Day Trips from Warsaw

A Typical villa in Konstancin-Jeziorna. | Photo: UM Konstancin-Jeziorna

Day Trips

There’s plenty to see and do in Warsaw, however, we understand that not all visitors are content with just visiting the capital and may wish to explore beyond the city limits. There’s something for everyone across the whole Mazovian region, and this section highlights some of the most interesting things to see and do, from visiting sites full of history, music, relaxation, and outdoor activities for those looking for something more fun-filled and leisurely!

Fryderyk Chopin Birthplace & Park in Żelazowa Wola

This museum celebrates both the Historical Birthplace of the lauded composer and pays tribute to the dramatic history of the very museum itself� Half of the house has been filled with early 19th century keepsakes, instruments and paintings, and many visitors attest to the haunting spirit of Chopin that lingers throughout� Outside the impressively landscaped bucolic garden makes for a nice walk� As you walk around the gardens, there are craftily hidden speakers serenading you with Chopin’s music� Żelazowa Wola is 54km west of Warsaw and can be reached in one hour by bus and train� The best way to get there is to go with a tour group or get a Koleje Mazowieckie train (R3) from Warszawa Śródmieście train station to Sochaczew or a TLK train from Warszawa Zachodnia Train Station - once there, get ZKM bus no.6Z which goes to Żelazowa Wola (bus no�1 to Kampinos also stops there)�QŻelazowa Wola 15, tel. (+48) 468 63 33 00, www.muzeum.nifc.pl. Open 10:00-20:00. Museum closed Mon (park open). Admission 23/14zł for the museum and park, 7/4zł for the park only. Wed free.

Kampinos National Park

Immediately North West of Warsaw (just 20km from the centre, heading to the towns Łomianki or Truskaw), Kampinos is the most accessible of Poland’s national parks� The entire area covers 385km2, which is interspersed with dense woodland, dunes and marshland, criss-crossed with biking, hiking and horse-riding trails� Equally famous for its association with the battle for Polish independence, Kampinos’ proximity to the capital has made it a favourite camp for partisans throughout history; today numerous mass graves dating from national uprisings in 1863, and insurgent graves from the Home Army’s ‘Kampinos’ group (in Wiersze village war cemetery) who took part in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944� None are more somber than the huge Palmiry National Memorial & Museum - a site of mass execution of civilians and intelligentsia during World War II�Qwww.kampinoski-pn.gov.pl.

Konstancin-Jeziorna

Ahhh, spa towns, often found far from urbanity - not in this case� Located just south of Warsaw’s Ursynów district in Piaseczno county (a mere 20km from Warsaw’s centre) it's an ideal day out� The beginnings of Konstancin go back to 1897 when it was a summer resort� The town became a destination not only for relaxation, but a prime location to live, with numerous villas springing up� Today, they are an attraction in themselves, with the majority on ul. Sienkiewicza, some in perfect condition, while others are in various states of decay� Most visitors head straight to Park Zdrojowy (En: ‘Health Resort Park’), the heart and symbol of the spa resort� The main attraction is definitely the salt graduation tower built in 1976! To get there from the city centre, take bus 200 from stop Dw. Centralny 05 (Warsaw Central Railway Station) which takes you directly to the entrance of Park Zdrojowy (bus stop with the same name)� Alternatively, take the M1 metro line to the end station Kabaty, and from there switch to bus 710, travelling to the same stop� Both journeys will take 50 mins and require zone 2 tickets�QMKabaty, www.konstancinjeziorna.pl.

This one time capital of Poland is worthy of a day trip!

Płock

This trip can be completed in one day� Hugging the Vistula River 111km north-west of Warsaw is the city of Płock, administrative capital of Płock County in the Masovian Voivodeship� Believe it or not, Płock was also the one-time capital of Poland from 1079 to 1138 and the seat of Kings! The area’s importance grew with the first Pagan Slavic tribes, and later with the Piast Dynasty, which built a fortification on Wzgórze Tumskie (En: Tumskie Hill), overlooking the river� It’s around this hill where you’ll find most attractions, from the Płock Cathedral (Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Masovia) and The Castle of the Masovian Dukes in Płock, the boulevards, pier, zoo and beach below, all not far from the charming Old Town Square (Stary Rynek), surrounded by numerous museums� To get there, you will need to take a bus from Warsaw West Main Bus Station, from where you can take a public PKS bus to Płock (journey time 1hr 45mins)� We recommend you check the fantastic e-podróżnik.pl site for all bus times to be able to plan your journey in confidence� Qwww.plock.eu.