Nowy Swiat (New World) is a part of an important thoroughfare, which runs from the Royal Castle to Wilanow—the royal summer residence. It is a beautiful street with wonderful 19th-century architecture. Here you can find Warsaw's most exclusive shops and boutiques. Later chill out in one of the many cafes lining the street and watch the beautiful people go by.
The Zacheta gallery was built in 1900 as the headquarters for the Warsaw Fine Arts Society, who were active in promoting and popularizing Polish talent. The building was designed by Stefan Szyller and its architecture is predominantly Renaissance with Classical elements. Originally, only part of the design was actually finished, but in 1998 a new wing was added. During the Second World War, the gallery's collection was sent to the National Gallery for safe keeping, but it was never returned and the Zacheta now hosts high quality temporary contemporary art exhibitions.
Before it was the 'Palace on the Water' at the heart of Lazienki Park, this scenic spot hosted a bathhouse built by 18th-century aristocrat Stanislas Lubomirski. The neoclassical structure standing today dates back to 1766 when King Stanislaw Poniatowski commissioned it as a summer residence. Architectural details like Corinthian columns and artwork-heavy interiors contribute to the beauty that Łazienki Palace has to offer, not to mention the select decorative pieces from the original bathhouse. Highlights of the palace and museum include the ballroom and rotunda, which contains statues of four Polish kings known for creating prosperity, designed by Jan Kamsetzer and Merlini respectively.
The Warsaw Zoo is a good place for those who are tired with the hustle and bustle of city life. Though the zoo is situated close to the city center, it's a real fresh air oasis. There are close to 500 species of animals from all over the world. You can see Polish lynxes, wildcats and aurochs as well as zebras, polar bears and various monkeys. Special education programs are an added attraction for the kids.
This beautiful, late Baroque style church was founded in 1688 by King Jan III Sobieski (who crushed the Turks at Vienna in 1683) and his wife. Originally decorated with frescoes, it is now plain white, which underlines its elegant shapes, which are more Classicist than Baroque. Inside you'll find the tomb of Princess Marie Caroline de Bouillon, the grand daughter of Jan III Sobieski and the last representative of this famous, wealthy family. Behind the church and attached to the convent there is a splendid garden sheltered by walls, which have been preserved since the 17th Century.
Opulent, magnificent and otherworldly, the Museum of King John III's Palace is, indubitably, one of the most beautiful buildings to have ever existed in Warsaw. Bearing a sprawling, flaxen visage topped by gleaming green roofs, the palace forges a seamless synergy between architectural grandeur and cultural heritage. Unlike many other structures to have existed during its time, the palace received a massive facelift after World War II and stands today as a striking canopy hearkening back to the city's glorious heyday. Its facade a vision with delicately-carved sculptures, the palace is fronted by expansive, well-pruned gardens which contain a wealth of other scenic sites like the orangery and the Chinese pavilion. The interior of the palace is just as marvelous, where pristine white sculptures reach out to elaborately-carved ceilings, while gilded furnishings cast a warm glow throughout its very fabric. Sheltering a branch of the Warsaw National Museum, the palace is home to an extensive and well-preserved collection of paintings, collectibles and royal memorabilia. Of noteworthy mention is the Gallery of Polish Portraiture housed within the palace, which is a resplendent repository of poised portraits dating back to the 16th Century.