When you think of Christmas markets, what country do you think of?
I’m sure the most common answer is Germany. It’s a country world-famous for its Christmas Markets.
However, I want to draw your attention to somewhere else to get into the festive spirit. Have you thought about visiting Poland, and in particular Warsaw?
Experiencing the Christmas festivities in Warsaw is both magical and surprising, as the city comes alive with festive decorations, Christmas markets, and a joyful atmosphere.
However, before we start with the Christmassy stuff, I’d like to talk a little bit first about the history of Warsaw.
From rubble and ruins to triumph and celebrations
Names really are important, eh? Thatโs why Warsaw seems to have got the short end of the stick. Collectively, โwarโ and โsawโ makes it sound more like the title of a horror movie, rather than the surprisingly beautiful place it is.
Warsaw hasnโt had it easy, I think everyone knows that. To take the meaning out of it name again, this city has been through its share of wars.
However, after a heavy make-over that finished in the early 90s, Warsaw wants nothing more than to show off it festive decor.
With its big, glittery balls and low-slung lights topped off with a stunning big tree – Warsaw is the new face of Christmas celebrations.
Thatโs not to say Warsaw isnโt a lovely place throughout the year. Rynek Starego Miasta, the city’s main square, is one of the most beautiful in Europe any time of the year.ย
Despite its name, the Old Town is actually very young after being completely rebuilt from rubble, and what a successful rebuild it was. Apparently the older citizens of Warsaw say the restoration is an improvement of what the city looked like pre-war. ย This triumph is down to the builders and architects who chose to work from Baroque-era drawings by the famed Italian landscape artist, Bellotto, rather than using pre-war photographs.
However, this does pose the question of authenticity…. something I’ll leave you to think about.
Since I was unaware of the restoration’s success, I was completely taken aback by the city’s splendour. After seeing Krakow, I was convinced that no city could be as conventionally attractive, but Warsaw is not far behind at all.
What’s more, Warsaw is the ultimate place to celebrate Christmas. You should head to the Old Town when the Christmas Market opens end of November to early January for a wonderland of seasonal festivities.
The fragrance of cinnamon and orange fills the air, mulled wine sits on the taste buds, melted chocolate wrapped in pancakes are irresistible for all passing by, and a very unconvincing Santa does his rounds to see the little kidsโฆ and big kids like me.
See what I mean? Nothing like Santa! I bet if you pull down that fake beard, he’d barely even be old enough to grow a real one, hah!
Exploring Warsaw Christmas Market at night
Visitors are treated with stunning holograms that dance and shimmer across the Old Town buildings.
To be honest, I’m not usually bothered about Christmas, but the amount of festive cheer is infectious. It’s a bit like being child all over again.
Although, maybe all the cheer also had something to do with a large consumption of mulled wine. Hah!
Just look at the scale of this Christmas tree in Warsaw’s Main Square! What a beauty.
How long should you stay in Warsaw?
My visit to Warsaw was very brief, too brief. I visited for the day fromย ลรณdลบ, a journey that takes just under two hours by train. If you want to see train times or purchase tickets, you can via Trainline.ย
While a day-trip is better than nothing, Warsaw definitely requires at least three days to unearth the best of what this fascinating capital has to offer. I suggest looking at hotels in Warsaw via Booking.com.ย
Though like me, if you find yourself there for only a day, then the Old Town which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a good place to start!
13 Responses
Much more pretty than I’d expect as well. Especially the with judicious application of enormous projected stars! Like you I think my mental view of Warsaw has been completely framed by footage of the ghettos being cleared or the Nazi Blitzkrieg. It’s hard to overcome such powerful imagery when the city isn’t regularly promoted. That said, I knew Dresden was pretty much wiped out by the Allies and I also knew it’d been well restored after the war. So basically it’s our own damned faults for not being curious enough.
You knew more than me expatior! The learning process of travelling is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?!
Aye, travel opens your eyes to thing you never knew even existed. There’s scarecely anything more valuable than that under the stars.
Awesomly well said!
Wow, Warsaw looks gorgeous in the Christmas season – I love the light shows! I am so going there next year! ๐ Great photos!
Do it Julika – you wont be disappointed! But beware, it’s very. very cold!
The Christmas tree is so stunning! I’m so proud of it! I was in Warsaw for a couple of days last month and still remember these places. The Christmas Market rocks, agree? Here they are… MY PIEROGIS with bacon :):) I’m already hungry
I would be proud too! Well I was proud – I must have been Polish in a former life!
I read your posts – you saw a lot more than me! But I only had a few hours, so couldn’t pay it the service it deserves. I will definitely go back to Warsaw, and indulge on Pierogis until my heart is content!
You’ve made Warsaw look so inviting. I don’t really know much about Warsaw and have started seeing pictures from Agness (etramping above) and it looks beautiful. I do always hear about Krakow. Those Christmas decorations are stunning. Love that tree!
Pleased that Warsaw is getting more positive attention from other bloggers such as Agness! It deserves it! I know – the Christmas tree was huge! Even the presents underneath were the size of little houses!
I haven’t made it to Warsaw yet … but, I was in Krakow for business a few weeks ago, and now when I think of Christmas I think of Krakow ๐ So wintery and the Christmas market definitely put me in the spirit. Great post!
I read that Krakow has the biggest Christmas market in Poland – it always has to get one up on Warsaw doesn’t it?! ๐ haha. I just read your post on Krakow – I’m glad it lived up to high expectations! Merry Christmas ๐
In Polish, Warsaw (or Warszawa) is rather a “she”, not a “he” but still, the rest makes perfect sense ๐ I know many people from Poland don’t like Warsaw and it’s true that it’s not really the most beautiful place on Earth, as a whole. This being said, I just love all the small alleys in the old town and I don’t really care that it’s the youngest old town in the world ๐ I often go there when I’m in Warsaw just to walk around the old town. You should try and go back there during the summer and visit old town when it gets dark and the small alleys are lightened by old lanterns and the light from cafes and pubs like here: http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/3888/dsc1482r.jpg or here: http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9022/dsc1486.jpg ๐