Skip the Fat Thursday line and buy pączki on a normal day

Hotel Polonia Palace on Aleje Jerozolimskie opened in 1913 and came through the Second World War largely intact. After a restoration it reopened in 2005, and it is still a working hotel in a heritage building. It sits within walking distance of Warszawa Centralna and the Palace of Culture. Book it if you want…

Praga, on the east bank of the Vistula, is an artistic, local-feeling district with alternative bars, restaurants and former industrial buildings turned into lofts. Rooms tend to cost less than in the centre, and the Old Town is just across the river. The trade-off is crossing the Vistula each day to reach the main…

Jazz Jamboree is one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe, held in Warsaw since 1958 and normally in October. It mixes Polish and international artists across several evenings, and the 2026 edition includes concerts at Klub Stodoła. Venues have changed over the years, so check the festival programme for the hall and…

From late November into the new year, wooden stalls fill the Old Town, from Castle Square along the old walls to the Barbican and on to the Old Town Square. Entry is free. Try hot mulled wine, oscypek smoked cheese and gingerbread, and bring some cash for small craft stalls, as not all take cards. Weekdays are quieter…

Warsaw Autumn is the main international festival of contemporary music in Poland, founded in 1956 and held each September, normally in the second half of the month. It presents new music from Poland and abroad in concerts, performances and other formats. Check the festival programme for the style that suits you, since…

On summer Sundays, pianists play Chopin recitals at the Chopin Monument in Royal Łazienki Park, and admission is free. The series traditionally starts on the first Sunday in July and ran into late September in 2026, with a midday and an afternoon recital each Sunday. Arrive early for a good spot. Check the Łazienki or…

Travellers who live outside the EU can get VAT back on goods bought in Poland, if the shop shows the TAX FREE logo and the purchase meets the per-shop minimum. Tell the seller at the till that you want TAX FREE, choose how you want the refund, and check that every item is on the form. At the border, show the document…

Bazar na Kole is a weekend antiques and flea market at ul. Obozowa 99 in Wola, open on Saturdays and Sundays from early morning. Stock runs from period furniture and old paintings to odd household finds. Go early for the best pieces and treat the first price as an opening bid, since haggling is expected. Tram 24 stops…