Warsaw, PL | Essentials from a local
1 | Basic info
Warsaw is the capital city of Poland. Here are w few things you should know before visiting not only Warsaw, but any place in Poland:
▫️CURRENCY: Złoty Polski (abbreviated as zł or PLN)
Make sure to exchange currency beforehand to ensure good exchange rate. Also, note that payments in other currencies are NOT accepted, not even in hotels.
▫️CARD PAYMENTS are available in 99% of places (hotels, restaurants, small shops, big stores, supermarkets... anywhere!)
▫️LANGUAGE: Polish. But everyone speaks English to some extent. Nevertheless, learning a few phrases in Polish will be appreciated.
▫️WEATHER:
▫️STORES ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS (with a few exceptions throughout the year). The only shops open on Sundays are local, small markets, so make sure to do your shopping from Monday to Saturday.
▫️HOSPITALITY: Poland and Poles are considered as very welcoming, so don't hesitate to ask for help or start a chit-chat.
2 | Getting to Warsaw
❗Please note that due to renovation of Warszawa Zachodnia Station (Warsaw West Railway Station) and the railway tracks within the city of Warsaw, trains may not run through Warsaw Central Railway Station and may be redirected to other Warsaw stations. Check your ticket and train route.
3 | Going around Warsaw
Getting to Warsaw, you may wonder how to get from one place to another. Here is a handful of information:
🚇 PUBLIC TRANSPORT 🚇
Public transport in Warsaw offers a wide range of bus, tram, subway, and train connections.
🎫 Tickets
▫️for 20 minutes, 75 minutes, 24h, or 72h can be purchased in the ticket machines located: inside of buses and trams, on the stops & at the metro stations.
▫️payments can be made by credit card and sometimes in cash depending on the ticket machine (therefore, card payment is advised).
▫️some tickets are sold as validated but some you will have to validate inside of a bus/tram or before entering the subway station. Please read the information displaying on the screen of the ticket machine as you proceed payment.
❓Still not sure how to catch a proper connection from one place to another? Use these legit sites linked below to search routes:
🚗 PARKING YOUR CAR 🚗
Parking in Warsaw comes with fees as follows:
▫️first hour: 4,50 PLN
▫️second hour: 5,40 PLN
▫️third hour: 6,40 PLN
▫️fourth and every next hour - 4,50 PLN each
During the weekends, the parking in Warsaw is free!
The minimum fee for parking is PLN 0.50, which is equivalent to 10 minutes of parking.
🛴 BIKES & SCOOTERS 🛴
An option chosen by many locals to quickly get from one spot to another is hopping on an electric scooter or renting a bike.
🚲 VERTURILO - WARSAW PUBLIC BIKES
Download the app and use it to rent bikes in the capital. Renting a bike is as easy as logging in and scanning a QR code on the bike.
❗Rental for up to 20 minutes is free.
🛴 SCOOTERS
Electric scooters are a popular option to go around Warsaw. There are at least a couple of companies offering their rental, each with its' own mobile app to proceed the rental - check the branding of a chosen scooter and appropriate mobile app/website.
4 | Main sights you cannot skip
Wondering which tourists attraction you HAVE TO include on your to-do-list? Here are the most frequently chosen spots.
5 | Districts & areas worth giving a look
6 | Food
Poland can flaunt with very tasty traditional cuisine, yet Warsaw is also famous for many original restaurants offering unique food concepts.
▫️TRADICIONAL 🥟
As in every city of Poland, in the capital you can find restaurants serving traditional Polish dishes. Those are located close to the Old Town and you will quickly recognise them by traditionally-looking interior and staff dressed in folk costumes.
From all traditional dishes, it is said that no tourist can skip pierogi - Polish dumplings with different fillings, from meat ones to vegetarian. Nevertheless, other famous Polish dishes are: żurek, schabowy, placki ziemniaczane or zapiekanka.
▫️VEGETARIAN / VEGAN 🌱
The capital of Poland has been proudly included in the ranking of Top Vegan Cities In The World for years. The ranking by Happy Cow, summarising 2022, chose Warsaw as nr 9. It proves the omnipresence of vegetarian/vegan restaurants in the capital which provide tourists and locals with great, plant-based dishes.
Ready to explore Warsaw?
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Enjoy Warsaw!
K.
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