Sightseeing in Warsaw is generally concentrated on the left bank of the Vistula River. The UNESCO World Heritage Old Town is unmissable - quite literally, seeing as many of the city's attractions and a whole host of cafes, bars and restaurants are located within its environs.

The Old Town is both a physical and symbolic expression of the city's spirit and determination to come back from the brink of annihilation at the end of WWII. Most visitors to Warsaw spend their first day strolling around the Old Town, where you can find the opulent and impressive Royal Castle, once home of the Polish kings. Outside the historic centre is Wilanów, a charming palace on a grand scale, which was modelled on Versailles.

For many people, the very symbol of the city is the voluminous Palace of Culture and Science, which was gifted to Warsaw by Stalin. The viewing deck on the 30th floor is accessible via express lifts and this is the best venue for visitors to get acquainted with the layout of the city.

Warsaw boasts a number of green lungs and Łazienki Park is one of the most relaxing, with its Palace on the Water and boating lake. The city is also home to an impressive array of cultural attractions, with a string of museums, including the National Museum, Warsaw Rising Museum, Chopin Museum and the haunting Pawiak Museum, which was used as a prison under the Nazis.

Punkt Informacji Turystycznej (Tourist Information Point)
Central Railway Station, Aleje Jerozolimskie 54
Tel: (022) 9431.
Website: www.warsawtour.pl
Opening hours: Daily 0800-2000 (May-Sep); daily 0800-1800 (Oct-Apr).

Service is friendly, efficient, and the staff speak English. They can also make hotel reservations, and produce a weekly leaflet listing the latest on cultural events and activities for the week.

There are three other tourist information points: at the airport arrivals hall, Etiuda Terminal, and near the Old Town at Ulica Krakowskie Przedmieście 39.

A privately run Tourist Information Center, Plac Zamkowy 1/13 (tel: (022) 635 1881; website: www.wcit.waw.pl), offers guidebooks and guided tours in many languages for a fee.

You can buy the Warsaw Tourist Card from tourist points and some hotels. This enables you to enjoy free city public transport and free or discounted entrance fees to many museums and select hotels. It is available for one or three days.