The vast park surrounding the summer residence of the last Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, is where Varsovians like to go for longer walks. The park is home to a winter garden, an amphitheatre, and even a Chinese garden. The biggest attraction, however, are the park’s permanent residents: the squirrels and peacocks. Another site worth seeing is the classicist Palace on the isle, with its enchanting interior design and gallery of paintings. The park is famous for its Chopin concerts, which take place from mid-May to the end of September every Sunday at noon and 4 pm. Come lounge on the grass and enjoy the music.

Take a boat trip to Nea Kameni, an inhabited island that is part of the volcano's caldera. Given the frequent eruptions in the last centuries, the island is defined by scenery created by the lava flow and sulfuric waters which are said to have therapeutic benefits. Cruises leave daily from any village, making Nea Kameni a perfect day/half-day trip.

This interactive museum is an exceptional place to gain a deeper understanding of Warsaw’s history. It was founded in commemoration of an event that profoundly changed the city: the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. Listen to the oral accounts given by insurgents, go down into the sewers — similar to the ones that insurgents used to move around the city — and see The City of Ruins, a bird’s-eye view of Warsaw burnt to the ground. Don’t forget to see the murals painted by Polish artists on the Wall of Art. The museum building is interesting in its own right since it was previously an old electric power plant for trams.

The best-known and tallest building in the city, the Palace of Culture and Science, was a gift (as well as a display of strength) from the Soviet people to the Poles. Visible from almost any place in Warsaw, the palace is to Warsaw what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris — the perfect landmark. Take the lift up to the 30th floor to see the city panorama from a height of 114 metres. The palace also houses theatres, a cinema, museums, and trendy bistros, as well as the city’s main tourist information point.