Best Place to Exchange Money in Warsaw Airport and City Centre

What Currency is Used in Poland?

The biggest problem for many tourists when arriving in Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport is exchanging the national currency – Polish Zloty before travelling. Although Poland is one of the European Union (EU) State Members, it still retains its unique currency identity. Zloty is not a popular currency worldwide. Hence, the currency exchange counters in most countries do not keep them. That said, you are most probably not able to get any zloty exchange in your country before arrival in Poland.

Warsaw Airport Money Exchange

We know that money exchange at the airports has a bad forex exchange rate. However, if you have to take public transport from Warsaw Chopin Airport to the city centre, regardless of the poor exchange rate, we still require some Polish zloty to buy a ticket. The only exception is paying with bank cards at the airport counters which are accepted by the ATM.

Having Euro in pockets certainly does not help much. I explored all the Kantor Exchange I could find in Warsaw Airport to make a comparison so I can tell you which one has the best polish zloty exchange rate in Warsaw Airport despite the rip-off due to the high commission charged. Kantor means “currency exchange office” in Polish.

The conversion on that day of arrival to Poland was   1 Euro to 4.30 PLN   (zloty currency code) when conducting a quick check online. We will benchmark this figure as a comparison against other Kantor Exchange counters in Warsaw Chopin Airport and city centre when converting from Euro to zloty. Generally, private Kantor Exchange counters not operated by the bank have no company names explicitly stated. So, you can only use the photos as a recognition.

|1| Kantor Exchange at Baggage Reclaim Area

I spotted the first Kantor currency exchange counter at the Baggage Reclaim area beside Belt 5. The exchange rate was 1 Euro to 3.61 PLN. I decided not to change over here as it was not high enough. Later, when I looked at other forex exchange rate at the Arrival Hall, then did I realise it had the second-highest rate.

Kantor Exchange @ Belt 5 Baggage Reclaim Area

|2| Kantor Exchange at Arrival Hall Out of Security Clearance

Immediately on the right after stepping out from the security clearance at Warsaw Airport Arrival Hall located between the ‘Information Counter’ and ‘Meeting Point’, you can see a Kantor Exchange. The zloty exchange rate was 1 Euro to 3.42 PLN there. Gosh! It was even lower than the first one in the Baggage Reclaim area. As the currency board was inside the counter, thus it seemed impossible for me to take a photo with the staff there.

Kantor Exchange at Arrival Hall after Security Clearance

|3| “Money Exchange Open 24h” at Right Side of Arrival Hall

Moving forward towards the Public Transport area, there was another one with a big signboard written “Money Exchange Open 24h”. The currency exchange rate was 1 Euro to 3.42 PLN which was similar to the second one that I had seen. As there was no one inside the office, I quickly snapped a photo of the undesirable rate on the currency board to forewarn you not to change here too. You will lose about 20% of the published zloty exchange rate.

“Money Exchange Open 24h” at Arrival Hall

|4| Kantor Exchange beside McDonald’s

Towards the right-wing at the end of the building, the Kantor Exchange Counter beside McDonald’s had the best currency exchange rate among the worst. It was 1 Euro to 3.71 PLN. As it seemed like there was no more money exchange counter for me to explore further, I decided to change it here. The pleasant lady serving me said that they had the best rate at Warsaw Chopin Airport.

I told her that I only required a small amount to buy train or bus tickets to Warsaw city centre. She asked me to go opposite to the Public Transport Service Point to ask how much money I needed and then returned. I did as she requested to find out the ticket price for public transport. Then, sheepishly, I asked if I could only change 10 Euro. She obliged me willingly as she would have known that the Kantor Exchange rate in the airport was low, and tourists were not going to exchange a lump sum of foreign currency here.

Kantor Exchange beside McDonald’s

|5| Best Kantor Exchange at Warsaw Old Town Found

My destination in the city centre was Warsaw Old Town since I had only a few hours of transit in Poland. Over here, I came across another Kantor Exchange opposite The Royal Castle. So far, it had the best exchange rate for zloty of 1 Euro to 4.30 PLN! It was precisely the same rate as what I had seen online on that day. So people, if you want a reliable Kantor Exchange forex rate without being exploited in a touristic zone, this would be one of the best places to exchange money in Warsaw.

