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History
The medieval capital of Poland was the southern city of Krakow, but Warsaw has been the capital of the country since 1596, and has grown to become Poland's largest city and the nation's urban and commercial center. Completely destroyed by the Nazis during World War II, the city managed to lift itself from the ashes. Today, almost every building in Warsaw dates to the postwar era - with what little remains of the old structures being confined largely to the restored districts of Stare Miasto (the 'old city') and Nowe Miasto ('new city'), as well as selected monuments and cemeteries, plus midwar modernist districts Ochota and Żoliborz.
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Climate
Warsaw has a continental climate, with warm summers, crisp, sunny autumns and cold winters. Summers can vary from mild to quite hot. Travellers should bring light, summer clothes for the day, and an extra jacket for evenings, as they can sometimes get a little chilly. The main tourist season of Warsaw falls between May and September, from the middle of spring until the beginning of autumn, when the climate is at its most favourable. Although rainfall is generally evenly spread throughout the year, July does tend to be the wettest month according to weather statistics. Travellers would best be advised to bring heavy, water-resistant shoes with them when travelling in Warsaw in late autumn to early spring. The weather in winter varies, but it can get cold and very snowy. From December to March, the climate is at its coldest and overnight frosty weather becomes commonplace, along with some snow. The coolest months are January and February with temperatures falling a couple of degrees below zero.
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Tourism
The Warsaw Convention Bureau [url=http://www.warsawtour.pl]]is the official tourist information agency in Warsaw and can provide visitors with information regarding hotels, attractions, and events. They also have maps for travelers. Unfortunately, the bureau's website isn't well designed and doesn't provide all that great of information, though, it can be helpful. They operate three locations in Warsaw.
There are a few other organizations that are useful when planning or looking for information about a trip to Warsaw. The City of Warsaw [url=http://e-warsaw.pl/2/index.php[/url]]has a lot of useful information on its website and would be a good place to get some information. Destination Warsaw [url=http://www.destinationwarsaw.com[/url]]has some useful information, but seems to trump up its members' products, restaurants, and services over others. Its main goal is the promotion of Warsaw as a destination abroad. The best source of practical tips, contacts, and current event information is the Warsaw Insider [url=http://www.warsawinsider.pl/[/url],]available at every concierge, tourits information and larger newsagents'; the Warsaw Voice [url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl[/url],]an English language weekly newspaper, also maintains a good calendar of events [url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/baza_wydarzen/lista_wydarzen.php?layout=wda&lang=en[/url]]on its website.
A wise investment may be the Warsaw Tourist Card [http://www.warsawcard.com/?userlang=en[/url], which can either be purchased for a 24 hour period or three days. The card will get you into museums for free or for a discount. It also doubles as a ticket for public transportation in Warsaw. You may also be able to get discounts at galleries, sports facilities, shops, restaurants, and discounted tours, car rentals, or accommodation. The card can be purchased at the tourist agency's offices around the city, some hotels, and a few other locations.
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Orientation
As is the case with most major cities, Warsaw is situated on a river. The river's name is Vistula (Polish: Wisła) and it crosses the city on a north-south axis, dividing it into two parts, usually referred to as the left bank (Polish: lewy brzeg adj. lewobrzeżna Warszawa) and the right bank (Polish: prawy brzeg adj. prawobrzeżna Warszawa).
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By plane
Warsaw (all airports code: WRW) is served by a total of two airports: Chopin Airport (also known as 'Okecie') for major airlines. Modlin Airport was opened in July 2012 and it handles the low cost traffic. [wiki=14ba7e7a4807774aaeaa37d0f1916bb8]Łódź[/wiki] Airport is also conveniently accessible from Warsaw.
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By train
Warsaw has three stations for long-distance trains:
* Dworzec Centralny or Warszawa Centralna (Warsaw Central) ul. Emilii Plater
* Dworzec Wschodni or Warszawa Wschodnia (Warsaw East) between ul. Kijowska and ul. Lubelska (on the right bank)
* Dworzec Zachodni or Warszawa Zachodnia (Warsaw West) Al. Jerozolimskie near Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich
Unless you really know what you're doing, the best option is Dworzec Centralny (Warszawa Centralna) station, as it has best connections with all the places in the city. All long-distance trains pass through this station and all stop there. It is the only long-distance station underground. It isn't the last station on the route!
Trains running eastwards start at Warszawa Zachodnia, stop at Warszawa Centralna and then at Warszawa Wschodnia, while trains heading westwards make the same trip in the opposite direction (except that they don't always stop at Warszawa Zachodnia). The same is true for arriving trains. Tourists often find it confusing that the main train station (Warszawa Centralna) is not the last station on the route.
