WARSAW

Presently Poland's capital really booms: many companies settle in Warsaw and therefore prosperity and shopping districts are growing. From a cultural perspective the city has always been in possession of an inestimable wealth which can nowadays still be recognised when looking at its historical buildings.

The big economical upturn of the country also brought along a huge building site in Warsaw's historical city - everything gets extended, enlarged and detached. Especially foreign investors recognise the continuously growing market, numerous flats and offices are built, brand-new skyscrapers mark the city's skyline. Due to Warsaw's central position and good infrastructure the current building boom will presumably continue which of course should not affect your stay in the city. Warsaw is after all a modern metropolis, young and full of energy. Numerous clubs guarantee an exciting nightlife, during daytime you best visit one of the various museums or countless sights, palaces and churches.

Airport
The Frédéric-Chopin Airport is Poland's biggest airport. It is situated about 11 km south of Warsaw. You can travel to the city with the buslines 175 or 188, ticket € 0,70. You canalso take a taxi: Merc Taxi (Tel.:677 77 77), MPT Radio Taxi (Tel.: 91 91), Sawa Taxi (Tel.: 644 44 44). Depending on provider prices for taxi rides range from € 0,30 to 0,55 per km. Better avoid taxis without licenses. www.lotnisko-chopina.pl

Public transportation
The Polish capital provides a good public transportation system. There are buses, tramways and underground lines. One single ticket costs about € 0,70, a 3-days ticket € 3,30. Information on time tables: www.ztm.waw.pl

Historic district
The historical district was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. The centre of the Old Town n the market square Rynek Starego Miastra, on which traders still put up their stands. The square's buildings partly originate from the 14th century, but where nearly completely destroyed in 1944. The square with its marvellous buildings was, however, almost completely reconstructed after the war.

Historical Museum (Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Warszawy)
This Museum, as its name already suggests, deals with the history of the city from the 13th century to the present. Through the numerous exhibited photographs and historical documents you can learn more about Warsaw's past. Free admission on Sundays.
Rynek Starego Miasta 28-42, Tel.: 635 16 25, Tue/Thu 11:00 - 18:00, Wed/Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat/Sun 10:30-16:30 Uhr, admission fee € 1,50, www.mhw.pl

Palace of Culture (Pałac Kultury i Nauki,PKiN)
From the panorama terrace in a height of 231 metres you have a marvellous view all over Warsaw. The palace also houses various cinemas, theatres and museums. The country's highest building was originally named after Josef Stalin and used to be a symbol of oppression - nowadays it functions as a platform for education and entertainment. www.pkin.pl

Warsaw Tourist Card
This card is definitely the cheapest and easiest way to explore the Polish capital. You are entitled to numerous discounts in hotels, museums, shops, sports facilities and free travel with all means of public transportation. A ticket for 3 days costs about € 18,–.
www.warsawtour.pl/index.php?lang=1&id=85&

Warsaw for children
Warsaw especially attaches great importance to the entertainment of children and therefore offers countless attractions for them. The best places to go to with your "offspring": www.warsawtour.pl/index.php?id=55&olang=1

If you visit Warsaw you should also try indigenous kitchen which definitely offers more than just beetroot soup and red cabbage: "pierogi" are, for example, little dumplings with meat or vegetable fillings, lovers of stews should try "bigos". Poland is also noted for its Bison Grass Vodka "Zubrowka".

Restaurant Kurt Scheller
This restaurant in the hotel Rialto is one of the most exclusive addresses in the city. Here you dine in a chic atmosphere for rather high prices.
Wilcza 73, Tel.: 584 87 71, 6:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. www.rialto.com.pl

Café Wedel
The cafe which is of the same name as the chocolate producer is a real must for those of you who like sweets. Besides 20 varieties of hot chocolate the cafe also offers numerous other tasty titbits which contain cocoa or are made from cocoa.
Szpitalna, Tel.: 827 29 16, www.wedel.pl

U Hopfera
Indigenous, Polish kitchen. This restaurant is especially famous for its delicious desserts and is equally popular with Poles and tourists.
Krakowskie Przedmiescie 53, Tel.: 828 73 52, www.przystanekmuranow.pl/hopfer/index.html

Le Royal Meridien Bristol
Definitely one of the best hotels in the city. It is situated at the King's Street with a view over the King's Palace. This luxury hotel has 205 differently furnished rooms from simple double rooms to the luxurious Royal-suite at its disposal. A touch of royal charme can be recognised here, rooms partly appear fairly "princess-like".
Krakowskie Przedmiescie 42-44, Tel.: 551 10 00, double rooms from € 109,–, www.warsaw.lemeridien.com

Hetman Hotel
Hotel Hetman is situated at a mere distance of 1 km from Warsaw's historic district. It provides 68 stylish rooms, a pool and a fitness area and is though quite cheap.
Ul. Ks. I. Klopotowskiego 36, Tel.: 511 98 00, double rooms from € 99,–, www.hotelhetman.pl

Hotel Harenda
This hotel is situated at a close proximity to the historic district. It provides numerous special offers: those of you who plan a quick trip to Warsaw can stay at the hotel for two nights and will only have to pay one.
Ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 4-6, Tel.: 826 00 71, double rooms from € 89,–, www.hotelharenda.com.pl

Cinnamon
The number one club of Warsaw. During daytime you can enjoy your dinner in a modern atmosphere, in the night, however, all of the city's hip and cool people meet here.
Plac Pilsudskiego 1

Ground Zero
This club is the proof for the fact that you can party in an air-raid shelter. Ground Zero is the mecca of the young party people.
Ul. Wspolna 62, Fri-Sat 9 p.m.-4 a.m., www.groundzero.pl

All clubs: www.warsawtour.pl/index.php?id=75&all=1&olang=1

Cinemas
Movies are frequently shown in their original version (due to the lack of dubbing). You do not have to know Polish to go to a cinema. www.warsawtour.pl/index.php?id=59&all=1&olang=1

Casino
Those of you who, with Fortuna's help, want to increase their holiday savings can of course try to do so.
Royal Casino: Krakowskie Przedmieście 13, Tel.: 826 99 59; Casinos Poland: Belwederska Av. 23, Tel.: 559 14 40,
www.casinospoland.pl

Souvenir lovers at best wander through the small lanes of Warsaw's historic district. Here you can find many little somethings, clothes and furniture for low prices.

The shopping miles Nowy Swiat and Krakowskie Przdemiescie are perfect for those of who prefer luxurious shopping. Here you find a large number of label boutiques as well as various bigger arcades.

In the district Praga beyond the Vistula you can experience the atmosphere of the Polish markets resp. of the Russian Market. There you also find Europe's biggest flea market - a paradise for collectors and bargain hunters!

Souvenir hunters will most likely make a find in the small shops of the historic district. There you can buy typical Warsaw T-shirts and baseball caps, miniature sights as well as arts and crafts. Those of you who prefer more unusual gifts for their relatives and friends at home do not have to wander far because you also find small shops with bizzare and extraordinary gift ideas in this district.

A typical greeting card from Warsaw is the one with a double motive, one part displays the destroyed city and the other part its reconstructed version.

Other nice souvenirs: Bison Grass Vodka, which is available in almost every grocery shop, arts and crafts, jewellery, Wedel chocolate, ceramics, inventive fabrics and antiques.