The profile image of this article also highlights the area where you can find this money changer. The orangey-red building on the right is the Royal Castle.

Kantor Exchange at Warsaw Old Town

Best Place to Exchange Money in Warsaw City Centre

Here are more of the other Kantor Exchange Services on Google Maps that were testified by many satisfied customers as these places had a high zloty exchange rate in Warsaw. The Kantor Exchange companies in the customised maps below have at least a 4-star rating on Google Maps, tried and tested.

The winner of the best currency rate and service go to Tavex with a smashing record of 4.9 stars out of 102 happy customers! The following 3 Currency Exchange establishments have positive experiences attested by more than 50 reviews too: –

• Apollo Kantor » 4.0 stars out of 94 reviews
• Kantor Diament » 4.5 stars out of 75 reviews
• Conti » 4.5 stars out of 72 reviews

The Google Maps listing is arranged according to the number of reviews garnered and is correct at the time of writing. With so many places to get your zloty in Warsaw, you can think about where to eat the best Polish food – Pierogi and things to do in Warsaw Old Town.

Transport from Warsaw Chopin Airport to City Centre and Old Town

Whether to get from Warsaw Airport to City Centre or Warsaw Airport to Old Town, you get some tips here on the type of transportation, the cost and how to get to the destination you want.

After exiting the clearance at the Warsaw Chopin Airport Arrival Hall, walk towards the right-wing where you can find all the public transports to go to Warsaw city centre or other cities. Later, you can buy your train and bus tickets from the Public Transport Service Point counter or enquire about a taxi booking from a few taxi counters in the same area.

If you do not have zloty, the Kantor Exchange opposite the Public Transport Service Point has the best currency exchange rate in Warsaw Airport (with commission) among the low zloty exchange rate nonetheless. The Forex Currency Counter even allowed you to change for as little as €10 too. I got myself 37.1 PLN (zloty currency code) there, more than enough to get a pair of return tickets to the city centre. Following your arrival to the city centre, you can then look for a Kantor Exchange with an even better rate later.

The Public Transport Service Point sells both the train and bus tickets at PLN 4.40 (€1 | US$1.15) for a single trip with multiple transfers in 75 minutes. The time is enough to get you from Warsaw Airport to City Centre and Warsaw Old Town. I bought two tickets immediately since I was having a few hours of transit. The plan was to visit Warsaw Old Town for sightseeing and also ate my lunch in one pierogi restaurant before returning to the airport later in the afternoon to catch the next flight to Brussels.

1. Taxi from Warsaw Airport to City Centre

Taxi in Poland is said to be one of the cheapest in Europe. Anyone who does not like to check on the train and bus routes or have children with them can hop onto a taxi from Warsaw Airport to City Centre. The taxi fare is approximately 40 PLN to 50 PLN (from €9.30 and $US$10.50 onwards) and takes 20 minutes to downtown.

The Warsaw taxi accepts credit cards, so you do not even have to worry about not having any Polish Zloty with you. You can easily book one cab from a few taxi counters at Warsaw Airport Arrival Hall. Furthermore, it is advisable to book from one of the three legitimate taxi companies at the airport for safety reason. The taxi uses a meter, and the driver is also obliged to give you a tax receipt for it.

• ELE Taxi +48 22 811 11 11
• iTaxi +48 737 737 737
• MPT Taxi +48 22 191 91

2. Uber Private-Hire Vehicle

Another alternative is to book from Uber, a private-hire company which is typically cheaper than the traditional taxi services. A quick check on their website with a Uber Price Estimator from ‘Warsaw Chopin Airport’ to city centre ‘Warsaw, Poland’ will cost between PLN 17 to 23 (from €4.00/US$4.50) and PLN 21 to 28 (€4.90/US$5.50 onward) to ‘Warsaw Old Town’.

