Warsaw Activities

Surprisingly, Warsaw has a lot to offer children, with several large open spaces providing great escapes and areas in which children can run free. The most popular parks include Lazienki Park and Agrykola Park, the former at which you can take a gondola ride on the river during the summer months; while Kabaty Forest is also a popular destination for a day-trip. More specifically aimed at children are Bajlandia, an indoor children's playground, and the sightseeing train which regularly runs from Castle Square.

Lazienki Park 
A popular hang out with residents of the city in the spring and summer seasons, this is one of the city's most beautiful parks. The one-time summer residence of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski, the park now makes the perfect location for a stroll and an enjoyable area at which children can enjoy the outdoors. In addition to the palace, there are several other buildings of interest as well as an amphitheatre which hosts open-air concerts. The park is open from dawn until dusk, year-round.

Sightseeing train 
Many children tire of sightseeing quite quickly-making this fun sightseeing train the ideal way for children to enjoy the ride while adults can take in sights that may not interest little ones. The electric train departs from Castle Square every 30 minutes, between 10:00 and 17:00, during the summer months, and embarks on a 30-minute tour of the city.

Bajlandia 
While this attraction is neither cultural nor educational, it is probably the best place in the city to bring your children for pure, unhindered fun. It encompasses large areas where children can run loose, with pools filled with plastic balls, climbing walls and tubes and slides among other highlights. There is a café on-site for waiting adults; be warned, your children may never want to leave. Open daily from 09:00 to 21:00.

Gondolas on the lake
The perfect ending to a day-trip at Lazienki Park, visitors can take a gondola trip from the Palace on the Water and take in the scenic sights of the park from a different perspective. Children will find the trip an exciting new experience, making their holiday more memorable. The gondolas can seat up to 10 passengers, with trips taking 10 minutes. These services operate in the summer months from 10:00 to 19:00.

Despite the devastation that took place in Warsaw during WWII, the city has managed to rebuild itself and retain just a few of its pre-war treasures. The city's architectural treasures, including the Royal Castle, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Wilanow Palace and Saint John's Cathedral, are equalled by the city's lively cultural happenings, largely staged at the National Opera and the National Theatre.

Royal Castle 
Situated in Old Town, this is the city's oldest significant structure. The original castle was completely obliterated during WWII bombings, with the current structure having been completed in 1977, based on drawings and accounts of the former palace. While essentially Baroque in its exterior appearance, the interior of the castle houses Gothic elements, with ornate rooms housing tapestries, paintings and valuable furniture. The castle also contains a historical and art museum, which is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 16:00 and Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00; it is closed on Mondays.

Jewish Cemetery 
Considering the terrible atrocities that were committed against Jews in Warsaw during the German occupation of the city during WWII, many visitors to Warsaw feel it appropriate to pay their respects at the Cmentarz Zydowski. The graveyard was established at the turn of the 19^th century and houses the graves of some prominent haracters including Janusz Korczak, a writer and pedagogue who died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz. The cemetery is open from Sunday to Friday, 09:00 to 15:00.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 
Situated at Pilsudskiego Place, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier commemorates those who lost their lives in WWII. The structure incorporates the only remaining part of the Saxon Palace, which was completely destroyed when Hitler ordered the city to be razed at the end of WWII. Housed within is an eternal flame and visitors can watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony here on Sundays.

Wilanow Palace 
Formerly the Royal Residence, Wilanow Palace is one of the city's few pre-war buildings of great beauty. Having escaped total destruction during WWII, the palace now houses a state museum while the delightful gardens and park that surround the building contain the delightful Orangery and the Chinese pavilion. One of the highlights of the museum is The Gallery of Polish Portraiture, which boasts a rich collection of portraits spanning from the 16^th to the 19^th century. There is an admission charge.

Polish National Opera 
Located at Teatralny Place and accessible via Ratusz metro station, the National Opera is something not to be missed during your stay in Warsaw. Tickets need to be bought in advance from the Box Office (open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 19:00). Here you can see some of Poland's most elaborate shows and equally elaborate stage sets, with past performances ranging from ‘Zorba the Greek’ to ‘Nabucco’. Attendees are recommended to dress smartly for this fantastic night out.

