industry, especially as Poland is slated to co-host the Euro Cup in 2012 and a Polish city will be one of the 2016 European Capital of Culture cities. For travelers, there is no shortage of budget, mid-range, or splurge accommodation options in Warsaw. Most appealing hotels and hostels will be found in either Śródmieście, Wola, Mokotów. For the business traveler, there are plenty of hotels near the airport too. There are also campgrounds in Włochy, Wawer, Wola, Ochota and Mokotów.

[edit] Contact

The area code for Warsaw is 22 - when calling from abroad, prefix it with +48 22.

[edit] Postal service

  • <listing name="Central Post Office" alt="" address="ul. Świętokrzyska 31/33" directions="" phone="" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="Open 24/7" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags=""> </listing>

[edit] Internet

Overall, Warsaw is not as well connected to the internet as other major central and western European cities, but that doesn't mean you can't get access to internet. Internet cafés (Polish: kawiarnia or kawiarenka internetowa) can be found throughout the central part of Warsaw, however, some can be found in other districts too. Wi-Fi is becoming increasingly accessible for travelers too. Some cafés, restaurants, and offer free Wi-Fi for guests.

[edit] Telephones

The area code for Warsaw is 022. Although it had not been neccessary to dial the 022 when calling a Varsovian phone number, for some time it is now a need to prefix the number, even if you make a local call. This concerns every single place in Poland. When calling internationally to Warsaw, you only need to dial +48 22 followed by the rest of the number, dropping the 0 in the process. When dialing from a number that does not share the Varsovian area code, you'll need to keep the initial 0. However, dialing from a mobile phone is somewhat easy. You can dial any number in Poland as if it was an international number and Polish cell phone companies will recognize it as a domestic call.

Pay phones are few and far, so it's best not to rely on making phone calls from pay phones. If, however, you're an antiquities hunter and manage to find a pay phone, you'll need to use a card to make calls from the pay phone. These cards are available at post offices.

If you want to purchase a SIM card in Warsaw, you can buy a pre-paid SIM card from just about any major carrier and you'll have a Polish number. SIM cards should cost about 30 zł a pop and you just add credit when needed. Going this route might be a wise investment if you'll be traveling around Poland.

[edit] Stay safe

In general, the problems that plague many visitors to Warsaw are alcohol related, be that a hang over or a possible run-in with the police (Polish: Policja). The city center has a strong police presence and is generally a very safe area. The Praga districts are reputed to be dangerous, but this seems to be more hype than reality. Of course, it would be wise to exercise a little extra caution, if you're in an area you do not know well. The bus and rail stations can be a magnet for homeless and drunkards, who for the most part will leave you alone. There are, however, some problems that are not widespread, but, unfortunately, happen too frequently and travelers should be forewarned.

Pickpockets and robberies are a real problem and you should be careful to hold onto your belongings when in a large crowd or on buses (Number 175 is reportedly infamous for pickpockets). At bars and clubs, a good rule of thumb, is the cheaper the door entry and the more lax the bouncers are about letting people in, the more likely you're going to want to keep extra care of your wallet, passport, cell phone, and camera. Make use of hotel room safes to help ensure your valuables are not stolen. Also, if you have a car, try to park in a guarded parking lot and do not leave any valuables in plain sight.

Soccer hooligans can be a problem in Warsaw, so it's best to avoid them, because they seem to only understand two things - soccer and destruction. Visitors will especially want to avoid Łazienki Park when there's a soccer match, as the Legia stadium is located near the park.

Violent attacks can and do happen. Attacks against foreigners are not unheard of, especially against Africans and Middle Easterns, but can happen to white Anglophones. The best thing to do if you think someone might become violent, is to walk away immediately. Do not linger, because you're unlikely to get any help from passersby.

In case of emergencies, call emergency services. The number for the police: 997, firefighters: 998, Ambulance: 999. The common European emergency number 112 works too.

[edit] Cope

[edit] Religious services

  • <listing name="International Christian Fellowship" alt="" address="ul. Pulawska 114" directions="Corner of ul. Pulawska and ul. Maczewskiego. In the Mokotów district" phone="+48 (0/22) 844 7996" phoneextra="" email="contact@icf-pl.org" fax="+48 (0/22) 844 7996" url="http://www.icf-pl.org" hours="Mass is held every Sunday at 5PM" lat="" long="" tags="Church">A non-denominational church with Protestant leanings. Anyone and everyone is welcome and if you're a newcomer you're likely to be greeted by people who notice a new face in the crowd. You may even be invited for coffee after the service. The congregation is made of Brits, Germans, Poles, Americans, and Aussies, and other nationalities. </listing>
  • <listing name="Nożyk Synagogue" alt="Synagoga Nożyków" address="ul. Twarda 6" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 652 28 05" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="varshe@jewish.org.pl" fax="+48 (0/22) 652 28 05" url="http://www.warszawa.jewish.org.pl" hours="Ever Shabbat services begin 15 minutes before sunset. Shabbat morning services begin at 9:30AM" hoursextra="Weekday services at at 8AM and 9AM on Sunday" lat="52.235" long="21.002" tags="Synagogue, Judaism, Jewish">Warsaw's only Orthodox Jewish synagogue that is still in operation. </listing>
  • <listing name="Warsaw International Church" alt="" address="ul. Miodowa 21b" directions="Metro: Ratusz" phone="+48 (0/22) 842 23 51" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="pastor@wic.org.pl" fax="" url="http://www.wic.org.pl" hours="Worship service and Sunday School every Sunday at 11AM" hoursextra="" lat="" long="" tags="Church"> </listing>
  • <listing name="Islamic Center of Warsaw" alt="" address="ul. Wiertnicza 103" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 88 56 276" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" hoursextra="" lat="" long="" tags="Mosque, Islam"></listing>

