Shopping · Warsaw · Poland
Shopping in Warsaw
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alina Zienowicz Ala z, Public domain
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Quick answer
Warsaw is good for modern malls, Polish design and fashion, vintage posters and edible souvenirs such as chocolate and vodka. Best souvenirs: Wedel chocolate, Polish poster art and Polish vodka.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Wedel chocolate
Where to shop
Złote Tarasy
A large mall with a wave-like glass roof next to Warszawa Centralna station.
Nowy Świat and Chmielna
Central streets of cafés, bookshops and smaller boutiques.
Mokotowska Street
Polish designer fashion and concept stores south of the centre.
Westfield Arkadia
One of the city's largest shopping centres, north-west of the centre.
Markets
Hala Mirowska
A historic market hall in Wola with fresh produce, flowers and stalls outside.
Bazar Różyckiego
Praga's old bazaar, known for its pyzy sellers and second-hand stalls.
Koło Bazaar
A weekend antiques and flea market in Wola with old maps, posters and curiosities.
What to buy
Wedel chocolate
Chocolates and ptasie mleczko marshmallow sweets from E. Wedel, a Warsaw brand since the 19th century.
Polish poster art
Original and reprinted posters from the Polish School of Posters, sold in specialist galleries.
Polish vodka
Rye or potato vodka, Żubrówka or fruit nalewka from specialist shops or the Koneser Centre.
Bolesławiec pottery
Hand-stamped blue stoneware from south-western Poland, sold in Old Town shops.
Baltic amber
Amber jewellery from established shops that give certificates of authenticity.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Śródmieście
Royal Route: Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat
The grand avenue leading south from Castle Square passes the Presidential Palace, the gates of the University of Warsaw, the Copernicus statue and Holy Cross Church, where Chopin's heart is sealed in a pillar.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Wuzetka, Pączki, Pańska skórka and Polish vodka. Traditional cake shops and cafés across the city. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Śródmieście | $$$ | City centre of towers, the Palace of Culture, main station and shopping streets |
| Powiśle | $$$ | Riverside district of cafés, the Copernicus Science Centre and a converted power station |
| Praga | $$ | East-bank district of pre-war tenements, street art, the vodka museum and the zoo |
| Wola | $$$ | Business district of new skyscrapers, the Warsaw Rising Museum and market halls |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in PLN. About 10% in sit-down restaurants is usual for good service. Saying 'dziękuję' when you hand over payment may be understood as 'keep the change'.
- Say 'Dzień dobry' when you enter shops, cafés and lifts.
- Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card terminals and pay in złoty.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- March: Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival — classical music (usually around Easter, March or April)
- July: Jazz na Starówce — free jazz concerts on the Old Town Market Square (usually Saturdays in July and August)
- September: Warsaw Autumn — contemporary music festival (usually September)
- October: Warsaw Film Festival (usually October)
- November: Christmas illuminations on the Royal Route (usually from late November)
- December: Christmas market by the Old Town walls (usually December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, budget and nightlife
Śródmieście
City centre of towers, the Palace of Culture, main station and shopping streets
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Warsaw?
Wedel chocolate, Polish poster art, Polish vodka and Bolesławiec pottery.
+Where is the best shopping in Warsaw?
Złote Tarasy: A large mall with a wave-like glass roof next to Warszawa Centralna station.
+What are the best markets in Warsaw?
Hala Mirowska, Bazar Różyckiego and Koło Bazaar.