Choosing where to stay in Warsaw can be a challenge. One of the biggest cities in Central Europe, Warsaw stretches far & wide. The best hotels in Warsaw scatter throughout its diverse areas, districts, and neighbourhoods.
Ready to sort out your Warsaw accommodations? Search for the perfect Warsaw hotel with this complete guide to the best places to stay in Warsaw by area & neighbourhood.
Looking for more ideas for your trip? Check out our other hotel & accommodations guides and our Poland Travel Guide for recommendations on when to visit, where to go & what to do!
Best places to stay in Warsaw: The top hotels & areas
Does Warsaw’s immense size & sprawl send you into shivers? Let me allay your fears: Sorting out where to stay in Warsaw isn’t as difficult as it first seems.
Yes, at first glance, the map of Warsaw looks like a bundle of tangled yarn. But when it comes to nailing down your accommodations in Warsaw, the answer’s easy. The city centre and its surrounding districts are where you want to be.
The best areas to stay in Warsaw include:
- Srodmiescie is Warsaw’s city centre. The area is home to Warsaw’s main transport hubs and many of its most compelling attractions. Srodmiescie is the best choice for travellers visiting Warsaw on a time crunch. It’s also a great option for anyone looking to dip into the cultural side of the Polish capital.
- Stare Miasto (Old Town) is technically part of Srodmiescie. Thanks to its charming old-world vibe, though, this lovely area deserves a mention on its own. Completely rebuilt after WWII, Stare Miasto is Warsaw at its most beautiful & historical. Old Town is a favourite area for travellers who love sightseeing. If you’re enchanted by classical European charms, this neighbourhood’s it.
- Praga was once practically a no-go zone. This burgeoning neighbourhood is located on the eastern banks of the Vistula across from the Centrum. Praga is becoming one of the coolest areas to stay in Warsaw, thanks to its artistic & bohemian vibe. Praga’s still a little rough around the edges. But travellers into nightlife, music, art & counterculture will love basing themselves in this area.
- Mokotow is located south of Srodmiescie. This leafy residential neighbourhood is a favourite for travellers. It offers a quieter & more laid-back stay in Warsaw without getting too far outside the tourist centre.
- Wilanow is another good alternative to the city centre neighbourhood. If Mokotow still feels too close to the Centrum, this further-flung area might be the perfect choice for where to stay in Warsaw. Wilanow is home to the famous palace of the same name. It’s one of the city’s more upscale areas and offers quality accommodations. It’s a great choice for anyone who want to spend more time in the city and catch Warsaw’s softer side.
Srodmiescie
✓ Best area to stay for visiting Warsaw on a time-crunch & urban travel lovers
Whether you’ve got one day in Warsaw or a week, your first impressions of Poland’s capital will form in Srodmiescie.
Srocmiescie is home to the city’s main transport hub (Warszawa Centralna). You’ll also find many of the top attractions in Warsaw and most of the best hotels in Warsaw here.
Srodmiescie is the best area to stay in Warsaw for first-time travellers. The district is also a fantastic option for visitors who love experiencing all that modern European cities offer. From dining to shopping to nightlife, you’ll discover it all here.
Staying here, you’ll be close to everything you’ll need. Nearby, you can check out Warsaw’s historical charms in Old Town. Or you can enjoy the city’s ever-growing culinary & craft beer scene in Nowy Swiat or Powisle.
Attractions in Srodmiescie: Old Town, Nowy Swiat, Zlote Tarasy, Lazienki Park, Belvedere Palace, Ogrod Saski (Saxon Garden), Presidential Palace, Pałac Zamoyskich, Palace of Culture & Science
Recommended hotels in Srodmiescie
There’s a wide array of accommodations in Srodmiescie. From budget hotels & hostels to the top luxury 5-star hotels in Warsaw, you’ll find it in the city centre.
Warsaw is hardly as expensive as other European cities. But, because of its central location, Srodmiescie is the city’s priciest area. Mid-range & luxury travellers will love the selection here. Price-conscious visitors will want to look for better deals further from the centre though.
- ibis Styles Warszawa Centrum is a newer hotel on the scene. It shows off a stylish vibe without wreaking havoc on your budget. Rooms are colourful (maybe too much so for some!), spacious, and comfortable.
