Warsaw, Poland, is one of the oldest and most historic European cities. It was almost entirely destroyed by Nazi Germany in World War II. However, it has since rebuilt itself into a beautiful city with a rich history and an important centre of culture and politics.
Many people plan a trip to Warsaw in Northern Poland for at least a week, but if you only have 1 day in Warsaw, we have the perfect Warsaw 1 day itinerary for you.
Your day in the capital city of Poland should easily include all the very best things to do in Warsaw to give you a perfect taste of what this amazing Polish destination has to offer.
Our one-day Warsaw itinerary has you spending 1 full day of at least 12 hours exploring the Polish capital as part of a Poland itinerary. We have created this Warsaw 1 day itinerary guide to help you plan your day in Warsaw.
The modern version of Warsaw is home to a wide variety of museums, art galleries, and historical attractions, including the Warsaw Barbican, Warsaw ghetto, old town marketplace presidential palace and more. Your one day in Warsaw should include trying Polish food such as sour rye soup, Bigos, hunter’s stew, cabbage stew and the famous Pierogi.
The old town district of Warsaw is also a major tourist attraction, with its narrow streets, colourful buildings, and many food options for one day in Warsaw Poland.
When is the best time to visit Warsaw?
Poland is a great country to visit any time of year, but the spring and summer months offer the most pleasant weather. Warsaw, Poland’s capital city, sees average temperatures in the low 60s during May and June. July and August are even warmer, with average highs in the mid-70s.
This makes Warsaw sightseeing much easier in the warmer months for your Warsaw 1 day itinerary. The fall months see temperatures drop back into the 50s and 60s, making it a great time to explore other parts of the country.
Poland can be cold and snowy in the winter months, so if you’re looking for a warm getaway, consider travelling to Poland during its peak season.
Is 1 day in Warsaw enough?
Warsaw is an amazing, one of the best cities in Poland, that you could spend weeks exploring. 1 day in Warsaw is certainly not enough to do justice to the many incredible things to do in Warsaw.
What we will do with a 1-day Warsaw itinerary is to inspire you to plan your next trip to Warsaw and see even more the next time around! You will find plenty to do for singles, couples, and families in Warsaw.
How to save money on your Warsaw short break
Although Poland is a budget-friendly location, several of the best things to do in Warsaw aren’t free for your short Warsaw one-day itinerary.
Some of the best Warsaw activities like the entrance to world-class museums such as the POLN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, The Warsaw Uprising Museum and the Fryderyk Chopin Museum in Warsaw, the viewing terrace on the 30th floor of the Palace of Culture and Science and many cost money. You could consider a free walking tour while visiting Warsaw.
You’ll be able to pick the 24-hour pass and use it to complement your Warsaw 1 day itinerary. You’ll need to squeeze in as much as possible to make the All-Inclusive pass pay for itself, but it’s definitely doable.
We’ve included a little note in our one-day in Warsaw itinerary if an activity is included on the Warsaw Pass, so if you’re on the fence, keep an eye out for those below when planning a trip to Poland.
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Here is your Warsaw 1 day itinerary guide
While we highly recommend a longer stay in Warsaw, there are times a short trip to Europe is the only option. We hope this Warsaw 1 day itinerary maximises your vacation to Warsaw experiences and answers your question about what to do in Warsaw in one day.
Warsaw 1-day tour – Hop on hop off the bus
The number one thing you should do if you only have a 1-day stopover in Warsaw is to buy a 24-hour Warsaw one-day ticket on the Warsaw sightseeing bus.
The hop-on hop-off Warsaw bus will take you to all the best stops in the city and the sightseeing bus is one of the best tours of Warsaw. It has a red line and blue line, taking in a combined 23 stops.
The bus stops at some major sites in Warsaw such as The Palace of Science and Culture, Old Town Market Square, The National Stadium, The POLN Museum, The Warsaw Rising Museum, Castle Square and the Downtown area.
After you have done the full lap and seen all the sights on the bus, pick some of the best ones to see up close in Warsaw.
We recommend choosing from the 5 attractions below when visiting Poland’s capital for 1 day.
What to see in Warsaw in one day – The POLN Museum
The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is located in Warsaw, Poland. The museum’s mission is to educate people about the history of Polish Jews. The museum opened in 2014 and is the largest museum of its kind in Europe.
