Warsaw, the capital of Poland should be a part of any Poland itinerary. Known as the “Phoenix City,” Warsaw has spent centuries reinventing itself. Today, it is a fascinating blend of somber history and modern buildings. Spending three days in Warsaw offers the perfect itinerary to see all this city has to offer, from its Old Town to wartime history to its underrated food scene.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you!
Table of Contents
History of Warsaw
Warsaw has a dramatic and resilient history, marked by periods of great prosperity and devastating destruction. In the 1300s, Warsaw began as a small trading settlement along the Vistula River. By the 1500s, it rose to prominence when King Sigismund III Vasa moved the capital from Kraków to Warsaw in 1596, seeking a more central location for governing. The city grew into a major political, cultural, and economic center.
Warsaw’s history is most tragically defined by the events of the 1900s. During World War II, the city was occupied by Nazi Germany and suffered catastrophic losses. Its large Jewish population was forced into the infamous Warsaw Ghetto. In 1944, the Warsaw Uprising, led by the Polish resistance against German occupation, resulted in the near-total destruction of the city, with over 80% of Warsaw reduced to rubble.
After the war, under Soviet influence, Warsaw was painstakingly rebuilt, with much of its Old Town restored to its pre-war appearance using surviving architectural drawings and paintings. Today, Warsaw stands as a powerful symbol of Polish endurance and identity, balancing its tragic past with vibrant modern growth.
When to Spend Three Days in Warsaw
May to June and September to October are the best months to spend three days in Warsaw and spend time exploring Poland. However, visiting during the wintertime offers Christmas markets and a snow-capped city, or better airfare prices, so do not count out those months as well. Summer will be a bit warmer and busier with the summertime crowds.
How to Get to Warsaw
Warsaw has one major international airport: Warsaw Chopin Airport. You can get flights to all around Europe from here. There are also several direct flights from the United States. We flew here from LAX via London, but LOT Airlines does have a direct flight. Skyscanner is my favorite way to search for flights.
To get to Warsaw from other Polish cities, you can also opt to take the train. You can pre-book tickets on Trainline or Omio or opt to buy them at the station. We pre-booked our tickets, and it was not that much more for first-class tickets, so we opted for those because they came with a drink and a meal.
Transportation in Warsaw
Warsaw has an extensive tram and bus system that makes it very easy to get around the city using public transportation. I recommend downloading the app Jakdojade in order to buy your tram/bus tickets. It makes it very convenient! Alternatively, Uber is widely available and is great for getting out to some areas quicker. This Hop on Hop off Bus is also a good option if you want an easy way to get around that you do not have to think about.
Where to Stay in Warsaw
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Check out the best hotels in Warsaw here! You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel. We opted to stay at luxury and boutique Hotel Verte which is in a great location right next to Old Town.
We also stayed at the Courtyard Warsaw Airport since we got in late the first night. Alternatively, these hotels are convenient places to stay near the city center.
- Hilton Warsaw City (Located in the Business district)
- Hotel Bristol (Iconic and Historic)
- Holiday Inn Warsaw City Center
- Intercontinental Warsaw (Modern with Skyline Views in the City Center)
What to do During Three Days in Warsaw
Three days in Warsaw is the perfect amount of time to see the many things Warsaw has to offer.
Day 1: Old Town
Today you will spend the day exploring Old Town. You could start off with this Old Town walking tour, or you can opt to explore on your own.
St. Anne’s Church
Cost: $2.50
Hours: Varies
Start your first of three days in Warsaw with a visit to St. Anne’s Church. St. Anne’s Church is one of Poland’s most beautiful churches that features a Baroque interior. It survived the destruction of WWII. Next to the church, visitors can climb the bell tower which offers panoramic views of Warsaw’s Old Town and the Royal Castle. It is 150-steps to the top. It has the best views at sunset.
Royal Castle
Cost: $15
Hours: 10am-5pm, Closed Mondays
Next, head to the Royal Castle, which was once the official residence of Polish monarchs. This castle was completely blown up by the Nazis and was rebuilt after that time. Today, it houses the Throne Room, the Canaletto Room, and Rembrant masterpieces.
