Touring Warsaw at Łazienki Palace
Touring Warsaw – Travel Photo Mondays
Warsaw was a complete surprise to visit. Full of contrast with old and new, urban and hip, the city is alive and exciting to walk through the re-incarnated old town, the trendy shopping promenades, to the beautiful green belt and park areas all around the city. Much of Warsaw was miraculously rebuilt from the ground up, brick by brick after World War 2. It shows by how amazing a galvanized community and dedicated people were to complete this monumental rebuilding task, and how proud they are of their heritage and history. From all their hard efforts of over 5 years of rebuilding their city from scratch, they have been rewarded a Unesco World Heritage site certification – only a few sites have been awarded Unesco certification to a city that has been almost completely demolished from the ground up.
Here are highlights of seeing Warsaw a city full of contrast and excitement:
Touring Warsaw at Lazienki park and the Chopin memorial
For a completely rebuilt city after World War 2, Warsaw has a lot of green areas and parks for locals and visitors to enjoy. Lazienki Park is the one park that was left intact with its palace and many monuments which the Nazi’s used as a base along with many of the beautiful buildings along this district and not demolished during the war. The park has some beautiful botanical and natural gardens, lakes and the stately palace called Lazienki Palace.
Statues and peacocks at Łazienki Park
Swan boat ride anyone?
Swan boat rides at at Łazienki Park, Warsaw
The Jewish Ghetto of Warsaw
Warsaw Holocaust memorial and ghetto
Towards the center of the city is the Jewish Ghetto with the Jewish museum and Holocaust memorial. We just missed the yearly memorial that happens towards the end of April where survivors and other dignitaries pay their respects and leave hundreds of gorgeous bouquets of flowers at the Holocaust memorial (photos above). Even in their wilting stage, it is an elaborate scene with these beautiful and fading flowers surrounding the monument and adding some color to the somber but poignant sculpture.
Warsaw Holocaust memorial details
The modern façade of the Warsaw Jewish museum
Warsaw Holocaust museum façade
Closer to the University of Warsaw is a newer area of dwellings and mixed used developments with colorful street art applied to the blank wall facades of apartment buildings and parking garages. This young and trendy area is bordered by many walking and shopping arcades including the popular Krakowskie Przedmiescie (below) pack with tourists and locals enjoying the street life in this busy corridor.
One of the best museums of Warsaw to explore, it really does hit you impactfully to see the images, collections and personal stories in this museum.
Warsaw street art close to the university
Warsaw street art along a shopping arcade
Touring Warsaw at Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Krakowskie Przedmiescie below is filled with trendy galleries, boutiques and restaurants, attracting a full range of locals and tourists to this popular street. Outdoor cafes spill out into the large promenade which is a perfect place for people watching and enjoying the street scenes unfold in this trendy district. You can dine on traditional Polish cuisine or try any of the international style restaurants that cater to the uber hip crowds and visitors hanging out in the streets and promenades.
Touring Warsaw: shopping district at
Krakowskie Przedmiescie
The old and new architecture and skyline of Warsaw
Old and modern skyline of downtown Warsaw, Poland
Unesco site of the central historic district of Warsaw
Historic central district at Warsaw, Poland
The old historic center of Warsaw was completely demolished during World War 2 by the Germans and instead of building something completely new in the area, the community and citizens bravely saved all bricks and remnants around the center and slowly built it back up to where it is today. After more than five years of rebuilding, the city is a nearly complete replica of the original old town. Awarding the city a Unesco World Heritage Site certification for this elaborate and painstaking effort (the only one of its kind for a completely demolished site) pays tribute to those wonderful efforts of the community and those proud people.
Colorful cobbled streets in Warsaw’s old center
Parts of the Warsaw ramparts and medieval towers of the Barbikan
Touring Warsaw at the ramparts and medieval towers of the Barbikan
Horse drawn carriages while touring Warsaw and the old town
Touring Warsaw and a park around the historic central district
Colorful annuals at the Saxon gardens in Warsaw
Touring Warsaw – colorful gardens at the Saxon Gardens
Beautiful fountains at the Saxon Gardens
Sunset over the main square of Warsaw
Sunset and touring the old central district of Warsaw
It’s nice to spend some time late in the afternoon on the main square of the old town, you can actually sit in one of the many cafes and enjoy gorgeous sunset views over the old town, (picture above). It’s easy to sit, relax and enjoy being in the moment in this magnificent square, wouldn’t you agree?
Hotel Rialto, hotel lobby
Accommodations in Warsaw
While staying at Warsaw, I stayed at the lovely Art Deco inspired hotel – Hotel Rialto which is quietly located in the business center close to the main train station of Warsaw. Although relatively new, the hotel is Art Deco inspired and has period pieces tastefully placed in each room and the general areas of the hotel.
