pinkfloyd34
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heading to Warsaw for a few days in a couple of weeks, just wondering has anyone been there and there experience
Warsaw Poland
- Thread starter pinkfloyd34
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I am from Warsaw so... yeah, I have been there. A few times 
.
In general, I recommend Kraków to those visiting Poland for the first time. It is a beautiful city with a very pretty Old Town district. Warsaw is by far not as pretty. If that does not bother you too much, Warsaw can be an excellent destination though. It is at the center of so much that happened in recent history: It was completely flattened in WW II, parts were rebuilt brick-by-brick (visit the Old Town, you could never tell it was all rebuilt after Mr Hitler decided he wanted to see it all in ruins), other parts are impressive examples of Communist architecture - most of all the Palace of Culture and Science in the very city center. In the last dozen years or so, Warsaw has seen an incredible construction boom (now halted by the recession of course). Before the boom started slowing down, Warsaw was on its way to becoming the city with the most skyscrapers in Europe. Especially compared to low-rise Dublin, Warsaw is quite a sight. You get a fascinating contrast of crumbling 70ies concrete and shiny glass and steel.
The shopping landscape is just as full of contrasts as the buildings. There are shopping malls everywhere, offering just about any brand under the sun. But there are also markets (rather well hidden, so do your homework if you want to visit them) selling all sorts of cheap junk.
If you want to see some of the prettier bits of Warsaw, head to the Old Town, New Town (just north of the Old Town, walk through the barbican) and Wilanów palace (bus 519 from Emilli Plater or taxi).
If you want to see history, wander around the central district, pay attention to the mad contrast as you turn a random corner, make sure to visit the ghetto area, the Monument to Victims of Deaths and Murders, the Palace of Culture and Science, the Warsaw Uprising Museum and to view the film about how Warsaw was flattened at Hitler's whim that is shown in the Old Town square. When visiting the Palace of Culture and Science, you can take the elevator all the way to the top and enjoy a nice view of town. Or you can visit the Science Museum - I love this one as they ran out of funds some time in the 70ies and it portrays "science", "technology" and especially the country's future as a center of heavy industry as the communists saw it back then - it is a trip to an eerie past...
Edit: I forgot to mention the Royal Route, extending south of the Old Town. This has recently been refurbished and is now a mostly pedestrianized street well worth seeing. Many beautiful buildings lie along it, including the Presidential Palace and Warsaw University.
.In general, I recommend Kraków to those visiting Poland for the first time. It is a beautiful city with a very pretty Old Town district. Warsaw is by far not as pretty. If that does not bother you too much, Warsaw can be an excellent destination though. It is at the center of so much that happened in recent history: It was completely flattened in WW II, parts were rebuilt brick-by-brick (visit the Old Town, you could never tell it was all rebuilt after Mr Hitler decided he wanted to see it all in ruins), other parts are impressive examples of Communist architecture - most of all the Palace of Culture and Science in the very city center. In the last dozen years or so, Warsaw has seen an incredible construction boom (now halted by the recession of course). Before the boom started slowing down, Warsaw was on its way to becoming the city with the most skyscrapers in Europe. Especially compared to low-rise Dublin, Warsaw is quite a sight. You get a fascinating contrast of crumbling 70ies concrete and shiny glass and steel.
The shopping landscape is just as full of contrasts as the buildings. There are shopping malls everywhere, offering just about any brand under the sun. But there are also markets (rather well hidden, so do your homework if you want to visit them) selling all sorts of cheap junk
.If you want to see some of the prettier bits of Warsaw, head to the Old Town, New Town (just north of the Old Town, walk through the barbican) and Wilanów palace (bus 519 from Emilli Plater or taxi).
If you want to see history, wander around the central district, pay attention to the mad contrast as you turn a random corner, make sure to visit the ghetto area, the Monument to Victims of Deaths and Murders, the Palace of Culture and Science, the Warsaw Uprising Museum and to view the film about how Warsaw was flattened at Hitler's whim that is shown in the Old Town square. When visiting the Palace of Culture and Science, you can take the elevator all the way to the top and enjoy a nice view of town. Or you can visit the Science Museum - I love this one as they ran out of funds some time in the 70ies and it portrays "science", "technology" and especially the country's future as a center of heavy industry as the communists saw it back then - it is a trip to an eerie past...
Edit: I forgot to mention the Royal Route, extending south of the Old Town. This has recently been refurbished and is now a mostly pedestrianized street well worth seeing. Many beautiful buildings lie along it, including the Presidential Palace and Warsaw University.
pinkfloyd34
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wow undo, that is a great reply, thanks for taking the time, it is a great help to me, im going to warsaw for 3 nights on tuesday and will definetly do the Palace of Cuture and Science and the other stuff you mentioned, sounds like Warsaw is a very interesting place, i'll post back next week and let you know how I got on
I am Irish, I have a Polish Wife and half polish son, I have been going to Poland twice a year for the last 5 years. Its a great place to visit but you must have an open mind, in some places you wont have your creature comforts such as food your used to but they have nice stuff there too.
I was working as an English teacher in Warszawa for a time and its really nice although tourists prefer krakow as you can visit the concentration camps, saltmines, zakopane very easily.
Its been 3 months since last post so what did you think of Polska?
I was working as an English teacher in Warszawa for a time and its really nice although tourists prefer krakow as you can visit the concentration camps, saltmines, zakopane very easily.
Its been 3 months since last post so what did you think of Polska?
pinkfloyd34
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Sorry for not updating, Warsaw is a great city, better than i expected, old town is beautiful, very busy cosmopolitan city, great shopping centres right in the city centre, I think the arcadia is one of the biggest in Europe. Palace of Culture and Science is stunning at night time. Easy enough to get around, food and drink is very reasonable, can eat out for half the price in Ireland, polish beer is much nicer than the usual stuff we have here. I would recommend it for a long weekend.