Draft

The city of Warsaw, Poland is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and it's mix of different architectures highlights its tough history. You can wander from the picturesque Old Town Market Place, past communist concrete tower-blocks, to the more modern part of the city with three-lane roads and skyscrapers all in the space of a few hours. In fact the city is so spread out, throughout one day of my trip I walked over 25km!

The quaint Old Town with its pastel coloured buildings is well worth a visit. In the past the Old Town was heavily bombed, and so after World War II the area was restored using as much of the original bricks and decor as possible.

Start your first day in the city by spending some time in the charming Old Town. In the castle square check out Sigismund's Column, which is one of Warsaw's most iconic landmarks, and the Royal Castle. For an incredible view of the square, head to the observation deck at the top of St. Anna's Church Bell Tower, where it costs only PLN 5 for the best panoramic view of the town.

After grabbing some lunch, head over to Barbican which is another landmark that had to be restored after World War II, and then continue on to the Warsaw Uprising Monument. From here, spend the afternoon visiting the Museum of the History of the Polish Jews.

For dinner, try some pierogi (traditional polish dumplings), and apple cake. I recommend visiting Gosciniec as they do the best fried dumplings served up in hot frying pans. My favourite was the spinach leaves and garlic dumplings served in melted butter.

This morning head to the Warsaw University Library and visit the rooftop garden, which is one of the largest in Europe. Afterwards, take a look at the Presidential Palace, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Palace of Culture and Science. For the afternoon, spend a few hours in the Warsaw Uprising Museum.

If you're visiting on a Friday or Saturday, make sure to check out the Multimedia Fountain Light Show in the evening. It starts at 9:30pm, and the water moves in time with music and lasers. It was surprisingly brilliant!

If you're looking to spend a little longer in Poland, then I would suggest spending a few days in Krakow. From here you can take day trips to the Auschwitz-Birkenau former Nazi concentration camps, as well as the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

You might like: A Mini-Guide to Krakow, Poland