9 Best Things To Do In Warsaw: A Budget-Friendly Itinerary

things to do in warsaw
Pippa
Pippa 
Published
| 4 min read

Poland’s capital might not seem instantly beautiful, but it does have a hidden beauty, which once uncovered will have you wanting to make repeat visits. Warsaw is fast becoming a favorite with those traveling on a budget, because a little money here does go a long way. The city has a special allure, due in no small part to the varied history and architecture which is extremely accessible. Most of the best things in the city can be seen on foot, so read on for the best free activities you can do when wandering through Warsaw.

1. Get lost in the beautiful Old Town

The Old Town market square of Warsaw (8121507041)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Guillaume Speurt used under CC BY-SA 2.0

A visit to Warsaw would be incomplete without a couple of hours dedicated to strolling through the gorgeous Old Town. Get immersed in the fascinating history of this city, as you walk along streets which were destroyed during the invasion of Poland, and rebuilt after the end of World War Two. This area oozes character and the cobbled streets seem like they are straight out of a movie set, lined with the iconic beautiful pastel buildings you’ll be sure to want to snap some photos of.

Warsaw Old Town

How to access: Get a bus to Pl. Zamkowy

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Warsaw Old Town

Take a stroll around the Old Town at night too. There's something different about admiring the architecture and soaking in the charming ambiance under the stars.

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2. Pay a visit to the Presidential Palace

Warsaw 07-13 img26 Presidential Palace
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user A.Savin used under CC BY-SA 3.0

This beautiful Neoclassical building has to be on your list of architectural wonders to see in Warsaw. It was originally built in the 17th-century, but it has faced many trials and tribulations since, with a huge fire almost completely destroying the building in the 19th-century. It doesn’t cost a thing to go and see the outside of the Palace, but if you are interested in exploring the inside this is also free, you just need to contact the Palace ahead of time and they organize free tour groups.

Presidential Palace

Address: Krakowskie Przedmieście 48/50, 00-071 Warszawa, Poland

Price: Free

Opening Hours: Varies

Contact: +48 226952900, email: wycieczki@prezydent.pl

Website: Presidential Palace

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3. See the impressive remains of the Old Town Wall

Warsaw Old Town surrounded by the old medieval defensive walls (9632637660)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jorge Láscar used under CC BY 2.0

It’s really an impressive sight to see the huge portions of Warsaw’s old walls still in tact. You will notice that some are reconstructions, as they look newer than other parts. Walk through the narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town and pretty quickly you’ll come face to face with the old wall. Take a walk around the wall and feel like you have been transported back in time.

Old Town Walls

Opening Hours: 24 hours

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4. Stroll through the Saxon Gardens

Warszawa-Ogród Saski fontanna
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Marcin Białek used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Strolling through these gardens is great if you manage to have a dry day in Warsaw, and are looking for budget friendly activities. This huge green space is the oldest public park in the city and dates back to the 18th-century. The magnificent gardens are filled with stunning baroque statutes, chestnut trees, and even a huge man-made lake. Impressive during every season, but by far the most stunning during spring or summer.

Saxon Gardens

Address: Marszałkowska, 00-001 Warszawa, Poland

Price: Free

Opening Hours: 24 hours

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5. Cross through the City Squares

Castle Square Warsaw
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Romazur used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Spend some time in one of the many atmospheric squares in Warsaw. Possibly the most beautiful, is the Old Town Market Square. Feel like you are in a fairy-tale when passing through here, as it is surrounded with many different colored buildings. What’s even more impressive is that most of it was blown up during WWII and has since been reconstructed. You also cannot miss out on spending some time in the open Castle Square. Grab a coffee and sit on one of the benches, spending some time soaking up the atmosphere.

Old Town Market Square/Castle Square

Website: Castle Square

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6. See the restored Royal Castle

Royal-Castle-of-Warsaw AB
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Andrzej Barabasz used under CC BY-SA 3.0

This stunning red brick building can be found dominating the Castle Square. Like many things in the city of Warsaw, the Castle was damaged during the bombing campaign of WWII, and then later was further destroyed under Hitler’s orders. After the war anything which could be salvaged was, and reconstruction work began restoring the building to its former glory. It is impressive enough to see the Castle from the outside, but visitors can have a free castle tour on Sundays and walk through the same hallways royalty once passed through.

The Royal Castle

Address: plac Zamkowy 4, 00-277 Warsaw, Poland

Price: free on Sundays

Opening Hours: winter season on Sundays: 11am - 4pm, summer season: 11am - 6pm. Closed on public holidays

Access: can be found in Castle Square

Website: The Royal Castle

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7. Revel in the Royal Łazienki Park

PalaceOnTheIsle
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mariokol used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Walking through this glorious park in Warsaw will make you feel like royalty. There are a lot of different structures to see throughout the park, including the magnificent Palace on the Isle. It is also a venue for musical events, so it might be worth seeing what is taking place during your visit.

To find out more, read our article on Łazienki Park.

Royal Łazienki Park

Address: 01-999 Warsaw, Poland

Price: Free

Website: Royal Łazienki Park

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8. Explore the contrasts of the New Town

Warsaw 07-13 img06 skyline
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user A.Savin used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The New Town is actually pretty close to the Old Town, and it was heavily destroyed during WWII and has since been rebuilt. Deceivingly, the New Town isn’t modern at all, so you may actually stumble across it by accident and not realize. It doesn’t tend to be an area that tourists flock to, unlike the Old Town, but it is great to see both and compare the contrasts. The New Town Market Square is the best place to head, to get away from the crowds.

New Town Area

Address: Bonifraterska 14, 00-001 Warszawa, Poland

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9. Visit a museum

Warsaw Rising Museum
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Halibutt used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Some museums are free in Warsaw on certain days, making it an even more budget friendly city. The Warsaw Uprising Museum is one of the most popular for history buffs, and entrance is free on Sundays. At this museum, visitors can learn more about the uprising of 1944 and how these events shaped the city, through a range of interactive exhibitions.

Warsaw Uprising Museum

Address: ul. Grzybowska 79, Warsaw, Poland

Price: free on Sundays

Opening Hours: Weekdays 8am - 6pm (Thursdays till 8pm). Weekends 10am - 6pm. Closed on Tuesdays

Contact: +48 225397905

Website: Warsaw Uprising Museum

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A budget friendly city!

So many free options make Warsaw an ideal place for young travelers, students or people just looking for a cheap trip away. The history of the city is accessible to everybody, and you can come away from your visit feeling as though you really became immersed in the city, and hopefully learnt something new about its fascinating past.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Pippa Brown, a British writer and avid traveler, has temporarily halted her wanderlust to establish her home base in Berlin. She possesses a deep passion for exploring new destinations, readily...Read more

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