After a refreshing few hours of sleep at the Kapsula Capsule Hotel, it was time to retrace my steps to Warsaw Chopin International Airport. To get back to Chopin Airport, I first took the subway (Warsaw Metro) to Warsaw Central Station to claim my bag. From Central Station, it was back on the Warsaw Tram to get to Warszawa Rakowiec Station. A brief seven-minute train ride later, I was back at the airport train station. After clearing security and passport control, I arrived at the gate with plenty of time for my flight to Tel Aviv.
Things to Do in Warsaw on a Layover: Top Sights in One Day
A Long Layover in Warsaw - About My Trip to Warsaw
Lately I’ve been routing trips through Warsaw Chopin International Airport, and it’s become my go-to hub for exploring Europe and beyond. Being around 25% Polish, I’ve always wanted to visit the home country of my great-grandparents. So, I jumped at the chance to have a long layover in Warsaw, that allowed me to see quite a few of Warsaw’s main attractions. I wanted to figure out how to spend a long layover in Warsaw, build a simple Warsaw layover itinerary, and highlight things to do in Warsaw on a layover.
My itinerary took me from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Warsaw Chopin International Airport. After arriving around 10:00 am, I had an entire day to explore Warsaw, as my next flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, didn’t leave until 11:50 pm. This page will show you how to spend a long layover in Warsaw with around ten hours to explore. If you’re looking for things to do in Warsaw on a layover, my route below hits the classics without rushing.
How to Spend a Long Layover in Warsaw, Poland- Table of Contents
- About My Trip to Warsaw
- Getting to the Tourist Sights
- Warsaw Central Station
- How to Get Around Warsaw During a Long Layover
- Walking Along the Vistula River
- Copernicus Museum
- Exploring Warsaw’s Old Town
- Where to Sleep During a Long Layover – Kapsula Hotel
- Warsaw Tours and Packages
- Returning to Warsaw Chopin Airport After a Long Layover
- Support Buzzin’ Around the World – Visit Our Affiliates
- Earning Points and Rewards
- Related Content
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How to Get from Warsaw Chopin Airport to the Tourist Sights During a Long Layover
Finding the Train Station at Warsaw Chopin Airport
Warsaw Chopin Airport is one of my favorite European airports as it is much smaller and more manageable than most major hubs. After landing, I disembarked the plane via stairs and took a shuttle to the arrivals terminal. Clearing passport control and customs took less than an hour. I was now ready to explore Warsaw on a layover.
I had already decided the best method to get to the tourist sights of Warsaw during a long layover was by taking the train from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Warsaw’s City Center. At Chopin Airport, there are orange signs that lead passengers to the Chopin Airport train station. The signs are in both Polish and English.
After a bit of a walk, I came to an escalator that led to Chopin Airport’s train and bus stations.
Purchasing My Train Ticket
It took a few minutes to figure out how to purchase my ticket as there were many different options and fare classes. For those in a hurry, there are kiosks on board the Warsaw commuter trains (SKM/KM) for passengers to purchase tickets.
Boarding the Train at Warsaw Chopin Airport
After purchasing my ticket, I looked at Warsaw Chopin Airport’s video monitor to find my train. The Polish trains are identifiable by number, and it was easy to find the correct train as there are only two tracks at Chopin Airport.
I boarded the train, and within a few minutes, I was on my way to explore the main sights of Warsaw during a long layover.
Validating My Ticket
One important thing to mention is to make sure you validate your ticket on Polish trains. Throughout the cars, there are little yellow boxes that scan tickets and transit cards. It is essential to validate the ticket as my ticket was checked by an inspector. Thankfully, I had figured out the process and my ticket was correctly validated.
Transferring to the Warsaw Tram at Warszawa Rakowiec Station
My stop, Warszawa Rakowiec Station, was only seven minutes away from Warsaw Chopin Airport. At this station, I would transfer to the Warsaw tram so I could store my luggage at Warsaw Central Station.
To get from Warszawa Rakowiec Station to Warsaw Central Station, I walked up the stairs from the train station to the tram station. After purchasing a tram card, I got on the Warsaw Tram and traveled to Warsaw Central.
Warsaw Central Station
The main reason for my visit to Warsaw Central Station was to store my luggage. Since I was visiting Warsaw on a long layover, I did not want to drag my carry-on bag all around the city.
Warsaw Central Station is a modern train station with domestic and international routes.
There is a shopping mall next to Warsaw Central, and just across the street is the impressive Palace of Culture and Science.
Luggage Storage at Warsaw Central Station
There are lockers to store luggage on the lower level of Warsaw Central Station. To find the lockers, follow the signs to the large hallway filled with lockers.
Visitors can store luggage up to 24 hours. Expect station locker prices around 25–30 PLN for small/medium lockers (third-party left-luggage services nearby can start lower). You can usually pay by card or coins; there’s often a change machine in the hallway. If you’re searching, look for luggage storage Warsaw Centralna or Warsaw station lockers—both terms are used locally and online.