The Berlin-Warszawa Express runs from Berlin to Warsaw daily and is quite inexpensive if booked in advance. Students get discounts as well. It's a fairly comfortable six hour trip. Schedule are available on Intercity's website [url=http://www.intercity.pl]]and tickets can be booked through Polrail Service [url=http://polrail.com[/url]]or on the Deutsche Bahn[url=http://www.bahn.com[/url]]website.
One train per day runs to [[Kaunas[/url]] and [wiki=674756b151c1a964546ad103f310fc5b]Vilnius[/wiki] in [wiki=d9051e0b77f8bb5521389618e70e2ada]Lithuania[/wiki], with a change of trains near the border.
There're also trains to Russia - [wiki=7e35e74e610188414ad24235dd787c78]Moscow[/wiki], [wiki=030731390dab949e28d2e3fa11a3b6f3]Saint Petersburg[/wiki] and even direct cars to [wiki=94699b2cec46740bb8a72dcf9cba6889]Saratov[/wiki] or [wiki=91096d8fb26e22feebbb050667f4cdf5]Irkutsk[/wiki], Belarus - [wiki=8787a878258ef18bb38d9163f41b846c]Minsk[/wiki], Ukraine - [wiki=c5c12fffd30a23e3468076da2e046b90]Kiev[/wiki] and direct cars to [wiki=8dbeff9871dc83a2ffa1edb23f38c1aa]Simferopol[/wiki] or even [wiki=88468caed55221baac033a615533285a]Astana[/wiki] in Kazakhstan. There are many direct connections to central and western European cities too.
In domestic trains, reservation is obligatory on EC, EIC or TLK trains. Reservation is now included.
There are also some iR (interRegio) trains, operated by Przewozy Regionalne. These are the cheapest trains in Poland, but often not very comfortable and slow. Only iR Szczecin-Warsaw-Szczecin (called "Mewa") and Warsaw-Rzeszow-Warsaw (called "WOŚP") are recommended - most of their carriages are equipped with air-conditioning, CCTV, power sockets for every seat and free wi-fi connection, although the price is extremely low, but there is no seat reservation.
If you don't have a reservation, you may get a better seat by boarding the train at its point of origin. During the peak, you may not be able to get a seat at all.
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By bus
Regional and long-distance bus connections in Poland are traditionally called PKS. Once it was a legitimate abbreviation for the state-owned monopoly. Now, however, bus routes are operated by completely independent companies, some of which have chosen to retain the old PKS as a part of their name. In Warsaw, there's PKS Warszawa [http://www.pks.warszawa.pl/] but PKSes from various other cities also operate. Most PKS buses arrive and depart from either of two major terminals:
* The bigger of the two, next to the railway station by the same name. Most buses arrive here. International buses like Eurolines, Ecolines, Simple Express have their main stop here.
The station signage is mostly in Polish and there is no tourist information bureau here -- you may also arrive late at night. It is an ugly place, and several miles away from the city centre, where you probably want to go -- how to get there is not immediately obvious. From the main hall of the station, go towards the side opposite where all the ticket booths are (entering from the bus apron, this is to your left), go down the stairs, turn right down a long corridor, then turn right again into another long corridor until you reach two stairwells leading upwards. These will take you to the other side of Al. Jerozolimskie, where you can take a bus: 517, E-5 (peak hours only), 127 , or 130 to Dw. Centralny (one bus stop short of Centrum). Catching the eastbound suburban train or S2 urban railway line might be the best option. During the night, buses N35 and N85 run to Dw. Centralny (main station) every 30 minutes beginning at 23:52.
* Next to the railway station of the same name. Some of the eastbound domestic lines leave from here.
* Several private buses and PKSes serving towns located south of Warsaw stop here, as well as some of the express lines of PolskiBus (lines P4 Łódź - Wrocław - Prague; P5 Częstochowa - Katowice - Bratislava - Vienna; P6 Kielce - Kraków - Zakopane; P7 Lublin; P9 Radom; P10 Ostrowiec Św. - Rzeszów). Easily accessible by subway.
* Some of the express lines of PolskiBus (lines P1 Ostróda - Gdańsk; P2 Toruń - Bydgoszcz; P3 Łódź - Poznań - Berlin; P8 Białystok; P11 Olsztyn) leave from here. Easily accesible by subway (final station in northern direction).