Lunch at Zapiecek
Cost: $$
Hours: Usually 11am-11pm
When it is time for lunch, head to Zapiecek. This is one of Warsaw’s most famous chains for traditional Polish food and pierogi. You cannot go wrong with anything that you order.
Museum of Warsaw
Cost: $7
Hours: Closed Mondays, Usually 10am-6pm
The Museum of Warsaw is a must visit during your three days in Warsaw. This museum tells the story of the city through thousands of objects. It portrays all of the things that make up Warsaw’s identity, from artifacts to mid-century fashion. Plan to spend an hour or two exploring the museum.
Marie Curie Museum
Cost: $5
Hours: Tues-Sun: 10am-6pm, Closed Mondays
Next, head to the Marie Curie Museum, the house where Marie Curie was born. This museum celebrated the life and work of this Nobel-winning scientist. Visitors are able to see their laboratory equipment, personal letters, and more. It is free on Tuesdays!
Chopin Concert
Cost: $20+
End your first of three days in Warsaw with a Chopin Concert. This is a great way to take in one of Poland’s greatest composters. Various venues across the Old Town will host daily concerts featuring the museum of Chopin. During the summertime, there are even free open-air concerts in Lazienki Park.
Elixir by Dom Wodki
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Thus: 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat: 12pm-12am, Sun: 12pm-10pm
You must visit Elixir during your three days in Warsaw. This Michelin-recognized restaurant is famous for its “food-pairing,” where it pairs a Polish dish with an artisanal vodka. It is the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring Old Town Warsaw.
Barszcz Bardzo
Cost: $
Hours: 4pm-1am
Finish the night with a view to Barszo Bardzo, one of Warsaw’s coolest live music clubs. It is an intimate space with a rotation of local and international jazz musicians. You cannot go wrong with spending an hour or two listening to a music set to end your first of three days in Warsaw.
Day 2: Warsaw Ghetto
Your second of two days in Warsaw will be all about the Jewish history of the city. You may want to take this Jewish history tour if you prefer a guide. Alternatively, follow the itinerary below for the most important stops in the former Jewish Ghetto.
Warsaw Uprising Monument
Start off your second of three days in Warsaw by heading to the Warsaw Uprising Monument. This massive bronze monument is located on Krasinski Square and is a tribute to the 1944 struggle for liberation. Pause for a moment to take in some of the history.
Warsaw Ghetto Wall Marker
Next, you will pass by the former walls of the Warsaw Ghetto. These 22-cast iron markers and pavement strips show the boundaries of the 1940-1943 Ghetto. These markers serve as a reminder of the hidden history of the city.
POLIN Museum
Cost: $11, Free Thursdays
Hour: Mon, Wed-Fri, Sun: 10am-6pm, Sat: 10am-8pm, Closed Tuesdays
The award-winning POLIN Museum sits on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto. It tells the story of the 1,000 year history of Jews in Poland. Visitors are given an audioguide as part of the tour and it has a ton of information. It is one of the best museums I have ever been to and thoroughly explains many aspects of history. Plan to spend at least two hours here.
Monument to the Ghetto Heroes
Right outside of the POLIN museum is the 36-foot monument that commemorates the 1943 Ghetto Uprising. The granite used to build the monument was originally ordered by Hitler to build a victory arch.
Mila 18 Bunker
After spending some time at the POLIN Museum, head to the site of the command bunker for the Jewish Combat Organization during the Ghetto uprising. Today, it is a grass-covered mount that has turned into a mass grave as the bodies from inside were never exhumed.
Umschlagplatz Monument
Next, head to the Umschlagplatz Monument, which marks the spot where over 300,000 Jews were loaded onto cattle cars and sent to the Treblinka extermination camp. The walls of this white marble monument are inscribed with some of the names of the people taken.
Hala Mirowski and Hala Gwardii
After exploring the museums and monuments, head to these 19th-century food halls. Hala Mirowski is a traditional market where you can buy fresh produce and flowers. Hala Gwardii is a trendy food hall and social space. This is a great spot to grab some lunch.
