Taylor Swift is going to Poland! I managed to score a ticket to her August 2024 concert, so I’m quite excited to visit Warsaw to see her and go around the city. I’d only been to Krakow before, so I expect to stay over a week in Warsaw to see what it has to offer to solo travelers.
In the meantime, check out these Warsaw solo travel tips by a fellow blogger, Claire Martin, who runs the site Europe in Winter. May it guide you in planning your Euro trip during the colder months!
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Traveling Solo in Warsaw, Poland
A European capital with history at every step, Warsaw is varied and beautiful. You can enjoy majestic architecture in the morning, visit Warsaw’s many museums in the afternoon, try authentic Polish food for dinner and check out buzzy bars in the evening.
If you are visiting Warsaw alone, you can still enjoy all of the city’s best activities! Warsaw has great hostels with fun atmospheres, plenty of tours that you can join as an independent traveler and options to meet up with both other travelers and locals.
Or, if you want to explore independently, then there are lots of attractions to explore on your own too! We’ll go into them all in this full guide.
Arriving in Warsaw
Most travelers to Warsaw land at Chopin Airport, which is the largest airport in the country. From here, it’s an easy Bolt ride (about 20 minutes) or S2 train ride (15 minutes if you don’t have to wait!).
Alternatively, the city is well-connected by train and bus routes. The trains generally run very well — if you’re visiting Poland in winter and there is lots of snow, delays are possible, but they usually run on time.
Where to Stay in Warsaw
Safestay Warsaw
One of the top-rated hostels in Warsaw, Safestay Warsaw Old Town offers twin and double rooms, and dorm rooms of various sizes. There’s a huge hostel kitchen where you can cook meals to save money and a rooftop terrace area where you can chill out.
Kapsula Hostel
If you want to stay in a hostel but have a little more privacy, this is an ideal option! Kapsula Hostels are secure, with roller blinds, power sockets and air conditioning. There’s also a lounge room where you can meet other travelers.
Oki Doki Old Town Hostel Warsaw
Another popular hostel in Warsaw center, Oki Doki Old Town Hostel is located in one of the only 18th century buildings in the center to survive the Warsaw Uprising. Choose from spotlessly clean double and dorm rooms. There are also some great communal areas, including a TV room with Netflix and the on-site bar.
10 Things to Do in Warsaw for Solo Travelers
Check out Warsaw Castle and Willanow Castle
Warsaw Castle (see featured photo) dates back to the 17th century, and you can enjoy the gorgeous exterior and ornate interior. Open year-round, it’s one of the best things to do in Warsaw in winter when the weather’s cold outside.
Warsaw Castle is where the 3rd May Constitution was passed in 1791 and was where kings and queens of Poland once lived. The gardens were redone in the 1920s and make a really pleasant walk.
Warsaw’s other castle, Willanow Palace, lies on the southern edge of the city. Dating back to the 17th century, it was once home of King Jan III Sobieski and is another place to enjoy historic Polish architecture. You can get here by taking a Bolt taxi or the 180 bus.
Take a walking tour around downtown Warsaw
Despite being almost flattened in the Warsaw Uprising, the center is beautiful — although much of it was rebuilt after World War Two. You can learn all about Warsaw’s history, including the uprising and many other incidents, on a walking tour around the city.
There are a few walking tour companies in Warsaw, such as Orange Umbrella. Book online to ensure your spot.
Visit the POLIN Museum of Polish Jews
The POLIN Museum of Polish Jews is one of the most comprehensive Jewish museums in the world. It takes you on an extensive journey through over 1,000 years of Jewish history in Poland.
Some of this is tragic — there is an especially poignant exhibition about the horrors of the Holocaust — and it’s an insightful look at Polish and Jewish history as a whole.
Learn Warsaw history at the Uprising Museum
The Warsaw Uprising Museum is the best way to learn about this distinctive part of Warsaw’s history. It was the attempt of Warsaw’s underground forces to liberate the city from the Nazi party. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful and the city was largely destroyed in the process.
However, the rebuilding of the city showed the fortitude of the local people, and you’ll take this message away from the museum.
Explore funky Praga
Praga is the oldest part of Warsaw, the only part that wasn’t affected by the Warsaw Uprising. The city has a hip urban feel to it, with gorgeous street art and lots of cool bars to enjoy a cold beer or hot plate of pierogi. It’s the kind of neighborhood that’s great to have a walk around in, to see what you can find!
One of the best things you’ll find in Praga is the Museum of Neon Lights. This popular museum documents many of the illuminated signs, most of them dating from the communist period. It’s a really quirky place and you’ll learn lots about the history of neon as you go!
Admire the view at the Palace of Science and Culture Viewing Terrace
Head to the top of the Palace of Science and Culture Viewing Terrace to take in a spectacular view of the capital. Sitting on the 30th floor of the palace, you’ll see gorgeous 360 vistas over the entire capital.
Vodka Tasting Tour
If you fancy a few drinks when you’re in Warsaw, but don’t want to go to a bar on your own, why not join this vodka tasting tour? You’ll sample 5 – 10 different types of Polish vodka and visit four different pubs, learning about Polish vodka and drinking culture as you go! Check out the tour here.
If you’re not a vodka fan, then try out this beer tasting tour too.
Eat all the Polish food!
Being the capital of Poland, it’s no surprise that Warsaw is the center of Polish food! Try Manekin for delicious crepes, which you can stuff full of ingredients like spinach and cheese, or visit one of Warsaw’s many milk bars for delicious pierogi.
There’s a huge range of amazing restaurants to eat at virtually everywhere in the city!
Warsaw Solo Travel Tips
Poland is a very safe place, and as a solo traveler, it’s fairly easy to stay safe in Warsaw. As with most cities, take common precautions like not walking around anywhere alone at night and don’t flash valuables around.
As you’re traveling solo, it’s especially important that you remember all the essentials. Don’t forget an adaptor, towel, chargers for your electronics, the right kinds of bags and a reusable water bottle!
If you aren’t staying in hostels but want to meet other people, you can do Couchsurfing meetups or MeetUp events, where you meet other like-minded people, both other travelers and locals, in venues across the city. You can also meet up with locals or other travelers if you join the Host a Sister group on Facebook (only for women).
Bolt taxis in Warsaw are affordable, even for solo travelers, and the city is connected with a great public transport system, which makes getting around the city effortless.
Plus, if you don’t want to eat out on your own in a formal restaurant, you can always pop to a milk bar. These restaurants provide affordable authentic dishes in a casual setting.
There’s so much to do in Warsaw for solo travelers! As it has plenty of attractions and lots of great hostels, it’s a fantastic city for a solo trip. If you want to be social, there are lots of opportunities, or if you’d rather explore alone, that’s always a possibility too. Whatever your travel style, Warsaw has something for you!