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By car
Unlike most European capitals, Warsaw has no real bypass, so all transit traffic is routed through the city streets. The following streets, which constitute a circle with the radius of some 10 km (six mi) from the city centre, can be considered an ersatz ringroad: Trasa Toruńska-Trasa Armii Krajowej-al. Prymasa Tysiąclecia-Al. Jerozolimskie-ul. Łopuszańska-ul. Hynka-ul. Sasanki-ul. Marynarska-ul. Rzymowskiego-ul. Dolinka Służewiecka-ul. Sikorskiego-al. Witosa-Trasa Siekierkowska-ul. Marsa-ul. Żołnierska.
Four European "E-roads" lead to Warsaw: E30 (A2), E77 (7), E67 under the unofficial name of [wiki=a84e240fc9be508d94a3d7c71bff19cd]Via Baltica[/wiki], (A8), and E372 (17). The E-numbers are usually displayed on signs but it is best to know the national road numbers too, which are the numbers in parentheses.
What follows is a list of streets you will find yourself on when approaching the city from different directions:
* North-West: Wyb. Gdyńskie or "Wisłostrada" in [wiki=a172ef581de03df1d17e132bad63ab38]Bielany[/wiki] and then in [wiki=936a4cee7126433db48d713197992820]Żoliborz[/wiki] (along the left bank): 7- E77 [wiki=7a9f085064e36deeba902697a7a035c1]Gdańsk[/wiki] ([wiki=424214945ba5615eca039bfe5d731c09]DK[/wiki]) ([wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919]RU[/wiki]) ([wiki=c8f4261f9f46e6465709e17ebea7a92b]S[/wiki])
* North-East: ul. Radzymińska in [wiki=b202cca8ed84caa2fca07ca071035ca1]Targówek[/wiki] and then al. Solidarności in [wiki=92c0764ec60bedbe7ff3fbc3a5331152]Praga Północ[/wiki] 8- E67 [wiki=953bfce50dee6fb3ea1f87162a6a76b0]Białystok[/wiki] ([wiki=6542f875eaa09a5c550e5f3986400ad9]BY[/wiki]) ([wiki=d9051e0b77f8bb5521389618e70e2ada]LT[/wiki])
* East and South East: ul. Płowiecka in [wiki=0dc81e0f5402a8e2ba912ca8db678d48]Praga Południe[/wiki] 2|E30 [wiki=b0a7949d7a77dce07b2b68612ebbe42e]Terespol[/wiki] ([wiki=6542f875eaa09a5c550e5f3986400ad9]BY[/wiki]); 17-E372 [wiki=f5b9b7d9f442d1b4d1e1314abf4df9d2]Lublin[/wiki] ([wiki=f01fc92b23faa973f3492a23d5a705c5]UA[/wiki])
* West: ul. Wolska in [wiki=0ed76c8be89690b3d5d54ca4066de42c]Bemowo[/wiki] and then in [wiki=5b8c1fa75111df03f590800e2590cc0a]Wola[/wiki] 2- E30 [wiki=235430081e0daaa941394f7279395c3c]Poznań[/wiki] ([wiki=d8b00929dec65d422303256336ada04f]D[/wiki])
* South-West: al. Krakowska in [wiki=e62c948248007bedeaa302c29d510f3b]Włochy[/wiki] and then ul. Grójecka in [wiki=0e534fa20c5d952c67629ac8fe5c3d2c]Ochota[/wiki] 7 - E77-[wiki=991954c83c220dd8c8fb6895cfdbbf1a]Kraków[/wiki] ([wiki=88a392b5a8d8f73986d83a2deefb0472]SK[/wiki]) 8 - E67 [wiki=fc439b89d0f0a5631a8e40258a819d0a]Katowice[/wiki] ([wiki=51802d8bb965d0e5be697f07d16922e8]CZ[/wiki])
The cities listed above are the ones displayed on signs in the city. The [wiki=3d33ffe47820449b3a32a818a54a6dad]abbreviations[/wiki] in (parentheses) show you which neighboring countries can be reached with a road. If you are coming to the city, follow the blue-on-white Centrum signs. One exception is when you are coming from the north-east: follow the Praga sign unless you are driving a lorry.
