36 Hours in Warsaw, Poland

The Polish capital suffered a few false dawns since the fall of Communism, but it is finally forging an identity of its own after joining the European Union almost 12 years ago.

From a fascinating war-torn history to modern-day architecture, Warsaw is a great place to get to know some history. Pass through the Old Town to the Polin Museum of Polish Jews, which sits on the site of the Warsaw Ghetto. Learn about the history of Jews in Poland from the Middle Ages to the Nazi occupation up to the present day.

POLIN © Jacek Kadaj | Dreamstime

If you are looking for a cheap mea,l head to one of the ubiquitous kebab stalls. Other good options include the traditional Restauracja Polska, which serves local favorites like schnitzel, while restaurants such as stylish vegan joint Mango provide a flavor of the new Warsaw.

Other attractions in town include the Palace of Culture and Science, the huge Soviet-era building which dominates the center of town. The views from the top are outrageous.

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Take a spin round the Royal Castle to brush up on some more history before heading to the trendy area of Praga. Once famous for high crime rates, the area is now home to what locals refer to as the real Warsaw. Sip on some cocktails at W Oparach Absurdu’s bar.

After hanging out with the hipsters, scrape together some pennies and head to Club Capitol, where the Warsaw elite goes to party. It’s not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but it will give you a window into another side of Polish society.