Sometimes, the fare may be higher due to demand surge during peak period or holidays. You have to be ready at the pickup point and wait for the Uber car to arrive when you make a booking as the car cannot wait too long at the airport. Alternatively, get a private airport transfer in 30 minutes with a limousine or minibus.

3. Train from Warsaw Airport to City Centre

There are two train operators at the Warsaw Chopin Airport – SKM and KM. The duration takes 20 to 25 minutes for both SKM and KM train lines at every 15 minutes interval. SKM has 2 lines – S2 and S3 that will bring you to the city centre.

S2 can bring you to Warszawa Śródmieście (Warsaw Downtown) station, and S3 will stop at Warszawa Centralna (Warsaw Central) where you can connect to the regional and long-distance train at the railway station. The distance of both stations is a 3-minute walk of 260m. On the other hand, the KM train line will bring you to both destinations.

4. Bus from Warsaw Airport to Old Town and City Centre

Since I had only a few hours of layover in Poland, the initial plan was to start the city tour from Warsaw Old Town by bus and then returned to the airport by train. The best way to get from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Old Town was to take Bus 175 with a 30-minute bus ride. I could also admire the tranquil scenery during the journey which a train ride may not provide if the route went underground. Furthermore, the bus stop at Warsaw Airport was just outside the right-wing of the Arrival Hall after exiting from the security clearance which one can find easily.

» Train Transfer to Old Town

Train transfer is usually a preferred, faster mode of transport to the city centre in most cities but not this time to Warsaw Old Town. However, if you take a train and stop at Warszawa Śródmieście (S2) or Warszawa Centralna (S3), you have to walk approximately 35 minutes to go to Warsaw Old Town instead! Since the ticket comes with a transfer within 75 minutes of validation, you can take another bus or tram to reach there which is a 20 to 25 minutes’ journey if going by train is your option.

» Taking Bus to Old Town is Better Than Taking a Train

Therefore, having a transfer is too much of a hassle. Taking Bus 175 is the best way to get from Warsaw Airport to Old Town during the daytime. It is so easy to remember as you just have to alight at the LAST stop of Bus 175 which is Pl. Piłsudskiego. This pointer certainly makes travelling from Warsaw Airport to Old Town a no-brainer and do without the worry of checking the bus station names! On a side note, Bus 175 also stops at the Warsaw Railway Station. Alight at     Dw. Centralny (Show Map).

» Walking Distance and Direction from Bus Stop to Warsaw Old Town

From bus stop   
Plac Piłsudskiego 04 to Old Town (Show Map) is about 7-minute’ walk towards the right direction, facing the National Chamber of Commerce, then turn left on the park, Adam Mickiewicz Square. After the first turn, there are a few places of interest on the right side which I deviated from the said left-hand direction to explore a bit more of the street.

» Buying a Ticket inside the Bus

I had the intention to take a train back to the airport in the afternoon to experience another means of transport. Eventually, I realised my hours of a carefree stroll around the Warsaw Old Town vicinity took me nowhere near any of the train stations. The nearest one was 30 minutes of walking, and I was also pressed for time to catch the next flight too. Hence, I walked to the nearest Bus 175 bus stop that I could find.

Inside the bus, I saw that one could buy a ticket from another machine using a bank card. However, cash was not accepted. A ticket should be validated immediately upon entering the train or bus by inserting it at the lower end of the machine.

ZTM Warszawa is a local authority with an integrated ticketing system for public transport. In Warsaw, there are two ticketing zones – ① and ②. ‘Zone’ means ‘Strefa’ in Polish.

For Warsaw city centre, a Zone ① ticket is enough to travel around the downtown area. If you want to go to Zone ② which is out of the city centre, you will require a ticket that states ➊ + ➋. —–> Zone 1 Map

Here are some of the common types of tickets available to purchase from ZTM counters. Most of the tickets below are for use in Zone ① except for those with = Zone ➊ + ➋ fares.