Driving distances to other cities:
In Poland -
[wiki=c181a79242b7fe86c0aa644c237bfc79]Białystok[/wiki] 190 km (118 mi);
[wiki=daca6dc0631de4588ca8d2096f6cf983]Gdańsk[/wiki] 390 km (242 mi);
[wiki=2fc39d2571e37b27b5329f6b61ff207a]Kielce[/wiki] 180 km (112 mi);
[wiki=3aa9c4f47d04ec653a24220ad5de1212]Kraków[/wiki] 290 km (180 mi);
[wiki=1183727da89f9016c068db9310978fb1]Olsztyn[/wiki] 210 km (130 mi);
[wiki=8a97607f8bf21acf4816fb5e717a4770]Poznań[/wiki] 310 km (193 mi);
[wiki=5a352b732511837f2034d951a07619ac]Siedlce[/wiki] 100 km (62 mi);
[wiki=0143ae98f6cb07ee04d643ccf04f69e2]Toruń[/wiki] 210 km (130 mi)
In other countries -
[wiki=ee1611b61f5688e70c12b40684dbb395]Berlin[/wiki] ([wiki=d8b00929dec65d422303256336ada04f]D[/wiki]) 570 km (354 mi);
[wiki=9fed5dae86e3030d9be3740efa198659]Budapest[/wiki] ([wiki=fa79c3005daec47ecff84a116a0927a1]H[/wiki]) 700 km (535 mi);
[wiki=1c1b8f5f242fe55c82138b8935e847f7]Kaliningrad[/wiki] ([wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919]RU[/wiki]) 350 km (217 mi)
Car hire. At the Frederic Chopin airport you will find Avis, Hertz, Budget and Sixt. Telephone numbers can be found in free magazines lying around in hotel and cafe lobbies. Also refer to the individual companies websites. It is a legal requirement for you to carry your driving licence, insurance documents and the vehicle registration details at all times. If the Police stop you without them, they are likely to impose a fine.
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Public transport
The public transport system in Warsaw is generally well-developed, with some 200 bus routes and 30 tram lines. The route descriptions on the tram stops are easy to follow (although bus stop notices are more complex) and the tickets are cheap. It can be painfully slow, however, to travel between destinations far from the city center.
There is also a modern underground line going from south to north on the left bank, and introduced few years ago, the Rapid Urban Railway (Polish: Szybka Kolej Miejska or SKM) which is becoming more and more popular. Travelling to districts like Włochy, Ursus, Rembertów or Wesoła by SKM instead of bus can save you a lot of time.
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Most of the major sightseeing attractions are located in [wiki=ab014f5797b79c42d078976b9d1a413c#Districts]Centrum[/wiki] area, which encompasses seven districts, however, the most important district for sight seeing is likely to be considered [wiki=5a521aeaf129e31f52769673e182dc00]Śródmieście[/wiki]. The other districts all have something else to offer too, but the further from Centrum you journey, the less likely you're to find much of anything that is of any major interest, although [wiki=62a38ccb231ed07e9eb9011f955839c3]Wilanów's[/wiki] palace and Kabaty forest are interesting enough.
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Itineraries
The Royal Road (Trakt Królewski) was originally a track linking the Royal Castle to the Royal Palace in [wiki=2d5093a2783fe2567fc07e31180b45fd]Wilanów[/wiki] (Pałac Królewski w Wilanowie), some 10 km farther. There are many points of interest along the route, and there's a Poster Museum (Muzeum Plakatu) in Wilanów as well.
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Museums
Warsaw Uprising Museum Interactive museum that documents the historic struggle of the Poles during WWII. The Uprising should have lasted only 3 days but lasted more than 2 months. The brief 3-D film that simulates flying over the destroyed city is powerful. http://www.1944.pl/en/
Center for Modern Art (Centrum Sztuki Współczesnej) http://csw.art.pl/
Royal Lazienki (Lazienki Krolewskie) http://www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl/en,home.html
Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw - loacted only a few minutes walk from the Central Railway Station the Museum invites to step into the world of contemporary art by Polish and international artists. Guided tours every Sunday at 2 pm. Free entry
http://www.artmuseum.pl/en
National Museum in Warsaw (Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie) http://www.mnw.art.pl/
The State Ethnographical Museum in Warsaw (Panstwowe Muzeum Etnograficzne w Warszawie) http://ethnomuseum.website.pl/en/
Heavens of Copernicus (Niebo Kopernika) Thanks to its equipment, quality of shows and design, the Heavens of Copernicus is one of the most modern and original planetariums in Europe. It offers sky displays, film projections, lectures and meetings.
POLIN (Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich) Museum of the History of Polish Jews was opened in 2013. This highly interactive museum is situated in a modernist building created by award-winning Finnish architects on the site of the former Jewish ghetto. A gem of the collection is the thoroughly restored interior of the 17th-century wooden sinagogue in Gwoździec (former Polish territory, now the western part of Ukraine). Allow at least a couple of hours to see the whole permanent exhibition. http://www.polin.pl/en/
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Explore
Go on a Tour of Warsaw - the Old Town and surrounding districts are sufficiently compact to allow a number of excellent walking tours through its history-filled streets. You'll see amazing things you would otherwise miss. Details are usually available from the reception desks of hostels and hotels.
