Summer in Warsaw | Things You Can Do Only in Summer

The weather in Poland tends to get extreme. +35 Celsius degrees in summer, minus 25 Celsius degrees in winter… sounds pretty normal and usual to any Polish person.

Summer in Poland holds one great advantage for all travelers: the days are veeery long, which means more time to discover the wonders of the country during the daylight hours. Also, Polish cities tend to make the most of it and offer a great variety of attractions like open-air cinemas, breakfast markets, beach volleyball tournaments, etc.

Of course, there are plenty of things you can do during the winter season in Poland as well (oh, my beloved skiing!), but there are tons of stuff you can do ONLY when the weather is warm. And that is why it is super important to take advantage of those long summer days (and hot nights!).

So, if you are visiting Warsaw somewhere between May and September, let me present you with endless ideas and suggestions for your summer stay in the city (or at least top 6 ones ;)).

#1: Have a Barbecue at the Beach in the City Center

The beach located under the Poniatowski Bridge, by the Vistula (Wisła) River, is one of the most popular ones in Warsaw. On hot summer weekends literally half of Warsaw heads there. During the day you can sunbathe, have a grill, play frisbee or volleyball, or simply chill out and relax. People tend to stay there even after it gets dark because that’s when the party gets started – make sure you bring your beers and/or vodkas! If you want to save yourself the hassle of buying and carrying all the necessary stuff, check out e.g. a Bonfire at the beach package where everything is taken care of for you.

Enjoy the barbecue in a Polish style

#2: Go Sunbathing. Anywhere You Want

Speaking of sunbathing, some may say that those who live in Warsaw exaggerate a tiny bit. I have seen people sunbathing at the beach (that’s obvious), in the parks (a little less obvious), lying down on the lawns around commercial buildings and offices (you tell me…) or by fountains in the city center. Well, if the weather allows you to sunbathe only for 2-3 months a year, you do it literally anywhere you like. As long as the sun is shining, people will strip off even at 17 Celsius degrees. Haven’t tried it before? You definitely should. Take your blanket and picnic set and head to the nearest park!

Sunbathe in Warsaw

#3: Sightseeing & Exercising: Kill 2 Birds with 1 Stone

When visiting a new city for the first time, it is always a good idea to do an organized tour – local guides will always make sure that you visit all the city’s must-see spots and not miss anything crucial. But what if there’s a lot to see and you don’t want to spend the whole day walking around? There are ways to make sightseeing faster: for example a Hop-On Hop-Off bus or a Segway tour. But if the weather is lovely, you might consider sightseeing Warsaw by bike! Plus you get to do some cardio 😉

Enjoy the day on a bike tour in Warsaw

#4: Drink Outdoors. Never Indoors

Warsaw boasts a great number of bars and pubs. You can buy a beer at almost any place, and you will probably do since Polish beers are quite amazing and there’s a great variety of them. Poland is proud of having many superb local breweries that produce craft beers, such as Kormoran, Artezan, PINTA or AleBrowar. During the summertime, most of the places will have their own “beer gardens” so that you can sip your drink while sitting in the sunshine.

Party at the Vistulan Boulevards during summer

Another great idea would be to go to the Vistulan Boulevards (Bulwary Wiślane) located on the left side of the Wisła river. Just start at Centrum Nauki Kopernik metro station and keep going south. Don’t stay too long in just one bar – there are so many of them to visit! Just to mention a few: Hocki Klocki, Cud nad Wisłą (with a nice sandy beach!), BarKa, Pomost 511, Sen Nocy Letniej, Miami Wars. If you don’t want to go alone, you can definitely join the pub crawl with the summer route.

During the warm nights, the Vistulan Boulevards is a place to be.

#5: Visit Breakfast Markets

Not feeling like preparing your own breakfast on a weekend morning? Go to a breakfast market, where many restaurants from Warsaw offer the best quality and delicious food!

But it’s not only about the food: the whole idea of breakfast market is about the company and opportunity to meet great people. There are two locations: in Żoliborz and in Mokotów (more info here: https://targsniadaniowy.pl).

Breakfast Market / Targ Śniadaniowy in Poland – By MOs810 [CC BY-SA 4.0], from Wikimedia Commons

#6: Watch a Spectacular Multimedia Fountain Park Show

Have you ever seen the Magic Fountain of Barcelona? Well, some may claim that fountain show in Warsaw is even better! Only a few minutes walk away from the Old Town, you can attend an amazing show combining music, lights, lasers and – of course – fountains. The shows take place during the summer season only, every Friday and Saturday at 9:00 pm (from August 17th till September 29th). They are for free, but you may want to arrive a little bit earlier to assure you have a nice spot and get the best views, as those events always attract lots of people.

Multimedia Fountain in Warsaw

Summer in Poland may not last too long, but people surely know how to make the most of it. Don’t hesitate to join them and explore the city both during the day and at night, and for sure you’ll have a great time. Enjoy your summer stay in Warsaw!