Today, it’s old core is remarkable largely because it’s a rebuild. It’s just that Warsaw is more of a reconstruction of a city that was brutally ruined by the Nazis in WWII. The town is thought to date back to the 12 th century. It’s not that Warsaw has a short history. Then there’s the darker history exposed at Auschwitz, a must for anyone visiting for the first time. The Wawel Castle is the historic kingpin of town and there are fantastic exhibits and tours within. There, you’ll want to see St Mary’s Church (perhaps the most important religious site in the country) and the Sukiennice (a trading hall where merchants from across Europe and the Silk Road might once have gathered). The Old Town is the piece de resistance, hosting POI after POI. ![]() The town is hailed as Poland’s cultural capital for its vast historical wealth. Warsaw or Krakow for history Photo by Joseph Richard Francis Be sure to fit in some people watching in the Planty Park and a picnic on the Vistula Boulevards – that’s how the locals do it. So, too, is the immersive district of Kazimierz, a place of paint-peeling concept shops and boho beer bars. The Wawel castle is also there, standing tall with its cathedral spires and 500-year-old court rooms. Its Old Town is a UNESCO site that’s original in every way, centered on the Rynek, a vast square that’s one of the largest medieval plazas in the world. Unlike Warsaw, this town was left largely standing after the war. Krakow is a place that rarely fails to enthrall. ![]() Warsaw is big on museums, too, so don’t miss the Warsaw Uprising Museum and the POLIN Museum, which tells the sobering tale of Poland’s Jews. Other famous things to see include the grand walks of Lazienki Park, which knit together oriental gardens and grand statues honoring Chopin the composer, and the Palace of Culture and Science, a Soviet relic that stands tall over the new town. It’s a striking place, totally razed in WWII and then rebuilt in defiance of the Nazis to showcase its former glory. Most travelers will begin by touring the Old Town in Warsaw. Warsaw or Krakow for things to do Photo by Kamil Gliwiński/Unsplash Winner: Warsaw – the two airports seal the deal here. There are trains running to Budapest, Vienna, and domestically to Warsaw, too, along with lots of long-distance buses to other major European towns and capitals. The John Paul II Krakow-Balice International Airport is a growing terminal that offers lots of cross-Europe links on airlines like Ryanair, with an especially good selection of flights to and from the UK (London, Bristol, Edinburgh). Krakow is also well linked up, especially from the air. There are now high-speed train links connecting Warsaw with Krakow and Gdansk, along with overnight trains and day trains going to Germany and beyond. The latter is a low-coster base, offering cheap links to the UK, Germany, Italy – you name it. The first is used mainly by flag carrying airlines like Polish LOT (which has long-haul links going direct to the US and Asia). It’s got two big airports: The Warsaw Chopin Airport and Warsaw-Modlin Mazovia Airport. Warsaw is the capital of Poland and has actually emerged as a bit of a transport hub for the Baltic region and Central-Eastern Europe generally. For air services, the city is served by the Warsaw Chopin Airport, 6.1 miles from the city, and the Warsaw-Modlin Airport, 22 miles north of it.Warsaw or Krakow for ease of travel Photo by Łukasz Nieścioruk/Unsplash The main bus station is located right outside the Warszawa Zachodnia train station at al. Warszawa Centralna is the main trail station in the city. For a more affordable option, Prasowy is a good choice. Some famous local favorites include Stolica and Restauracja Polska Różana, both of which offer amazing Polish dishes. The city is considered the best destination in Poland for foodies. For nature-lovers, don’t miss out on the Łazienki Królewskie Museum, which features various gardens for you to explore. For those interested in the history of the Jewish people in Poland, the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews boasts eye-opening exhibitions. It also houses plenty of restaurants, cafés, and shops, so don’t hesitate to check these places out. Filled with rebuilt buildings that mimic 14th-century houses, the area offers an interesting look into the city’s past. ![]() One of the city’s most popular attractions is the Old Town quarter, which has been recognized as a World Heritage Site. ![]() A historic city with a rich cultural heritage, Warsaw is a famous destination for culturally-inclined tourists.
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