Every year, skyscrapers pop up in Warsaw like mushrooms. The city is developing rapidly, but at the same time, you can still find a mix of architecture that combines pre-war tenement houses with socialist realism buildings, plus modern tower blocks — and that’s all just in one city quarter, downtown Warsaw!
You’ll start your tour with a visit to the icon of Warsaw: the Palace of Culture and Science that was a gift from “Uncle” Stalin to the Polish nation. The building stands in the middle of the city and remains the central point of downtown Warsaw. It’s also where you can catch a wonderful skyline view that showcases the magnitude of the Polish capital. Head up to the 30th floor (your entrance ticket is included in the tour price) so you can see this panoramic view. You can also spot some of the major attractions of the city from here, giving you a great overview for the rest of your sightseeing.
Back on street level you’ll see locals run from one place to another. This is the neighborhood where offices, institutions, shops, and restaurants dominate. It’s the very heart of the city. Can you feel it beating?
From way up high, go back down to the underground and catch the metro. Believe it or not, Warsaw has only one and a half metro lines. If you’re wondering why, your local guide will fill you in while passing by the unique underground op-art gallery.
Back above ground you’ll find yourself in a totally different surrounding. Birds chirping, the sounds of water, music from floating bars – welcome to the Vistula River Boulevards – a vibrant summer spot that locals love.
This is also where you’ll greet the guardian of Warsaw, the legendary Mermaid statue whose face tells the tragic story of a real young woman named Krystyna Krahelska from the time of the Second World War.
Before you climb up to two more viewpoints, stop for some coffee and a pastry with views over Vistula River. Many historical and beautiful Polish towns are situated along this river, starting from Kraków and finishing with Gdańsk on the seaside. In Warsaw, you are exactly in the middle of its flow. The possibility to escape from the buzz of downtown into the fresh air and nature makes the banks of the river a summer epicenter of Varsovian life (both during the day and at night).
Passing the Copernicus Science Center and the Modern Art Museum you'll reach our final destination: the Warsaw University Library with its unique rooftop garden. Here you will have one more chance to take great pictures of Warsaw from above and wander through the refreshing greenery. Relaxing with a good book in this serene setting is an absolute pleasure so you can stay here as long as you want, or or ask you guide for the best places nearby for lunch.
Local English-speaking guide
Additional food and drinks
