The Rugged & Charming European City Rick Steves Calls A 'Diamond In The Rough'

When you picture a bustling city center filled with sleek skyscrapers, modern transit, hip eateries, and beautiful green spaces, Warsaw, Poland probably isn't the first destination that comes to mind. Yet, travel expert Rick Steves lovingly calls the gritty and captivating city "a diamond in the rough" on his blog. Home to a colorful Old Town, inviting parks, high-end shopping, and a thriving tech scene, Warsaw may not have been on your travel radar, but it certainly should be, and here's why.

Most travelers immediately associate Warsaw (or Warszawa) with gray communist era buildings and streets still ravaged by World War II — they may worry about a language barrier or assume locals don't speak English. As a past visitor to Warsaw myself, I can say that this couldn't be further from the truth. The Warsaw of today is not the Warsaw of the past. The vibrant city is teeming with friendly locals who are easy to communicate with, boasts a thriving foodie scene, and holds a passion for local Classical music genius, Chopin. Warsaw lives up to its nickname of the "Phoenix City," and truly shows how it has risen from the ashes of destruction after being up to 90% destroyed by 1945.

Travelers wanting to immerse themselves in culture, history, food, and music — look no further than Warsaw. Steves' blog article goes on to say that Warsaw is "safer, wealthier, and happier than ever." And he's right. Varsovians can be seen fashionably dressed while strolling along Nowy Świat Street or clubbing in the glitzy New Town under the glowing lights of the skyscrapers above. It's easy to see why Warsaw is now one of the top ranked vacation spots in Europe.

Easily reached by public transit in about 30 minutes from the international airport, Warszawa Centralna is the city's main train station and smack dab in the heart of the New Town. As soon as you step foot out into the street, you'd never imagine Warsaw to look this way. Large skyscrapers glistening with shiny glass windows, bustling streets with business people rushing to their next meetings, and modern public transit whizzing by. It's hard to believe that this city had such a tumultuous past and was almost considered to be left as a war memorial and not rebuilt at all.

A visit to Warsaw is not complete without visiting its colorful Old Town. Now, despite the name, Warsaw's Old Town had to be completely rebuilt after the absolute devastation from World War II. The Office for the Reconstruction of the Capital painstakingly planned and rebuilt the historic Old Town using detailed paintings from the 18th century. Make sure to take your time, get lost in the Old Town streets, and bask in the beauty of the large market square with the famous Syrenka (mermaid) that sits proudly in the center, protecting Warsaw with her sword and shield.

Warsaw is also home to some incredibly delicious and hearty cuisine, making it one of the best cities foodies need to add to their bucket list. With so many restaurants and cafés to choose from, you will be spoiled for choice, so why not try some pillowy soft pierogi, the popular tangy, yet savory soup, Żurek, and the crispy pork cutlet, kotlet schabowy to fully immerse yourself in the Polish food scene.

After indulging in a few pierogi, put on your walking shoes and hit the streets. Warsaw is filled with incredible hidden gems to discover, and being such a walkable city, you can easily do so on foot if the weather is nice. In the winter, public transit can be a lifesaver during the harsher winter months that Poland is known for.

To see a side of Warsaw that was fairly untouched during the war, cross the Śląsko-Dąbrowski bridge from Old Town, over the Vistula River, which takes you to the gritty Praga District. The rugged Art Nouveau buildings still have bullet holes and peeling paint, but the streets are filled with hip restaurants and unique clothing shops. To feel like royalty, why not walk the Royal Route, which takes you from the north to the south of the city, and connects three former residences of Polish rulers: The Royal Castle, Łazienki Królewskie, and Wilanów Palace. During your stroll, you'll also pass by many points of interest, such as the Holy Cross Church — where Frédéric Chopin's heart is on display in one of the church pillars — the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Kazimierz Palace, St. Joseph's Church, and even the Presidential Palace.

For a unique shopping mall experience, head to Elektrownia Powiśle, a converted historic power plant that was opened in 1904 to power Warsaw. The city is still one of Europe's greatest undiscovered destinations, and with so many world-class museums, an amazing food scene, opulent architecture, and friendly locals, this will certainly change in the upcoming years. Gdańsk is another great destination that Rick Steves raves about in Poland.