The museum tells the story of the Jewish community in Poland from its earliest days to the present. It features exhibits of Jewish culture, religion, politics, and everyday life. The museum also includes a Holocaust memorial and an interactive children’s exhibit.
The POLIN Museum is free to visit, making this museum a budget-friendly option in Warsaw for your Warsaw 1 day itinerary.
Palace of science and culture
Warsaw’s Palace of Science and Culture is a massive structure that has been debated. Completed in 1955, the palace was designed by architect Joseph Stalin’s favourite architect, Lev Rudnev.
The tallest building in Warsaw has been criticised for its Stalinist architecture, which is considered to be brutal and imposing. Despite the criticism, the palace in the city centre has remained a popular tourist attraction, with its observation deck providing amazing city views. Book tickets for the Palace of Science and Culture.
*If you are looking for a quick and hearty bite to eat on your visit to the Palace of Science and Culture there is a traditional Milkbar in the basement. Serving amazing food you can easily add a stop here on your Warsaw 1 day itinerary, ticking off another amazing Warsaw experience.
Planning a trip to Warsaw: Here are the best areas to stay in
The Warsaw National Stadium
For sports lovers, a tour of the National Stadium might be a highlight of your visit to Warsaw. The PGE National Stadium dominates the horizon from the Warsaw Old Town. The PGE National Stadium was built in 2012 for the European Football Championship that was co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine. For any travellers who love sport, this has to be one of the best things to do in Warsaw.
The National Stadium holds 58,000 and is often packed full when the Polish National team plays Football. The stadium has played host to a number of the biggest International acts on the planet including Guns n Roses, Beyonce, Metallica and Ed Sheeran just to name a few. (Classical Chopin concerts are held free throughout the city).
Guided tours of the stadium run 7 days a week, 10:00-19:00 every 30 minutes (in Polish). English tours are conducted Mon-Fri 12:00, 14:00 and 17:00, and Sat/Sun 12:00, 14:30 and 17:00. French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish tours take place by prior arrangement. The stadium is located near the railway station Warszawa Stadion. The stadium is on the S1 and S2 lines of the Warsaw metro.
One day in Warsaw, what to do – visit the Old Town
A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Warsaw Old Town is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations. The Old Town was first settled in the 13th century and has been rebuilt and restored many times over the years. The Warsaw Old Town is home to many historic buildings, churches, and monuments for you to see in a day in Warsaw.
Discover more Polish castles: Stay the night at the amazing Czocha Castle
The Royal Castle in the Old Town of Warsaw
The star attraction of the Warsaw Old Town is the Warsaw Castle. The Castle is situated at the entrance to Warsaw Old Town. The Castle was home to the Kings and Queens of Poland over the years. In 1939 the castle came under bombardment by the Luftwaffe fighter aircraft and was then destroyed by the Nazis after the failed Warsaw Uprising.
Today the restored and rebuilt Castle of Warsaw takes its place, looking larger than life and welcoming tourists. The castle was rebuilt as close as possible to its original design, the interior was restored by acquiring pieces of furniture and decorations from all around Poland.
The basement art Gallery even has 2 Rembrandts that were donated to the Polish people to display. There is no better way to learn about Polish Heritage than by a tour of the Warsaw castle.
Evening in Warsaw Poland
If you have the evening spare, consider doing a Warsaw Pub crawl or food tour in the city, This will give you a great sense of the foods and drinks the Polish people who live in Warsaw like. This is a great way to finish off a Warsaw 1 day itinerary.
Looking for some extra fun in Poland? Check out one of these amazing festivals in Poland
Some foods to try on your Warsaw 1 day itinerary
There is no better way to fall in love with a city than to delve deep into the food culture. Poland is known for its hearty and filling meals that keep you going all day. Having a Warsaw 1 day itinerary to fill, you need all the energy you can get, and these traditional Polish dishes should be on your list.
Pierogi: Polish dumplings are a good food to grab on the go in Warsaw. The Pierogi come in a variety of flavours and are easy to get all over the city in either a take-away or a sit-down meal.
Gofry: Loaded waffles are a great treat to have while wandering the Old Town on your Warsaw 1 day itinerary. You can find a spot to sit and devour these before deciding if you need more!
Zapikanka: A very filling meal on the go. These Polish pizza subs are best had to wander the streets and enjoy the Warsaw attractions. Many little stores sell them and you really can’t go wrong.
