Poland’s capital is often ignored by visitors to the country in favour of the historic royal city of Kraków. But we think that is a real shame: Warsaw is a wonderful city, with its very own UNESCO World Heritage Site at its historic heart.
It is a city that has seen some dramatic events over the years and has many fascinating historical sites. With incredible architecture, great museums and galleries and peaceful parks, there is more than enough to keep visitors happy.
Here is Quingo Scooter’s pick of some of the best things to do during a getaway in the Polish capital.
Roam around the Old Town
It is no surprise that the Old Town of Warsaw is also one of the most popular destinations for visitors. The area was built in the 12th century and is the historic heart of the city. If you love architecture, you will love the Old Town: from stunning townhouses to the Royal Castle itself, this is an area steeped in history.
Warsaw’s Old Town Square is packed with many fascinating shops and street sellers. One of the most popular spots for a photo in the square is the mermaid statue (syrenka), a symbol of the city which has been there since the 1800s.
Getting around on a scooter in Warsaw’s historic centre is surprisingly simple too. There are cobbles in many parts of the Old Town of course, but they are generally large and fairly level, making the going relatively smooth for scooter users.
Explore the Royal Castle
For a long time, Kraków was the residence of the Polish royal family, but they made their home in the Royal Castle in Warsaw from the 16th century. The building you see today is actually a relatively modern reconstruction. The Nazis destroyed it in the Second World War, and then it took another forty years for it to be re-built in the Communist era.
It is a beautiful building, packed full of historic art from old masters including Rembrandt. There are a number of tours available to the different areas of the castle, but we recommend that you get in touch with the team there first to discuss your own individual mobility requirements. You can either call them on 00 48 22 35 55 338 or email them here.
Soak up the atmosphere of the Royal Łazienki Park
Warsaw is blessed with one of the loveliest parks we’ve ever visited – the magnificent Royal Łazienki Park. As the name suggests, it has a number of gorgeous palaces to explore, and the park itself is simply a very special place to spend time in. It is a peaceful haven in the middle of what can sometimes feel like a big, busy city.
This is far more than just a park however. It is a creative space too. It is home to the very best of Polish culture – from regular open-air concerts of live music by the Polish composer Chopin, to the wonderful portraits in the Royal Picture gallery.
Take in the Warsaw Uprising Museum
One of the most dramatic and tragic periods in Warsaw’s recent history was the 1944 uprising by the Polish resistance against the Nazi occupation. Hundreds of thousands ultimately died during the battle for control of the city, most of them civilians.
While the subject is a dark and difficult one, it is a fundamentally important part of understanding both the city and the struggles that have shaped it. This museum is a great tribute to the bravery of the ordinary people of Warsaw and is well worth a visit.
The building can be a little tricky to find your way around, but much of the museum is accessible by lift. It is an unmissable experience for anyone who wants to understand more about the history of the country.
Did you know?
The city of Warsaw has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, giving it its nickname of ‘the Phoenix city’.
Getting to Warsaw
Getting to Warsaw is straightforward from the UK, with regular direct flights from Bristol, Liverpool and the London airports. Once you arrive at Warsaw Chopin Airport, there are excellent facilities for those of us who use a mobility scooter. The airport has recently updated its service for passengers with reduced mobility.
There is also the standard European Union special assistance service, which you will need to book at least 48 hours before your flight. Find out more here.
From the airport, you have a number of options for getting into Warsaw itself. There are taxis available outside Terminal A, as well as accessible public buses. Alternatively, there are also regular trains into the city centre. If you need help accessing the railway station, then use the special assistance service phone on the way from the terminal to call the team.
When it comes to getting around the city itself, you will find that the metro system is also remarkably easy to negotiate. The front carriage at least is usually accessible, and there are lifts to stations on both lines of the underground.
The news in terms of the buses around Warsaw is even better – they’re all accessible and the driver will always lower the ramp for you to get on or off.
There is a comprehensive guide to getting around the city on public transport here.
Travelling with scooters
The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.
Share your accessible getaways abroad with us
Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter. All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847