- Hotel Indigo Warsaw Nowy Świat is another chic boutique-style hotel in the city centre. It’s located in the hip Nowy Swiat area where a multitude of bars, pubs, and restaurants lies at your disposal. Besides the stylish rooms, there’s a handful of great extra amenities here. The 24-hour gym, sauna, on-site restaurants, and bar provide excellent value for your stay.
- InterContinental Warszawa is a fantastic luxury pick in the heart of the city. This 5-star hotel is everything you’ve ever wanted for your stay in Warsaw. You’ll find plenty of space in each of the hotel’s stylish rooms. Many rooms feature extravagant skyline views out of their large picture windows. Other quirks include the luxurious 43rd-floor indoor pool & hot tub. Settle for a night in at the award-winning Platter. The restaurant serves up delectable modern Polish & international cuisine.
- Raffles Europejski Warsaw is among the grandest Warsaw hotels. This 5-star gem has been tickin’ since 1857 through thick and thin. The hotel’s rooms are brilliantly renovated and fitted with modern decor and fixtures. In the true spirit of classic European hospitality, the Raffles extends its 24-hour signature butler service to all guests. It puts the property heads above any in the city.
Stare Miasto (Old Town)
✓ Best area to stay for first-time visitors and culture lovers
Can’t get enough of Europe’s classical charms? Stare Miasto (Old Town) might be your little slice of heaven in Warsaw.
Located in the northeast corner of Srodmiescie, Stare Miasto is Warsaw’s most eye-catching district.
Wander about the area’s cobblestoned streets & alleyways. You’ll be face-to-face with colourful historical buildings. Among them, you’ll uncover cafés and boutiques that conjure up the spirit of old Warsaw.
A word of warning to those turned off by inauthenticity: Old Town Warsaw is a reconstruction. The original Stare Miasto was almost completely destroyed during the World War II air raids on Warsaw. Even so, what you’ll see today is nothing short of lovely and faithful to the original.
Attractions in Stare Miasto: Royal Castle, Barbican, Castle Square, Adam Mickiewicz Museum Of Literature, Presidential Palace, Grand Theatre, Museum of Warsaw, Sigismund’s Column
Recommended hotels in Stare Miasto (Old Town)
With Stare Miasto’s compact size, there are limited accommodations here. Many of the properties offered in Old Town are apartments rather than hotels. It’s more challenging to secure availability when booking without plenty of notice.
- Adele Old Town Apartment is a newly-renovated apartment decorated in a minimalist, Scandinavian style. The apartment is perfect for families and anyone travelling with a group of friends. It sleeps up to six people.
- Apartament MnW is a simple and spotless apartment. It’s a superb option for couples and solo travellers. The apartment includes basic self-catering amenities, including a fridge and small ceramic cooktop.
- Castle Inn is one of the only “proper” hotels in the district. These boutique accommodations offer a mixed bag of quirky, modern or regal rooms designed by local artists. Most rooms feature views of historical buildings. Outside your window, you’ll see landmarks like the Royal Castle and St. John Cathedral.
- Luxury Apartments Mondrian Market Square I is a lovely apartment in the heart of the area. It showcases the dashing looks of a 5-star luxury hotel with a more personal touch. All apartments are self-catering with a full kitchen and laundry facilities.
Praga
✓ Best area to stay for nightlife & alternative culture
Are the tourist trappings of Old Town and sanitized modernism of the Centrum not your thing? Jump onto the bandwagon and make Praga your Warsaw home base of choice.
Praga was once one of Warsaw’s most notorious districts, rife with crime and poverty. Today, Praga is slowly becoming one of the city’s hippest districts. It’s attracted a variety of artists who’ve transformed the district’s fabric.
Unlike much of the city, Praga was spared from total annihilation in WWII. Many of the area’s dilapidated pre-war warehouses & factories have found new life as art galleries & nightclubs.
On top of its status as an alternative culture hub in Warsaw, Praga is becoming a popular place to eat. The area around Zabkowska and Targowa offers a great selection of local food & drink.
Attractions in Praga: Zabkowska Street, Bazar Różyckiego, Neon Museum, The Soho Factory, Hangar 646, Muzeum Warszawskiej Pragi, Kino Praha, Warsaw Zoo
Recommended hotels in Praga
Like in Stare Miasto, you’ll find more owner rental properties than traditional hotels or guesthouses in Praga. With its more “fringe” status among the best areas to stay in Warsaw, you can also expect lower prices in Praga compared to Srodmiescie.
