This Muslim Friendly Travel Guide is part of eHalal.io Travel Group

Warsaw (Polish phrasebook|Polish]]: Warszawa) is Poland's capital and largest city, with 1.7 million inhabitants. It is on the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła) in the middle of the nation.

Warsaw's history of rapid development after many wars that ravaged and destroyed the city has earned it a reputation as a "phoenix city", able to recreate itself from the ruins and regain its erstwhile glory every time. During the Second World War, it suffered a fate similar to Rotterdam and Dresden in that it was almost completely razed, although in the case of Warsaw it was a much more tragic story of successive destruction and defeat. Due to the great efforts of its surviving inhabitants and, indeed the entire nation, it was rebuilt from a field of rubble, with its historic core recreated, but much of its legacy was lost. Warsaw also had one of the largest Yahudi populations in Europe, which for the most part perished during the war, making Warsaw an important place of Holocaust remembrance.

Today, Warsaw is a bustling metropolis and one of the European Union's fastest-developing capitals and the Union's ninth most populous urban centre. It has a mixture of new and old in its eclectic architectural mix, and is constantly changing. While sprawling, it is quite easy to navigate for tourists thanks to a good public transit system, and most important sights are quite close to each other. There is no shortage of accommodation options and a wide choice of restaurants. Warsaw's nightlife is also on the rebound, and a reborn cafe culture has taken over the city. There is a large variety of museums, galleries and other tourist attractions, and there is always something happening throughout the year.

Districts

Districts of Warsaw

Warsaw/Old and New Town The Old Town is the historic core of the city that was contained in its erstwhile city walls in the times it was still a small town, before it became the nation's capital in the late 16th century. The New Town, directly to its north, was the first expansion of Warsaw beyond those city walls, which compliments the historic core with more buildings from 16th, 17th and 18th century. Both were almost completely destroyed during the Second World War and meticulously reconstructed after the war.

Warsaw/Śródmieście The most central neighborhood in Warsaw, as implied by its Polish name. It is the area where most travelers will spend their time in Warsaw, as most major attractions and hotels are primarily located here, including the Royal Route with historical royal and noble residences, Yahudi monuments and memorials, as well as the modern buildings, including famous Palace of Culture and Science. Administratively, it encompasses both the Old and New Town, described in their separate article.

Warsaw/Western Centre (Wola, Ochota, Żoliborz) The neighborhoods directly to the west of Śródmieście contain many historic buildings and significant points of interest. Most of the neighborhood of Wola has an industrial past, while having been a large part of the Yahudi ghetto during the Second World War, it also contains the oldest of Warsaw's cemeteries, but nowadays is changing into a modern high-rise business centre. Żoliborz and Ochota have always had a more residential character, but they are also attractive as a urban complex.

Warsaw/Praga (Praga Północ, Praga Południe) The eastern bank of the river was a separate city until the 19th century, and contains its fair share of history and attractions as well. Historically less affluent and considered inattractive or borderline dangerous for decades, it started to develop rapidly into a trendy part of the city in the 21st century.

Warsaw/South (Mokotów, Ursynów, Wilanów) The Southern part of Warsaw is one of the most intensely developing following the Second World War until today. The dense, yet peaceful neighborhoods of Mokotów and Ursynów have some interesting gems hidden between the apartment buildings. The southern terminal of the Royal Route, Wilanów is home to the Wilanów Palace.

Warsaw/North (Bielany, Białołęka, Targówek) The northern neighborhoods of Warsaw are residential "bedrooms of the city", but with several specific reasons for a traveler to go there.

Warsaw/West (Bemowo, Włochy, Ursus) The western parts of Warsaw contains of historical villages mixed with modern estates, are also famous for the Warsaw Chopin Airport.

Warsaw/East (Rembertów, Wawer, and Wesoła) The sprawling green residential neighborhoods remain in contrast with the otherwise dense, highrise apartment complexes of other neighborhoods, and have also several specific tourist attractions. Warsaw Halal Travel Guide Metropolitan-Warszawa-Zachód - Present-day Warsaw is a mixture of the new and old History of Warsaw Before becoming the capital There are records of human settlements and economic activity in the area of what is now Warsaw from the 9th century onwards, but it wasn't until the 13th century that Warsaw was founded by the Dukes of Mazovia. While developing as an administrative and economic centre, it played second fiddle to Płock within Mazovia until the 15th century, and was by no means a match for Poland's former capital, Kraków. It gained growing importance due to its economic might and strategically important central location in Poland, cemented when the Polish Sejm (parliament of nobles) relocated there permanently in the 16th century, and it became the site of royal elections. As capital city of Poland Oś Saska - The Saxon Axis, one of Warsaw's first urban planning projects, on a 1781 map I n 1596, it became the de facto capital of the nation when King Sigismund III Vasa decided to permanently relocate to what is now the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The city started to develop rapidly beyond the what is now the Old and New Town, as noblemen started moving in and building mansions and palaces around town. In the 17th century, Praga, on the right-hand side of the river Vistula, was incorporated as a separate town (and did not become a part of Warsaw until the 19th century). While ravaged by wars and natural disasters as many other European cities in this period, Warsaw continued to grow and modernize, with baroque residences, including Warsaw/Wilanów

