This Glamorous New Hotel Is Putting an Underrated European Capital on the Map
The city once derided as Kraków's gloomy Soviet sister has become Eastern Europe's next up-and-coming destination with the addition of Raffles Europejski Warsaw, a stately, meticulously restored 1857 property located next to the Presidential Palace in the heart of the old town. Inside, the design is something of a love letter to the city: in the lobby, art installations evoke local landmarks and Poland's past, and a series of galleries feature art and photos from the hotel's previous incarnations. Upstairs, the 106 rooms and suites—the largest you'll find in Warsaw—are furnished with bespoke pieces by local craftspeople. Even the bathrooms have a sense of place: the marble paneling is patterned after the city's skyline.
Cafes and bars in the Old Town market square in Warsaw, Poland
Warsaw Old Town Market Square.Allan Baxter/Getty Images
The hotel offers a new entry point to Warsaw's surprisingly cosmopolitan appeal. Start your day with a cup of single-origin coffee at Ministerstwo Kawy or Niezłe Ziółko, cafés in the quirky Plac Zbawiciela neighborhood.
Then take in some culture, beginning with a visit to the Warsaw Uprising Museum, honoring the 1944 Polish-resistance-led insurrection to drive out the Nazis. Head next to Wilanów Palace, the 17th-century royal residence. At the little-known Fotoplastikon, a stereoscope theater built in 1905 projects street scenes from turn-of-the-century Warsaw in 3-D. For a more modern brand of nostalgia, there's the Neon Museum, which has floor-to-ceiling displays of neon signs, colorful relics of the Cold War.
Warsaw's blossoming culinary scene challenges the notion that Poles eat only pierogi and borscht. At new food courts like Hala Gwardii and Hala Koszyki, you can sample vegan Palestinian dishes, Georgian khinkali, Italian cheeses—and yes, pierogi and borscht. Save room for a nightcap at Kita Koguta, where mixologists conduct a brief interview ("Gin or vodka? Classic or experimental?") before making drinks to individual tastes.
Krakow Travel Guide: Poland’s Second City with a Mythical Feel
Krakow travel guide for first time visitors will prove beneficial in a lot of ways.
Most European cities bustling with life, have beautiful architecture and interesting stories to tell. However very few cities can so palpably transcend through time, like Krakow does. A city that has been the nucleus of myths from time immemorial, Krakow holds close to its beautiful traditions and tales.
While Warsaw is the capital of Poland, Krakow has always been the capital of kingdoms and their dynasties over the centuries, making it the cultural capital of the country. Since commercialization has not swapped the city from its tradition, Krakow has a lot to offer that distinguishes it from other European cities. Krakow also happens to be one of the only cities not decimated by Nazi Germany, unlike Warsaw, allowing it to retain most of its cultural edifices.
Historically known as the mythical city, its mystical power (hidden in a stone at the heart of the Wawel Hill) is said to have kept many invaders away. The myths don’t stop here. They resonate from every nook and corner, like the air is full of mystery dating back to centuries.
Krakow’s tourist spots are quiet safe for women as they constantly patrolled by police. There’s a lot you can explore in the city on your own or with a guide. However, racism (not more than that of any other European city) is present in pockets. It’s safe to tour the city quiet late in the nights, as long you’re on the main roads.