€1 = PLN4.30   |    US$1 = PLN3.83

TICKET TYPE	PLN	EURO	USD
20-Minute Ticket	3.40	€0.79	$0.90
Single Transfer Ticket (75 minutes)	4.40	€1.00	$1.15
Single Transfer Ticket (90 minutes)	7.00	€1.65	$1.85
Daily Ticket (24 hours)	15.00	€3.50	$3.90
3-Day Ticket	36.00	€8.40	$9.40
Weekend Ticket (from 19:00 on Friday until 8:00 on Monday)	24.00	€5.60	$6.30
Group Weekend Ticket (up to 5 pax)	40.00	€9.30	$10.50

You can check out the full range of tickets for Zone ➊ + ➋ on the ZTM website.

Verdict

Depending on the downtown places of interest where you want to go from Warsaw Airport, taking a bus in Warsaw is as convenient as taking a train especially around the Old Town vicinity. Usually, commuting by train from airports to city centres will be my top choice for my travel.

Food Review at Zapiecek Restaurant Warsaw Old Town for Popular Polish Food – Pierogi

Zapiecek: Traditional Polish Restaurant

At 11 am outside Zapiecek Restaurant Świętojańska 13 in Warsaw Old Town, an elderly was giving out pamphlets. The usual marketing strategy to entice customers into the shop and also passed me one too. I was quickly drawn to the Polish dishes images in the advertisement.

Subsequently, I took a look at the menu at the entrance of Zapiecek Restaurant, but none of the Polish food was familiar to me. Therefore, adventurous eating was what I sought at that moment. Hence, an indication of a restaurant serving authentic Polish cuisine. I was also feeling famished after a few hours of walking and sightseeing at Warsaw Old Town.

Regardless of the truth, I went inside immediately. I was somewhat surprised to find that the small restaurant was almost full-house shortly after its opening within minutes. Consequently, I stepped out again, wanting to give it a miss as I did not want to wait too long to be served.

In the meanwhile outside Zapiecek Restaurant, I saw more people entering inside. My gut feeling told me that this must be a remarkable restaurant to try out Polish food. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a continuous flow of people going into the restaurant in such a short time, which was a rare sight.

Immediately, my quick instinct directed me back to Zapiecek restaurant once again. I found myself a small table to squeeze my body in and also placed my small luggage on the floor in an awkward position.

There were approximately 16 people, and all were reading the food menu concurrently. Shortly, one pretty, cheerful waitress wearing a cute traditional Polish costume came and handed me a Zapiecek menu with English translation.

Popular Polish Food on the Hunt

I took a long time to read the fascinating menu but yet had to decide quickly what Polish food to have for my lunch in Zapiecek. All the Polish dishes looked so tempting! I wanted to try as many of them as my stomach could take as Polish food was not so expensive in my opinion.

Best Pierogi to Recommend

Polish Pierogi (also known as ‘Dumpings’) was eventually my top choice as they almost had a full page of menu dedicated to 50 types of Pierogi with different fillings inside. More than half was boiled dumplings, and the rest was pan-fried. I am not a fan of pan-fried food, so my choice was obvious. As the options of boiled Perogies were overwhelming, thus it was not easy to decide on the filling without the recommendation of the waitress.

Generally, Zapiecek Restaurant offered the customers three choices to order the Polish Pierogi:

• 9 Dumplings of the same filling
• 11 Dumplings of the same filling
• Mixed dumplings of your choice (minimum of 9 pieces on a plate)

Of course, individual Pierogi of your choice would cost higher than a plate served with the same stuffing. Since I was a tourist, I did not mind paying a higher cost for trying out different types of Polish Pierogi. Moreover, they cost only an average of €0.50 – €0.60/pc, which I felt was dirt cheap for European food. On the other hand, the Polish Pierogi filling was practically anything that one could think of from meat, vegetables, cheese to fruits! Even if you are a vegetarian, you can find something green or fruity to suit your preference!