Explore old Praga to get more shady (but safe) insight into old Warsaw. Find charming art cafes and galleries hidden around Ząbkowska, Targowa, Wileńska, 11 listopada, Inżynierska streets. In night, there are lot of vibrating clubs on these streets.
Multimedial Fountain Park
http://parkfontann.pl/
Copernicus Science Center. Copernicus Science Centre conducts modern science communication through interactive exhibitions addressed to different groups of recipients (adults, adolescents and children), shows and workshops on scientific themes, debates and discussions as well as activities from the borderland of science and art. The mission of the Centre is to inspire curiosity, assist the independent discovering of the world, help to learn and inspire social dialogue on science. It is one of the largest and most modern institutions of this type in Europe. http://www.kopernik.org.pl/en/
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Concerts and performances
Warsaw is home to several professional musical and play companies. Being the capital city means the Polish National Opera [url=http://www.teatrwielki.pl/index.php?nlang=en]]and the Warsaw Philharmonic (also, National Philharmonic) [http://www.filharmonia.pl/index.php?id=&action=[/url] call Warsaw home. There are a number of other companies, including play companies and theaters that will likely be of interest to travellers.
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Festivals
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* Noc Muzeów is a fun night that sees thousands of people turn out to spend the night wandering around Varsovian museums and galleries for free. It's a great opportunity to wander around with your date of friends, as many people do, and grab an ice cream cone from one of the many cafes that stay open late. Most museums and galleries will stay open past midnight. Noc Muzeów usually occurs around mid-May.
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Sports
Warsaw is not internationally known for its sports teams or for any of its sports venues, although that may change in 2012 as Warsaw, and Poland as a whole with [wiki=f01fc92b23faa973f3492a23d5a705c5]Ukraine[/wiki], has improved their sporting infrastructure and stadiums as the hosts of the European Football Championship in 2012. Renovation of the Legia football team's stadium has finished.
Despite all the emphasis on football, no traveller to Warsaw should be so naive as to think that football is the only sport to do in Warsaw. There is a mixture of both professional sports teams for spectators to visit and participatory sports for travelers to participate in.
* Legia Warszawa, ul. Łazienkowska 3, football team from Warsaw. [http://www.legia.com]
* Polonia Warszawa, ul. Konwiktorska 6, football team from Warsaw. [http://www.ksppolonia.pl]
* An American football team in Warsaw.
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Universities
The University of Warsaw is Poland's largest university and offers a large variety of courses and programs to choose from. University of Warsaw currently has some 50,000 students enrolled.
* The biggest Polish technical university.
* Poland's largest economics school.
* Originally an agricultural school, this is now a rapidly expanding university.
* This is a private school located inside the Palace of Culture of Science. Majors include Sociology, Political Science, American Studies, International Relations, and Human Rights and Genocide Studies. For those interested, some programs are conducted in English.
* A medical college.
*
* This is a well-known Catholic university.
* This is a private school specializing in law and business management majors.
* This is a branch of the U.S.' Clark University. This branch offers M.A. degrees related to business management.
* A private university offering BA, MA and PhD programs in Psychology, Social Sciences and International Studies.
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Polish language
Part of the Warsaw University. 1200 zł for a standard course or 1800 zł for an intensive one.
* 659 zł for a group course. Modern and effective teaching method. It's also e-learning platform for learning Polish online.
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Home to many international companies, Warsaw has an excellent job market for potential expats. Of course there are several immigration hurdles, but landing a job should not be overly difficult if you have the right skill sets. The monthly average pay in Poland in January 2014 was $1218 ($832 net), which may not sound impressive for a Westerner. Do however take the following into account: first, compared with most other Central and Eastern European economies, it's quite decent (e.g. it's $665 net in Hungary and $723 net in Russia), especially if you consider the relatively low cost of living. Second, wages in Warsaw generally tend to be 20-50% above the Polish average. Third, salaries in management, IT, and (to a lesser extent) in education are often really close to what you would earn in Western Europe or the US.
If you're a backpacker and looking for short-term employment this may be somewhat more difficult, as you are legally required to have a work permit (that is unless you are an EU/EEA citizen, in which case registering as a foreign worker is but a formality). You could possibly find short-term work in the hospitality industry, or possibly as a tutor or an ESL teacher.
If you'd like to work in Warsaw, or Poland for that matter, but don't want to go through the hassle of finding a job opportunity, there are some employment recruiting agencies you can use in your search for a job. Just a few are:
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ATMs (Polish: bankomat) are plentiful around Warsaw. Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron and Maestro are widely accepted at most establishments. AmEx and Diners' Club are not as commonly accepted. Some establishments require minimum purchases of 10-50zł for credit card purchases.
