Poland

We visited Warsaw, the capital of Poland, where the 85% of it was destroyed in the 1945, and yet, today is full of history and charm.

About the weather...

Poland is well known as a cold country, but we had the feeling that even in Summer the capital can be very pleasant.

We visited Warsaw in October, and the weather was holding really well, never got a bad weather day, so we can't complain at all.

During our holiday we stayed at one lovely Airbnb close to the Pałac Kultury I Nauki the famous Palace of Culture and Science, a 237 meter building, the tallest in the whole Poland, a gift from the Soviet Union to the country, that's the reason why it creates mixed feelings among the locals.

A good starting point to visit Warsaw is the Royal Castle a gorgeous edifice right in the city centre, like most all the historical building in Warsaw, the Castle has been damaged many times, until 1980 where it went through a final reconstruction.

Exactly from there, you can visit all the city and the most important attractions by walk, not bad :)

Right behind the Castle, there is the Old Town, that only 70 years ago was a total pile of debris, and now is a fascinating quartiers, with many points of interests.

One of the most famous is the Rynek Starego Miasta Warszawa a medieval square, that is probably the most characteristic place in the Old Town, surrounded by the typical houses, a must visit.

Few meters away you can find the Barbacane a fortified outpost built in 1500, easily walkable and enjoyable.

If you fancy visiting some churches, you need to see the Bazylika Archikatedralna an elegant cathedral, considered the national pantheon, because much illustrious polish has been buried there.

And is always from the castle that the Royal Route begin, a 15 km street where you can find parks, palaces and academic institutions.

We have been lucky because on Krakowskie Przedmiescie the main street of the Royal Route, happened to be the Three Kings'Parade, so the road was packed with artists and locals, the best way to enjoy the Polish Culture.

That day we decided to cut in half the Royal Route and direct ourselves to the Praga District

A special and decadent District, we suggest visiting it during the daylight, because at the time of our visit, 2018, it was still potentially dangerous during the night.

Apart from that, we believe that Praga in Warsaw, is worth a visit, you can find many different feelings and opinion about it, but personally, we enjoyed it.

If you decide to proceed straight through the Royal Route, you can reach either by walk or either by bus, the Łazienki Królewskie a huge and well mantained park with many points of interests.

Among them the Chopin Monument where the locals gather around on a sunny day. Or the stunning Pałac na Wyspie The Palace on the Isle, a beautiful residence surrounded by a lake. And if that is not enough you can find as well the city football stadium, Stadion Miejski Legii

Another beautiful park is the Ogród Saski where you can find the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame, watched by Guards from the Polish Arm Force.

Poland is a beautiful country, and warsaw reflects that really well, many museum to see and many other attractions around the city too.

Did anyone say Food or Drinks?!

Here our favourite places

A really nice place to have breakfast and a well made cup of tea, is at Odette Tea Room where we had a chocolate cake in e charming open air space, 15 minutes walk from the centre, and in the end, who doesn't love chocolate cakes?

I can guarantee you that it tastes delicious as it looks. Also, you will find gluten free options, and we have been quiet surprised by the choices offered :)

Pierogi si undoubtedly the most famous Polish dish, a filled dumpling, that can be steamed or pan fried, both the cooking methods delivered an amazing result, Irene believed that the best one that she tried can be found at Zapiecek

Then one of the best restaurant where we had lunch it was Folg Gospoda a beautiful restaurant decorated with wood furniture, serving typical polish cuisine, a must try the Placki Ziemniaczane, a potato cake similar to a rosti.

One of our favourite dinners was at the Elixir a fancy Polish restaurant, serving modern food, but most important a vodka pairing with your food, an experience that we had very willingly.

If you are a fan of potatoes, then you have to eat at Groole a funny and small restaurant that serves filled up potatoes, with various flavours, and all gluten free.

If you are craving sweets, then you must head back to the Old Town, and find Karmnik a small and modern cafè, who serves mainly cakes, and if can enjoy your meal on fancy tables, like the one in the picture.

And yes they have Gluten Free cakes too, this probably was one of our favourite placed in the center of the city.

Last but not least, a nice drink in the Polish capital is definitely well deserved, head to The View and Panorama Sky Bar we liked both places, but the last one has a better quality of ingredients for the price offered, and we liked the cocktail more there.

And then Cosmo a modern cocktail bar, we enjoyed the bar so much that we end up there a second time.

Polish food is rich and tasty, many of their traditional dishes are being revised with modern techniques, to create new recipes, so definitely something to look out now and in the future too.