Saint John's Cathedral 
Situated in Old Town, St John's Cathedral is the site of the crypts of Poland's first president, Gabriel Narutowicz, and of Nobel prize winner Henryk Sienkiewicz among others. The former president was assassinated in Zacheta Gallery. While some visitors may be spooked by the somewhat chilly atmosphere present in the crypts; there are few crowds in the crypts and visitors can explore the tombs, some of which date to the 16^th century, in their own time.

Royal Road 
This stretch has numerous attractions worthy of a visit. The road connects the Royal Castle with Wilanow Royal Palace, a distance of 10kms. If you walk south from Royal Castle, you will reach Zamkowy Square and Krakowskie PrzedmieÅ?cie, which are home to several prominent churches including Saint Anna, Saint Joseph, Wizytki Sisters and Saint Cross. If you continue, you will reach the President's Palace and the campus of Warsaw University. Other nearby attractions along the way include PiÅ?sudzkiego, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Saski Garden, Metropolitan building and the National Opera.

While Poland is not known internationally for its cuisine, this is no refection on the quality and tastiness of the country's favourite dishes. Warsaw may have been deprived of luxurious ingredients in the post war years, but today it a different story, with traditional cuisine as well as some of the most delicious and undiscovered desserts around being found on every street corner.

The rapid development of the city has coincided with the mushrooming of quality dining establishments and a healthy variety of cuisines now available have helped the city to shed its bland communist reputation. Tourists to the city will find plenty of restaurants in the Old Town and City Centre to tickle their taste buds.

While those with no knowledge of Polish cuisine may tell you its all about soup, dumplings and cabbage, they are mistaken in forgetting to tell you that traditional Polish cooking has been refined and developed over centuries and some of its oldest dishes are staples even today. Popular dishes include flaki (entrails soup) and golonki (pigs trotters), while the number of different soups available to warm you on winter days is extensive, with just a few favourites being zurek (meat soup) and ogorkowa (gherkin soup). For something more substantial, tuck into one of Warsaw's hearty pork or game dishes. Meanwhile, desserts here are something to die for, with confectionary shops (cukiernia) everywhere you turn; do not miss out on indulging in Polish cakes and chocolate, not to mention szarotka (apple cake).

In the same way that the capital's restaurants have flourished, so have the city's shops, with the city having attracted many international chain stores. While the city is not on a par with the world's best shopping capitals, Warsaw does offer quality goods, particularly clothing, at reasonable prices. Blue City is a huge mega mall with over 200 retail outlets, a must on any shoppers’ itinerary, while Arkadia, another of Warsaw's super malls, offers an equally impressive selection of goods. Meanwhile, those who are into designer items would so well to make a trip to Promenada on the east bank.

Due to the city's low temperatures in the winter months, many of the residents tend to hibernate through the cold season, only braving the outdoors when it is necessary. While the usual winter sports of skiing, snowboarding and ice skating are available year-round, it is the summer season that sees outdoor enthusiast in their element, with the city's golf course and its largest park, Pole Mokotowskie, providing much of the fun.

Parks 
Pole Mokotowskie is Warsaw's equivalent to New York's Central Park. Warsaw residents flock to the park to partake in everything from jogging to walking, cycling and rollerblading, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The lush, green expanse includes a small pond and a system of water channels. Popular among students in the summer months, the park also attracts many families, which head here for picnics. Food is available at the four local pubs that surround the park, while the park is sometimes host to special events and festivals.

Skiing and Snowboarding
Skiing and snowboarding is possible in Warsaw at CSN Szczesliwice, where you can find the only ski-lift in the city. The slope is open year-round thanks to it being covered with a special material, making skiing possible even when there is no snow. Children or adult's who don’t want to take part in the sporting activities on offer can try the Alpine Coaster, a white-knuckle ride situated on the same hill.

Golf 
First Warsaw Golf and Country Club, just a 30 to 40 minute drive out if the city in the suburb of Jablonna, is the perfect haven for golfers. The 18-hole course meets international standards, while the putting green and driving range provide good practice territory for those who want to work on their swings. Additional services include classes for beginners and an upmarket terrace restaurant. The course opens daily at 08:00.