My Favourite Perogi of All-Time

My favourite Pierogi and the most delicious of all is Dumplings with Salmon and Camembert Cheese. If you wanted a plate with the same kind of filling, and you also love to eat salmon and cheese as much as I do, I would definitely recommend these juicy dumplings to you. Thinking of it makes my mouth salivate as I wanted so much to try these yummy Polish Perogies at Zapiecek Warsaw again.

Salad

I also had a bowl of salad to go with my plate of Perogies. The waitress recommended the salad on the menu – Fresh Vegetables (Lettuce, Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Carrot, Corn). However, I felt that the salad was rather ordinary and not as delectable in comparison to the toothsome pierogies.

Mug of Polish Sour Rye Soup

After finishing the pierogi and the salad, I still had space in my stomach and wanted to try more Polish food which was not too heavy. I asked for a soup recommendation afterwards. The waitress asked me to order the traditional Polish Sour Rye Soup with forest mushrooms.

She also didn’t think I could finish the grilled white sausage, egg, chives and bread which came as a set to the main course. So, I heeded her advice. The soup was sour but to the taste buds’ acceptable level. Nevertheless, I was delighted to have tried one authentic Polish soup.

Bill

The bill came as PLN 45.54 (€10.60 | US$11.90), but I did not have enough zloty with me. I was on a few hours transit to Poland and had only exchanged a small amount of zloty at Airport Kantor Exchange for buying return tickets to take a bus from Warsaw Airport to Old Town. I asked to separate the bill so I could pay with my remaining zloty (PLN 25) and proposed to pay the balance with my credit card. The waitress remarked that it was not possible to split it. In the end, I settled the full amount with my credit card.

Verdict: Tip-Top Customer Service and Excellent Polish Food Options

What was impressive about the service of Zapiecek Restaurant was the speed of the food served to all customers at nearly the same time 10 minutes later despite all of us arriving simultaneously. When asked for a recommendation, the waitresses were always ready to shoot a few of their best Polish dishes and always put on a smile despite being busy in the crowded ambience.

The restaurant was already full-house after 20 minutes, but the stream of customers came in continuously to ask about seat availability. At that moment, I considered myself lucky to dine in one of the best Polish restaurants in Warsaw after reading many raving positive reviews from the customers.

More Pierogi Restaurants in Warsaw

I would not hesitate in recommending you try out Zapiecek Restaurant. Although it has several branches in Warsaw, they are always full-house as well. It is also not difficult to find traditional Polish restaurants in Warsaw. Everywhere you go, you will see the word “Pierogi” outside many restaurants that also indicate how prevalent this Polish cuisine is.

Here are more restaurants in Warsaw to try out Pierogi or other Polish dishes, so you know the right places to eat in Warsaw. They are just the tip of the iceberg. There are much more Polish restaurants in Warsaw that do not have the proper category on Google Maps.

20 THINGS TO DO IN WARSAW

One Day in Warsaw: What to See in Old Town Warsaw

One Day in Warsaw, Poland: 20 Things to Do and See in Old Town

I had one day in Warsaw because I had chosen a 10-hours stopover at Warsaw Chopin Airport so that I could visit Old Town Warsaw for the second time. I took a 20 minutes bus ride from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Old Town after exchanging some Euro to zloty from Airport Kantor Exchange with a bad forex rate. There is also other transportation from Warsaw Airport like the train, taxi and Uber where you can get to the Old Town or other parts of the city centre.

Warsaw Old Town was my chosen destination, as I knew there were many Warsaw attractions for me to see. A few hours in Warsaw would complete the walking tour around the vicinity of Warsaw Old Town. As I took a bus and alight at the last stop of bus 175 – Plac Piłsudskiego, I began my Warsaw sightseeing from there.

Here are some quick facts about Warsaw: –

• Warsaw Old Town was named as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• It has a population of around 1.77 million inhabitants within a greater metropolitan area of 3.1 million residents.
• Warsaw is the 8th most populous capital city in the European Union.
• The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Warsaw as the 32nd most liveable city in the world.
• It was one of the most beautiful cities in Europe in comparison to ‘Paris of the North’ until World War II when German invaded Poland in 1939.
• During the war, more than 85% of the buildings were destructed.