How to Get Around Warsaw During a Long Layover
The city of Warsaw, Poland, has excellent public transportation. During my long layover in Warsaw, I used most of the methods of getting around the city.
Getting Around Warsaw by Train
One method of getting around Warsaw during a long layover is by taking the train. I took the train to and from Warsaw Chopin Airport to the city center.
Getting Around Warsaw by Subway (Metro)
Another way to get around the city of Warsaw is to take the Warsaw Metro (subway). I took the subway to and from Warsaw Central Station to the area near the banks of the Vistula River.
The Warsaw Metro is easy to navigate, and I purchased a ZTM 24-hour ticket / Zone 1 (one-day pass) for 15 Polish Zloty (PLN) (~$3.50).
Each metro station in Warsaw has the routes clearly marked, and the trains come every few minutes. I was really impressed by the simplicity of getting around using the Warsaw Metro.
Getting Around Warsaw by Tram
The Warsaw Tram is an above-ground train that is best used for traveling short distances. I took the Warsaw Tram just once, from Warszawa Rakowiec Station to Warsaw Central Station. Like the Warsaw Metro, I used my 24-hour transit pass on the Warsaw Tram.
Getting Around Warsaw by Walking
My favorite way to get around Warsaw was by walking. I walked along the shores of the Vistula River from near the national stadium to the entrance to Warsaw’s Old Town. Walking in Warsaw was extremely energizing after spending close to ten hours on an airplane and it makes for an easy self-guided walking tour of Warsaw.
Walking Along the Vistula River
The first attraction that I visited during my long layover in Warsaw, Poland, was the banks of the Vistula River. After exiting the Metro at Centrum Nauki Kopernik Station, I walked past the Świętokrzyski Bridge towards the Copernicus Museum.
The area along the Vistula River isn’t touristy. Instead, I saw a bunch of locals out enjoying the walking path. There were also many boats using the river for transportation.
PGE Narodowy (Warsaw’s National Stadium) is easily seen from the banks of the Vistula River. The stadium is home to the Polish National Football Team.
As I stated earlier, there were not a lot of major tourist attractions along the Vistula. It appeared that this area was more for locals. Below was an area with a sandy city beach and tables and chairs for relaxing.
One important thing to note is that there were clean public restrooms along the Vistula River. The location of the restrooms was near the sandy beach area just past the bridge and stadium.
Copernicus Museum
Near the end of the Vistula River walkway is the Copernicus Science Centre (Copernicus Museum). I did not go inside the Copernicus Museum during my long layover in Warsaw.
Exploring Warsaw's Old Town During a Long Layover
From the Copernicus Museum, it was a short walk to Warsaw’s Old Town (Stare Miasto), which would be the area where I would spend most of my time during my long layover. As I approached Old Town Warsaw, the St. Anne’s Church Bell Tower (Taras Widokowy), Sigismund’s Column (Kolumna Zygmunta), and the Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski) came into view.
Old Town Warsaw dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries but was virtually destroyed in World War II. The current buildings were almost all rebuilt following the war. In 1980, Warsaw’s Old Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Old Town Warsaw is full of colorful buildings and narrow streets. It is the perfect place to walk around during a long layover in Warsaw and one of the best free things to do in Warsaw.
During my visit to Old Town Warsaw, I had a bit of a plan on what route to walk and what tourist sights I wanted to see. That being said, part of the fun of Old Town Warsaw is wandering around the narrow streets and getting lost among the historic buildings—a relaxed self-guided walking tour of Warsaw.
Castle Square
My first stop in Old Town Warsaw was Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy). Castle Square is the immediate area in front of the Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski), which was once the home of the Polish monarchs. Located in the middle of the square is Sigismund’s Column (Kolumna Zygmunta).
The Royal Castle is the main attraction of Castle Square. Originally built in 1619, the castle was completely destroyed during World War II. It took years and lots of money to rebuild the Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski). The rebuild was completed in 1984. Today, the Royal Castle is a museum that is open to the public.
With limited time, I chose not to go inside the Royal Castle. Instead, I walked around the grounds of the castle and visited the Royal Castle Gardens—great additions to a Warsaw layover itinerary and among the easy free things to do in Warsaw.
The Royal Castle Gardens are located on the opposite side of Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy). Since its existence, the Royal Castle has always had a garden. The gardens add much-needed green space to Old Town Warsaw.
The Royal Castle Gardens are free to visit and can easily be reached from Castle Square.
Sigismund's Column
The other main attraction in Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy) is Sigismund’s Column (Kolumna Zygmunta). This column was originally erected in 1644 and is one of Poland’s most famous monuments. Honoring King Sigismund III Vasa, who moved the capital city from Kraków to Warsaw in 1596, the column was demolished by the Germans during World War II.
Following World War II, the bronze statue was salvaged, and a new column was erected. The original pieces of the broken column can still be seen lying next to the Royal Castle. In the photos below, you can see both the bronze statue and the original column.
