3 Days in Warsaw, Poland – The Ultimate Warsaw Itinerary

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If you’ve booked cheap flights and are now wondering how to spend 3 days in Warsaw, you’re in the right place. Warsaw often flies under the radar, which means many people arrive without a clear plan and aren’t sure what the city really has to offer.

When I visited, I was lured by the offer of cheap flights and ended up leaving with very fond memories of Poland’s gorgeous capital city.

This Warsaw itinerary is the exact itinerary I planned and followed myself, with a few tweaks to improve it based on what worked best on the ground. It’s designed to help you make the most of your time, without rushing around or cramming too much into each day.

It’s ideal for solo travellers or couples who want a slower pace, good food, and a mix of history, culture, and modern city life.

You’ll cover the main highlights, discover a few lesser-known spots, and still have time to sit in cafés and explore at your own pace. If you prefer to travel faster, I’ve included a list of other attractions you can add to each day. Let’s dive in.

3-Day Warsaw Itinerary

This 3-day Warsaw itinerary assumes that you have three full days to explore Warsaw, but if you have shorter days due to travel, you can adapt it according to your interests and needs.

In each section of this Warsaw travel guide, I’ll include some optional extras that you can add in if you find yourself with more time. I’ll also let you know which attractions you can skip if you’re short on time.

Day 1 – Warsaw Old Town

Morning – Wander the Streets of the Old Town

I recommend heading straight to the Old Town on your first morning to explore. Warsaw’s Old Town is the beating heart of the city and the main highlight for most visitors.

Warsaw is famous for its beautiful Old Town, which actually isn’t old at all. During the Second World War, Warsaw’s Old Town was almost completely destroyed by bombs, leaving all but a pile of rubble.

However, following the end of the war, Warsaw’s Old Town was the subject of a five-year reconstruction plan, which resulted in the painstaking restoration of its buildings based on historical documentation and records. Looking at it today, you’d never know it looked any different.

The best way to explore the Old Town is to wander without a map, seeing where each street leads you. Sit down at one of the many cafes and enjoy some breakfast while watching the world go by and enjoying the striking, colourful buildings.

After a leisurely breakfast, take a stroll through the beautiful streets and enjoy the historical architecture and winding cobblestone lanes that lead to the Market Square. You could easily spend a few hours getting lost in the Old Town, wandering in its maze of cobblestone streets.

For lunch, avoid the pricey restaurants in Market Square and head to Podwale 25, a restaurant recommended to me by a local. We ate here on our first day and enjoyed a fantastic traditional Bigos stew in a bread bowl.

If you’d prefer not to wander by yourself, you can book a guided walking tour of the Old Town. This is also a brilliant way to learn about the history of this fascinating place as you walk with your guide.

Afternoon – Royal Castle and Taras Widokowy Observation Deck

After lunch, I recommend visiting the Royal Castle, which is located in the heart of the Old Town.

Although the original castle dated back to the 16th century, it was completely destroyed in 1944 and, like much of the Old Town, had to be rebuilt after the war. Fortunately, the castle was restored to its original condition after the Second World War ended.

From the outside, the castle doesn’t look very special, but inside, you’ll find beautiful rooms with ornate details, paintings and decor. I recommend allowing at least two hours to enjoy the castle properly.

The Royal Castle’s opening hours depend on when you visit. Generally, it’s closed on Mondays, with free entry on Wednesdays.

Top tip: The composer Frederic Chopin was Polish. You can sometimes enjoy daily Chopin concerts inside the Royal Castle.

After leaving the Royal Castle, head next door to Taras Widokowy, a viewing terrace at the top of the bell tower of St. Anne’s Church. Climb the 150 steps to reach the panoramic view at the top – it’s well worth the effort to gain a different perspective on the Old Town from above.

The tower is open 7 days a week until late and only costs 10PLN for an adult ticket.

Optional Additions to Day One

While in the Old Town, these are some of the other attractions nearby which you can include in your itinerary if you have time or a particular interest.

• The Museum of Warsaw – this museum in the Old Town collects items that tell the stories of Warsaw’s past and the people who shaped it.
• The Presidential Palace – guided tours of the Palace are free and last up to 1 hour, but must be arranged in advance.
• The Grand Theatre – seeing an opera or ballet at the Teatr Wielki is one of the best things to do in Warsaw at night, especially if you’re travelling solo and want to fill your evening.
• Take a Polish cooking class – if you’re a foodie, taking a Polish cooking class to learn how to make Pierogi dumplings is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture.
• Take a walking tour of Warsaw’s Ghetto – learn about the origins of the ghetto, everyday life inside and the 1943 uprising.

Day 2 – Lazienki Park, Wilanow Palace

Morning – Vistula River Walk to Lazienki Park

Start your second day in Warsaw with a stroll down the Vistula River. Along the river, you’ll spot the National Stadium and the Copernicus Science Museum, which is a fantastic museum for both adults and children alike.

Continue your walk down the river until you reach Lazienki Park, the largest park in Warsaw. As well as 76 hectares of greenery, you’ll find various historical buildings such as The Palace on the Isle and The Old Orangery, plus a selection of beautifully landscaped gardens.

Throughout the year, Lazienki Park hosts many cultural events and exhibitions, including free summer concerts near the Chopin Monument. These free concerts take place every Sunday from May to September.

While in Lazienki Park, be sure to visit The Palace on the Isle, which houses the Royal Picture Gallery and is one of the most valuable Polish historical buildings. Also, be sure to stop by The Orangery, The White Pavilion and The Myślewicki Palace.

Afternoon – Wilanów Palace

You could spend an entire day exploring Lazienki Park, but if you’re keen to fit more into your day, I’d suggest spending a couple of hours enjoying the serenity of the park before paying a visit to Wilanów Palace, Warsaw’s very own Versailles.