Al. Jerozolimskie near Rondo Zesłańców Syberyjskich - The bigger of the two, next to the train station by the same name. Most buses arrive here. International buses like Eurolines, Ecolines, Simple Express have their main stop here.
The easiest way to get to the centre is a short train ride from the railway platforms. If you prefer to use the city buses, walk to the other side of Al. Jerozolimskie and take one of those central-bound buses: 127, 158 or 517. During the night, the N35 and N85 buses run to Dw. Centralny every 30 minutes beginning at 23:52.

• Dworzec Autobusowy Metro Wilanowska - This station in the south of Warsaw is co-located with a city bus terminus and the Metro Wilanowska metro station. Several bus companies serving towns located south of Warsaw stop here. Flixbus buses from biggest Polish cities, as those from Berlin, Vienna, Bratislava and Prague stop here.

There are also a number of other popular bus terminals and junctions throughout the city, notably:

• Metro Młociny - GPS: 52.2911, 20.9289 - Młociny metro station MeroA23 3 - A convenient transport hub at the far north of the city, with a metro station, tram terminus (lines 2, 6, 11 and 33), and a large bus station used by both city lines, suburban buses towards Łomianki and by long-distance bus lines (among others Polski Bus).
• Dworzec Centralny - GPS: 52.228611, 21.003056 - Warszawa Centralna train station Dworzec Centralny w Warszawie radek kolakowski - The train station itself is surrounded by bus stops on four sides. One popular stop and drop-off point for smaller buses is located on both sides of Aleje Jerozolimskie. Another, along the Chałubińskiego Str. is used by larger buses (among them Lux Express).

By car

Four European "E-roads" lead to Warsaw: {{European road||E|30({{European road|PL|A|2), {{European road||E|77({{European road|PL|DK|7),  {{European road||E|67 under the unofficial name of Via Baltica, ({{European road|PL|A|8), and {{European road||E|372({{European road|PL|DK|17). The E-numbers are usually displayed on signs but it is best to know the national road numbers too, which are the numbers in parentheses.

What follows is a list of streets you will find yourself on when approaching the city from different directions:

• North-West: ul. Wybrzeże Gdyńskie or "Wisłostrada" in Warsaw/Bielany|Bielany and then in Warsaw/Zoliborz|Żoliborz (along the left bank):  {{European road|PL|DK|7 -    Gdansk|Gdańsk]] (Denmark|DK]]) (Russia|RU]]) (Sweden|S]])
• North-East: ul. Radzymińska in Warsaw/Targowek|Targówek and then al. Solidarności in Warsaw/Praga Polnoc|Praga Północ  {{European road|PL|DK|8 - {{European road||E|67 Bialystok|Białystok]] (Belarus|BY]]) (Lithuania|LT]])
• East and South East: ul. Płowiecka and ul. Czecha in Warsaw/Praga Południe|Praga Południe {{European road|PL|DK|2 - {{European road||E|30 Terespol]] (Belarus|BY]]); {{European road|PL|DK|17 - {{European road||E|372 Lublin]] (Ukraine|UA]])
• West: ul. Wolska and ul. Połczyńska in Warsaw/Bemowo|Bemowo and then in Warsaw/Wola|Wola {{European road|PL|DK|2 -    Poznań]] (Germany|D]])
• South-West: al. Krakowska in Warsaw/Włochy|Włochy and then ul. Grójecka in Warsaw/Ochota|Ochota    –  {{European road||E|77 Kraków (Slovakia|SK]]);  {{European road|PL|DK|8 -    Katowice]] (Czech Republic|CZ]])

The cities listed above are the ones displayed on signs in the city. The :WikiPedia:List of international license plate codes|abbreviations in (parentheses) show you which neighboring countries can be reached with a road. If you are coming to the city, follow the blue-on-white Centrum signs. One exception is when you are coming from the north-east: follow the Praga sign unless you are driving a lorry.

Driving distances

In Poland – Białystok]] 190 km (118 mi); Gdańsk]] 390 km (242 mi); Kielce]] 180 km (112 mi); Kraków 290 km (180 mi); Olsztyn]] 210 km (130 mi); Poznań]] 310 km (193 mi); Siedlce]] 100 km (62 mi); Toruń]] 210 km (130 mi)

In other countries – Berlin (Germany|D]]) 570 km (354 mi); Budapest (Hungary|H]]) 700 km (435 mi); Kaliningrad (Russia|RU]]) 350 km (217 mi)

Warsaw as seen from the Palace of Culture and Science (9632719056) - Traffic in Warsaw remains busy until late in the night]]

Car hire

Most international car rental companies (including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt and Thrifty) are present in Warsaw, there are also many local companies. The usual pick-up / return places are the airport, the Warszawa Centralna train station or major hotels in the city centre, most companies offer to arrange for pick-up and return at other locations at a fee. The regular caveats and requirements as in other European Union countries apply.

