Where to Stay in Warsaw (Best Places & Areas)

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Warsaw | Neighborhoods & Areas | Tips | FAQ

Warsaw is one of my favorite cities, and it will be my pleasure to share my knowledge of “The Phoenix City” with you!

If it’s your first time visiting Warsaw, I recommend staying in the Centrum (aka Śródmieście) neighborhood. Centrum is the most central and has the best combination of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. 

Motel One Warsaw – Chopin is my top pick for a hotel in Centrum (and in all of Warsaw), because of its central location and excellent balance of low cost and high comfort.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg of great hotels in Warsaw, though! Read on to see my breakdown of the pros and cons of Warsaw’s neighborhoods. But first, a quick list of my favorite hotels in Warsaw:

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Best Places to Stay in Warsaw

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks for Warsaw: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – Motel One Warsaw – Chopin
• 🗺️ Best Location – Motel One Warsaw – Chopin
• 💻 Best for Digital Nomads – a&o Warszawa
• 💎 Best Luxury Hotel – InterContinental Warszawa
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Best for Families – Hotel Reytan
• 💼 Best for Business – Holiday Inn- Warsaw City Centre
• 🛎️ Best Boutique – Old Town Kanonia Hostel
• 🏛️ Best Near Warsaw Rising Museum – Crowne Plaza – Warsaw 
• 🛏️ Best Budget – a&o Warszawa

🏡 Prefer an apartment rental? Search apartment rentals in Centrum (my #1 neighborhood).

Or scroll down for a deep dive into the pros (and cons) of each area of Warsaw:

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Warsaw

Warsaw sits on the banks of the Vistula River. The city center, Centrum (aka Śródmieście) stands a short distance west of the historic Old Town (Stare Miasto). To the west of the city center, the urban cityscape continues in the Wola neighborhood. Zoliborz, a quiet residential area, lies to the north of the Old Town. Across the Vistula, Praga is the trendy part of town. 

Further south from the city center, Mokotów has a number of parks and green spaces. The peaceful, historic Wilanów neighborhood lies further south along the Vistula from Mokotów.

Centrum (Śródmieście)

👉 Best Area For First-Time Visitors | ✨ Best Centrum Hotels: Motel One Warsaw-Chopin • InterContinental Warszawa • Hotel Polonia Palace

The city center is the best place for first-time visitors to Warsaw. It has the best variety of accommodations (including several luxury hotels) and an endless array of attractions and restaurants. Gościniec is a top pick for traditional Polish cuisine, bright interiors, and affordable prices.

Motel One Warsaw-Chopin is one of the top-ranked Warsaw properties on Booking, because of its centrality, vast array of amenities, upscale aesthetics, and reasonable rates.. 

If you want to indulge a little, consider the InterContinental Warszawa. This place has all the luxuries you could want from a 5-star hotel, including panoramic poolside views from the 43rd floor!

The first thing you’ll see from here, and many other parts of the city, is the Palace of Culture and Science. Other highlights include the Copernicus Science Center and the National Ethnographic Museum (a personal favorite–check out the colorful folk attire!).

Pros of Staying in Centrum:

• Lots of options for lodgings
• Tons of great restaurants, bars, and attractions
• Easy to get to other parts of the city on public transport

Cons of Staying in Centrum:

• More crowded and bustling
• Hotels tend to be more expensive than other areas

Old Town (Stare Miasto)

👉 Best Area For Cultural Attractions | ✨ Best Old Town Hotels: Hotel Verte • Old Town Kanonia Hostel & Apartments • Movo Old Town Apartments

Warsaw’s Old Town teems with colorful buildings, grand cathedrals, and cozy restaurants offering authentic – and affordable! – cuisine. Most of what you’ll see here was nearly, if not totally, leveled in World War II. But you’d hardly know that from how well it’s been restored. 

One of my favorite memories from Warsaw was wandering the narrow streets here, taking in the rich atmosphere.  

Speaking of WWII, there are antique stores here that overflow with military memorabilia (and more). Just be aware that certain souvenirs from the Axis powers may present issues at customs elsewhere in Europe.

Classical music lovers won’t want to miss the daily Chopin concerts in the Old Town. The Museum World of Illusion is a great place to go with kids (who might find old buildings and classical music boring).

Because Old Town is fairly small, there aren’t as many hotels to choose from. But what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. The elegant Hotel Verte is one of the fanciest luxury hotels in the city. Old Town Kanonia Hostel is more budget-friendly, offering bright, simple rooms and apartments.

