I always enjoy seeing how much I can pack into a city break for less, and this time I chose Warsaw as the destination for my trip.
Here’s my 48-hour Warsaw itinerary, with all the details on what I got up to and how much things cost.
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48 Hours in Warsaw: My Itinerary
Here’s everything I got up to in 48h, split across three days, in Warsaw, Poland.
Day 1 in Warsaw
Check in to Hotel Indigo
I checked into Hotel Indigo, which is actually the same hotel I stayed at when I last visited in 2018. I had a much bigger room this time around though, so I was chuffed! Interestingly I found lots of low prices in August when I checked – my top tip is to check direct because when I logged in and did this the price went down more.
Double room from £15 per night
Museum PRL
My first stop of the trip was Museum PRL – the Museum of Life Under Communism. It’s a brilliant, slightly surreal deep-dive into everyday life in Poland before 1989, complete with archive films from the era that I could have watched for hours – they were fascinating.
Entry – £6.50
Polish Vodka Museum
Next up was a stop for culture of a different kind: the Polish Vodka Museum. Standard entry starts from £14.13, though you can upgrade to an in-person guided tour with a proper vodka tasting for around £30 extra.
I may or may not have decided that sampling the vodka was an essential part of understanding Polish culture. Purely for research purposes, obviously.
Entry – £14.13
Bazyliszek Restaurant
It was time for dinner, but getting late – close to 10pm. But Bazyliszek Restaurant, right on the Old Town square, was still going strong with a great atmosphere and a view over the square to match.
I ordered the butter chicken schnitzel with some Polish salads and a gin and tonic, and it was really good. I usually avoid touristy locations for meals but you don’t always end up paying over the odds for a lacklustre experience – this was great!
Butter chicken schnitzel – £6.71, Polish salads – £1.71, gin and tonic – £6.19
Day 2 in Warsaw
Eggs for breakfast at Miednzy Nami
I started my day at Miedzy Nami for breakfast, with parmesan scrambled eggs on sourdough and a mimosa. Surely at that price the mimosa couldn’t be alcoholic… spoiler, it was!
Honestly so lush to have a really great breakfast without paying over £10! It feels like 10 years ago!!
Parmesan eggs – £6.10, mimosa – £2.64
Palace of Culture and Science
On the way to dinner, I made sure to swing by the Palace of Culture and Science — the enormous Soviet “gift” to Poland built in the 1950s, and still one of the most striking (and divisive) symbols of the city’s post-war history. It’s impossible to miss, and well worth a wander around even if you don’t go inside.
Explore the Old Town
Next, it was time to properly explore Warsaw’s Old Town.
Much of it was flattened during the Second World War and painstakingly rebuilt afterwards, which makes wandering the cobbled streets and squares feel even more special once you know the history.
The city’s symbol is a mermaid, so naturally I made sure my socks matched before setting off!
Scoot along Vistula Boulevards
From the Old Town, I grabbed a Bolt scooter and rode along the Vistula Boulevards, which run right along the river through the city.
Scoot – £2.64 for 30 minutes
Lunch at Elektrownia Powisle
Lunch was at Curry Leaves inside Elektrownia Powiśle, a converted power station now home to shops, bars and restaurants. I went for the butter masala with garlic naan, which hit the spot perfectly.
Butter masala & garlic naan – £10.18
Go up the tallest building in the EU
Afterwards I headed to Highline Warsaw, the viewing platform at the top of Varso Tower, which is officially the tallest building in the European Union. I paid for evening entry which was £12.19, but you can visit for even cheaper if you go earlier in the day and book in advance. The views over the whole city were incredible, and well worth the price of admission.
Highline Warsaw – from £9.15
Dinner at Na Wileńskiej
For dinner I went to Na Wileńskiej for pork loin in mushroom sauce, paired with a glass of Riesling that was as chilled and cheap as I could have hoped for. Every glass of wine should be this good value!
Pork loin – £9.88, Riesling wine – £3.24
Free fountain show
This free fountain show at Multimedia Fountain Park was an epic way to finish my day! The show was at 9.30pm when I went but check when you visit as it changes based on seasonal daylight hours.
Free
Day 3 in Warsaw
Ride the tram
I hopped on the tram to ride to my destination.
Ticket – 69p for 20 minutes
Sober rave
This solo sober rave really took me out of my comfort zone but I’m glad I tried it! It’s called Niedzielni and they host these across Poland, and I’ve also heard about these in the UK as well.
The location moves around so you need to check their Instagram account for details – mine was at a racecourse.
Free
Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanow
Book this one online before you go if you’re visiting in peak season, as you do get a timeslot. This palace was stunning! I actually now need to redesign my home with this royal decor!
Entry – £14.23
Przystanek Pierogarina
Finally, I grabbed some food before it was time to head home. I HAD to get pierogi didn’t I?! These were so tasty, and a really affordable way to get some hot food that’s going to fill you up.
Pierogi and beetroot soup – £8.11
48 hours in Warsaw : The final cost breakdown
So there we go! I successfully completed a 48 hour trip to Warsaw for £100.
Here’s a recap of my spending:
Category | Cost |
|---|---|
Public transport | £ |
Flights | £ |
Accommodation | £ |
Food and drink | £54.76 |
Activities | £47.05 |
My Ultimate 48 Hour Warsaw Itinerary: Final Thoughts
I really recommend you check out Warsaw for your next city break – I liked it back in 2018 but it’s come such a long way. It’s a beautiful place with loads of great museums, attractions and eateries, not to mention it’s very easy on the wallet.
