WARSAW

Warsaw Poland's capital city is a destination of varying architecture, it is packed with history, offers an excellent transport system and has a food scene to impress. We spent 3 nights exploring and this is some of what we got up to. 85% of Warsaw was destroyed in the second world war, the now rebuilt city has reminders everywhere of the bombing and destruction it encountered. From a 3 hour bike tour (in the snow) we saw bullet holes in the pillars of the royal residence, the last surviving arches of the Saxon Palace where there is also the tomb of the unknown soldier (this is guarded 24/7 by the polish army) and the Jewish ghettos which were completely dessimated by nazi bombs. Of course the history goes back much further, the history of Warsaw spans over 1400 years so if history is your thing, Warsaw absouletly delivers. It's hard to discuss Warsaw without mentioning the food! Modern centers offer some amazing food choices and nightlife. Browar Warsaw is a converted brewery restaurant serving polish food with a modern twist, superb! Traditional polish cuisine, (think Grandma's cooking) we experienced on a food walking tour with our guide Cesar. I would absolutely recommend doing this ....walking through the old town sampling pierogi, polish sausage and pork chop, stuffed cabbage, and polish cake in the company of a local is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in to a Warsaw way of life. The transport system is effecient and cheap. We stayed out of the old town and used the metro system on the days we didn't walk. We found locals quick to help and at £8 for a weekend pass, it was very reliable. Ha! a cheap and reliable transport system what a novelty! Uber is an option and offers lots of car availability and there are trains from both of Warsaws airports to get you in to the city easily and at a low cost. Warsaw is a mixture of sky scrapers, palaces, old squares, new financial districts, war time buildings and monuments, it's this diversity that makes Warsaw an interesting city break, perhaps not as charming as Krakow in the south, but the Old Square in Warsaw does tick that box. No, Warsaw is more serious and cosmopolitan and packs a punch of culture for visitors. Go, experience it for yourself, it's usually a cheaper break to book than other big European cities and doesn't compromise on experience. ?Top tips: ??Buy a weekend pass for transport. All buses trams and trains are included and they are very cheap. We paid £8 for the weekend ??Warsaw is big so a bike tour is a great way to see the city. Do it early on to get your bearings. ??Polish cuisine is excellent but there is no way I would know what to order without a food tour, plus you get to sit down with local for a few hours and really understand the city from someone who lives there. I would recommend this everywhere you go.