The capital of Poland,
Warsaw was one Europe's most beautiful cities until
it was reduced to ruins during the second world war.
Subsequently great care was taken to restore the buildings
of the Old Town to their former appearance and it
is now a World Heritage site. However the years of
communist rule also saw the construction of less attractive
high rise concrete structures such as the Palace of
Science and Culture.
The Vistula River divides Warsaw, with the Old Town
and modern city center to the west, whilst the business
and residential districts are to the east. There are
fashionable shops, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.
The Royal Way runs from the Royal Castle to the King’s
palace at Wilanow and along it can be found museums,
galleries and historic buildings. Other attractions
include the royal gardens of Park Lazienki and St
Anne’s Church.
Public transport in Warsaw consists of buses, trams
and a metro. The buses and trams are the cheapest
way to travel around the city and run between 5am
and 11pm. The metro runs from the city center to the
suburbs between 5am and 11.15pm. Tickets can be purchased
from locations such as hotels and post offices and
used across the transport network. Taxis can be prebooked
or hailed when you are out on the streets, however
you should agree a price before beginning your journey
as tourists are sometimes overcharged.
