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Birthplace of Chopin and Marie Curie, Warsaw has been pivotal in Poland's cultural and political evolution, from royal seat to communist-era capital to modern democratic center. It's reconstruction earned the Old Town UNESCO status in 1980.
Should you travel across the other side of the world to work from Warsaw? Probably not. But if you're already in Europe it ticks a lot of boxes for a month long mid summer stay.
I would be lying if I said I had a lifelong ambition to visit Warsaw.
However, with six weeks to fill between two weddings in the UK, it seemed like a reasonable and relatively local choice to fill a gap during the summer.
Warsaw still offers good value for accommodation compared to the capitals of Western European cities. With a bit of searching, you can find a quality apartment in a decent area for under €1,000 a month on Airbnb, which is inconceivable in neighbouring countries.
As a more unconventional destination for tourists, the city feels less affected by the seasonal fluctuations typical of peak holiday periods.
If you have WeWork access, the company offers outstanding coverage with five outlets spread across the city, all providing 24/7 access. Having visited all of them, I recommend the space at Menica Legacy Tower, which I’ve discussed in greater detail below.
Additionally, there are many other operators in the city, reflecting Poland’s status as a technology hub in the region.
If you're visiting from a major Western European city, Warsaw still offers better value, though having visited Poland several times over the past decade, that gap is diminishing.
Meals from the cities numerous street food-style market outlets cost about 40 Zloty (£7.89), while prices in specialty coffee shops are almost identical to those in London.
Should you wish, you can eat out very inexpensively, with Bar Mleczny providing excellent value, typical Polish meals costing around 30 Zloty (£5.90).
On average, alcohol in bars and restaurants is still substantially cheaper, with local beer available for as little as 12 Zloty (£2.37).
When comparing Warsaw to other world capitals, it does not rank favourably in terms of excitement. If you’re looking to be constantly swept up in bustling activity, it will likely fall short of expectations. As a destination, there just isn't anything particularly distinctive that would justify flying across the world to experience.
Compared to nearby capitals, it feels less immersive and memorable than Budapest but notably more energetic than Riga. This relaxed atmosphere may be attributed to its relatively low population density by international standards. Most public spaces, even in the city centre, and the metro rarely feel crowded.
However, these factors make it a highly liveable place to base yourself.
Poland operates on Central European Time (CET), aligning with the rest of Western Europe.
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Compared to other cities, wherever you choose to stay in Warsaw is unlikely to dramatically impact your experience.
The city is easy to navigate, and no areas possess radically different architecture or characteristics that would affect the quality of your stay.
If you want to be as close to the centre as possible, I'd recommend staying on the Eastern side of the river.
Situated adjacent to the Fabryka Norblina food, retail, and entertainment hub, WeWork occupies the entirety of this eight-floor block, with large communal spaces on both the first and seventh floors. The first floor features a spacious, quiet, and well-lit open seating area for all access members, along with a large outdoor balcony providing panoramic views across the city.
There are numerous lunch options in the immediate vicinity, with over ten street food outlets in Fabryka and other restaurants serving the commercial offices in the Wola area.
Having visited each of the other locations numerous times, this one feels like it offers the best balance of space, ambience, and facilities. Each site across the city has a dedicated barista from 08:00 to 15:00, serving surprisingly good coffee from local Etno Cafe.
Krucza 50 - Potentially the best situated in the city, close to the Centrum metro station. However, the communal area on the second floor isn't the best for focused work.
Hotel Europejski - Located in a beautiful building from the 1800s just moments away from the Old Town, this site suffers from a lack of ambience during the daytime. There are limited lunch options nearby, with few other offices in the vicinity.
Grzybowska 60 - A great option during the summer months, featuring a large balcony area on the 8th floor.
Grzybowska 62 - The smallest of the sites in the city. While there is seating for All Access Members, it feels more like a common area for the private office facilities in the rest of the building.
While these are in the south of the country on the border with Slovakia, it's hard to imagine many better trips you can take within Poland.
Comfortable, direct trains run daily to Zakopane from Warsaw. This small town is set at the base of the Tatra Mountains, making it the perfect place for a few nights of hiking in spectacular, alpine-like environments.
'Bar mleczny' establishments first appeared in post-war Poland during the communist era. They were created as part of the government's effort to provide affordable meals to workers and students. The name "milk bar" comes from their original purpose of serving dairy-based meals, though their menus have expanded over time.
Today, they are great places to sample a wide range of national cuisine and seemingly frequented by people of all walks of life. These types of restaurants can be found all cross the city, Mleczarnia Jerozolimska represents a partocularly convenient option with a cental location and McDonalds style touch screen ordering.
Expect a no frills ambience, but generous portions of hearty food, served promptly.
August felt like the perfect time to visit the city and make the most of its outdoor spaces. Most days featured clear, sunny conditions with temperatures in the high 20s.
There's little reason I would want to return to Warsaw outside of the summer months with the Polish winters being notoriously uninspiring.
Whilst Warsaw may stand as something of an exception within Poland, as of 2024 it presents a notably more cosmopolitan atmosphere than certain conservative, immigration-sceptic social media accounts might lead you to believe.
The ongoing war across the border has resulted in a large Ukrainian diaspora in the city. There's also a notable Vietnamese community, alongside a diverse mix of international students and Belarusians.
As a city that’s not particularly popular with tourists, and even less so for remote workers, you're unlikely to encounter too many digital nomads. However, as a commercial hub, it does attract a number of expats to work in the city.
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