The king way

Warsaw has a world famous thoroughfare called the Royal Way, which stretches for 4km from North to south. This grand avenue runs from the foot of the Royal castle (Plac Zamkowy) to the Krakowskie Przedmiescie, which runs parallel with the Vistula River. Krakowskie Przedmiescie is one of the city’s most elegant and lively streets and you are sure to find something of interest as you wander down on your East Europe break. There are exquisite 17th and 18th century residences and burgher houses, famous churches, palaces and monuments galore, as well as many places for shopping, eating and drinking. We advise our Poland weekend breaks clients to follow the route of the Royal way and discover the many delights of the capital –many off the beaten track.

Very close to Plac Zamkowy and on the Krakowskie Przedmiescie, is St Anne's Church. Amazingly St Anne’s survived the destruction of WWII and has a magnificent high alter and the most stunning original Baroque interior. Among all the churches, St Anne is probably the church with the most beautiful interiors and definitely worth scheduling a visit on your city tours of Warsaw. Further along the Royal Way, the next historical building of significant interest is the Carmelite Church, which survived the last World War and stands near the Adam Mickiewicz monument. We find also two sumptuous palaces, facing each other on both sides of the road: Potocki Palace, seat of the Ministry of Arts and Culture and Radziwill Palace, a Neo-classic building seat of the Cabinet. In front of Radziwill Palace one can see the statue of Prince Jozef Poniatowski, nephew of the last king of Poland and Napoleon's marshal, who died in the battle of Leipzig in 1813. Also in the proximity and almost facing each other, are two of the oldest hotels in the capital, the Hotel Europejski (1877) and Hotel Bristol (1901). Book you’re a holiday to Warsaw and stay in these fine hotels. We offer 5 star luxury hotels, last minute deals and so much more.

By continuing a little further down the Krakowskie Przedmiescie, Poland short break explorers can discover at least three more major tourist hot spots: The Church of the Nuns of the Visitation which is considered by many people the most beautiful church in Warsaw, the Church of the Holy Cross, famous for being the resting place of Poland’s most famous composer, Frederic Chopin and thirdly the Staszic Palace. The place is home to the Polish Academy of Science and has a wonderful monument at its front, dedicated to Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543), a pioneer of astronomy and created new radical concepts that challenged religious views. These impressive tourist attractions are important to sightseeing enthusiasts and we urge you to give yourself the appropriate amount of time to soak up all that is on offer.

Eventually the Krakowskie Przedmiescie leads onto the Nowy Swiat (‘New World’) another major part of the Royal Way that runs from the Old Town into the Lazienki area and then onto the King's Wilanow palace on the outskirts of the city. This historical street is a massive tourist hot spot, loved by our citybreak guest for the diversity of exclusive shops, trendy bars and 19th century architecture. In spring and summer the streets are filled with colourful umbrellas and tables from cafes and bistros. A holiday in Poland wouldn’t be complete without strolling along this road and stopping on the way to relax in a restaurant for a bite to eat. Along Nowy Swiat, where Pl. Trzech Krzyży begins, the area merges into Aleje Ujazdowskie, another 19th century street filled with the mansions, villas and elegant houses of the once rich and famous. Today it is the site of many embassies, governmental offices, the Polish Parliament and is a focal point for a Warsaw break. Running parallel to Ujazdowskie is the Royal Lazienki Park. Regardless of the season, walking the route of the Royal way is a must-do whilst on a vacation to Warsaw. On the Royal way one can discover the finest attractions from museums to posh boutiques. Tempted enough now to see this great city? Contact the Poland travel specialists and enquire about our weekend breaks deals in Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk.

The Lazienki Park area provides a leafy retreat from the hustle of the city centre and has one of the most stunning parks in central Europe. Lazienki, which means 'the baths’ is a charming area to stroll around and has always been a fun thing to do for foreign guests and locals alike. The primary draw to this picturesque area is the lovely neo-classical Lazienki Palace, often called Palace on the Water, as it stands on an islet in the middle of a lake. At the centre of the Lazienki Park is an amphitheatre ‘Island Theatre’, where the seating area is separated from the stage by a small canal. It’s here where visitors can listen to live concerts by renowned pianists near the monument of Frederick Chopin (Chopin Festival is held here every summer). Enquire about Warsaw concert tickets and other cultural events you would like to coincide with your stay in Poland. Also in the park is the Belvedere Palace, once the seat of the President of Poland and the Ujazdowski Castle which was constructed in 15th century. In 1981 Ujazdowski Castle became the home for Contemporary Art, promoting various art forms; painting, sculpture, as well as theatre, music, performance art, and film. Visit this cultural institution, we recommend it as a thoroughly interesting holiday excursion.

Further along, the Royal way leads to the Royal residency of Wilanow, the 17th home of King Jan III Sobieski. The baroque-style Wilanow Palace was designed by many famous artists including Michelangelo. The palace is remarkable for its original architecture, a blend of the European art with the Old-Polish building tradition, with spectacular interior wall paintings and carvings that convey a great sense of royal grandeur and triumph. The Wilanow Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in the capital and has been a major Poland holiday focal point since it turned into an open museum in 1962. Don’t miss this on your Warsaw breaks, its one of the main points of interest for all guests to enjoy. It’s well preserved 43 hectare park is the other major attraction to the palace, where people can roam and find many different types of garden designs, from Baroque, English, neo-classical and Chinese. The palace and its surrounding parks are without a doubt one of the finest places to visit and an afternoon here will be a memorable occasion on your weekend holidays here.