Bedroom suite details
Ornate Art deco details in the bath suites, Hotel Rialto
Large beds and seating areas at Hotel Rialto
Breakfast service at Hotel Rialto, Warsaw
An exceptional breakfast service
The breakfast service is truly exceptional and first class with a full service menu that you can choose any of a series of starters and main entrees from the complete menu. The food that is served is so beautiful not to mention delicious – it really is the perfect start of the day and after a wonderful nights rest.
Sausage entrée from the breakfast menu, Hotel Rialto
Really, the breakfast experience at Hotel Rialto, is already worth the price of a stay in this luxurious and comfortable hotel in Warsaw. The service and quality of food is perfectly executed and a wonderful experience, that I really didn’t want to leave the hotel after such a nice meal.
Dessert waffles at Hotel Rialto, Warsaw
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I had a wonderful stay in Warsaw and enjoyed my complimentary accommodations at Hotel Rialto, Warsaw. Details of my trip to Poland were arranged by JayWay Travel, experts in Central and Eastern Europe. Of course all thoughts and opinions are still my own and it is definitely worth the stay and excellent meals at this fine hotel.
I really love your photos! I try to visit Warsaw at least few times a year, especially that I have many friends living there.Every time they take me to different places so that I can get to know the city better. My favourite trip was few months ago, when we did a bar tour. The one bar I remember the best was Bubbles in downtown. It a charming cozy place with many different champagnes and sparkling wines from all over the world. IT is incredible and very unique place:)
That sounds like a really cool spot, I would love to check it out some day, thanks so much for sharing this.
Your photos are stunning! I love that you included pictures of where you stayed.
Noel, you keep sharing things that make me want to visit Warsaw immediately.
A friend of mine studied abroad there and I’m always envious of her experiences in Warsaw and throughout Poland. That shot of the central district is the picture that I imagined one’s days to be spent.
I love your shot of the colorful annals at the Saxon garden, especially. Those beautiful flowers just make the perfect contrast around the other pictures of the city.
Thanks for sharing and as always, I’m looking forward to your next post.
Take Care Noel.
Wow – I am so impressed that the old city of Warsaw has been rebuilt. Warsaw was never on our ‘must see’ list but it is now. Thank you.
Simply gorgeous photos of Warsaw. I haven’t been, yet, but I sure want to visit after seeing your tour.
I just love your pictures of Warsaw! I’ve been wanting to go for years but haven’t made it yet. Maybe 2016? Great street art!
How impressive that Warsaw was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO despite having been rebuilt almost completely. I love your swanboat photo, Noel
What a lovely tour of the Polish city of Warsaw. Every time we visit Germany I think we should make time to cross over to Poland. This post inspires me to keep that promise to myself next time… A truly beautiful European city.
As always, fantastic photos Noel. Sure makes us want to see Warsaw in person someday.
Touring Warsaw has long been on my list. I loved seeing how they rebuilt brick by brick after reading countless accounts of the destruction and devastation. We can’t wait to visit after befriending some Polish visitors at our last stop.
Wow Noel, Warsaw offers a lot more than I had realized. What a beautiful city, although I am not so sure about the food. The street art is fascinating.
I´ve never been to Warsaw and probably will not. But it looks interesting enough in your post 🙂
Thanks for sharing and visiting NF Travel 🙂
I’ve often thought Warsaw would be an interesting city to visit. Your photos show that it is. I like the mix of old and new and am especially taken with the street art photos.
Incredible photos of Warsaw Noel – I would love to visit Warsaw and tour around Poland – my mom’s side of the family is from Poland.
I have had Warsaw on my very long list for a long time. The history of the city is tragic but much like the Cambodian people, the human spirit remains resilient.
Wow, these photos are stunning. I especially like the sunset photo. Although Warsaw is not on my short list of destinations, I enjoyed seeing it through your eyes. You captured exactly what I would want to see. Thanks!
woww such gorgeous pictures!! loved the contrast from light green trees to beautiful architecture of warsaw 🙂 The food looks yumm too.
I love seeing your photos! That one of the sunset over the central district is gorgeous!
I didn’t realise that the historic centre of Warsaw was completely rebuilt…what an incredible effort. The city really does look stunning…both the old and the new. Now I really do have to visit Warsaw.
I do love European cities. They definitely have a flare for incorporating the old and new without losing their charm.
Wow! Your photos show what a lovely and magnificent city Warsaw is with a proud and tragic history. One thing that’s so amazing is that the people of Warsaw chose to rebuild their original city to memorialize and preserve it with its rich culture and despite its savage past. This place is on our “must see” list and your beautiful photos only make it more tempting.