Once called “Paris of the East,” Warsaw was one of Europe’s most beautiful cities until it was flattened in World War II. Over the past decades, Warsaw has rebuilt itself, rising up from the ashes and emerging once again as one of Europe’s great cities. Nowadays, it is the intellectual centre of Poland, as well as an eclectic and vibrant cultural space attracting new business whilst clinging to its important past, which makes it quite a fascinating place to explore. Also, the central location of the capital city makes it a great place for several different day trips. If you are in for some more experiences, check out these top day trips that you can undertake from Warsaw, Poland.
Malbork Castle
Malbork is the largest castle in the world measured by land area and one of the preferable attractions in the Pomerania region of Poland. It is Gothic in style and was built between 1274 and 1457 by the knights of the Teutonic Order, who received the land as a gift from a Polish-Masovian duke. Although a majority of this castle was destroyed during the World War II but has been restored quite a bit since then. Its beauty comes not only from its huge size and design but also from picturesque location by the river of Nogat. During the tour you can admire this fantastic view and also visit the Museum of Malbork Castle where you will see beautiful Gothic interiors and sculptures, collection of historic weapons, amber artefacts and works of artistic handicraft.
On your way to Malbork, you can also visit Gdansk and admire the richly decorated Golden Gate and Dutch House, or hear of Artus Court’s history, or, marvel at the Crooked House in Sopot, also home to Europe’s longest wooden peer and the rugged beauty of the Baltic Coast.
How to reach: You can travel by yourself from Warsaw to Gdansk by train and then from Gdansk to Malbork Castle by train again. The journey will take two and a half hours.
Poznań
Known as the historic capital of Greater Poland, Wielkopolska, Poznań is abeautiful city offers a laidback blend of history, culture, urban greenspace, noteworthy architecture and a buzzing café and bar scene. While Krakow and Warsaw might get the bulk of travel attention when it comes to visiting Poland, Poznań should definitely not be overlooked. This is a city with a lot to offer curious travellers who want to explore off the beaten path and visit a place minus a steady stream of tourists.
Do visit the Old Market Square which is home to cafés, bars and food stalls, as well as many of the city’s top attractions including the beautiful Old Town Hall, which also houses the worthwhile Historical Museum of Poznań. A trip to the city is the best way to get an authentic feel of the country’s traditional architectural styles.
How to reach: There are direct trains from Warszawa Centralna to Poznan Glowny, taking up to 3 hours and costs €11 to €20.
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Torun
Home of Copernicus, an incredible Mediaeval town centre, and a lot of gingerbread, the city of Toruń is an often-overlooked marvel.
As one of the country’s oldest cities, it lets visitors really imagine the pace of medieval life while strolling among moody Gothic churches and picturesque burgher houses on cobblestone streets. You can learn all about the town’s most famous resident, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, in the unique home where he was born, satisfy your sweet tooth at the Museum of Gingerbread, taste local beer inside a defense tower, see modern art, and catch a concert in an unusual cavern-shaped music hall. Take a a bird’s-eye view of Toruń from the top of the Old Town City Hall and on your way back, immerse yourself in the aura of the Middle Ages by walking over to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Panny Marii Street. There’s something for every traveller here!
How to reach: There are direct trains from Warszawa Centralna to Torun Glowny, which takes about 3 to 4 hours depending on your train and costs between €10 to €20.
Sierpc
Want to spend a day feeling like it’s the 19th century? Then make your way to Sierpc, an idyllic village located about 3 hours away from Warsaw. There is a museum dedicated to the 18th-century artefacts, where you can get a glimpse of the Masovian region, and there are a lot of activities offered by the museum for its visitors during summers. Get a first-hand feel of how the Polish people lived in settlements back then and visit places like a wooden chapel, a fascinating windmill, a blacksmith’s workshop, and so much more. You can learn more about Masovian customs here and don’t miss trying out the delicious homemade delicacies, too.
How to reach: Buses and trains are the best options to reach Sierpc. Take a train from Warszawa Centralna to Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, and change the train to Sierpc here. Buses leave from Dw. Zachodni 02 to Sierpc.
Kampinos National Park
If you don’t have much time and would like to spend some time in the lap of nature away from hustle bustle of the capital city, then Kampinos National Park is the best bet for you. With 385 sq km of open woodlands, 16,000 of animal species, hiking paths and a number of museums (Muzeum Puszczy Kampinoskiej and the commemorative war cemetery and museum called Palmiry), it’s also the perfect place for outdoor activities such as cycling, horseback riding or Nordic walking. The park covers a part of the ancient valley of the Vistula basin and is a combination of sandy dunes and marshes, with dense pine and spruce forest. The symbol of the Park are elks, which can be seen in the evenings when they walk around the grassland looking for food.
How to reach: The best way to get to the park from Warsaw is to first take a train from Warszawa Centralna to Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki, the nearest station, and then take a taxi for about 30 minutes. The total journey should take about an hour costing around €20 to €25.
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