Although what you see in Warsaw today were mostly buildings reconstructed after the post-war period, many of them were rebuilt according to ancient drawings and illustrations from painters so that the new structure and style could look as similar as possible to the pre-war designs.

Map Your Warsaw Travel

You can refer and save the walking guide from the customised Google Maps below on things to do in Old Town. Alternatively, you can choose to follow my Warsaw List on Google Maps. Whichever method used will enable you to see the same points of interests on your Google Maps.

Follow this list to show on your Google Maps ︎

Warsaw Attractions and Sightseeing

1. Adam Mickiewicz Square and Monument

~Skwer Adama Mickiewicza~

The beauty of Adam Mickiewicz Square greeted me as I began my Warsaw sightseeing walking tour towards Warsaw Old Town. There was a monument in the middle of the park dedicated to Adam Bernard Mickiewicz. He was a Polish poet and a political activist, regarded as Poland’s greatest poet and national pride who inspired romanticism. The monument construction was from 1897 to 1898.

2. Carmelite Church

~Kościół pw. Wniebowzięcia NMP i Świętego Józefa~

Carmelite Church built from 1761 – 1783 has a neoclassical-style facade which is most prominent in Warsaw. The Carmelite Church was reputably a place where Frédéric Chopin was invited to give a recital on the church’s organ for his first job. The Carmelite Church was one of the rare relics of World War II as it suffered only minor damage, retaining its originality since its construction.

3. Presidential Palace

~Pałac Prezydencki~

Towards the walk on the right, you will notice a stately building at a distance guided by security guards at the front preceded by two pairs of stone lions at the side and inaccessible to the public. That is the Presidential Palace. At the front was a monument of a knight on a horse who is Józefa Poniatowskiego. He was a Polish general, minister of war and army chief, who became a Marshal of the French Empire. The Presidential Palace used to be the private properties for the nobles for 175 years after its construction in 1643. Since 1994, it belongs to the President of the Republic in Poland.

4. Miniature Park – Region Mazowiecki

~Park Miniatur Województwa Mazowieckiego~

Miniature Park is not just for kids. It offers an opportunity to visualise several building structures from the Mazovia area before its destruction during World War II. Through the miniature monument storytelling, one can recapture the historical moment through symbolic reconstruction. The Miniature Park is open to visitors daily from July 5 to October 31 from 10 am to 7 pm. The regular ticket price is PLN14 (€3.25 | US$3.65) for adults, PLN12 (€2.80 | US$3.15) for children and free for those under 5 years old.

5. St. Anne’s Church

~Kościół Akademicki św. Anny~

St. Anne’s Church is one of the oldest buildings in Warsaw with a neoclassical facade. It is the main parish church of the academic community in Warsaw today that had undergone several reconstructions in the past until 1788. In 1794, a traitor was executed outside St Anne’s Church to the rejoicing of the people. St. Anne’s Church is not only impressive from the outside, but the church interior is also similarly captivating and majestic. I was utterly bewitched by the high-baroque style and imposing lavish chandelier when I stepped in. It is a must-visit Warsaw attraction for witnessing its glamour.

6. Zaprasza Regionalia Fair @ Trzecia Brama

Trzecia Brama is supposed to be a restaurant and cafe. When I travelled to Warsaw Old Town that day, the entrance leading to the establishment had turned into a mini-fair inside. A banner hung on the top stating “Zaprasza Regionalia”. There was a display of local products, such as souvenirs and ornaments. Even though the fair was small, the interior was cosy and lovely. Perhaps, you would be able to catch the same event the next time you go for Warsaw sightseeing.

