Warsaw is by far one of the most colorful cities in Eastern Europe that I have ever been to. Although not quite as popular as cities like Amsterdam or Paris, Warsaw has so much to offer for travelers who are seeking a different perspective of Europe.
With its troubled past lodged between powerful neighbors, Warsaw has gone through the worst of the worst, having been completely destroyed at the end of World War 2 and subjugated throughout the Cold War. After gaining independence in 1990, Warsaw has since gained its own momentum and rebuilt a stunning city with plenty for us travelers to explore.
As a photographer, I often find myself wanting to go to the most photogenic places in a city. And since I had the opportunity to explore Warsaw in person, I have decided to round up all the best photo spots I found during my trip there. So, you can use them as a starting point for your own trip to this wonderful city. Without further ado, here are the 8 best photo spots in Warsaw, Poland.
Warsaw Best Photo Spots Map
8 Best Photo Spots in Warsaw
1. Old Town Market Square
The first place you are likely to visit in Warsaw is the Old Town Square, one of the most popular landmarks of the city, and for good reason. It has the highest concentration of colorful, old Gothic-style architecture surrounding a square that occasionally held festivals and markets for the locals. This is by far the best place to get a photo of both the iconic colorful buildings and the people while they hang out around the square.
Photo Tips: Try to align your visit with the special events that take place in the Old Town Market Square, whether it is the Christmas Market during winter or the Jazz at the Old Town event in the summer. These are the times that attract the most people from around the world and are the best for taking photos of happy people enjoying the events in Warsaw's most iconic landmark. You can look up an event calendar here.
2. St. Anne's Church Observation Deck
The Old Town is certainly a beautiful place to visit, but it looks even more impressive from above. Not too far from the Warsaw Royal Castle and the Sigismund's Column, there is a church with an observation deck that you can climb to get the best view of the Old Town.
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The observation deck of St. Anne's Church is located southeast of Sigismund's Column, and for around 4 USD (10 zลoty), you can gain access to the top and enjoy a stunning view of the Old Town from above. The foreground features Sigismund's Column, while the background showcases all the beautiful Gothic architecture.
Photo Tips: The best time to go up the tower is 2-3 hours before sunset since the square is surrounded by buildings. If you go right before sunset, most of the square will be in shade, creating too much contrast in your photo. Additionally, the square is full of colors, and with enough light, you will be able to appreciate the sight more.
3. Gdanski Bridge
If you are looking for a place to get a beautiful panoramic photo that encapsulates the essence of Warsaw, the Gdanski bridge is the place to be. This double-decker steel bridge across the Vistula river has a view of Warsaw unlike any other viewpoint in the city. It gives you a perspective of the city in its truest essence, with the Old Town, the New Town, and all the skyscrapers in the business center, all in one frame.
Photo Tips: The best time to go to Gdanski Bridge is after dark when the sunset and the artificial light take over. The stunning skyline of Warsaw will light up like a Christmas tree, and the beautiful Vistula river creates a beautiful reflection of the night lights that dance away in front of you. It is possibly the best viewpoint in the city for photos of the Warsaw skyline.
4. The New Town
The New Town, a neighborhood built in the 15th century, is another cool area that is worth your visit. The neighborhood is situated between the Multimedia Fountain Park and the Old Town, making it a perfect stop for when you are heading back from the Gdanski bridge. There are some notable architectural landmarks, such as the beautiful Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Kazimierz Church, that are begging for you to explore. It is also less crowded, and you get a little more homely atmosphere than the touristy Old Town.
Photo Tips: One of the most beautiful buildings in the New Town is located at the intersection between Mostowa Street and Brzozowa Street. I am not sure what the building is for, but with a combination of its beautiful blue tile decor that is not so common to see in Warsaw, the green rolling hills, and the Gothic-style Church of the Holy Spirit in the background, it makes quite a sight to behold.
5. Warsaw University Library Rooftop Garden
Left: Photos by Bartosz MORฤG, Right: Photos by Mareckr Marek Rykiel
The Warsaw University Library roof garden is a large green space located on top of a library that offers a stunning view of the city and the Vistula river. A truly hidden gem, the garden is filled with green vegetation, running streams, fish ponds, stone sculptures, and pathways that cover the entire hectare of the rooftop.
This place also offers a unique view of the modern life of the people living here. Being able to join students hanging out, having a picnic, and reading books under the sun is quite refreshing compared to all the other tourist attractions that focus on the past.
