In the most popular spots of Warsaw, you can find menus in English, take unique tours in various foreign languages and encounter many other fellow foreigners. In the past decades, Warsaw has without a doubt become much more accommodating to foreign tourists since I was little.
While it allows for easier travel to Poland, this also means that areas like Warsaw’s Old Town have become quite touristy. And while there are lots of great options for touristy things to do in Warsaw, some people don’t like following the crowds and exploring cities in the same old ways.
So, for these people, I have compiled a list of fun and unique tours in Warsaw that don’t involve a traditional tour guide just listing off facts about the city and its history. [Although disclaimer: I’m not saying you shouldn’t do that—the story of Warsaw is an impressive one!]
Here are six tours that you’re guaranteed not to forget and that will make your visit to Warsaw more unique!
[This post contains affiliate links.]
See the city from a different vantage point on the Wisła River. Not only will you get to see Warsaw from a unique viewpoint, but you’ll also be doing it on a unique boat.
The Galar boat this tour takes place on is a traditional wooden sailboat. This boat is more cozy and intimate than the regular commercial tourist boats, so it will most definitely enhance your cruise along the river.
The ride itself will not only show you the city’s landmark buildings, but you’ll also get a better view of all the nature along the river.
If you have a competitive nature and are looking for an exciting challenge, the best way for you to explore this city is with the city discovery game. This is possibly one of the most unique self-guided tours you’ll find in Warsaw!
You will receive the game through a phone app. This app will guide you to secret spots throughout the city. That is, provided you can solve the puzzles and riddles that will unlock these sites.
The game will teach you more about the city’s culture and history, show you great spots to explore and make you practice your riddle-solving skills.
And if you don’t like being rushed through a city by a tour guide, this is an especially great option. Take the tour at your own pace and have the freedom to linger in some of the locations.
If you prefer private tours and want to take one in style (and a mode of transportation very unique to Warsaw’s past), this tour is for you.
Your private guide will give you a 4-hour tour through all of the sites worth seeing in Warsaw, such as the Old Town, the Praga district and the remains of the Jewish ghetto. Your tour will cover recent Warsaw history—like World War II and the Communist era—and everything else you need to know about the city.
This is an especially good tour if you’re short on time, since you will cover much more ground in the retro Fiat 125p car than you would walking. Included in the tour are a local guide, hotel pickup, photos, a Polish doughnut and a vodka shot.
What more can you ask from a tour!?
The Praga District is one of the only parts of the city that wasn’t destroyed completely in World War II. For this reason alone, this district is worth a visit, and the youthful vibe of parts of this neighborhood contributes to its allure.
Praga lies on the other side of the Wisła River from the popular tourist spots like Old Town. This means it’s a bit father away from everything else, so it’s nice to take driven tour. But don’t take a boring, regular bus—take a retro, historical Jelcz “cucumber” bus!
On this tour, you will learn more about the Praga district, visit the hip Soho Factory, a chocolate factory, a former vodka factory, a former black market and more! Also, if you’re into urban art, this tour is for you because the buildings in Praga district have beautiful murals painted over them. The tour lasts 2.5 hours.
Alternatively, you can take a longer 4-hour retro bus tour that not only includes the Praga District but also other parts of the city and includes lunch in a “milk bar” (restaurant serving traditional Polish food). Book the Off the Beaten Path Tour here if you have more time to spare.
If you’re a foodie, the best way to tour Warsaw in a unique way is by ensuring you try lots of food along the way. This food tour will do that.
As you walk around the historic district of Warsaw, you will learn from your private guide about the history of the city. But what makes this tour different from a normal walking tour is that you will also be stopping at three different venues to try traditional Polish food and learn about the culinary culture and tradition in Poland.
Be prepared for typical Polish appetizers, soup, main courses, dessert and beverages—all included in the price of the tour.
Instead of just going to a restaurant by yourself, learn more about the food you are eating while learning about the city you’re in!
Important information listed by the company includes: “Please note that the golden rule of Polish hosts is to serve enough food to make a table collapse: you are advised to just eat breakfast and skip lunch.”
Having grown up in a Polish household, I would strongly advise you to take heed of this advice.
You can’t leave Poland without trying its famous vodka. This 2-hour tour takes you to three different venues where you will sample five different kinds of Polish vodka and typical Polish appetizers to help you get it down.
Of course, you can go to a bar by yourself and order a vodka shot, but this tour will give you information you wouldn’t get by yourself. On top of learning about the history and production of vodka, you will also learn about Polish culture and customs of drinking vodka.
Not a fan of vodka? Maybe still give it a try—you’re in Poland! But if you absolutely refuse to drink vodka, take the beer tasting tour instead.
Your guide will take you to three locations where you will try six beers alongside Polish snacks. Popular local beer, regional beer and four craft beers are on the tasting list. The tour will also come with a history lesson Polish traditions and customs of beer brewing and drinking. (Fun fact: nowadays, especially among the youth, beer consumption is higher than vodka consumption in Poland.)
Fryderyk Chopin grew up in Warsaw, so if you’re a Chopin fan like me, a great way to explore the city is by seeing it through his eyes. There are lots of different tours you can choose from, and to read more about the Chopin related things to do in Warsaw and Poland, check this post out.
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Great recommendations! I took the Dark Side of Praga tour and loved it! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! :)