[edit] Laundry

It's near impossible to find self-service laundry shops, but for travelers, including budget travelers, it's not impossible to have your clothes cleaned. Most hotels will offer laundry cleaning service, for a price, as will hostels, which often do not charge for the service or will have washers and driers that its guests can use. Otherwise, you can find a full-service laundry shop at just about any mall, but you're going to pay a good more than you would at a laundromat. The premier full-service laundry shop is 5 à Sec [26].

  • <buy name="5 à Sec" alt="" address="ul. Złota 59, Floor -1" directions="Inside Złote Tarasy" phone="+48 (0/22) 222 01 00" phoneextra="+48 (0/22) 222 01 01" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.5asec.com/wq_pages/en/index.php" hours="Hours: M - Sa.: 10AM - 10PM. Su.: 10AM - 8PM" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="Laundry"> </buy>

[edit] Printing shops

  • <listing name="Copy General" alt="" address="Al. Jerozolimskie 56 c" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 652 26 30" phoneextra="+48 (0/22) 624 14 93" tollfree="" email="jerozolimskie@copygeneral.pl" fax="+48 (0/22) 652 26 60" url="http://www.copygeneral.pl" hours="Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="">Need to print something or make copies of a document? This is your solution. Copy General will give guests a flash USB drive to save documents and print them from one of their computers. The only problem is, if you need to print something from the internet, you'll need to save the document to a hard drive before you come because Copy General does not have internet access on its computers. </listing>

[edit] Embassies

  • <listing name="Belarussian Embassy" alt="Ambasada Białorusi" address="ul. Wiertnicza 58" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 742 09 90" phoneextra="+48 (0/22) 842 52 02" tollfree="" email="poland@belembassy.org" fax="+48 (0/22) 742 09 80" url="http://www.belembassy.org/poland" hours="M-F.: 8AM - 4:15PM" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="Belarussian Embassy"></listing>
  • <listing name="Canadian Embassy" alt="Ambasada Kanady" address="ul. Jana Matejki 1/5" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 584 3100" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="warsaw@international.gc.ca" fax="+48 (0/22) 584 3192" url="http://geo.international.gc.ca/canada-europa/poland/menu-en.asp" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags=Canadian Embassy"></listing>
  • <listing name="Irish Embassy" alt="Ambasada Irlandii" address="ul. Mysia 5, Sixth floor" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 849 66 33" phoneextra="" tollfree="" email="" fax="+48 (0/22) 849 84 31" url="http://www.embassyofireland.pl" hours="Hours: 9AM - 1PM and 2PM - 5PM" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="Irish Embassy"></listing>
  • <listing name="Russian Embassy" alt="Ambasada Rosji" address="ul. Belwederska 49" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 621 34 53" phoneextra="+48 (0/22) 621 59 54" tollfree="" email="rusemb_poland@mail.ru" fax="+48 (0/22) 625 30 16" url="" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="52.21053" long="21.02765" tags="Russian Embassy"></listing>
  • <listing name="U.K. Embassy" alt="Ambasada Wielkiej Brytanii" address="ul Emilii Plater 28" directions="Inside the Warsaw Corporate Centre" phone="+48 (0/22) 311 00 00" phoneextra="+48 (0/22) 696 005 696" tollfree="" email="consular@britishembassy.pl" fax="+48 (0/22) 311 02 50" url="http://www.britishembassy.pl" hours="M, Tu, Th, F: 8:30AM - 2PM. W: 8:30AM - Noon" hoursextra="" lat="" long="" tags="UK Embassy"></listing>
  • <listing name="U.S. Embassy" alt="Ambasada Stanów Zjednoczonych" address="Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31" directions="" phone="+48 (0/22) 504-2000" phoneextra="Emergencies during business hours: (8:30AM - 5PM): +48 (0/22) 504-2784" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://poland.usembassy.gov/" hours="" hoursextra="" price="" lat="" long="" tags="American Embassy">If you have an emergency outside of normal embassy business hours, dial the first phone number and ask to speak with an Embassy Duty Officer.</listing>

[edit] Get out

  • Kampinos Forest (~15 km, take the 726 bus) - wild and beautiful primeval forest, often called the green lungs of Warsaw, and an ideal choice for a day off from the noise of the city
  • Konstancin-Jeziorna (~20 km, take the 700 bus) - spa town with a spacious park, and famous for its clean air and high housing prices
  • Krakow (~300 km, in 3 hours or less by certain trains) - the former capital of Poland, and the European City of Culture in 2000
  • Lublin (~200 km) - medieval city with well preserved old town, now the largest city and main tourist attraction in eastern Poland
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