Ahh, my last stop on my first Eastern European exploration. The worst part about my time in this city is that I would occasionally remember that it was almost time to return to DC and the tedious torture and monotony of my 9 to 5 (nooooo!), but I kept these reminders to a very minimum partly because I wanted to maintain my sanity and partly because hellooo? I am in Poland and I love love love this country.
Our time in Warsaw, like all of the other places we’ve visited, was too short. Warsaw is Poland’s capital, and, unlike Kraków, was about 85% destroyed by German forces during World War II. In the seventy years since then, its Old Town has been restored to its pre-war beauty, so you would never know about this cataclysmic annihilation over half a century ago (even though you’d want to, as it is an important and fascinating part of our world’s history and one of the coolest things about visiting Poland; so happy and blessed to have gotten to see some of the places I’ve seen on this trip and to educate myself in the most effective way possible). Here are a few highlights of Warsaw from our short but sweet stay.
What to Do
Go on a tasting tour
Obviously I am biased. I love food. I love to eat (just look at the size of my double chin after this trip; seriously, it is bad). And I especially love to eat the food of different countries and cultures. For a handful of złoty, we went on a walking tour of the city led by a local foodie, who brought us into several restaurants and bars and gave us samples of different Polish cuisine (including pierogi, vodka and pickles, Oranżada and zapiekanka — both popular during Communist times, paczek, and beer!).
Our route provided us smaller, snack-sized portions for about an hour and was 45 złoty, but there are other tours, including the popular Eat Polska, that cost a bit more and offer longer tours with heartier portions. Eat Polska has separate food and vodka tour options, so you can really decide what your curious tastebuds are looking for and delve in deep. It was a cool way to try a variety of foods, as well as learn a bit about Polish culture from someone who really knows about Polish culture. Win win win!
As if that wasn’t enough, we completed our tasting tour at this incredible bar called Piw Paw, where we ended up staying the rest of the night. The people of Warsaw love coming here because of the unique and funky atmosphere and the one hundred (very cheap) beers on tap!
Wander Nowy Swiat
Named, literally, “New World,” Nowy Świat is one of the main streets of the city and easily one of the most popular. It extends about a kilometer starting from beautiful Old Town…but really the entire thoroughfare is beautiful, and can lead to hours of perusing with its many restaurants, shops, and castles. Woohoo for castles!
Grab a beer on the beach
Did YOU know that Warsaw had beaches? Because I certainly did not. Like real sand beaches along the Vistula River, though it is advised that you do not take a dip into the water. However, there are these little outdoor bars spread along the shore with a DJ and dance floors, which was the perfect place to finish out our last night (plus it is home to some beautiful bartenders with some perfectly sculpted arms, and more cheap beer).
Where to Eat
Literatka
A lovely little restaurant right on Castle Square with very tasty duck (my first time and I was not disappointed — duck is big in Eastern Europe and should absolutely be on your list of foods to inhale).
Zapiecek
Arguably a bit of a tourist restaurant (the menu is in English, or at least the menu that we received, and there are several located in Warsaw and in other parts of Poland), the cuisine is still authentic, the pierogi selection is wonderfully vast, and the location on Castle Square has a large outdoor patio which allows for lunch and a view (and a good opportunity for PEOPLE WATCHING!).
What to See
Castle Square
Known as Plac Zamkowy in Warsaw: the square in front of the Royal Castle. It is gorgeous, classic Warsaw, and also bustling with people, which makes it an exciting hub of the city. I’d recommend ordering an espresso at one of the restaurants along the edge of the square and watching the locals and tourists alike as they pass you by.
St. John’s Cathedral
This archcathedral was originally built in the 1300s, but was demolished during World War II. The current structure is based upon the initial design, rather than what it looked like right before the war. Despite the fact that I am not religious (in the slightest), I still enjoy going into churches in all the cities I travel to, because like it or not, religion has played a key role in shaping our world today, and the history of these churches is rich and extensive. Also, the architecture is beyond impressive.
Warsaw Uprising Monument
The Warsaw Uprising is known as the largest resistance effort during World War II against Nazi Germany, and it is what led to so much of the city getting destroyed, spanning for two months in the fall of 1944. It was a really great thing seeing something dedicated to the bravery of the Polish people, who, in revolting, sacrificed their lives for freedom. Probably one of the most important, if not the most important, monuments in the city of Warsaw.
That’s all folks.
My last major city on this trip through Central and Eastern Europe. I am sad that it is coming to an end, but am consoled in some measure by the fact that I am heading to Iceland later this year, the Caribbean early next year, and hopefully next summer (fingers crossed, knock on wood) a brand new continent for me, Vietnam!! (Asia is the brand new continent, not Vietnam. Poorly worded, I apologize). Already planning on not buying a drop of alcohol or a single new outfit for the rest of the year (or, frankly, anything but Ramen noodles and discount lunch meat), but the experiences will make the outdated wardrobe and malnutrition all worth it.