It is a legal requirement for you to carry your driving license, insurance documents and the vehicle registration documents at all times when driving the car. If the Police stop you without any of them, they are likely to impose a fine.

How to get around in Warsaw

Public transportation in Warsaw

Warszawa metro plan1.svg|upright=1.6|A map of the Warsaw Metro, showing the north-south Line 1, the operational central part of east-west Line 2, and its planned extensions

The public transport system in Warsaw is generally well-developed, with some 200 bus routes and 30 tram lines. The route descriptions on the tram stops are easy to follow (although bus stop notices are more complex) but it can last longer, however, to travel between destinations far from the city center. Warsaw has two underground Metro lines, one going from south to north on the left bank, and the other from the east to the west. There are also some regional urban rail services (Polish: Szybka Kolej Miejska or SKM), although they depart at most every 30 minutes only.

All of the abovementioned means of public transit share a single fare and ticketing system, operated by ZTM, a unit within the City of Warsaw responsible for the organization of all public transit.

Metro (subway)

Warsaw's subway system, called Metro, opened in 1995 and is one of the newest underground railway systems in Europe. Operated by [https:// Metro Warszawskie sp. z o.o.] it runs daily from early morning until midnight at 3-10 minute intervals. On Friday and Saturday, Metro runs until 3AM. Trains and stations are clean and neat. The system consists of two lines; the M1 going from Młociny to Kabaty, and the M2 going from Rondo Daszyńskiego to Dworzec Wileński. The subway does not go to many tourist destinations, however several stations will take you in a general vicinity of some attractions. The M2 is being extended eastwards, another expansion is planned in next few years.

Szybka Kolej Miejska

19 WE-SKM Warszawa (1) - An SKM train - note the ecru and red livery

Szybka Kolej Miejska (SKM) runs on the railway tracks shared with other regional and long-distance trains. SKM trains can be distinguished by their white and ecru livery. SKM reaches many suburban locations outside of the boundaries of Warsaw, as well as the Chopin Airport. SKM stations are quite far from each other, so the trains are best used to traverse longer distances or travel to remote locations within the Warsaw metropolis.

SKM Warszawa - wszystkie linie.svg|Map of SKM lines As of 2022, there are four SKM lines, most (S1 and S2) stopping at the Warszawa Śródmieście station in the city centre or the Warszawa Centralna (S3), which is connected to the former by an underground passageway. Except for S9, all of the lines share the same stretch route through central Warsaw between Warszawa Zachodnia and Warszawa Wschodnia, connecting the Warsaw/Śródmieście|Śródmieście neighborhood to Warsaw/Wola|Wola, Warsaw/Ochota|Ochota and Warsaw/Praga|Praga, as well as stopping at Warszawa Stadion station, which serves Stadion Narodowy.

• Line S1 runs between Pruszków and Otwock, through Piastów, Warsaw/Ursus|Ursus, Warsaw/Włochy|Włochy, Warsaw/Wawer|Wawer]]
• Line S2 runs between the Chopin Airport and Sulejówek Miłosna, through Warsaw/Rembertów|Rembertów and Warsaw/Wesoła|Wesoła.
• Line S3 runs between the Chopin Airport and Wieliszew along the same central rail stretch as long-distance trains, stopping at Warszawa Centralna instead of Warszawa Śródmieście and Warszawa Stadion and in Warsaw/Białołęka|Białołęka
• Line S9 runs between Wieliszew and Legionowo Piaski through Warsaw/Białołęka|Białołęka, Warsaw/Praga|Praga, Warsaw/Żoliborz|Żoliborz and Warsaw/Wola|Wola to Warszawa Zachodnia. It is the only SKM line that will take you to the Warsaw Zoo, but do note that this line does not stop at any station within the core city centre

Buses

Bus route numbers consist of three digits. Only the first digit has any meaning, the latter being merely ordinal. Here's the key to understanding Warsaw bus route numbers:

	Normal	Expedited	Suburban
All-Day Service	1xx and 2xx	5xx	7xx
Certain Hours Only (Usually Peak)	3xx	4xx	8xx  Other than that:  Nxx  are night routes.  9xx  are special routes, which operate only a few days in a year.  E-x  are express routes, which link the farthest neighborhoods to the city centre, call at very few stops and operate during peak hours only.  Z-x  are replacement routes for trams or metro disabled by maintenance, accident or some other special conditions Most bus lines operate from around 05:00 to 23:00 (but check the schedule for your particular connection), outside of those hours you need to resort to night buses (see below). The running intervals can be as few as 5 minutes (major routes during peak hours) to nearly 2 hours (certain suburban routes). Usually, you will wait 20 minutes at most. There are a few routes that are of certain interest to tourists: 148, 175  and  188  operate to and from the airport. 180, this line drives from Chomiczówka, through Powązki Cemetery, POLIN Museum, The Old Town and Castle Plaza, by The Royal Route to Łazienki Complex and Warsaw/Wilanów|Wilanów. In many parts 180 is covered by 116. [[6875 Neoplan N4020td - City buses are painted red and yellow Requesting a stop – certain bus stops are request-only (Polish: na żądanie): If you want to get off, press the stop (red) button. In certain older buses, the button is located above the door (and may not be red). If you want to get on a bus, wave your hand when you see the bus approaching to indicate your intention to the driver The doors will not open automatically in air-conditioned buses and trams, and in all of them in the winter. To open it, locate the button labelled drzwi (blue) and press it. Not all bus stops that have Centrum in their name are in the city center. For example, there is a bus route 525 that goes from Centrum (the actual city center) to Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka in Warsaw/Wawer|Wawer. This is always clear from the route map. Night buses In the night when regular buses, trams, the metro and SKM do not run, a system of night bus lines will take you basically to every part of city. Most buses start and finish at the back of Central Railway Station (Dworzec Centralny). All buses operate at 30-minute intervals and depart from their central stop at Dw. Centralny 15 and 45 minutes after the hour, which facilitates changing. For a map of all the night bus lines visit [1]. Lines operate from different stops within the Dworzec Centralny area – consult the schematic at the bottom of the map to make sure you are waiting at the right stop. All night bus stops (except for Dw. Centralny and Centrum) are request stops. Signal well in advance to give the bus drivers time to slow down and pull up at the stop. Trams Trams in Warsaw have the obvious appeal to tourists in that it is easier to predict where they are going – they usually go straight ahead and only rarely turn, as there are not many tramway junctions in Warsaw. The trams will also have the speed advantage over buses in the city centre during rush hours. Tram lines have single- and double-digit numbers. Trams with numbers above 40 operate in certain times only. A map of tram routes is available to assist you in planning your journey: [2]. The tram services can end as early as at 22:00, but most routes are served until midnight. Between June and August, a special tourist line T is operated using historic cars from pl. Narutowicza [3]. Tickets Public transportation tickets are issued and controlled by the single Public Transport Authority of Warsaw (Polish: Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego or ZTM) and are valid for all city buses, trams, the metro and SKM. Some tickets are also valid in the suburban trains (Koleje Mazowieckie' and WKD). Ticket zones There are only two ticket zones in Warsaw – Zone 1, which covers the entirety of the City of Warsaw within its city limits (including the Warsaw Chopin Airport), and Zone 2, which covers the surrounding municipalities covered by ZTM's common ticketing scheme. It is safe to say that most Muslim visitors will never wander outside of Zone 1, unless they have a specific interest in one of the municipalities neighbouring Warsaw. Almost all ticket types exist in two variants – for Zone 1 and for Zones 1+2. Ticket types and pricing There are many different ticket options and quirks in Warsaw, but do not get overwhelmed – most of them will not be of interest to a casual tourist. The regular ticket tariff is actually quite simple, with a selection of tickets available. The prices below are for standard tickets in each type; most are also available as reduced price tickets (50%) or for both the 1st and 2nd tariff zones (the latter covering most of Warsaw's far suburbs), usually some 40% more expensive than 1st zone tickets. Note that Poles usually call zone 1+2 tickets just zone 2 tickets. Short-term time-limit tickets allow you to travel with unlimited transfers for a limited time. There are three types of those tickets (all prices are for a normal fare, reduced is usually 50%): 20-minute (zone 1+2) – 3.40 zł 75-minute (zone 1) – 4.40 zł 90-minute (zone 1+2) – 7.00 zł The 90-minute is your safest bet if you are not sure how far your destination is, or whether it's within the city's limits. For short rides within the city centre usually a 20-minute ticket is more than enough. There is also a variety of mid-term tickets allowing you to travel with unlimited transfers for longer periods: 24h ticket (zone 1; valid for 24 hours since its validation, not from the moment of sale) – 15 zł 24h ticket (zone 1+2) – 26 zł 72h ticket (zone 1) – 36 zł Weekend ticket (from 19:00 on Friday till 08:00 on Monday) – 24 zł There are reduced-fare tickets for every ticket type, at 50% of the fare price. There is a