Photo Tips: With such an intricate design, you can take a photo from whichever angle and it will still come out beautiful. But for the truly best photo spot, I would recommend focusing on the upper level of the garden with all the arches and supports for the climbing plants. That can give you a beautifully symmetrical and orderly perspective of a chaotic plant world.
6. Palace of Culture and Science
Photos by Pudelek
Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Warsaw that was built in the 50s by the Soviet Union. It resembles the American art deco high-rise buildings such as the Empire State Building and many buildings in Moscow that were built during the Soviet era. This structure is massive in size, symmetrical in dimension, and unique in its style, so much so that it was on the cover of the first Vogue magazine in Poland, which was then "memified" to death by the Internet. The building is near the main train station, so you are unlikely to miss it.
Photo Tips: The building is symmetrical on all sides, so you can pick whichever side you want. However, I would recommend being on the side where the sunlight shines, as it can create depth in your photos. The building is massive, so make sure to walk far enough to capture the entire structure in one frame.
Also, use its symmetrical dimensions to your advantage and align yourself perfectly with either the center of the building or the corners to create a stunning symmetrical shot for your Instagram. If you are there when it is snowy, you can recreate your own Vogue cover photo with the same low-angle shot they used for the shoot.
7. Palace on the Isle
Photos by Mariokol
A little outside of the city center, there is a royal summer palace located in the middle of an artificial island in one of the largest parks in the city, ลazienki Park. With its baroque-style architecture dating back to the 17th century, and all the parks and palaces surrounding it, you can spend several hours just walking around, exploring, and appreciating all the statues and decorations that are scattered all over the park.
The palace is also extremely photogenic, with the exotic location of being on an island surrounded by green space and the occasional appearances of peacocks. You might forget that you are still in a city.
Photo Tips: The best photo spot of the palace is from the bridge south of the palace. Walk along the western side of the river down to the bridge, and from there, you will be able to see the palace in its full glory surrounded by vegetation, with a beautiful symmetrical reflection on the river.
8. Wilanow Palace
Wilanow Palace is one of the most important landmarks of Warsaw and one of the long-lasting remnants of the occupied Poland period that has stood the test of time since the 17th century. Located in the Wilanow district on the outer rim of Warsaw, the palace is considered the "Polish Versailles". It survived both the destruction of World War II and serves as a reminder of the culture of Poland before the dark times of the 18th and 19th centuries.
With its beautiful yellow exterior, the architecture represents the height of the Polish Baroque style, and the summer gardens with rich vegetation and sinuous paths, there are countless photo spots waiting for you to discover here.
Photo Tips: Come during the summer when the colors of the gardens are in full swing, and arrive as early as you can to beat the crowd. The palace is great for panorama shots from both sides, but the best I found is when you use one of the many statues behind the palace as your foreground and the palace as your background to get a different perspective of the place rather than shooting straight up at the architecture alone.
Where to Stay in Warsaw?
When to Visit Warsaw?
The best time to visit Warsaw is during the shoulder seasons from late April - June or late August to September when the weather is relatively comfortable, the city is not too overcrowded, and the prices are not as expensive as during the peak season of June - August.
How to Get to Warsaw?
If you are flying into Warsaw, you will likely be arriving at the Frรฉdรฉric Chopin Airport, which is the main airport that handles both domestic and international flights. To find out which flight you can take to get to Poland, you can browse through discount deals on Wego.co.ae.
How to Get Around Warsaw?
Getting around in Poland can be done easily with buses and trams. You can easily find which bus or tram you can take to go somewhere from the Jakdojade website or download their apps here (Android | iOS). All you have to do is select Warsaw as the city, locate yourself with GPS, punch in a destination, and the app will automatically recommend a bus or tram number to take, indicate what time you should be at the bus stop, and provide an estimated arrival time.
For traveling around from city to city, you can never go wrong with Flixbus and its wide network of bus routes you can take throughout Europe.
Daily Budget
This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
This post is created in collaboration with Wego.co.ae.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
4 Comments
From my trip to Warsaw, I remember many attractions and places very well but the most stuck in my head is a visit to the New Orleans club. There, I met with everything that is best in Poland. Amazing dancers, great food and of course high quality alcohol. In a word, a revelation. Sometimes you do not need anything more to happiness. For me it was perfect and I already plan another visit to this place.
Thank you for the comments, Chuck. That is indeed the case for me when I was there as well. :)
This is one thing I'm frustrated about. I've visited Warsaw, its a great place and a fascinating city. Yet I never visited any of these sights! I'm going to have to make a point about going back and returning.
Hey Alex! Definitely! The colors of Polish cities are extremely photogenic all around. ๐