Pros of Staying in Old Town:

• Historic buildings and a charming atmosphere
• Great place to shop for antiques and souvenirs
• Great restaurants
• Chopin concerts held daily

Cons of Staying in Old Town:

• Can be more crowded in summer
• Fewer hotels (and more expensive)

Praga

👉 Best Area For Bohemian Vibes | ✨ Best Praga Hotels: Hotel Sante • Hotel Hetman • Moxy Warsaw Praga

Warsaw’s modernity is not limited to skyscrapers and big-name corporations. It also has a funky, artsy side–the Praga neighborhood– that rivals any hipster haven on the West Coast. This is the place to go for street art and trendy restaurants and bars.

The Neon Museum is a popular sight here, with Cold War-era neon signs adding to the artsy vibe. There are, though, places in Praga that appeal to a wider audience than bohemians. The City Zoological Park is one of the best places in Warsaw to go with kids. The iconic National Stadium (you can’t miss it) hosts sports matches, concerts, and tours of the facility.

The decor at the Moxy Warsaw Praga fits the hip vibes of the neighborhood and is a great place if you’re part of the Moxy loyalty program. I also recommend Hotel Hetman for its clean, simple rooms at some of the best prices in Praga. 

Pros of Staying in Praga:

• Lots of great restaurants, bars, and cafes
• Affordable places to stay
• Trendy vibes

Cons of Staying in Praga:

• Some visitors may find the hipster vibes to be less uniquely Polish
• Further from the main attractions

Mokotów

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best Mokotów Hotels: Vienna House by Wyndham • Hotel Mokotów • Hotel Reytan

Families traveling with children will want to reserve a room in Mokotów. This neighborhood lies south of the city center and features several spacious parks. It’s the best place for picnics on warm summer days or finding a place to let the kids run off that extra energy..

Hotel Reytan is a great choice if you’re traveling with children. It has family rooms, an excellent breakfast, and is a stone’s throw from several parks.

The most famous park here is the Łazienki Królewskie. It features nearly 190 acres of green spaces punctuated by walking paths, statues, sports stadiums, and art galleries housed in former palaces.

Pros of Staying in Mokotów:

• Several large parks which are perfect for families with kids
• Plenty of apartments for those who prefer them to hotels
• Slower pace than the more central areas

Cons of Staying in Mokotów:

• Farther from the main attractions
• Fewer chain hotels for those with loyalty programs

Wola

👉 Best Area for Digital Nomads and Business Travelers| ✨ Best Wola Hotels: a&o Warszawa Wola • Crowne Plaza- Warsaw • Holiday Inn- Warsaw City Centre

Wola is the financial center of Warsaw, with some of the tallest skyscrapers housing globe-spanning corporations. It’s an excellent choice for business travel, with hotels such as Holiday Inn- Warsaw City Centre representing major chains.

Wola also maintains many ties to the past. The Warsaw Rising Museum preserves the memory of the heroic resistance to the Nazi occupation. There are more light-hearted museums, too, such as the Pinball Museum. Fabryka Norblina, an industrial-era factory, now functions as a sleek commercial center with chic cafes, cinemas, and a diverse food court.

There are also a lot of great coffee shops that are perfect for both relaxation and work. The budget-friendly a&o Warszawa Wola is my top pick for digital nomads. It has everything you need to make a cozy home away from home: laundry facilities, coworking space, and a shared kitchen (but also a cafe/bar if you’d rather not cook). There are dormitories, but also private rooms at some of the best prices in the entire city. 

Pros of Staying in Wola:

• Noteworthy and interesting museums
• Good selection of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops
• Great properties for business travel or long stays

Cons of Staying in Wola:

• Fewer Polish restaurants for those looking to try local cuisine
• Main streets can be busy around rush hours

Wilanów

👉 Best Area For Peace and Quiet | ✨ Best Wilanów Hotels: Wilanów Residence Apartments • Hotel Wilanów • Warsaw Apartments – Apartamenty Wilanów

Wilanów is a bit farther from the city center, so it’s perfect for repeat visits and enjoying a slower-paced trip to the Polish capital. Wilanów is known for the Wilanów Palace, called the “Polish Versailles” because of its regal architecture and elegant gardens.

There are many other parks in Wilanów. Overall, it’s one of the quietest neighborhoods in Warsaw, so it’s a good choice for families. It is, though, a little farther away than Mokotów and doesn’t have quite as many options for places to stay or eat.

Warsaw Apartments – Apartamenty Wilanów is a solid choice for anyone looking for simple, homelike accommodations in a quiet neighborhood. Rooms come with a full kitchen and the property is close to public transportation and expansive green spaces as well as the Vistula River. Hotel Wilanów is a solid pick for those who prefer hotels, featuring simple rooms, a delicious breakfast, and easy access to transportation.

