Warsaw on a Shoe-String Budget

chillibreeze writer — Meera Mohanakumar Remani

Need an editable PowerPoint map of Poland

Warsaw, Poland’s illustrious capital, can be a delight even while on a shoe-string budget. The cozy old town, the buzzing city-center, the famed parks, museums and palaces are all within a radius easily explored on foot or through the well-connected local transportation options. This capital city is the largest in Poland and is referred to as the ‘The Phoenix City’, painstakingly reconstructed to its former glory after almost 80% of its buildings were destroyed in World War II. It is a city that has successfully combined its rich cultural heritage with modern extravaganzas. Thus, a visitor is greeted with endless pursuits.

The old town with its strikingly beautiful buildings, dotted with quaint little shops and restaurants is a view worth beholding. It was reconstructed from the rubbles of World War II and has been rightly honored in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Numerous restaurants, cafes and bars serve the traditional piwo (Polish for Beer), pierogi (Polish dumplings) and lody (Polish for ice-cream). Enjoy the warm summer sun while sitting on one of the benches in the centre of the square, admiring the mermaid, Syrenka, the symbol of Warsaw and watching the world go by - the numerous tourists, street vendors and artists with their works on display. Walk along to the Royal castle to get a taste of how the royalty spent their days and to attend the exhibitions and collections on display. An enjoyable walk southwards through the old city brings one to the magnificent Palac Cultury (Palace of Culture and Science), the tallest building in Poland. From the 30th floor, one can enjoy a 360 degree view of the city.

Places of interest in Warsaw
Located in the city center upon 76 hectares of lush green meadows is the Lazienki Park (the Royal Bath park). The monument to Chopin at the entrance, the Lazienki Lake, the palaces, the Amphitheater, the temples and the museums inside the park attract tourists in hordes. The park hosts a series of Chopin concerts, free for visitors, especially on all Sunday afternoons in the summer. A short bus-ride away is the charming Wilanów palace, modeled on the Palace of Versailles.

A few sections of the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto remain, originally a place where the sizeable Jewish population was rounded-up after the Nazi invasion. To experience a sincere story telling of the Warsaw uprising of 1944, one can visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum, a must-see for history aficionados. The bulk of tourists arrive between May and early September. However, the spring/early fall season extends into early October, still bearing an enjoyable climate, bringing along with it cheaper rates at hotels and tourist attractions.

Warsaw on a shoe-string budget
If you plan your travel well in advance, you will find good options with any of the major airlines. Most international airports are well connected to Warsaw’s Frederick Chopin Airport.

Friendly locals offer Couch Surfing options through www.couchsurfing.org (Couch surfing is the world’s largest hospitality exchange project where members offer accommodation for free to visiting tourists) – a safe, budget-friendly way to learn the ways of the locals. Youth Hostels are an alternative, an easy way to interact and swap stories with fellow travelers. The most efficient way to traverse the city is by purchasing the Warsaw Travel Card, which offers unlimited public transportation (trams, buses and the metro) during the duration of validity of the card. Additionally, the card offers discounted admissions to museums, galleries, restaurants, rentals, sight-seeing tours, etc. The card is available in 2 denominations - a 24-hour card for 35 PLN and a 3-day card for 65 PLN.

For staying in touch with your dear ones back home, you can purchase a telephone card from Telecom Polska (available at the RUCH kiosks), which can be used at the calling booths found all over the city. Internet Cafes can also be found in all the major commercial spots in the city.

Free maps and events brochures can be collected at the Tourism Information centers (at the airport, central railway stations, many kiosks in the city center and the old town). A note on the climate: Winter sets in by mid-October and lasts till mid-April. The temperatures could dip to -20 degrees Celsius during peak winter. Summer months are enjoyable; however there are stretches of days where the sun could scorch the city up to 35 degrees Celsius.

Warsaw is a charming city which offers all that you expect from a modern European city - wonderful architecture, history, beauty of nature, warm hospitality, rocking nightlife, etc. It is a delight to the explorer. The city awaits you!

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Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in November, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Meera is an MBA from IIM Lucknow with many years of experience in the corporate world. She currently resides in Warsaw. Her multi-cultural, multi-national experiences and interest in reading has helped her develop a unique style of writing. She writes on diverse topics such as traveling, business, technology, fitness, diet & cuisine.

Warsaw on a Shoe-String Budget

chillibreeze writer — Meera Mohanakumar Remani

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