Wonderful Warsaw

Warsaw, also known as Warszawa, is the capital and the largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, equidistant from the Baltic Sea and the Carpathian Mountains. Completely destroyed by the Nazis during World War II, the city managed to lift itself from the ashes. The only thing that persevered was the Polish spirit. Since the fall of communism in 1989, Warsaw has been developing much more rapidly than Poland as a whole. You wouldn't recognize the city if you saw it ten years ago, and more changes are constantly taking place. Warsaw has long been the easiest place in Poland to find employment, and for this reason many of the Polish inhabitants of the city are first or second generation, originating from all over the country. Today, almost every building in Warsaw dates to the post war era - with what little remains of the old structures being confined largely to the restored districts of Stare Miasto (the 'old city') and Nowe Miasto ('new city'), as well as selected monuments and cemeteries. The vibrant heart of the largest country in "New Europe", Warsaw is now poised to make is presence felt as a business and cultural hub. This awesome city is full of contrasts, questions and astonishments. Warsaw will not leave you different – reflection and euphoria simultaneously spring to mind. Warsaw is home to some of the largest corporations serving business or conducting financial activities and to the largest legal companies operating in Poland. Warsaw hosts Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the most commercial banks operating in Poland and is also the location of main offices of the largest transport and shipping companies. Poland is a country rich in history and attractions. It is part of EU and NATO. It is one of the most stable and affluent countries in the world. Apart from Warsaw - we recommend tourists to visit the town of Krakow. Krakow was a capital of Poland for centuries and was almost left intact after 2nd World War. The train ride from Warsaw to Krakow takes only 2.5 hours and it is possible to do a day trip from Warsaw to Krakow.

 

Some General Information

Country : Poland

Official Language : Polish

Religion : Roman Catholic

Currency : Polish zloty ( PLN )

Time Zone : + 1 Hour GMT, Summers are + 2 hours GMT

Temperature : Summers in Warsaw can vary from mild to exhaustingly hot. In most residences and some hotels, there is no air conditioning, which means the days and nights can be hot to the point of interrupting one's sleep. The winters, on the other hand, are brutally cold. Weather can often force the city to come to a standstill. When it snows, it may take up to an hour's time just to travel a few city blocks with traffic at a standstill and road crews seemingly caught off guard.

Sightseeing : Warsaw's current urban landscape is one of modern and contemporary architecture. Most of the historical buildings were thoroughly reconstructed. However, some of the buildings from the 19th century that had been preserved in reasonably re-constructible form were nonetheless eradicated in the 1950s and 1960s. St. John's Cathedral, St. Mary's Church , Gunpowder Tower and the Royal Castle Curia Maior, Łazienki Park and Palace, Palace of Culture and Science, Old Town, Copernicus Science Centre and many churches and cathedrals.

 

Getting There

The Frederic Chopin International Airport ( WAW )

The Frederic Chopin is just 10km south west of Warsaw in Okecie, and the journey time by bus is usually only around 25 minutes. Formerly Warsaw-Okecie Airport or Okecie International Airport, the airport bore the name of its Okęcie neighbourhood throughout its history, until its renaming for Polish composer and former Warsaw resident Frédéric Chopin in 2001. There are car rental facilities, disabled facilities, conference and business lounges, insurance, lost luggage service, left luggage counters, vat refund counter, transit hotel, shopping, tourist info. Airport catering services include two restaurants, snack bars, ice-cream stands and self-service cafeterias. The Etiuda Terminal has vending machines and a coffee bar, while in Terminal 2 Arrivals there is also a coffee bar. There is a bank in the Terminal 1 Departures hall, and bureaux de change and ATMs in Arrivals and Departures. There is also a post office in the Departures hall. There are two Wi-Fi hotspots (provided by Era and Orange) that can be accessed in all areas of Terminal 1 to ease you off your internet worries, a chapel, baby rooms, observation deck and first aid help for any unforeseen mishaps.

Address : Ulica Zwirki i Wigury 1, 00 906 Warszawa, Poland

Airport Info - (6am to 10pm) or try +48 22 650 4220

Airport Telephone Operator - +48 22 650 1111

Website : http://www.lotnisko-chopina.pl/en/passenger

 

Tourist Information

The Warsaw Tourist Office (Stołeczne Biuro Turystyki) is an entity that operates within the larger organisation of the City of Warsaw; it concerns itself with informing visitors about comprehensive activities related to tourism. Their tasks include managing the Warsaw Tourist Information Points and telephone hotlines, which are at: +48 22 194 31
• providing information about Warsaw and its attractions, as well as cultural, sporting and business/ trade fair events in the capital
• booking reservations in Warsaw hotels
• arranging tour guides
• distributing the Warsaw Tourist Card and travel publications (such as maps, guides, general information, etc.)

Tourist Points are :

Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki) Tel. +48 22 194 31

Warsaw Central Train Station (Dworzec Warszawa Centralna) main hall, Opening hours: Mon. - Sun. 8 am - 8 pm

Rynek Starego Miasta 19/21/21a

Chopin Airport (Lotnisko Chopina)
Terminal A, exit 2

Kordegarda ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 15/17. Opening hours: Tue.-Sun. 11 am-7 pm

 

Travel Tips

1. If you're looking to mingle with real Varsovians, there's a well-kept, secret row of nameless, dark bars located off of Nowy Świat. They are reportedly good for those wishing to participate in the more decadent side of Varsovian night life. In truth, the places attract a younger crowd who want to socialize over a beer. If you'd like to give one of these bars 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 if you want find a seat. You won't be able to find one after 10PM.

2. Kantors (currency-exchange offices) and ATMs are easy to find around the city centre. There are 24-hour kantors at the Warszawa Centralna train station and either side of the immigration counters at the airport, but exchange rates at these places are about 10% lower than in the city centre. Avoid changing money in the Old Town, where rates are shocking.

3. Warsaw is no more dangerous than any other European capital city, but you should take precautions while strolling about the streets at night, and watch your possessions on public transport and in other crowded places. Pickpockets are especially active on bus 175 (between the airport and the city centre), on the trams that run along Al Jerozolimskie, and in and around the central train station. Beware also of ‘mafia taxis’.

4. Praga has a reputation as a rough area at night. Most locals use taxis as transport in and out of the neighbourhood, and so should you. 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.

5. Visitors not knowing Polish may also be the target of "bar girls," especially in Underground off of ul. Mazowiecka on days where there isn't a cover charge. Be cautious if you encounter a girl speaking English who will offer you a drink or a cigarette. She will then ask you to walk her to her car parked outside of the club and then explain how her friend still inside of the club has her car keys. Then she will ask if you would like to share a cab back to her place for 70 zloty and then go back to the club. Doing so puts yourself in danger because it isn't known where she lives and you could besetting yourself up for possible harm or other scams.

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

7. In general, the problems that plague many visitors to Warsaw are alcohol-related: a hangover with a possible run-in with the police (Polish: Policja). The city centre has a strong police presence and is generally a very safe area.