Indoor shopping malls (Polish: centrum handlowe pl. centra ~, often abbreviated CH) are also plentiful in Warsaw. Usually open until 8-10PM, most malls will have a food court, restaurants, cinema and some may have a sports hall with billiards tables or a bowling alley.
Tesco and Carrefour are the largest stores in Europe, and sell just about everything, including groceries, at low prices.
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Finding an unique place to eat is easy, as there are no international chain restaurants present here, as in Western Europe.
For those on a budget, there are many kebab shops sprinkled around Warsaw, especially in [wiki=5a521aeaf129e31f52769673e182dc00]Śródmieście[/wiki], which offer decent food and portions for the fair price of 7-13 zł a kebab. Other cheap alternatives are milk bars, which are discussed later in the section, and Vietnamese restaurants.
Don't leave Warsaw without trying out Poland's most famous dish - Pierogi, which is kind of a dumpling, with the most various stuffings (e.g. meat, cottage cheese or strawberries). You can also try an learn how to make these in one of cooking school for tourists.
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Fast food
Tourists on budget will be happy to know there's no shortage of fast food in Warsaw. The most popular brand names are of course McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut, but there are also a few Subway sandwich shops and even a few Burger King restaurants. The prices charged in most of these restaurants can be expensive by Polish standards.
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Milk bars
Remnant of the communist era, milk bars (Polish: bar mleczny, bary mleczne) were originally created in the sixties to serve cheap meals based on milk products. After the fall of communism, most of them closed down but some survived and still bear the climate from the old days. Almost everything inside looks, feels and smells like in the 1980s. Milk bars attract students and senior citizens, because of the low prices (soup and the main course together may cost as little as 10.00 zł). The food served by milk bars can actually be quite palatable. Even if you can afford more expensive meals, milk bars are interesting because they offer somewhat a view of life before democratization in Poland.
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Old Town and areas like pl. Trzech Krzyży, ul. Nowy Świat, ul. Chmielna, Krakowskie Przedmieście in [wiki=ee3d70fe09c4c35f1dae09ace3f5df0b]Śródmieście[/wiki] are saturated with cafés. Coffee typically costs about 10.00 zł. Beer can cost anywhere from 5.00 zł to 15.00 zł for half a liter (the supermarket price being about 2.50-3 zł). Drink prices in clubs can go up to 50.00 zł (and possibly more). Drinking alcoholic beverages in public places is prohibited, but this is often ignored by locals with regard to public drinking in parks.
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Clubs
Clubs are plentiful in Warsaw and are a very popular way to spend nearly every night out.
The most popular nice and chic clubs are on ul. Mazowiecka in [wiki=5a521aeaf129e31f52769673e182dc00]Śródmieście[/wiki].
Note that you will definetly be denied entrance if you wear sport shoes, no matter how expensive they are. Inconspicious black shoes will normally do the trick.
Student clubs are popular and usually moderately priced, but can be hit or miss. Normally, the centrally located Hybrydy is a good option for night out. Other student clubs, like Stodoła or Remont in [wiki=5a521aeaf129e31f52769673e182dc00]Śródmieście[/wiki], and Park in [wiki=d822d03ba05ed44beb7a8ea0416f6207]Mokotów[/wiki], are less predictable and quality isn't necessarily a concern for these clubs' patrons. If the point is to get drunk, then these are the place to go for a cheap drink.
Beware of certain bouncers (for example in Park), they are not the talkative kind if they suspect you of something.
In addition, there are clubs in [wiki=5b8c1fa75111df03f590800e2590cc0a]Wola[/wiki] and [wiki=d822d03ba05ed44beb7a8ea0416f6207]Mokotów[/wiki] as well as several popular and down-to-earth clubs in the Praga districts.
It's a matter of knowing where to look because Warsaw has an abundance of musical and club delights, they just need to be find out. The thumb rule is stick to people born in Warsaw, who usually know what and where to go this weekend. Those, who came here during their studies or later will most likely take you to Mazowiecka like places. Not bad if you're looking for one-nighter, but you'll not meet real Varsovians there.
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Tea and coffee
Throw stereotypes out the door. For Poles, one of the most important staples to quench their thirst is not wódka or beer, but rather tea and coffee. As such, you're likely come across dozens and dozens of cafés. Chain-wise, Costa Coffee (named Coffe Heaven before) [url=http://www.coffeeheaven.pl]]and W Biegu Cafe are the big players. Starbucks [http://www.starbucks.pl[/url] just setup shop in Poland, opening its first store in Warsaw in April 2009. The real treat of Warsaw, however, are small cafés that are littered about Warsaw. For the most part, a good cup of tea or coffee can be had for 5-10 zł a cup. A small tea kettle is between 20-30 zł.
