5 places to visit in Warsaw

All I knew when booking my flight to Warsaw, Poland was that I was going to visit Warsaw zoo. Nothing more, nothing less. I didn't know where I would eat, bathe or sleep but mateee I knew that I going to the zoo. Surprisingly though, Warsaw gave me so much more.

If you like art, culture and history Warsaw should definitely be on your list of places to go. I’m filling you in on places that will give you some wildlife, a high concentration of museums, an electrifying amount of experiment and then I'm topping it off with some art.

Warsaw Zoo

The zoo is really big. It used to be the biggest in Europe and has all types of animals. I'm talking hippos, giraffes, lions, elephants and more. (I keep thinking about the film 'Madagascar', wondering if the animals link up at night when staff go home.) I'll throw it out there though, I'm not a big fan of zoos and I felt very uncomfortable at times. When I saw polar bears in the zoo I felt really emotional and decided to leave. If the zoo is your thing you could easily spend 4-5 hours immersed in the zoo.

2. Warsaw Uprising Museum

The museum details the experiences of those who lived and fought during the 1943 uprising for an independent Poland and to stop people being deported to camps. The uprising didn't end well for the people of Warsaw and there are screenings showing you from a sky view, what very little was left of the city after the war. The experience was really overwhelming but at the same time very humbling. In just under a month around 7,000 were killed and the survivors, around 50,000 people, were sent to extermination or labour camps. I'd advise you to put your phone and camera away and immerse yourself in this experience. You can't go to Warsaw without visiting this museum, honestly.

3. POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews

The location of this museum falls into what used to be the Warsaw Ghetto, where Jews were forced to live when Germany occupied Poland. It was a considerable amount of people living in a restricted area with no way out. I skipped the Holocaust section of this museum, I had limited time and I still felt emotionally charged after the Uprising and it ended up being a good call as my cousin left the museum looking and feeling deflated. It was important for me to be able to learn things about Polish Jews that were not restricted to the Holocaust. It annoys me when I see communities being defined solely by a period of time like it becomes their sole identity.

4. Copernicus Science Centre

I had so much fun at this Science centre. Even writing this is making my face hurt because I'm smiling so much remembering how happy being there made me feel. Everything in there was super interactive, and nothing like any other science museum I have ever visited. I nearly missed out on this because when I originally visited my back hurt and I was super hungry so I only made it to the canteen. I literally ate then went back to my hotel to sleep. I'm pleased to inform you the food banged (was real real nice).

Science has always been my weakest subject at school, so when I hear the word science I usually switch off but I was turnt all the way up in this centre like I had a real good music playlist on!

FYI - On book guides and online it says Copernicus, as well as many museums, are closed on Monday's. That's not the case anymore.

5. Museum of Modern Art

Raar, they love museums in Warsaw, don't they! The subheading gives it away this museum is super artistic. I stumbled across the venue by chance, I was taking a picture of street art and it just happened to be the outside of the museum. The exhibition named 'Fears' is the work of Daniel Rycharski and explores the intersection between rural Poland, queer culture and communities of faith. This particular exhibition ends on the 22nd of April. I'm a big fan of contemporary art, the art of today really reflects society and creates open-ended discussions.