7. Viewing Terrace

~Taras Widokowy~

The Viewing Terrace provides the best breathtaking panorama scenery of Warsaw Old Town if you are willing to climb up 150 stone steps to the vantage point. The ticket price is PLN6.00 (€1.40 | US$1.55), and children under 4 years old are free. The admission tickets are sold at the entrance of the observation deck, and no reservation is allowed. Smoking and alcoholic beverages consumption are also prohibited. It would be one of the coolest things to do in Old Town to be up there. There is also another Warsaw attraction that is the observation deck at the Palace of Culture and Science which may interest you too.

8. The Royal Castle in Warsaw

~Zamek Królewski w Warszawie~

The Royal Castle in Warsaw was once the royal residence of the Polish monarch for centuries. It also marked the entrance of Warsaw Old Town. Visitors can go to the Royal Castle for exhibitions, lectures, film screening and concerts. The adult ticket price is PLN30.00 (€7.00 | US$7.85) and children up to 16 years of age is PLN1.00 (€0.20 | US$0.25). Go on a Wednesday for free entry. The operating hours start from 10 am daily, and 11 am on Sundays. It closes from 5 to 7 pm, depending on the months of visit. The Royal Castle museum is closed on Monday.

9. Tourist Information, Souvenir Shop and Currency Exchange

~Informacja Turystyczna, Sklep z Pamiątkami i Kantor~

If you want to have an attractive exchange rate of zloty and do not want to feel ripped off, the Currency Exchange Office (known as Kantor Exchange locally) is one of the best places to exchange money. At Warsaw Airport, the online rate was €1 to PLN 4.30. The forex counters at the airport will never match up to such a desirable rate. This Kantor Exchange facing Royal Castle had the same forex rate as what I checked online. Exchange your currency here if you want to get a high buying rate for zloty.

10. Jarmark Zygmuntowski Fair

The Jarmark Zygmuntowski fair is seasonal and situated along the street of Miedzymurza Piotra Bieganskiego. In 2019, it ran for one month from 26 April to 26 May promoting products like souvenirs and food mainly from different parts of the country. The flagship event in high anticipation is Jarmark Bożonarodzeniowy, which means ‘Christmas Market’. The scheduled date is on 23 November 2019 to 6 January 2020. The event entrance located near to a florist shop – Kwiaciarnia Zamkowa had a staggered wall which was worth my second look.

11. Zapiecek Restaurant

Zapiecek Restaurant was where I had my lunch. It served traditional Polish food and delicious Pierogi (Polish Dumplings). Expect to pay around €10 – €15 on average. Zapiecek Restaurant also has several chains of restaurants in Warsaw. The tables are always taken up quickly as they are well-known restaurants in Warsaw. One of the top things to do in Old Town Warsaw is to try the delicious Polish food at any of the local restaurants. Pierogi is a must-try cuisine which has a variety of filling inside.

12. Shrine of Our Lady of Grace

~Sanktuarium Matki Bożej Łaskawej~

Shrine of Our Lady of Grace suffered the same ill fate as its adjacent counterpart. It had undergone a phase of construction between the 1950s to 1973 after WWII when German razed it to the ground. Now, it has a more simplified architectural style with a contemporary church hall as it had lost many of its furnishings after the catastrophic destruction. Following the visit to St. John Archcathedral, this church hall paled of in comparison with its simplicity. Take a look at these two Warsaw attractions.

13. St. John’s Archcathedral

~Bazylika Archikatedralna w Warszawie p.w. Męczeństwa św. Jana Chrzciciela~ 

Beside Shrine of Our Lady of Grace Church, you will see St. John’s Archcathedral. It is a Roman Catholic Church in Warsaw Old Town and has a prominent arch, originated from the 14th century. During WWII, a significant area of the church was destroyed by explosives intentionally placed inside the drilled wall by the Germans. Later, the exterior was remodelled according to the original perception inferred from drawings and illustrations. One wall withstood the dynamiting from the deliberate plan to destruct Warsaw.