St. Anne’s Church Bell Tower
At this point, I had spent about an hour walking around Old Town Warsaw. The next attraction I visited was one of my favorites, the St. Anne’s Church Bell Tower (Taras Widokowy). Visitors climb about 147 steps to reach the viewing terrace—easily one of the best viewpoints in Warsaw.
Admission to the top of the St. Anne’s Bell Tower is around 10 PLN (cash is typical). There is no elevator.
The viewing platform offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Old Town Warsaw and the surrounding area—another highlight to add to any Warsaw layover itinerary.
I spent about fifteen minutes taking in the views from the top of the tower. After descending the steps, I went to my next stop, which was St. Anne’s Church.
St. Anne's Church
St. Anne’s Church was another building that I only viewed from the outside. Construction of the original church began in 1454. The church was redesigned many times, and parts of the current structure date back to 1788. Like many buildings in Warsaw, St. Anne’s Church was heavily damaged during World War II.
Presidential Palace
After viewing the exterior of St. Anne’s Church, I continued walking towards the Presidential Palace. The Warsaw Presidential Palace has been the home of the President of Poland since 1994. The current structure dates back to the early 1800s and, like many Polish buildings, needed extensive renovations following World War II.
In the center of the grounds of the Presidential Palace is a statue of Józef Poniatowski, who was a Polish general and Marshal of the French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars.
Market Square
After visiting the Presidential Palace, I changed directions and walked back towards Castle Square. From Castle Square, I continued walking until I reached Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta). Warsaw’s Market Square is home to various shops, restaurants, and street vendors.
Warsaw Barbican (City Walls)
As I continued walking, I reached the Warsaw Barbican (Barbakan Warszawski), which marks the end of Old Town Warsaw. These fortified city walls were built in 1540 and were rebuilt following World War II.
A barbican is a fortified outpost that acts as the first defense of a castle or old city. The Warsaw Barbican was meant to protect Old Town Warsaw, although according to my research, it was ineffective and served no real purpose after the invention of heavy artillery.
Today, the Warsaw Barbican (Barbakan Warszawski) serves as the unofficial separation of Old Town Warsaw and New Town.
Warsaw Uprising Monument
From the Warsaw Barbican (Barbakan Warszawski), I walked to the Warsaw Uprising Monument. The monument is located on the southern side of Krasiński Square.
Dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, this bronze monument includes an eternal flame and statues commemorating the Polish resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II.
Krasiński Palace
A short walk from the fountains brings you to Krasiński Palace (Pałac Krasińskich), home to the Polish National Library’s Special Collections—a poignant place given how much of the library’s holdings were destroyed during World War II. Just beyond, on Krasiński Square, the Supreme Court of Poland anchors the scene; a roadway passes along and beneath parts of the modern complex (off ul. Świętojerska), leading toward the Warsaw Uprising Monument nearby.
Multimedia Fountain Park
As I exited the Old Town of Warsaw through the Warsaw Barbican (Barbakan Warszawski), I walked down a few flights of stairs towards the Multimedia Fountain Park.
This fountain operates from May to September and is a great place for local residents to escape the heat of the summer months. In the evenings, the Multimedia Fountain is the centerpiece of a show with laser lights and music.
Where to Sleep in Warsaw During a Long Layover - Kapsula Hotel
After about five hours of walking around Warsaw during my long layover, I was feeling so exhausted I couldn’t stay awake. I called my parents to let them know my travel progress and told my mother I was going to find a nice bench to sleep on. My mother told me under no circumstances was I to sleep outside and that I needed to get a hotel. Even at age 41, I still had to listen to my mother, so I set off to find an inexpensive hotel.
I ended up finding the perfect option, the Kapsula Capsule Hotel Warsaw. This hotel was perfect for a few hours of sleep as the nightly rate was 78 PLN (~$18.00). I had never stayed in a capsule hotel in Warsaw before and was excited to share this unique experience with my readers.
The sleeping capsule at the Kapsula Capsule Hotel was basic but comfortable. I was able to get about three hours of sleep before having to return to the airport for my connecting flight to Tel Aviv.
In addition to having a comfortable place to sleep, the Kapsula Capsule Hotel had warm showers and clean restrooms. Guests are given slippers, a towel, and access to a locker upon check-in. While I wouldn’t necessarily want to spend the night at the Kapsula Capsule Hotel, it was the perfect place to get a few hours of sleep during a long layover in Warsaw
Warsaw Tours and Packages
During my long layover visit to Warsaw, I chose not to use the services of a local guide or expert. In my opinion, a guide was not needed to enjoy an afternoon of walking around Warsaw’s Old Town. I do know that some people prefer to be led around by a local expert. Below, I have linked a few tours of Warsaw and Warsaw’s Old Town. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a tour or package using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
Returning to Warsaw Chopin Airport After a Long Layover
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