long list of those entitled to travel on reduced-fare tickets available at the ZTM website ([4]), but for the most part it does not concern foreign tourists, except for children under the age of 7 and students under the age of 26 in possession of an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). Senior Citizens: People from 65 to 69 years can get a one-year-ticket for zone 1 and 2 for 50 zł. People from 70 years and older ride for free. Visit the ZTM website for an overview of available tickets and current ticket prices. Where to buy? Warszawa Żelazna 61; Punkt Obsługi Pasażerów ZTM - A ZTM service point with a ticket machine in front of it]] Tickets can be purchased in automated ticket machines that are abundant across the city, especially at major transit hubs. They are either red and gray or blue and yellow, and rather conspicuous, even if they can be mistaken for an ATM or vice-versa. There are such machines at every metro station and at train stations within the city centre, as well as at some of the more busy bus stops (e.g. at the Warsaw Chopin Airport). The ticket machines have a multi-lingual menu and are pretty easy to operate if you know Warsaw#Ticket types and pricing|what ticket type you want to buy. They accept credit and debit cards, as well as Polish zloty coins and bank notes. Some machines can be quite slow, so take your time and be patient for the machine to respond to your query. ZTM has a network of service points where you can also purchase tickets. Those are the only places where you can obtain your personal travelcard made, which you would need if you intend to use a 30- or 90-day ticket. Many kiosks, shops and postal offices also have tickets on sale – it is indicated by a sticker saying Sprzedaż biletów ZTM. Do note, however, that an increasing number of shops and kiosks surrounding the major transit hubs do not sell tickets if there are ticket machines nearby. In some buses, trams and SKM trains, there are ticket machines which can sell you tickets for the ride on that particular vehicle. They are different from other ticket types in that they have a printed QR code, and that they do not require validation. In case of ticket machine failure, you can purchase your ticket from the train attendant on board the SKM train. In case there is no ticket machine in the vehicle, or it is inoperable, people are not allowed to ride that vehicle and in case of control the fee may be given. A more convenient alternative to traditional tickets are digital tickets one can obtain through three officially-supported mobile phone apps: SkyCash, MoBilet or mPay. You can find more information on purchasing tickets and ticket sale locations at the ZTM's English-language website: [5]. A point of sale locator map is also available: [6]. ZTM Warszawa-kasownik - The all-important yellow validator]] Ticket validation and inspection Immediately validate your ticket after boarding the bus or tram (in a yellow validator). If one validator is out of order, look for another. A steady yellow light means that only the plastic card reader is working. If all the validators in a bus glow red – they may be locked, likely because an inspection is underway (and it is too late for you) or the driver forgot to turn them on (and you need to remind him or her). If you buy vehicle-and-fare ticket (with the QR code) in special ticket machine inside a bus or tram, you don't need to validate it. When entering the metro, you will need to validate or present your ticket to open the gate. There are other ways to access the platform for people with special needs (wheelchairs, strollers, large luggage etc.), such as elevators and open gates, so if you are intending on using those, make sure you find a yellow ticket validator before you descend to the platform – they should be next to elevators. Exit gates open without a ticket. Possession of a valid ticket is compulsory for everybody at the metro platform regardless of whether they intend to ride a train or not, even if just using it as an underground passage or accompanying someone. Timed tickets only need to be activated once, on your first journey. In case of carton tickets, the ticket validator will print the time limit until which the ticket is valid. Tickets are not checked by the drivers. They may be randomly inspected in a station or in a bus/tram by plain-clothes inspectors with portable ticket/card readers, so it is up to you to have a valid (activated) ticket. The ticket inspectors in Warsaw are paid a commission on the number of fare-dodgers they catch, so they are rarely lenient and generally rather harsh to deal with. Being caught without a valid ticket might be one of the least pleasant experiences possible in Warsaw, so do your best to avoid it. By car Parking There is a paid-parking zone in the center of the city. This applies Monday to Friday 08:00—18:00. Parking costs 3.00 zł for the first hour. Subsequent hours cost more although there is no hour limit. 