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There are plenty of accomodation options in Warsaw at all budget levels. The best accomodation options are located in [wiki=5a521aeaf129e31f52769673e182dc00]Śródmieście[/wiki], [wiki=5b8c1fa75111df03f590800e2590cc0a]Wola[/wiki], and [wiki=d822d03ba05ed44beb7a8ea0416f6207]Mokotów[/wiki]. There are also many business travel hotels in [wiki=05432bd905b12e283d1f14d2d65af91b]Warsaw/Włochy[/wiki], near the airport.
If you are on a budget, do not assume that hostels are your only option. Booking in advance at 3/4 star hotels can yield prices only slightly higher than backpacker hostels, for far greater comfort. Reception staff are paid low wages and can be quite rough when it comes to social interaction :) Nathan's Villa is famous for its bedbugs!
*Stylish & affordable serviced apartments in the Old Town (city center of Warsaw) with free Wi-Fi, friendly & accomodating staff. The location is perfect. You can ask them for a discount if you stay for several nights & book directly through their website. Apartments can be booked by phone or email: hotel@design-city.pl
* Romantic boutique hotel set within the historic Mokrowski Palace. 58 individually decorated spacious rooms, 3 unique suites. Conference and meeting rooms. Swimming pool, sauna and massages. „La Rotisserie Restaurant“ with summer patio for fine gourmet dining.
* Upper midscale accomodation in the heart of Warsaw on the historic Diana Passage with 46 stylish and spacious suites with individual design. Different apartment categories with fully equiped kitchens. Meeting rooms and underground parking.
*Globetrotter Hostel offers dorm, private rooms and apartment.
You can find may artworks in all rooms. The hostel is located in Warsaw city center right next to Zbawiciela Square, which is always teeming with life, and Politechnika metro station- big junction. Very close from beautifull Łazienki park. The kitchen is fully equipped and you will find there tea and coffee that you can drink anytime. Reception open 24h. info@globetrotterhostel.pl
*Exceptional location in the centre of Warsaw on Chmielna Street, a couple of minutes to every important spot in the city. St. Andrew's offers spacious rooms that are a piece of home away from home.
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Postal service
* An interactive map of all Polish post offices locations [http://placowki.poczta-polska.pl/]
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Telephones
The area code for Warsaw is 22, and it must be dialed even when making local calls. When calling internationally to Warsaw, dial the country code, +48, followed by the rest of the number. There is no necessity to use "0" at the beginning of the telephone number. When dialing from a mobile phone, you must dial any number as if it was an international number.
Pay phones are very rare and it is therefore best to rely on other means of communication. Pay phones are only operable using calling cards that can be bought at post offices.
Pre-paid SIM cards with Polish phone numbers cost as little as 5zł and can be purchased from just about any major carrier. Many kiosks sell them.
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Warsaw is generally a safe city. The city center has a strong police presence and is generally a very safe area. The Praga districts are reputed to be dangerous, but this is generally more hype than reality. Of course, it would be wise to exercise a little extra caution if you're in an area you do not know well. The bus and rail stations can be a magnet for homeless and drunkards, who, for the most part, will leave you alone.
Violent behaviour is very rare and if it occurs it is most likely alcohol-related and at night. While pubs and clubs are generally very safe, the nearby streets may be scenes of brawls, especially late at night. Try to avoid confrontations. Women and girls are generally less likely to be confronted or harassed since the Polish code of conduct strictly prohibits any type of violence (physical or verbal) against women.
Pickpockets can sometimes be a problem and you should be careful to hold onto your belongings when in a large crowd or on buses (Number 175, which runs from the airport to city center, is reportedly infamous for pickpockets).
Just like in any other major European city, football hooligans can be a problem before or after large football events. Naturally, it's best to avoid them, because they might be violent. At the same time, all major sport events are monitored and controlled by special police units, so unless you find yourself in the middle of the confrontation between hooligans and the police, you should be fine.
In 2011, the 11 November Independence March resulted in some violence between the right, the left and the police forces. While this should not discourage travellers from coming to Warsaw for the Independence Day celebrations (or for the march itself), it is worth noting that this event has become extremely politicised and may at times turn violent. Just use common sense, as you would in the case of any political marches in Europe.
In case of emergencies, call emergency services. The number for the police: 997, firefighters: 998, Ambulance: 999. The common European emergency number 112 works too.
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Religious services
* Made up of Anglicans, Episcopalians and others from the wider Anglican communion in Poland, the USA, Nigeria, the UK, Australia, China etc. The church welcomes visitors to Warsaw.
