World Travellers

Dating back to the 9th century the Polish Capital has had a long, eventful and, at times, tragic history. Many who have not visited the city will associate it with dour communist regimes but since the Victory of Solidarity in 1989 the city has transformed itself in to one of the most vibrant and colorful capitals in Europe.

Due to the booming economy of the city it’s not as cheap as it once was for western backpackers but there are still plenty of bargains to be found and it is definitely a cheaper option than French, German or Spanish cities.

And one of the things that keeps prices low is the variety of excellent Warsaw hostels on offer. Hostel Helvetia, Nathan’s Villa Hostel and Hostel Orange all more than match the requirements of the backpacker in the city.

And in addition to the range of fantastic hostels in Warsaw, the city also has a couple of good value hotels and guesthouses like the Hotel Dom Literatury and Boutique Bed and Breakfast.

The Old Town

One key area travelers will probably want to see is the ‘Old Town’. This term of a bit of a misnomer as much was destroyed and the buildings on show today have been lovingly restored to their former glory by the people of Poland.

In fact it was a job so well completed that the area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, despite most of the construction being no more than 30 years old.

Those planning on staying in this area might want to take a look at the Old Town Apartments - your own apartment with kitchen, bathroom and fantastic location for a price of a hostel.

Beyond the old town quarter lies the Royal Castle, King Sigismund’s Column, Market Square, and the Barbican. Further south is the Warsaw University campus, which is a good place to seek out some of the more idiosyncratic bars and clubs in the city.

Nightlife and Events

Being a young city, Warsaw has a night spot to suit every taste. Bars range from atmospheric and dingy drinking dens, right through to ultra hip lounge-style bars. Foksal 19 split over two floors is popular with the late-20 and 30-something crowd while 20 @Pole Mokotowskie features an outdoor grill and live music.

Clubs are also plentiful with Club 70 living up to its name and offering disco classics, while Ground Zero offers a more modern take and for the completely outlandish check out Le Madame.

Befitting any capital city Warsaw has its fair share of festivals and events, both international and local. Notable ones are the international Film Festival in October and the carnival in March.

Another unique event is Noc Swietojanska (Midsummer’s Eve). For this pagan fertility festival, buxom Polish maidens throw wreaths into the Vistula River before fireworks, music and local food help you party into the night. Hostel Orange on
Poznanska near the train station offers those travelling to Warsaw for a night out a good base.

Food

Food is something the Poles rightly take pride in and almost every dish is nothing if not good value. Local specialties range from the famous beetroot soup, ‘borscht’, stuffed dumplings (’perogi’) and all manner of pork dishes. However, if you fancy something more international there are plenty of foreign eateries from Chinese to Indian and Moroccan to Italian.

By: Paul Scottyn

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