0.60 zł is the minimum payment. You can pay with coins (10 groszy upwards and you will be given the exact time you have paid for after you have paid the minimum charge) or with the Warsaw City Card (not the tourist card). From 2015 the old parking machines have been systematically replaced by the new ones, which no longer accept payment with Warsaw City Card. They do however accept payment with major credit cards. The parking ticket should be left under the windscreen for inspection. Parking fees can also be paid with mobile phone apps such as moBILET and SkyCash. In that case the driver should leave a special sticker with the name of the app under the windscreen, but a handwritten note is also accepted. Taxis The maximum base fare (taryfa 1) is 3.00 zł/km and applies to journeys within the city (zone 1) on weekdays. The cheapest companies charge between 1.40 zł/km and 2.00 zł/km. Taxi drivers can charge 150% of the base fare (taryfa 2) at night or on weekends and public holidays, and 200% of the base fare (taryfa 3) for journeys into the suburbs. Watch out for blue rectangular signs saying taxi 2 strefa (Taxi Zone 2), they can charge 300% of the base fare (taryfa 4) at night and in the suburbs or on weekends and public holidays). In addition, they can also charge you 8 zł initial fee (closing the door), 40 zł an hour for waiting for you if you you are not in the first zone, and for getting back to the boundary of the first zone if you left in zone 2. There are no surcharges for additional passengers (normally up to 4 should fit), or for luggage. They cannot charge you for anything else. There is no obligation or custom of tipping the drivers. The driver is required by law to give you a receipt. The full route must be written on the receipt. If the route was suboptimal, the fare can then be challenged. Call the City Guard (Polish: Straż Miejska) at 986 or +48 (22) 986 from a mobile phone should there be any problems. The aforementioned prices apply only to registered taxis. Others (non-taxi carriers) may charge you whatever they feel like, so they are best avoided. Uber pl/cities/warsaw/ fares in Warsaw (as of May 2022) are 5 zł for closing the door, plus 0.20 zł per minute, plus 1.40 zł per kilometre. A legal taxi will have its number displayed on the front door under the window (black digits on white), on a TAXI sign (not TAX1 or TAKI), on a sticker with the base fare displayed on the passenger (rear) door window, and on the driver's ID card visible inside the cab. Note also, that all taxi meter fares are in zł not in euro, even though some drivers will accept payment in euro. In this case he or she will convert the meter fare to euro and most likely round it up to the nearest €5 (to avoid payment with coins, which are harder to exchange). So, if the meter shows "40.0" and you are asked to pay €10 – that's ok, but if the drivers tries to charge you €40, saying that the meter fare is in euro – you are certainly being ripped off. By bike Veturilo Warszawa 04 - A Veturilo bike-sharing station]] Warsaw is slowly changing into a bike-friendly city, the bike path network covers many parts of the city, but not every important street. You may find yourself forced to ride on the pavement or the street itself at some points, neither of which is really comfortable or advisable – or indeed, can be deemed illegal. That said, Warsaw started warming up to bicycles, and even has a bike-sharing scheme similar to other cities around the world, called [https:// Veturilo]. It operates only between March and November (closing for winter). You need a credit card or a bank transfer and a mobile phone to pre-register at the website, and to pay 10 zł initial fee, which is credited to your account. To rent a bike, you need to type in your code and the code of the bike you want to rent at the station, and there you go. The first twenty minutes are free, the first hour is 1 zł and the fees increase every hour, because Veturilo bikes are meant for very short trips. Whenever you completed your trip, just lock your bike in the nearest station and check yourself out. There are maps of nearest points and the surroundings provided at every Veturilo station, the Veturilo mobile app also shows the nearest stations and the list of all available bikes on each station. What to see in Warsaw This is the city of Frederic Chopin, Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Władysław Szpilman and Pola Negri. Warsaw Old Town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Take a walk and explore the streets and squares which have been painstakingly rebuilt after last war. Check out tumultuous history of the metropolis located on the both sides of Vistula river. Explore special places and associated with the uprisings, especially one, which took place in the Ghetto and second, which happened in 1944. Book guided city walk across the city and discover how it has changed since the fall of communism. Most of the major sightseeing attractions are concentrated in Warsaw/Śródmieście|Śródmieście, with some more in surrounding neighborhoods, the exception park and palace in Warsaw/Wilanów|Wilanów. Check the attractions of the Vistula river banks. That said, every neighborhood has something to offer if you have the time and want to research more, so do refer to Warsaw#Districts|neighborhood eHalal Guide's for details. That said, most Muslim visitors will probably: Visit the Old and New Town, the (recreated) oldest part of the city of Warsaw with the Royal Castle From there, stroll down Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat streets (the "Royal Route") See Łazienki Park with the Chopin Monument (and attend one of the free open-air concerts in the summertime) Take the elevator to the top of Palace of Culture and Science for a panoramic view of the city, or at least take a photo of this modern-day symbol of Warsaw Visit the most important museums – Warsaw Uprising Museum, National Museum and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Halal Tours and Excursions in Warsaw The Royal Route (Trakt Królewski) began as a track linking the Royal Castle to the Royal Palace in Warsaw/Wilanow|Wilanów (Pałac Królewski w Wilanowie), some 10 km farther. There are many points of interest along the route, and there's a Poster Museum (Muzeum Plakatu) in Wilanów. The Vistula Boulevards (Bulwary Wiślane) What to do in Warsaw Warsaw-Castle-Plaza-2 - upright=1.2|The Castle Plaza (pl. Zamkowy) in the Old Town (Stare Miasto)]] Explore Go on a Tour of Warsaw – the Old Town and surrounding neighborhoods are sufficiently compact to allow a number of excellent walking tours through its history-filled streets. You'll