Goulash and potato pancakes: Best enjoyed as a sit-down meal you will find plenty of top restaurants have this on their menu. Make sure you are hungry if you sit down for a serving of this as you will be so full when you finish.
Chocolate from E. Wedel: A stop here must be on your Warsaw 1 day itinerary. With many locations over the city, you can enjoy hot chocolate or some chocolate-coated plums from the oldest chocolate makers in Poland.
Essential information for Warsaw
There are many other things you need to consider when planning a vacation to Warsaw, not just where are the best areas to stay in Warsaw. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from travellers to Warsaw for your 1 day in Warsaw itinerary.
How to get to Warsaw Poland
- The Fredrik Chopin International Airport is located just 10 kilometres from the centre of Warsaw. The Warsaw Airport is home to LOT Polish Airlines and is serviced by budget airlines including Easyjet and Ryanair. Book your flights to Warsaw with CheapOair.
- You can book an airport transfer from Warsaw Airport to your hotel
- You can catch trains to Warsaw from all over Europe and Poland. High-speed trains run frequently between Warsaw and Krakow in around 2 hours. You can book your Super Saver fare tickets book here! with Bahn.de
- Flix Bus has buses running daily to Warsaw from destinations inside Poland and International destinations. Search for your bus tickets to Warsaw
- Poland has some great Highways for driving, The newer Highways built with E.U assistants are levied with what I would say are heavy tolls. Some local roads do leave a lot to be desired. You can hire a car at any international airport in Poland and Europe. Search your Rental Car today!
Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Aviasales or Kiwi Flights. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend, fly carry-on only on a budget airline, and take late-night or early-morning flights.
Accommodations in Poland
You can stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels, and private rooms in hostels or luxury locations. We recommend using Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews).
For apartments and rentals, we book using VRBO. VRBO has lower fees and better customer service than Airbnb. You can also book vacation rentals in Warsaw on Agoda.
How to get around Warsaw
Public transport in Warsaw includes buses, trams (streetcars), Metro, light rail, urban railway and regional rail. ZTM tickets are valid on the city and suburban bus lines, as well as trams, and metro. You can buy tickets at most stops or onboard. Riding on public transport in Warsaw is the best way to get to all the best things to do in Warsaw.
Taxi and UBER are available in the city.
What currency do I need for my trip to Poland?
The official currency you need to use in Poland is the Polish Zloty, We recommend that you get a Revolut travel money card, that can be loaded with multiple currencies and has nearly non-existent withdrawal fees to save you money on your vacation to Warsaw.
Travel insurance for Poland
Poland has a high quality of healthcare but in saying that travel insurance is still recommended for all travellers entering the country. The last thing you want is a huge bill for medical expenses should you require care on your holiday in Warsaw.
We recommend using Travel Insurance Master, their website will compare the best deals from a number of providers and present you with the best value for money policy on the market. Click through to Insurance Masters to get a free quote.
Using your phone in Warsaw
Relying on Wi-Fi when you are travelling and sightseeing in Warsaw on vacation can be hard. Making calls and staying in contact when you travel to Europe is a top priority. Plan your trip out and order your sim or get a voucher and use the newer e-sim before you leave home to stop any stress about travelling, data and calls on your epic vacation in Poland.
Use a VPN service on your travels
A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you’re connected to an unsecured network while travelling. When overseas, we access a lot of different Wi-Fi networks along the journey. A VPN allows you to stream Netflix & other streaming sites from your home country! We use Express VPN when travelling.
We hope this What to see in Warsaw in a 1-day guide helps you plan a trip to Warsaw, Poland soon. You will not be disappointed by the sites such as Lazienki Park, the Vistula River, the historic centre, the royal castle and the Warsaw old town just to name a few.
You will find friendly people walking the royal route, serving delicious Polish food such as potato pancakes and running guided tours during your one-day in Warsaw itinerary.
Poland Travel Expert is your ultimate guide to all things Poland. Your next trip to Poland will not be complete without our detailed Poland guides, Poland itineraries and Poland travel tips.
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Author Bio: Mark Wyld
Mark Wyld is a Father, husband, traveller, and writer at Poland Travel Expert and other blogs. I have accumulated a wealth of experience over multiple visits to Poland. Thanks to our friends in Poland, we stay connected to the nation’s pulse, ensuring that our content is up to date with our first-hand experience. The information on this website is backed by genuine expertise.
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