Overview
Warsaw, Poland's capital, is one of Central Europe's most rewarding short-break cities: a painstakingly rebuilt Old Town, sweeping riverside parks, world-class history museums and a food-and-bar scene that keeps getting better. It sits roughly two and a half hours from the UK by air, so a long weekend is genuinely easy to arrange. Flights to Warsaw land at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), close to the centre and well connected by train.
Best time to fly to Warsaw
Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September) bring the most comfortable weather, with mild days and the parks at their best. July and August are warm and lively but busier. Winters are cold, often below freezing, though December's Christmas markets and a dusting of snow have real charm. For the cheapest flights to Warsaw, check the When to book chart above and the price charts on this page before you settle on dates.
Airlines and routes
LOT Polish Airlines, the national carrier, offers the widest choice of direct flights from London (Heathrow and City) and from Manchester, with Warsaw as its main hub. Wizz Air flies direct from London Luton and several regional airports, British Airways serves the route from Heathrow, and Ryanair links a number of UK airports with nearby Warsaw Modlin. Direct flights from London to Warsaw take about 2 hours 20 minutes; from Manchester allow around 2 hours 30. Connecting options via hubs such as Amsterdam or Frankfurt exist but rarely beat a nonstop.
Things to do in Warsaw
The city rewards walkers, with most highlights a short tram or metro ride apart.
- Old Town and Royal Castle: a UNESCO-listed reconstruction, with the castle's state rooms and the pastel Market Square.
- Lazienki Park: palaces, peacocks and free Chopin piano concerts on summer Sundays.
- POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews: an award-winning journey through a thousand years of Jewish life in Poland.
- Warsaw Rising Museum: a moving, immersive account of the 1944 uprising.
- Palace of Culture and Science: the Stalin-era landmark, with a 30th-floor terrace overlooking the city.
At Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
Chopin lies about 10 km south-west of the centre, usually 20 to 30 minutes away. Trains (lines S2, S3 and Koleje Mazowieckie) reach Warszawa Centralna and Srodmiescie in around 20 minutes, city bus 175 serves the Old Town, and a taxi or ride-hailing car takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Some budget flights use Warsaw Modlin, roughly 40 km north, linked to the city by a shuttle-bus-and-train combination.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Warsaw
- Book roughly six to ten weeks ahead for a city break, and use the When to book chart above to see the current sweet spot.
- Fly midweek and avoid Polish public holidays and school breaks, when demand and fares climb.
- Keep your dates flexible and use the price charts on this page to spot cheaper departures.
- Compare LOT, Wizz Air, Ryanair and British Airways together, and factor in baggage and the airport (Chopin or Modlin) before deciding.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for tourism in Poland: you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with a passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure. The currency is the Polish zloty (PLN), not the euro, and cards are widely accepted. No special vaccinations are required; carry a GHIC for state healthcare and check the latest FCDO advice before you travel.