Footbridge of Memory
The next stop during your second of three days in Warsaw is the Footbridge of Memory. This is located at the intersection of Chlodna and Zelazna streets. The light installation marks were a wooden footbridge once connected the small ghetto to the large ghetto. At night, the line is lit up to represent the height of the footbridge.
Ghetto Wall Remnants
Then, head over to the Ghetto Wall remnants. This is the most preserved section of the 10-foot-high Ghetto Walls. You can find these in the courtyards of Sienna 55 and Zlota 62. These are one of the few surviving structures of the Ghetto in the post war world.
Grzybowski Square
The Grzybowski Square was once the heart of Jewish life in Warsaw. Now it is a beautiful, modernized public space featuring All Saints’ Church. Nearby is the Jewish Theater and the Nozyk Synagogue, which survived the destruction of the war.
Hala Koszyki
Cost: $$
Hours: 8am-1am
Tonight for dinner, head to the Hala Koszyki, the up-and-coming food hall in Warsaw. It is filled with bars and international restaurants. It is the perfect spot for a casual dinner, especially if you have a larger group.
Day 3: Museums
On your third of three days in Warsaw, plan to head to several different museums.
Palace of Culture and Science
Cost: $6
Hours: 10am-8pm
Start your last of three days in Warsaw with a visit to the Palace of Culture and Science. This Stalinist style building is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Warsaw. It was originally a gift from the Soviet Union. Overall, the building is a massive complex and cultural hub. Visitors can check out two museums (Evolution and Technology), four theaters, a cinema, and parts of a university.
The most visited portion of the building is the observation deck. Visitors can take the elevator to the 30th floor viewing terrace for a view of the entire city. It is very easy to grab tickets in the lobby of the building. You will want to spend about an hour here. If you want to add in another museum after this, the Museum of Modern Art is close by.
Museum of Fryderyk Chopin
Cost: $7.50
Hours: 10am-6pm
Next, head to the Museum of Fryderyk Chopin. This is located in the historic Ostroski Palace and is one of the most modern biographical museums in Europe. It uses interactive technology to teach visitors about Chopin’s life. Visitors are able to view original manuscripts, his last piano, and listening booths where you can listen to his compositions. Plan to spend an hour or two exploring the museum.
Pierogarnia Syrena
Cost: $
Hours: Mon-Fri: 12pm-9pm, Sat-Sun: 12pm-10pm
Next, head to a delicious pierogi place for lunch. Pierogarnia Syrena is a great place to grab a quick and affordable bite to eat. It is known for its creative pierogi fillings, so you may get to try some unique options.
Polish Vodka Museum
Cost: $14
Hours: Tues-Thus, Sun: 12pm-8pm, Fri-Sat: 12pm-9pm
This afternoon, to finish off your third of three days in Warsaw, head to the Polish Vodka Museum. This museum is situated in a restored distillery from the 1800s in the Praga district. It explores over 500 years of vodka production in Poland. The tour ends with a guided tasting session where you learn about the flavor profiles of rye, wheat, and potato-based vodka. We opted for the premium tour to try a couple more of their high-end vodkas.
Kosener Grill
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 1pm-10pm, Fri-Sat: 1pm-11pm, Sun: 1pm-9pm
After visiting the Vodka Museum, head to the Koneser Grill for a delicious dinner. It is also located in the Praga district. This upscale restaurant focuses on open-fire cooking. It has some amazing high-quality cuts of meat. You cannot go wrong with whatever you order. It can get busy, so a reservation is advised.
More Than Three Days in Warsaw
If you have more than three days in Warsaw, you may want to partake in a Polish food tour or a Polish cooking class to sample more of the Polish cuisine. If interested in more World War II history, check out this Treblinka day trip. To relax at the end of a long day, try out this Sunset river cruise.
Final Tips for Three Days in Warsaw
Three days in Warsaw makes for the perfect start to a Poland itinerary. Visitors will have the chance to learn a lot about Poland’s dark history. If you have the time, head to Krakow after your time in Warsaw. For those looking to add cities in other countries, Vilnius or Prague. are good options.
