When to Visit - Arts and Events

The people of Warsaw are great lovers of music, theatre and opera and are proud to live in the birthplace of Chopin. Frequent musical and theatrical events are held in the city and during the summer there are open-air Chopin concerts. Warsaw also hosts many world class festivals such as Polish theatre, jazz, Mozart and, of course, Chopin.

Warsaw Dining

Warsaw has an excellent range of restaurants, many set in the atmospheric Old Town Square or overlooking beautiful parks and palaces. Ethnic restaurants are rapidly appearing alongside the traditional Polish establishments, so there is plenty of choice. Polish food is hearty, tasty and served in generous portions. Soups and stews are thick and filling with peas, beans and dumplings. Delicious pork dishes include roast boar, cutlets in tangy sauces and pork with garlic stuffing. Dessert is where Polish cuisine comes into its own, the rich cream cakes and chocolate-nut torte are well worth trying. Vodka is the national drink and though usually drunk neat, you can experiment with the plum, prune and ground pepper flavoured varieties.

Warsaw Tipping Advice

It is customary to leave a tip of between 10 and 15 percent at hotels and restaurants. A tip of 2 PLZ per bag is generally given to porters and 5 PLZ to concierges and tour guides.