* . This is a non-denominational church with Protestant leanings. Anyone and everyone is welcome and if you're a newcomer you're likely to be greeted by people who notice a new face in the crowd. You may even be invited for coffee after the service. The congregation is made of Brits, Germans, Poles, Americans, and Aussies, and other nationalities.
* . This is Warsaw's only Orthodox Jewish synagogue that is still in operation.
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Laundry
Most hotels and hostels either offer laundry services or have washers and dryers available for use by guests. Additional fees may be incurred for use of these services or machines. Otherwise, you can find a full-service laundry shop at just about any mall, however, these might be expensive. There are self-service laundromats in Warsaw:
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Embassies
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* If you have an emergency outside of normal embassy business hours, dial the first phone number and ask to speak with an Embassy Duty Officer.
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[wiki=053f4640618c2b39a4a7200bc829587d]Kampinos Forest[/wiki] (~15 km, take the 708 bus) - A wild and beautiful primeval forest, often called the green lungs of Warsaw, and an ideal choice for a day off from the noise of the city. There is Kampinos Forest, Biosphere Reserve in the vicinity of the capital. If you are seeking peace, you will probably find it there.
* [wiki=8539bfc7ae5a2ec03ef70b73dbda3d91]Konstancin-Jeziorna[/wiki] (~20 km, take the 700 bus) - A spa town with a spacious park. Famous for its clean air and high housing prices.
* [wiki=5e55753f93a3f786a9c2f7a7cc3318be]Radziejowice[/wiki] (~40 km)- Jozef Chelmonski lived in modest manor house with a piece of farmland. He spent last twenty-five years of his life in rural Mazovia. Nowadays, in the chambers of neoclassical palace you can see many of Chelmonski works. They are so epic because he was painting with a great sense of color, He successfully replicated the natural beauty of that region. Bonfire among the nostalgic Mazovia scenery will be an interesting experience. Plains wide and flat as a table, small patches of forests are characteristic features of landscape.
* [wiki=991954c83c220dd8c8fb6895cfdbbf1a]Krakow[/wiki] (~300 km, in just under 3 hours by hourly IC/Ex trains) - The former capital of Poland, this was the European City of Culture in 2000.
* [wiki=f5b9b7d9f442d1b4d1e1314abf4df9d2]Lublin[/wiki] (~200 km) - A medieval city with a well preserved old town, it is now the largest city and main tourist attraction in eastern Poland.
* [wiki=ef029d5d26f478343e234444afd28541]Kazimierz Dolny[/wiki] (~150 km, less than two hours by TLK train to Puławy, then half an hour by bus) - A Renaissance town with a picturesque marketplace, it is a hub for painters and Boheme.
* [wiki=d386c2e12f4c43e9eb01f05c7cbd905e]Żelazowa Wola[/wiki] (~50 km) - The birthplace of Frederic Chopin.
[wiki=bf92a4ca011d3c39348b8973d4b8da7b]de:Warschau[/wiki]
[wiki=cd922bdcf494ce7a95f5c3d7117c48e2]eo:Varsovio[/wiki]
[wiki=fb89aab5436e42414c7843a8ccea9b09]es:Varsovia[/wiki]
[wiki=7a49383ea1a0d8a9c514b0a4de3d315c]fi:Varsova[/wiki]
[wiki=550551694383ca5a45b80fd4c3785549]fr:Varsovie[/wiki]
[wiki=5dd494656fca1003f81ca48a99c86cea]hu:Varsó[/wiki]
[wiki=54679908348008b727c9acdeb2ca6135]it:Varsavia[/wiki]
[wiki=5a16b3167737218f172847b37cad0d2e]ja:ワルシャワ[/wiki]
[wiki=07fe81ed8e6a80bc39c74955fde78e1b]nl:Warschau[/wiki]
[wiki=36ee0400855e00eec9afbf7f63f09234]pl:Warszawa[/wiki]
[wiki=74f473ea36c9ce679826fccd9e76c02d]pt:Varsóvia[/wiki]
[wiki=21b82d32d533e4caa885c369be02f74a]ro:Varşovia[/wiki]
[wiki=fd12a8034be3ebed0f8172a9769b9da4]ru:Варшава[/wiki]
[wiki=10d655c2d4d1e73c71c30dd841dd72e0]sv:Warszawa[/wiki]
[wiki=43b669d90b268b50c991432410283ad9]wts:Category:Warsaw[/wiki]
[[WikiPedia:Warsaw]]
[wiki=1cb349998ac6f7fe838136db10243c69]Dmoz:Europe/Poland/Voivodships/Mazovia/Warszawa/[/wiki]
[wiki=b2d816b5db861a2c12635d3f5645a4db]World66:europe/poland/warsaw[/wiki]
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