warsaw- is there a 'best' time to go?

hostertlady

myself and hubby want to visit Warsaw next year and just wondering when the best time to go would be- for price, weather, etc- i have looked at easy jet but their flights are not up yet for next year. does anyone do a package?
thank you

ali1972

I have just been to Warsaw with a friend and we found this time of year (August) was very quiet indeed. We booked a very last minute package online with Expedia which was direct flights with British Airways and 3 nights at a 5 star hotel. Overall the deal was £296 per person which for the standard of hotel was great. The hotel was The Hotel Bristol Meridien which is located right in the middle of Warsaw, walking distance from all the sights we wanted to see. The bus from the airport (the number 175 which cost the equivalent of less than £1 each) got us there in about 25 mins and dropped off just round the corner from our hotel, picking up from right outside our hotel for the return journey.

The weather was generally pretty hot but mainly sunny, with one spectacular thunder storm thrown in - I've never seen an electrical storm quite like it actually. We found Warsaw itself to be pretty uncrowded given that it's a capital city. From what I've read I think many residents go out of the city in August.

We walked to all of the sights that we took in, although those less fond of walking would find that there is plenty of cheap public transport which is easy to use. We didn't buy the Warsaw card which apparently gets you into some museums free and others at a reduced price. We were very glad that we hadn't spent money on it as we didn't need to pay many admission prices anyway and it would not have been cost effective for us.

We spent a day in Lazienka Park where we paid to enter the Palace on the Water (about £3 admission) and we paid to enter the Botanic Garden next door (about £1.25). Other than that the other sites in the park which were open that day were all free.

We also spent a day doing a self guided walk from one of our guide books around the site of the Jewish Ghetto (Umschlagplatz, Jewish Cemetery, Willy Brandt Square, Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto, Pawiak Prison, Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, Prozna St and the fragments of the Ghetto Wall between Sienna St and Zlota St.) On that walk there is a small charge for the Cemetery and Pawiak Prison but we didn't enter either as it was a public holiday and they were closed, and the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising costs about £1.25. The Museum of the Warsaw Uprising is superb and as it is relatively new it is not listed in some guide books. You can get details from their website at www.1944.pl . Top tip: If you go looking for the fragment of wall between Sienna St and Zlota St you will need to access it via Zlota St through a very unassuming looking gate round about No. 62. It is an absolutely chilling sight. Also be sure to see Prozna St which has the only remaining buildings from the ghetto.

We also spent half a day exploring the Old Town and The New Town and half a day doing a walk along the river. Top Tip: If you are walking along the river from the Old Town try to make time for the Warsaw University Library. It is an extraordinary building with gardens on its roof.

We found eating out very affordable given that we are used to London prices. Our hotel deal didn't include breakfast (which was very expensive to add on) but there were plenty of cafes nearby to eat. We found a toastie and a large coffee at "Coffee Heaven" (a chain like Starbucks) was very cheap compared to home. Also we completely avoided the mini bar and stocked up on goodies at a local convenience store very cheaply.

VfM4meplse

quote=ali1972;13454471]The weather was generally pretty hot but mainly sunny, with one spectacular thunder storm thrown in - I've never seen an electrical storm quite like it actually.[/quote]

I visited Warsaw in Aug 2006, again the weather was hot and sunny but within a minute turned into an absolute hurricane. I can't have been more than 100m from the hotel and thought I could get back in a matter of seconds, but with thunder, lightning, torrential rain, swimming pool roads, flying branches and serious gusts that pulled me away from the tree I was hugging for safety:eek: , that was one priceless experience! Was luckily rescued by a cafe-owner nearby.

Excellent review of the city, couldn't agree more. I stayed at the Intercontinenatal which was comfortable, but the Bristol Meridien was better. They offer a champagne breakfast for about £50 pp which I thought was steep given everywhere else in Warsaw is really cheap. At that time they were broadcasting operatic productions from the main square which was a lovely way to spend a summer evening:T .

TBeckett100

i thought it was a dump. Seedy unemployed beggars troublin tourists for money and cigs. go to krakow there is more to do and more visitor orientated.

ali1972

TBeckett100 wrote: »

i thought it was a dump. Seedy unemployed beggars troublin tourists for money and cigs. go to krakow there is more to do and more visitor orientated.

How extraordinary - didn't encounter any at all over 3 days. And this is despite me clutching a guide book, wearing a large pink sunhat and practically having an arrow saying "Female Tourist!" sticking out of the side of my head as I walked around the former Ghetto... I guess it depends where you hang out.

ali1972

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Excellent review of the city, couldn't agree more. I stayed at the Intercontinenatal which was comfortable, but the Bristol Meridien was better. They offer a champagne breakfast for about £50 pp which I thought was steep given everywhere else in Warsaw is really cheap.

Yes, our hotel offered a buffet breakfast in their main dining room for something ridiculous like £30 - I mean, how much can one actually eat?! We did try breakfast in their "Cafe Bristol" though which, with a 15% discount for Expedia customers, was about £8.50 for a huge continental breakfast. Very nice it was too, and we were too stuffed to eat lunch.

Lemmy_Caution

I must say I liked Warsaw too. I can not understand TBecket100's comments.Does one place being more 'visitor orientated' make another a 'dump'?