Wilanów Palace is situated outside the city centre and requires a bus or taxi to get there. From Lazienki Park, you can take the 116 bus. The bus journey is about 36 minutes, but saves you the 7km walk.

As well as the spectacular palace and gardens, you’ll also find the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów, the oldest museum of art in Poland.

To enjoy Wilanów fully, you’ll need at least 3-4 hours. Entrance fees vary depending on which parts of the Palace you want to visit. Ticket prices range from 15PLN for the park alone to 60-70PLN for the entire Palace, depending on the time of year. A ticket to the Palace also entitles you to visit the park.

You can only book your tickets on the official website. The Palace is often closed in December and January, but the gardens remain open.

Budget tip: The Palace gives away a limited amount of free tickets for the Palace on Thursdays, on a first come first serve basis, so get there early if you want to save yourself some money.

Optional Additions to Day Two

If you find yourself with some additional time, or don’t want to make the journey to visit Wilanów Palace, there is plenty to do near Lazienki Park to keep you busy on day two! Consider the following attractions and activities:

• Copernicus Science Centre – contains 400 exhibits, construction challenges, workshops, mini-labs, and other attractions.
• Book a food tour – this food tour leaves from the Charles de Gaulle roundabout, not too far from the Frederic Chopin Museum
• Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art – this Baroque Castle is surrounded by a park and houses Warsaw’s Centre for Contemporary Art.

Unfortunately, I normally recommend the Frederic Chopin Museum, but it’s closed throughout 2026 for renovations. It will reopen in 2027.

Day 3 – Nowy Swiat, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Palace of Culture and Science

Morning – Nowy Swiat

After a jam-packed day two, you’ll likely want a slower start to day three of your Warsaw itinerary. If that’s the case, head over to Nowy Swiat, a beautiful street that dates back to medieval times. The buildings along Nowy Swiat are very Parisian in style, making this the perfect spot for breakfast, coffee and people-watching.

Grab a chair at one of the dozens of cafes along Nowy Swiat and enjoy breakfast at one of the many shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, which make this a hot spot for lively tourists and laidback locals.

After breakfast, check out the local boutiques as you stroll to State Park to watch the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sits in the only remaining piece of the Saxon Palace, which was destroyed in World War Two and serves as a sobering tribute to the fallen Polish soldiers of the First World War.

The Tomb is guarded by two soldiers 24 hours a day, with the changing of the guard occurring on the hour every hour. If you’re in Warsaw on a Sunday, be sure to check out the ceremonial changing of the guard, which takes place every Sunday at noon.

Afternoon – Palace of Culture and Science

After lunch, head over to the modern part of the city where you’ll find the impressive but controversial Palace of Culture and Science, which is the tallest building in Warsaw. The PKiN, as it’s known, was a ‘gift’ from the Soviet Union to the Polish people.

The stark contrast of this ornate landmark with the towering modern glass skyscrapers around it makes for fantastic photos from both on the ground and from the 30th-floor viewing terrace.

Inside the tower, you’ll find theatres, a cinema and museums, but I’d suggest taking the lift straight to the viewing terrace where you’ll be treated to incredible views over the whole city.

I visited the observation deck after dark to see the city lit up, but with the terrace open from 10 am till 8 pm daily, you can select a time that suits you and your plans.

I recommend taking the trip to the top around sunset, so you can enjoy the city at dusk and enjoy the sunset over the city. You also get to see the city transition from day to night.

A normal adult ticket for the PKiN viewing deck costs just 30 PLN and can be booked on the official website.

Optional Additions to Day Two

• Zlote Tarasy shopping mall – I’m not really into shopping while I’m on holiday, but the modern architecture of the glass-domed roof of the Zlote Tarasy shopping mall is really unique.
• POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews – Warsaw has a turbulent story to tell. This museum is located on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto. The core exhibition showcases the thousand-year history of Polish Jews.
• Warsaw Uprising Museum – learn about the 1944 uprising, which sought to liberate Warsaw from Nazi German occupation.

Getting From Warsaw Airport to the City Centre

Warsaw has two airports – Chopin Airport, which is only 15 minutes drive from Warsaw city centre and Modlin Airport, which is 45 minutes from the city centre.

We landed at Modlin Airport and took the airport bus to the city centre. We got off the bus at the Palace of Culture and Science (also known as PKIN). Two buses serve Modlin airport – Contbus and FlixBus. You can book your Flixbus tickets in advance to guarantee a seat. Bus tickets cost approximately £20 for a return trip.

At less than 10 kilometres from Warsaw’s city centre, Warsaw Chopin Airport has excellent transport links.

Trains at Chopin Airport only run until 11.23 pm, so if you’re arriving on a late flight, you may need to arrange alternative transport into the city. Buses run every 30 minutes from 11 pm till 5 am, or you can always book a taxi or private airport transfer.

Getting Around Warsaw

Warsaw is a very walkable city, with many attractions and neighbourhoods close together. Walking around a city is always my favourite way to get around because you get to experience the city and see as much as possible.

But if you’d rather not walk, you’ll find a good public transport system which is very easy to use. This includes trams, buses, metro and trains.

Frequently Asked Questions

So that’s a wrap for my 3-day Warsaw itinerary. I hope you found this Warsaw itinerary helpful and that you enjoy your visit to this awesome city! There really is so much to do in Warsaw that it’s impossible to fit it all in the first time you visit.

I’d suggest choosing the attractions that interest you most and really soaking up the atmosphere and history of this interesting place, rather than cramming in too much and rushing from one place to another.

I’d love to hear about your plans to visit Warsaw. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you via the contact form.