- Vava Hostel is a budget-friendly hostel/guesthouse. It offers both private rooms with private bathrooms and shared accommodations to hit the needs of all backpackers.
- ARTHOTEL Stalowa 52 is a beautiful boutique hotel located in a 100-year-old tenement house. It features unique & stylish design that reflects Praga’s recent rebirth. The on-site bistro, serving modern Polish cuisine, is a favourite among guests.
- Moxy Warsaw Praga is a new offering from Marriott’s popular value boutique hotel brand. The property lets loose a hip, industrial-influenced design. It fits in perfectly with Praga’s own vibe and story.
Mokotow
✓ Best area to stay for relaxation & more a local experience
Want a quieter alternative for your Warsaw accommodations? Head south of Srodmiescie to the district of Mokotow.
Sure, Mokotow lacks the big-name tourist sites and the buzz of other central areas. This residential district is the perfect place, however, to experience local life in Warsaw without the overwhelm.
One of the best reasons to stay in Mokotow is to wallow in its green spaces. Beautiful parks in the area include Park Morskie Oko and Czerniakowskie Lake.
Mokotow is also a great place to catch a wave of local cuisine. The area is home to a few of Warsaw’s famous “milk bars” (bar mleczny). These cafeteria-style restaurants hail from Poland’s communist era. They were created to provide cheap & hearty home-cooked meals to workers.
Attractions in Mokotow: Park Morskie Oko, Czerniakowskie Lake, Museum of Polish Military Technology, Galeria Mokotów
Recommended hotels in Mokotow
Much like Warsaw’s other more residential areas outside of the city centre, accommodations in Mokotow are limited. Expect to find more apartment rentals here than hotels.
- Apartament Mokotow is an excellent value apartment. It’s conveniently located next to a metro station. The unit is self-catering with a full kitchen available for guests.
- Hampton By Hilton Warsaw Mokotow is a modern hotel featuring clean & spacious rooms. There’s also a handful of helpful amenities here like an on-site gym & restaurant.
- A&J Lux Apartament is a spectacular self-catering apartment. It’s equipped with a full kitchen and private bathroom. For the ultimate in relaxation, enjoy the furnished terrace.
Wilanow
✓ Best area to stay to escape the buzz of Warsaw
Although less convenient than other top areas to stay in Warsaw, the district of Wilanow has a lot going for it. Wilanow appeals most to travellers looking for an ultra-quiet local experience in the fringes of the centre.
Whereas other areas of Warsaw (like Praga) can seem run-down, Wilanow is one of the Polish capital’s most upscale districts. No place captures this spirit more than the district’s namesake, Wilanow Palace. Often called “The Polish Versailles,” this majestic palace is Warsaw’s most stunning building. It shows off a grand Baroque style that competes with some of Europe’s finest architectural specimens.
Attractions in Wilanow: Wilanow Palace, Poster Museum, Museum of John Paul II, Museum of King John III’s Palace
Recommended hotels in Wilanow
Wilanow is located away from the top tourist sites and the city centre. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the selection of accommodations here is minimal.
In Wilanow, expect to find mostly smaller local pensions and owner rentals. Most options sit in quiet residential pockets where you can leave the clamour of the city behind.
- Platinum Hotel & Residence Wilanów is a spectacularly-valued hotel featuring clean & well-appointed rooms. Upgrade to a studio apartment for a self-catering option.
- MarcoPolo House is a stylish and modern hotel backing onto parkland. It features a covered sunroom for your relaxation.
- Hotel Na Uboczu is a quiet property built on a relaxing green space. It’s perfect for bestowing a feeling of escaping the bustle of the city.
Summary: The best hotels in Warsaw
Need some last-minute ideas? Here’s a quick summary of some of the best hotels in Warsaw…
- Looking for a central hotel that won’t break the bank? Check out the brand-new ibis Styles Warszawa Centrum. The hotel features a radical style that’ll knock your socks off. And it does it while being gentle on your travel budget.
- Need a stylish mid-range alternative? Book yourself into the Hotel Indigo Warsaw Nowy Świat. This sleek boutique hotel rocks out in the happenin’ Nowy Swiat area of Srodmiescie. It’s the perfect place to get acquainted with the city’s hip food & drink scene.
- Want the best luxury in Warsaw? Look no further than the InterContinental Warszawa! This 5-star hotel will bowl you over with its stylish modern rooms. It’s also beset with luxurious amenities, including a 43rd-floor indoor pool with epic Warsaw skyline views.