Pros of Staying in Wilanów:

• Very peaceful, upscale neighborhood
• Lots of beautiful parks
• Close to the stunning Royal Palace

Cons of Staying in Wilanów:

• Farthest neighborhood from the city center
• Fewer options for places to stay or eat

Żoliborz

👉 Best Area For Budget Travelers | ✨ Best Żoliborz Hotels: Wawabed Aparthotel • Pepe Hostel, Warsaw • Art Apartments, Warsaw 

Żoliborz is just north of the city center, and a hidden gem for budget travelers. You won’t find many fancy hotels or world-renowned chains here. Instead, there are home-like apartments and cozy boutique hotels. 

In this area, Wawabed Aparthotel offers snug rooms that combine simplicity and elegance for budget-friendly prices. Pepe Hostel, Warsaw is a cozy boutique hotel featuring a unique atmosphere that blends homelike charm and classic Hollywood decor.

The slower-paced local vibe in Żoliborz is hard to beat, and  there’s still plenty to do and see here. For one, there are several museums, such as the Polish Army Museum and the Museum of Sport and Tourism. 

Urban beaches line the Vistula River here, offering great places to unwind on a sunny summer day. If the hustle and bustle of central Warsaw gets to be too much, Żoliborz is a great option.

Pros of Staying in Żoliborz:

• Low-key residential feel
• Most lodgings are budget-friendly
• Apartments feature kitchens if you’d rather cook

Cons of Staying in Żoliborz:

• Fewer hotels
• A little removed from the main attractions

Tips for Staying in Warsaw

Learn a little Polish

Polish is a notoriously difficult language. As a tourist, the first and biggest hurdle will be overcoming the deceptively familiar-looking alphabet. 

It’s the same one English speakers use, but with a few modifications and Polish-specific consonant clusters. Here’s a handy guide to help you get started. With the alphabet barrier overcome, signs and basic phrases will be much easier!

Public Transportation

Warsaw is walkable, but you might want to take public transportation too, especially if staying in one of the further neighborhoods. 

Tickets are available at all major stops. The easiest thing to do for most visitors is to purchase a several-day pass. These are good for every form of transport, so a ticket bought at a subway station works for the bus too.

Certain Antiques

Warsaw’s antique stories are a gold mine for history buffs, especially those of World War II. If you happen to collect any *ahem* German items from that war, know that you won’t be able to bring them into Germany. 

You might also have trouble with other European nations, so, if Poland’s not your last stop, plan accordingly.

Thankfully, the staff are helpful and can have your items shipped to your home, saving you a rather awkward experience at customs.

Conversion Rates

As of the writing of this article, the conversion of the złoty to dollars is 3.66  to 1.

Food, drinks, and other commodities are often cheaper than in America, so a sandwich and drink combo at a convenience store costing 20 złoty comes out to just under 5.50 bucks (and the quality is much better than your average 7-11). Not a bad deal!

Public Alcohol Consumption

Consuming alcohol in public is illegal in Poland. It might come as a surprise at first, given the generally more tolerant attitude toward alcohol in Eastern Europe. 

The law is not strictly enforced, but as a foreigner, you’re more likely to stand out if you infringe. It’s better to play it safe.

FAQs about Warsaw

What are the best areas in Warsaw for first-timers?

Old Town is a good place for first-timers because it puts you right in the middle of the main attractions. Wola is another good choice because of its affordable options, ease of transportation, and variety of restaurants.

What are the safest areas in Warsaw?

Warsaw is, overall, a very safe city. The more residential areas such as Żoliborz and Wilanów are among the safest neighborhoods to stay in if you are particularly concerned about safety in a new city.

What are the best parts if I’m on a budget? 

Żoliborz is the best place to stay on a budget, though Warsaw (and Poland in general) is much cheaper when compared to the USA. Wola is home to a&o Warszawa Wola, my personal pick for budget travel, but its luxury stays are often comparable to middle-of-the-road prices in the States.

Where should I stay with kids?

Mokotów has the most options for lodgings and food, as well as the largest parks. Wilanów is one of the quietest parts of the city. Żoliborz is closer to the city center than the previous two but retains a cozy everyday atmosphere.

What are the best areas for longer stays?

Wola is an excellent choice for business travelers or digital nomads staying in Warsaw. It has cafes, coworking spaces, and a cafe/bar. Żoliborz is also a solid choice because of its residential atmosphere and apartment stays.

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I hope you’ve gotten a lot from my Warsaw guide. It will be a good resource to come back to because Warsaw is the kind of city you can’t visit just once.

To learn why, read my essay about why Warsaw is my new favorite city.