Warsaw Sightseeing Guide

Once a glorious capital, Warsaw is today a postwar product in both appearance and spirit. The Vistula River runs through Warsaw, bifurcating the city into the left-bank sector which contains the modern city centre, and the Old Town to the north on one side and the right bank Praga on the other. Left of the Vistula is where tourist’s Warsaw is situated.

A good deal of its historic hallmarks were gotten rid off after the Communist era, but the city’s Stalinist edifices remain. The gilt and marble of the Royal Castle will leave you wonderstruck as will the amazing art collection it houses. The 14th century Cathedral of St John is the church where many Polish kings of bygone years were crowned. This church was destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt to it’s former glory. 

The Historical Museum of Warsaw relives the history of Poland from the earliest centuries right down to the Communist era. The best known thoroughfare in Warsaw is the Royal Way, a handsome stretch of road, containing some of the most memorable monuments and sights of Warsaw.

 The beautiful gilded alter of St Anne’s Church dates from the 15th century and was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 17th century. The Laziensky Palace is built in the neo classical style under French influence holds treasure trove of 17th and 18th century art works. The parks surrounding the palace provide the much need greenery to the typical Varsovian stifled in his high rise apartments.

Visit the Academy of Fine Arts and Chopin’s Drawing Room which are part of the Palac Czapskich which was Chopin’s residence before he the country. For more on this world famous composer, see the collection of his scores, letters and memobralia at the Fryderyk Chopin’s Museum.

The Muranow District is the Jewish quarter of the city. It was once a ghetto uunder Nazi control. Most of this part of town was razed to the ground during World War 11. Today, somw War Memorials remain. If you want to get an insight into the history of the Polish Jew visit the Jewish Historical Institute and take a walk down memory lane.