see amazing things you would otherwise miss. Details are usually available from the reception desks of hostels and hotels. Concerts and performances Warsaw is home to several professional musical and play companies. Being the capital city means the [https:// Polish National Opera and the [https:// Warsaw Philharmonic (also, National Philharmonic) call Warsaw home. There are a number of other companies, including play companies and theaters that will likely be of interest to travellers. Festivals The Cross-Culture Warsaw Festival - Festiwal Skrzyżowanie Kultur - World music festival. Concerts and music workshops, documentary screenings, exhibitions. Yahudi Culture Festival – The Singer's Warsaw - Festiwal Kultury Żydowskiej – Warszawa Singera - August. Warsaw Film Festival - Warszawski Festiwal Filmowy | GPS: - Warsaw International Film Festival October. Planete+ Doc Film Festival - ADocumentary films. May. Burn Selector Festival | GPS: - 250 zł for two-day pass Electronic & alternative music festival. September. Orange Warsaw Festival - 300 – 1000 zł for two-day pass Big pop music festival on the Horse Racetrack Służewiec. May. Warsaw Summer Jazz Days - July. Warsaw Autumn - Warszawska Jesień | GPS: - International festival of contemporary music. September. Long Night of Museums - Noc Muzeów - Free A great opportunity to wander around with your date or friends and grab an ice cream cone from one of the many cafes that stay open late. Most museums and galleries will stay open past midnight. Noc Muzeów usually occurs around mid-May. Stadion Narodowy w Warszawie 20120422 - If you are coming to Warsaw for a major football match, chances are it will be at the Stadion Narodowy]] Sports Watch football ie soccer. The leading club is Legia Warszawa, who play in Ekstraklasa, the top tier of Polish football. Their home ground is the Piłsudski Stadium (or "Polish Army Stadium"), capacity 31,800. It's at 3 Łazienkowska St., two km southeast of city centre. National games are plated at Stadion Narodowy (National Stadium), a multi-purpose arena on the river's right bank, 3 km east of city centre. Warsaw Eagles play American football, at the American Football Field, Tobruk Ave, 5 km north of city centre. Study as a Muslim in Warsaw Muslim Friendly Universities in Warsaw Buw - The Library of the University of Warsaw is now the scene to the many languages spoken by its foreign and exchange students University of Warsaw - Uniwersytet Warszawski | ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 26/28 GPS: 52.240281, 21.019169 ☎ +48 22 552 00 00 University of Warsaw Warszawa, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 26, 28 20170517 001 - The University of Warsaw is Poland's largest university and offers a large variety of courses and programs to choose from. University of Warsaw has about 50,000 students enrolled. Warsaw University of Technology - Politechnika Warszawska | pl. Politechniki 1 GPS: 52.220278, 21.010556 ☎ +48 22 234 72 11 Warsaw University of Technology Warszawa 8613 University, Technical university The biggest Polish technical university. Warsaw School of Economics - Szkoła Główna Handlowa - al. Niepodległości 162 GPS: 52.208889, 21.008889 ☎ +48 22 564 60 00 Warsaw School of Economics Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie 2016 Poland's largest economics school. Warsaw University of Life Sciences - Szkoła Główna Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego | ul. Nowoursynowska 166 GPS: - Originally an agricultural school, this is now a rapidly expanding university. Collegium Civitas | Plac Kultury i Nauki, 12th floor, pl. Defilad 1 ☎ +48 22 656 71 87 This is a private school located inside the Palace of Culture of Science. Majors include Sociology, Political Science, American Studies, International Relations, and Human Rights and Genocide Studies. For those interested, some programs are conducted in English. Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny - Medical University of Warsaw | GPS: A medical college. The Academy of Arts - Akademia Sztuk Pięknych | GPS: Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw 6 Warszawa 157 Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego - ul. Dewajtis 5 ☎ +48 22 561 88 00 - tags=University, Private university This is a well-known Catholic university. Leon Kozminski Academy - ul. Jagiellońska 59 Located in the Praga Połnoc neighborhood ☎ +48 22 519 21 00 +48 22 814 11 56 University, Private university This is a private school specializing in law and business management majors. SWPS University - GPS: 52.248417, 21.065889 - SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities SWPS University in Warsaw 03 eHalal Reference: Q7970913 Polish language Institute of Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners | ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 32 ☎ +48 22 5521530 Part of the Warsaw University. 1200 zł for a standard course or 1800 zł for an intensive one. Edu & More Polish Language School for Foreigners | ul. Marszałkowska 87/81 ☎ +48 22 622 14 41 599 zł for a group course. It's also e-learning platform for learning Polish online. How to work legally in Warsaw Home to many international companies, Warsaw has an excellent job market for potential expats. Of course there are several immigration hurdles, but landing a job should not be overly difficult if you have the right skill sets. If you're a backpacker who is not an EU citizen and looking for short-term employment this may be somewhat more difficult, as you are legally required to have a work permit. You could possibly find short-term work in the hospitality industry, or possibly as a tutor or an ESL teacher. If you'd like to work in Warsaw, or Poland for that matter, but don't want to go through the hassle of finding a job opportunity, there are some employment