Warsaw with no filters—a city break for young tourists
Do you prefer a city break to week-long vacations and eagerly pass up Instagram must-sees in favour of the less obvious? Congratulations! There’s a good chance you belong to Gen Z! If your travels are all about authenticity and affordability and you’re seeking inspiration for your next trip, check out this brief guide to Warsaw as seen through the eyes of young locals.
Warsaw is a city with glass skyscrapers on one side of the street and 100-year-old tenement houses on the other. One moment you feel like you’re in a modern European capital, and a second later on the set of a TV show set in the 1970s. Warsaw is Poland’s largest city, and yet you can comfortably get around it on foot or by bike, surrounded by greenery at every turn. These contrasts make the capital captivating, if you prefer your metropolises less conventional.
An authentic city experience—be where the locals are!
If you’re looking for an authentic city experience, make as much time as possible to go where locals spend time every day. Warsaw’s Old Town is beautiful, but if you want to meet Varsovians rather than tourists, and feel the genuine energy of the city, take a walk from the Palace of Culture and Science, through the Powiśle district, to Praga on the other side of the Vistula River. Praga is an atmospheric district where state-of-the-art architecture intermingles with the echoes of forgotten old tenement houses.
While in Praga, be sure to go bargain hunting at the numerous second-hand stores on Targowa Street, and have lunch at Pyzy, Flaky Gorące (an authentic Polish food experience in a small eatery that’s alway packed) on Brzeska Street. And in the evening, visit the courtyard at 11 lispodada Street No. 22, where two clubs are located—Chmury and Hydrozagadka. This is where you will see how the alternative (and sometimes very alternative) music scene of Warsaw looks, and can dance at themed events.
Don't just watch—join in!
If you want to capture the most authentic Warsaw image for your InstaStories, go where it’s happening. If you’re looking for food-focused events, visit the Breakfast Market (Saturdays and Sundays from May to September) and see what an important part of our Polish identity shared breakfasts are. On spring and summer evenings, Warsaw lives and breathes music and dancing, and the rules for navigating this nightlife scene are simple: if you want to dance to a DJ set, head to Bar Studio, and if you prefer live music—check out Cafe Pląs. However, the vibrant heart of the city beats in the Vistula District. If you want to fully immerse yourself in this unique, young Warsaw energy, go to the riverside steps by the Vistula Boulevards. When it gets a little warmer, the left bank of the river is filled with Varsovians sitting on the iconic steps or visiting the surrounding bars—including those on the water (e.g. Plac Zabaw Nad Wisłą, BarKa, Wir, or Wynurzenie).
If you’re visiting Warsaw in late June, be sure to take part in the free, one-day Wianki nad Wisłą (Garlands on the Vistula) city festival, during which Warsaw celebrates the official start of summer. On the large stage by the Multimedia Fountain Park, top Polish artists perform, and Warsaw residents spread their blankets on the green hill and spend the whole day there. Taking part in this event is a must on your itinerary if you want to feel like a local for a while.
Vege heaven—nothing added, nothing taken away
Whether you’re vegan or not—when in Warsaw, it is worth at least once stopping by one of the vegan restaurants beloved by Varsovians. Do you want to try really good vegan food that’s more than just dry falafel in a bun or a sad salad? Here are a few favourites among Warsaw residents:
- Lokal Vegan Bistro ( Krucza Street 23)—a vegan take on Polish cuisine,
- Youmiko Vegan Sushi (new location: Al. Jana Pawła II 45A)—legendary vegan sushi (you pay a bit more, but the taste sansations are woth the price),
- La Vegana ( Zgoda Street 4) and U&Mi ( Grochowska 302)—Vietnamese cuisine with a vegan twist.
An affordable and authentic city break—in Warsaw it's possible
Although Warsaw is the capital, the affordability of its accommodation, attractions and food can come as a pleasant surprise—especially if you know where to look.
Last year, we made the USE-IT Warsaw map-guide, which will make a great asset for you to continue exploring authentic Warsaw. USE-IT maps have been created for 20 years by young locals of numerous European cities and are characterised by an authentic, non-commercial approach to travel. They are aimed at young tourists, so you will find restaurants, bars, parks and cultural institutions loved by locals, but also available for the student budget. You can pick up a free paper USE-IT Warsaw map at the Tourist Information Point at the Palace of Culture and Science (entrance from Emilia Plater Street), or you can use the mobile version at www.use-it.travel.
Author: Iga Skolimowska, Warsaw resident, guidebook creator
For more tips on how to visit Warsaw sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date!
* By clicking the ‘Subscribe’ button you consent to receiving the newsletter from us and accept the Regulations of the ‘Newsletter’ service. We will process your e-mail address for the purpose of sending you the newsletter. The administrator of your personal data is the Warsaw Tourism Office. More information on the privacy policy and cookies policy and clause concerning the processing of personal data.