Warsaw, Poland — Activities
Warsaw Culture
The cultural scene in Warsaw was already strong before the fall of Communism but has diversified and opened up considerably ever since. Polish theater is world-renowned and numerous companies are based in Warsaw. The main cultural season runs from September to May, although there are often summer festivals featuring outdoor concerts held on the Old Town Square and in Warsaw's parks.
There is a great sense of pride in Frederic Chopin in the Polish capital. Born in 1810 in nearby Zelazowa Wola, the musician moved shortly thereafter to Warsaw, where he remained until he left for Paris in 1830.
The Warsaw Tourist Information Points have a useful weekly and annual online calendar of cultural events (www.warsawtour.pl). The Warsaw Voice (in English) includes a weekly listing of events, as does the monthly Warsaw Insider and the free What's Up Warsaw. In addition to the venues themselves, you can buy tickets at Eventim, Aleje Jerozolimskie 25 (tel: (022) 590 6915; www.eventim.pl), and at Empik, Ulica Nowy Swiat 15/17 (tel: (022) 551 3399; www.empik.com).
Music and Dance
Filharmonia Narodowa
The main orchestra in Warsaw is the Filharmonia Narodowa (National Philharmonic), also called the Warsaw Philharmonic. The company includes both symphonic and chamber players, with separate entrances for each hall - Ulica Sienkiewicza 10 (symphony concerts) and Ulica Moniuszki 5 (chamber concerts).
Ulica Sienkieicza 10
Tel: (022) 551 7127.
Website: www.filharmonia.pl
Studio Buffo
The popular Studio Buffo offers lighter music, from Elvis Presley to pre-war Polish movie songs and musicals.
Ulica Konopnickiej 6
Tel: (022) 625 4709.
Website: www.studiobuffo.com.pl
Teatr Narodowy
Teatr Narodowy (National Theater) comprises the Teatr Wielki (Grand Theater) and Opera Narodowa (National Opera) and was built between 1825-1833. Opera, ballet and modern dance performances run most evenings during the season (September to May). Large-scale productions, such as Aïda, are held here in the big Sala Moniuszki, which has one of the largest stages in Europe.
Plac Teatralny 1
Tel: (022) 692 0200 or 826 5019.
Website: www.teatrwielki.pl
Theater
Teatr Muzyczny Roma
The Roma Musical Theater stages productions of Broadway-type hits, folk music theater and some matinees for children.
Ulica Nowogrodzka 49
Tel: (022) 628 8998.
Website: www.teatrroma.pl
Teatr Żydowski
The Teatr Żydowski (Jewish Theater) is a full-time Yiddish-language theater company.
Plac Grzybowski 12/16
Tel: (022) 620 6281.
Website: www.teatr-zydowski.art.pl
Warsaw Tours
Walking tours
Trakt Guide Office offers personalised English-speaking tour guides, while Our Roots specializes in tours of the city's Jewish sites.
Trakt Guide Office
Tel: (022) 827 8069.
Website: www.trakt.com.pl
Our Roots
Tel: (022) 620 0556.
Website: www.our-roots.jewish.org.pl
Bus tours
Mazurkas Travel offers half-day tours of the Old Town and Royal Route, with stops at Wilanów Palace or the Royal Castle. Pick up for tours is from a variety of city hotels. Bus 180 offers a cheap and pleasant unofficial sightseeing tour. Operating between Powazki Cemetery and Wilanów, the bus passes all the main monuments in Warsaw. Double-decker bus 100 passes by some of the city's biggest attractions, including the Old Town, Citadel and Warsaw Rising Museum. On weekends, Tram T, a renovated historical tram, covers the same ground at bus 100. The cost is the same as for a city transport ticket. Warsaw's tourist offices produce a brochure detailing times and routes of the buses and tram.
Mazurkas Travel
Tel: (022) 389 4183.
Website: www.mazurkas.com.pl
Boat tours
Have a pleasant, relaxing jaunt on the Vistula River between May and September with Vistula Boat Trips.
Tel: (022) 697 7810.
Website: www.zegluga-stoleczna.pl
Other tours
Visitors can take a trip around the Old Town in a horse-drawn hackney cab or dorozki. These are run by individuals, licensed by the city, and wait for passengers at the Old Town Square. PiPiN offers vintage car and bicycle tours of Warsaw's major sites.
Tel: 0510 432 564.
Website: www.pipin.pl