14. Old Town Market Square

~Rynek Starego Miasta Warszawa~ 

Warsaw’s Old Town Market Square is a place where you can sit in a cafe and bask in the sun when the weather is good. The architectures around Old Town Market Square had undergone restoration and characterised by colourful buildings. It remains as one of the most conspicuous places for tourist’ attraction or a meetup and relaxation in one of the restaurants and cafes. During the day, there are temporary stalls set up to sell items like souvenirs, painting and handicraft in Old Town Market Square and watch street performers. You can also take carriages there. A Warsaw Mermaid monument stands in the heart of the square and is a symbolic icon of the old city.

15. Museum of Warsaw

~Muzeum Warszawy~

The Museum of Warsaw has 21 rooms with different themes, comprising of three parts of segments from the city’s history to its present events. There are 300,000 collections with a selection of more than 7,000 exclusively for the exhibition. All of the displays are original. The operating hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 7 pm and close on Monday. The standard ticket price is PLN20 (€4.65 | US$5.20) and PLN10.00 for the temporary exhibitions.

16. Warsaw Barbican

~Barbakan Warszawski~

The Warsaw Barbican fortification is a popular tourist attraction erected in 1540 and one of the last fortifications remaining. It once defended against the Swedish invasion in 1656. The Barbican was later demolished partially in the 18th century as the regard to the wall defensive worth was not high. A bigger gate that facilitated the daily movement of people and goods was deemed as more beneficial. During WWII, most of the Barbican walls were in the wreckage. After WWII, it was rebuilt as a tourist attraction to reduce cost instead of structural reinforcement.

17. Warsaw Uprising Monument

~Pomnik Powstania Warszawskiego~

People who are interested in Warsaw’s devastating past can visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum to commemorate the heroes who fought and sacrificed themselves to liberate Poland from the war-torn battle. The monuments of soldiers standing outside the museum served as a reminder of their priceless sacrifices. The Warsaw Uprising Museum (Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego) is approximately 3.3 km away from here if you want to understand more. A regular ticket costs PLN25 (€5.80 | US$6.50) per person. You can buy tickets online too. The visiting hours start as early as 8 am. However, it is better to check the website as they are not the same daily.

18. Field Cathedral of the Polish Army

~Katedra Polowa Wojska Polskiego~

A peculiar cathedral name befitted with striking twin spires and a Polish national flag flying at the top of the religious edifice makes one connote to the military instantaneously. Once used as a garrison and a hospital for the insurgents during World War II, it was later destroyed in 1944. Its former glory was resurrected decades later. Today, It is the central church of the Polish Armed Forces and a significant place where the military army holds its religious feasts.

19. Monument to the Heroes of Warsaw

~Pomnik Bohaterów Warszawy „Nike”~

The Polish also refer the Monument to the Heroes of Warsaw as the Warsaw Nike. Nike was a goddess who represented victory in ancient Greek religion. The monument erected in 1956 was to commemorate those who died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and the Warsaw Uprising along with the inscription: Heroes of Warsaw from 1939 to 1945. I saw the enthralling 10-ton sculpture from afar.

20. Jabłonowski Palace

~Pałac Jabłonowskich~

The erection of this 18th-century palace for the Prince of the Holy Roman Empire was not spared from dire destructions. Before WWII, the Jabłonowski Palace functioned as the City Hall with the demolishing of the former one. An arson in 1863 Uprising gave birth to the Neo-Renaissance style under the new remodelling, along with the installation of a distinctive tower. The demolition in WWII led to another restoration with the shape assimilating pre-war style before 1936. Some parts of the designs were contemporary nonetheless.

End of Warsaw Sightseeing Trip

I ended my 5 hours of Warsaw sightseeing by taking a bus back to the Warsaw Airport from Plac Teatralny bus stop. The scenery in Warsaw Old Town is beautiful and calm. It has lesser tourists if you arrive early in the morning. In the afternoon, the crowd builds up. The food in Warsaw is also considered inexpensive as compared to many other European cities. It would be a good idea to take your breakfast or lunch there. My recommendation is to try the Polish Dumplings, also known as Pierogi, the Polish soup, and their tea brewed from fruits. A truly refreshing experience! I am feeling glad to be able to see Warsaw Old Town again!