I have recently come back from a weekend trip to Warsaw, and it turned out to be an incredible city. Even though it was pretty cold and cloudy, I still really enjoyed my time in the city, and I think Warsaw is a great destination for a city trip. I had previously visited Krakow twice, which I loved so much, but Warsaw also did not disappoint!
I had spent 3 days in Warsaw, but if I only have 24 hours instead, this is how I would spend a one-day Warsaw itinerary!
Have some breakfast at a café and head to the Old Town
If there is one thing that you shouldn’t have any issues finding in Warsaw, it would be cafés. You can find a Costa Coffee or Green Nero Café at pretty much any corner.
So start off your day with some breakfast at a place near your accommodation or in the Old Town, to fuel up for a day full of sightseeing.
And if you need to get some data for your trip to Warsaw, I would recommend this Airalo ESIM which covers multiple European countries. So there is no need to buy a different ESIM for each country you are visiting!
10 AM: Walking tour through the Old Town
I always like to start off a trip to a new city with a walking tour. It’s a great way to learn some important facts about a city’s history and see some main highlights during this one-day Warsaw itinerary. Usually it also gives me a lot of ideas as well what else to do in a city.
There are many walking tours in Warsaw, all with their own focus, such as the communist walking tour or the Jewish history walking tour. But if it’s your first time in the city, the old town walking tour makes the most sense in my opinion.
The old town walking tour lasts about 3 hours. And within that time, you get a good first impression of Warsaw’s history and get to see some of the city’s most impressive sights.
The tours don’t have a specific price, but are instead tip-based. But also keep in mind that the guide needs to pay a flat fee for each participant, so the expected tip is typically at least 15 euros. If you don’t have Polish zloty, you can also pay by card or even euros.
1 PM: Lunch in the Old Town
The walking tour ends around 1 pm at the Castle Square, which is the square just in front of the castle. Now it’s a great opportunity to find a cozy place for lunch. There are many places nearby, but I actually ended up asking the tour guide for a recommendation. He recommended a café called Kawiarnia Patio, just a short walk away, which was a nice place for a break.
And if you are visiting in the winter months, then a good opportunity to warm up a bit as well.
2 PM: Visit the Castle
One of Warsaw’s highlights is the impressive Royal Castle. You already would have passed it with the walking tour, but now is your chance to go in as well. The castle is now a museum filled with ornate chambers, royal apartments, and paintings and artwork. Keep in mind that they are closed on Mondays.
The entry fee to the castle is 60 Zloty per person (as of March 2024), and there is no need to buy tickets in advance. You can just purchase them at the ticket machines outside.
4 PM Warsaw Uprising Museum
You can also easily spend more time in the royal castle, but if you also want to visit a museum still, then it’s time to hop into an Uber to save some time and travel to the Warsaw Uprising Museum. The tour guide from the walking tour recommended that if we only visit one museum in Warsaw, then he would suggest this one. It is located in the business district so not in the Old Town, hence the short Uber ride.
The Warsaw Uprising Museum tells the story of the 1944 uprising against Nazi occupation, showcasing personal accounts, artefacts, and interactive exhibits that honour the city’s fight for freedom. Entry is 35 Zloty, and there is no need to prebook your tickets in advance. The museum closes at around 6pm and is closed on Tuesdays.
Or if you are short on time and still want to visit a museum in Warsaw, you can also visit the Museum of Warsaw, located right next to the Castle Square. That saves you quite some time! The Museum of Warsaw explores the city’s history through themed exhibitions and various objects collected over time.
7:30 PM: Pierogi for dinner
You can’t visit Poland without having some delicious Polish Pierogi. Head back to the Old Town, and you can find many restaurants serving polish foods.
This place I went to was a chain, which we saw multiple times throughout the city. I actually ended up going here two times in a row. But you shouldn’t have an issue finding a Pierogi restaurant!
9PM Drinks at Cyber Machina
This might sound a bit ridiculous, but we are now moving on to my highlight of Warsaw: Cyber Machina.
Cyber Machina is probably the coolest bar I have ever visited. You can find all sorts of games here, from board games to arcade games to playing Nintendo Switch games. There are many unique cocktails to choose from, and overall it’s just a great atmosphere. Finding this place was definitely my highlight during this trip, and I wish we had a bar like that back home!
Or alternatively, if you have enough energy, you could also think about joining a pub crawl, which starts at 9 pm. I have not joined a pub crawl in Warsaw, so I don’t know if it’s fun. However, I have done multiple pub crawls in Krakow, and they were some of the best pub crawls I have been on!
Still wondering where to stay? I stayed at this apartment in the business district. The accommodation was super nice, and I would 100% recommend it, and would absolutely stay here again!
And this concludes a very packed one-day Warsaw itinerary; however, you get to see a lot in just a short amount of time! Also keep in mind that some places are not open every day, so you might not be able to follow this exact itinerary.
Talk to you later
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