Unusual destinations. Discover Warsaw in 72 hours
When the desire for a city break becomes irresistible, thanks to the many offers of low cost flights, Warsaw is the answer. The capital of Poland is in itself an unusual destination, and it is even more so if you choose it for a winter trip, perfect for those who love to discover a city that is not very touristy but rich in architectural, cultural and gastronomic ferment. Here is an itinerary ready to be relived with your own eyes by choosing the Radisson Collection Hotel as the hotel for this trip. A hotel that alone is worth the trip.
Day 1From the Warsaw Chopin airport you can comfortably reach the Radisson Collection Hotel from which you can admire the glitter of the lights of the skyscrapers, overlooking a glimpse of the Palace of Culture and Sciences, the lively daily bustle of the capital, which seems to welcome in Poland. For an after dinner, just 400 meters away, inside Hala Gwardii – a former boxing school – you can experience the Warsaw nightlife. Today this place is a covered market during the day and a food court in the evening, which leads you to immerse yourself in that spirit of reconversion and multifunctionality of the spaces that will characterize the visit to Warsaw.Day 2After a restful sleep and a super breakfast, Warsaw is ready to let itself be known starting from the Hala Mirowska market. Its red bricks seem to be the perfect backdrop for the outdoor stands of flower sellers, while inside the scent of smoked meats and marinated vegetables intoxicate the senses; the comings and goings of women and men intent on doing their daily shopping filling with potatoes, roots and the small daily shopping in the trolley intrigue. From here we reach Hala Gwardii which differs from the previous market because during the day it hosts small slowfood producers and local excellences. Step by step you reach the Palace of Culture and Sciences, to admire it in the light of day. From the inside it is possible to go up to the 30th floor, where an impressive covered terrace, which runs along the entire perimeter of the PKIN, allows you to have a unique view of the city. Continue crossing the great Marszalkowska artery and taking the delightful pedestrian street Chmielna you will reach the Nowy Swiat. This part of the road is also known as the Royal Route since on one side it leads to the castle, in the historic heart (rebuilt after the bombings) of the city, while on the other side it leads to the Wilanow Palace. To reach the historic center from here, get on one of the buses – 116, 175, 180 and get off right at the stop in front of the castle square. Two unmissable places for those who love the new course of cities, are Centrum Praskie Koneser & Soho Factory – reachable from the center by tram 160. Any enthusiast of redevelopment of former industrial spaces will find the right satisfaction here. A visit with a guided tour and tasting at the Vodka Museum, which once stood here, is the first step to immerse yourself in this spirit. To appreciate the new gastronomic scene, a lunch at the Koneser Grill is a must and will give you the right energy to continue the tour, enjoying the proposals of grilled meat. A couple of tram stops – 3, 6 or 26 – from here, the scene is completed with Soho Factory, another former industrial area that is characterized not only by the countless bars and restaurants, but also by the Neon Museum with its rich collection of illuminated signs from the Soviet period. From the conversion, with a couple of trams 6 and 28, we reach the Polin Museum, a designated place to tell the story of the Jews in Poland over a thousand years, starting from the evocative space that houses it. An expression of contemporary architecture that already from the entrance evokes a fracture, a crack almost a reference to the biblical passage of Moses’ opening of the Red Sea. After a busy day, end the day with a dinner at Brasserie Warszawsk for a reinterpretation of traditional Polish cuisine with French influences.Day 3Take a walk from the hotel towards the Vistula boulevards, the river that divides the city in two and discover here too other gems of contemporary architecture such as the Copernicus Center Science, the University Library where you can refresh yourself with a coffee before continuing towards the center to deepen the visit to the Royal Castle. From here by bus 180 in just under an hour, along a part of the royal route, you reach the Wilanow Palace where, in addition to the luxurious interiors, what leaves you breathless are the light installations inserted in the royal gardens that come on the closure of the Palace to the public. From November to February, the plays of light and videomapping enchant adults and children in a fairytale atmosphere. For dinner, choose the trendiest indoor market in town, Hala Koszyki, where you can be tempted by a variety of international cuisine with interesting selections of local beer.Day 4Dedicate the last day for a slow awakening to fully enjoy the services of the Radisson Collection Hotel, such as the sauna and swimming pool, and then go out to discover contemporary Warsaw right in the heart of the business district. A stone’s throw from here, you can do everything on foot: Zlote 44, an office skyscraper designed by the archistar Daniel Libeskind; Zlota Terecy, a shopping complex not to be missed with inside, as the name suggests, two large covered terraces and the Keret House, the latter being the narrowest house in the world with only 92 cm in width. Lunch before departure is at Rozbrat 20. A restaurant with a menu that changes every two months, a unique attention to the enhancement of local raw materials and a kitchen team capable of creating table experiences that involve the curious traveler. From the chef’s welcome to the post-meal vodka selection, this place alone is worth the trip. The furnishings and the touch of deep blue of the velvets of the seats deserve separate applause.