recruiting agencies you can use in your search for a job.Just a few are: Adecco Poland | Al. Jerozolimskie 123A ☎ +48 22 529 76 40 - * Randstad | Al. Jerozolimskie 56c ☎ +48 22 462 25 00 There is also the possibility to work in startups. Warsaw is the first place for startups in Poland, and the opportunities for foreigners are growing. For some, you do not need to speak the Polish language to start working there. With warsaw-startup-jobs.com this website], you can apply directly to recruiting companies, without going through one extra intermediary. Muslim Friendly Shopping in Warsaw Note: Agents Handing Out Flyers	name = Senses ul. Bielańska 12 ☎ +48 (22) 331 96 97	email = @	url = Web:	hours =	price = From 170 zł	lastedit = 2016-04-15	content = A "private dining" restaurant, author's cuisine of chef Andrea Camastra. Reservation required. Food fairs The new trend in Warsaw are food fairs, where fresh foodstuffs can be purchased directly from producers, both for further processing and preparation at home and as ready dishes for consumption on site. Usually, some space for communal meals is provided. This can be a very nice option for breakfast or lunch. Some of the options are:	name = Targ Śniadaniowy Breakfast fair al. Wojska Polskiego 1; Skwer Grupy AK Granat and other places	phone =	email =	url = Web:	hours = Sa 09:00—16:00	price =	lastedit = 2016-05-17	content = Organised every weekend in various parts of town, usually Fast food Tourists will be happy to know there's no shortage of fast food in Warsaw. The city is rife with McDonald's and Subway outlets, there are also many KFCs and Pizza Huts, and a growing number of Burger King restaurants (the latter mostly in shopping centres). For a quick bit, chain cafes that are around every corner in the city centre, the shopping centres and many office buildings will offer you pre-made sandwiches and salads. Some more sophisticated cafes will make salads, ciabattas and sandwiches on site. There is no particular Polish kind of fast food, as the traditional Polish cuisine does not really lend itself well to quick preparation or quick eating. Therefore, apart from the above international chain places, that niche in Warsaw is filled with -halal-food/halal-poultry-dishes/ Halal kebab places and affordable pizzerias, similar to ones that you would find in most other European cities. Pizzerias are often chain places as well, and many do telephone deliveries, takeaways as well as offer tables to eat on the premises. Kebabs can often only do takeaway, and are often open all night long, much to the delight of taxi drivers and partygoers. Milk bars Remnant of the communist era, milk bars (Polish: bar mleczny, bary mleczne) were created in the 1960s to serve affordable meals based on milk products. After the fall of communism, most of them closed down but some survived and still bear the climate from the old days. Almost everything inside looks, feels and smells like in the 1980s. Milk bars attract students and senior citizens, because of the low prices (soup and the main course together may cost as little as 10 zł). The food served by milk bars can actually be quite palatable. Even if you can afford more expensive meals, milk bars are interesting because they offer somewhat a view of life before democratization in Poland. Nowadays they became even that popular, that new chains and milk bars are recreated. Old Town and areas like pl. Trzech Krzyży, ul. Nowy Świat, ul. Chmielna, ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście in Warsaw/Śródmieście|Śródmieście are saturated with cafés. Coffee typically costs about 10-15 zł. Beer can cost 5-15 zł for half a liter (the supermarket price being 2.50-3 zł). Drink prices in clubs can go up to 50 zł. Drinking alcoholic beverages in public places is prohibited, but there are several places chosen by the local government where it can be possible. Note: Speak easy {{flag|Ukraine Ukraine - Ambasada Ukrainy | @mb.pl Al. J.Ch. Szucha 7 GPS: 52.215, 21.021944 ☎ +48 22 629-34-46, +48 22 622-15-49, +48 22 622-47-97, +48 22 629-05-79 +48 22 629-81-03 - Embassy of Ukraine, Warsaw Ukrainian Embassy Explore more Halal Friendly Destinations from Warsaw Image:Poland Zelazowa Wola - Chopin's mansion in Żelazowa Wola]] Kampinos Forest (~15 km, take the 708 bus from Młociny underground station) – A wild and beautiful primeval forest, often called the green lungs of Warsaw, and an ideal choice for a day off from the noise of the city Konstancin-Jeziorna (~20 km, take the 700 bus) – A spa town with a spacious park. Famous for its clean air and high housing prices. Kraków (~300 km, in just under 3 hours by hourly IC/Ex trains) – The former capital of Poland, this was the European City of Culture in 2000. Lublin (~200 km) – A medieval city with a well preserved old town, it is now the largest city and main tourist attraction in eastern Poland. Kazimierz Dolny (~150 km, less than two hours by TLK train to Puławy, then half an hour by bus) – A Renaissance town with a picturesque marketplace, it is a hub for painters and Boheme. Żelazowa Wola (~50 km) – The birthplace of Frédéric Chopin. Brest (Belarus)|Brest, 200 km away in Belarus, on the border with Poland and rich with history from both the Soviet times and before. The Brest Hero Fortress is perhaps the most impressive Soviet monument ever built, and there's the train museum, and its incredible collection of Soviet-time locomotives,as well. You can go there by train (one train a day, that 4-5 hrs). Same visa regulations as rest of Belarus; the new visa-free regulations for citizens of 80 countries since 2017 is not eligible when coming/leaving by train.{{ #insider:Sapphire}} Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd. To Advertise or sponsor this Travel Guide, please visit our Media Kit and Advertising Rates. {{geo