Polish rum, neon lights and pierogi: these are the best things to do in Warsaw this year

What is it? A large park in the east of the city, dating back to the 19th century.

Why go? At first glance, Praski Park (also called Praga Park) might seem like a the typical manmade greenspace. But head to the concrete island and you might see a brown bear or two lounging near the water, cooling off and acting completely unbothered. These furry guys have been hanging around since 1945, along with dozens of bird species, hedgehogs, squirrels and weasels. In the park centre, there's also Rada Zoo, where more exotic species like flamingos, giraffes and elephants roam.

Insider Tip: Don't be lured into the enclosure for a bear hug. They might look cuddly, but people have been mauled in the past.

Address: 723H+43, Warsaw

Hours: Open 24 hours daily

Price: Free entry

What is it? A gallery showcasing a large collection of neon signs dating from 1950 to the 1970s.

Why go? Located in trendy artists' hub, the Soho Factory, in the east Warsaw, this glowing, Instagram-friendly warehouse is packed to the brim with neon signs and adverts from the shops, bars and restaurants of Cold War-era. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the light were recovered and restored to its bright and shining glory. If you're a fan of God's Own Junkyard in London, then this museum was lit just for you. 

Address: pl. Defilad 1, 00-901, Warszawa

Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 6 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm.

Price: 25 PLN for general admission 

What is it? A giant indoor complex comprising of 18 restaurants and several street food stalls.

Why go? This Art Nouveau market-turned-gastronomic paradise satisfies any craving imaginable. With rows of restaurants that serve up anything from burgers to bento boxes, and pancakes to pierogi, Hala Koszyki takes international snacking to a whole other level. Try small plates from each vendor, feast at one of its sit-down restaurants or buy fresh produce to prepare dinner at home. The choice is yours, and with cheap martinis at its central Bar Koszyki, it would be rude to not stop by for a drink or three.

Address: Koszykowa 63, 00-667, Warszawa

Hours: Open daily from 8 am to 1 am. 

Price: Cost varies by vendor.

What is it? The former headquarters of the Gestapo when the Nazis occupied Poland, this is now a poignant memorial to the thousands of Poles who passed through its doors to be interrogated and tortured.

Why go? Now an official Polish government building, this was once the scene of war crimes undertaken by the German secret police during the 1940s. After the war ended, it was decided that the jails where people were held should remain untouched, in tribute to the brave souls who were taken there. It is a harrowing, but imperative look at a not-too-distant-history. 

Address: aleja Jana Chrystiana Szucha 25, 00-580, Warszawa

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, closed Monday

Price: 20 PLN for general admission

What is it? Grazing plates and colourful cocktails are the order of the day at this neighbourhood bar.

Why go? Loads of Middle-Eastern restaurants and kebab shops can be found in the Polish capital, but if you're looking for some extra liveliness at the table, Beirut Hummus & Music Bar is a local favourite. Film and music posters line the walls (The Smiths seems like a local favourite), flags from different countries wave from the ceiling, and the music playlists are alternative, indie and divine. Share platters of hummus, falafel and halloumi burgers while enjoying a pint or two, and singing along with fellow visitors. 

Address: Polska, Poznańska 12, 00-454, Warszawa

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday from noon to 1 am, Friday to Saturday from noon to 2 am, Sunday to Monday from noon to midnight.

Price: Hummus from 32 PLN to 38 PLN, and mains from 35 PLN to 43 PLN

What is it? A Polish rum bar that's right next door to Beirut 

Why go? Kraken Rum Bar is a dive joint that specialises in Polish rum, and is a must-try spirit that's made especially for the bar by the brewers at Artezan, Poland's smallest brewery. To soak up the spirit, Kraken also serves seafood at bargain prices. This is a place where a seafood platter and a cocktail goes so cheap, it must surely be some sort of world record.

Address: Poznańska 12, 00-454, Warszawa

Hours: Sunday to Tuesday from noon to midnight, Wednesday to Thursday from noon to 1 am, Friday to Saturday from noon to 2 am. 

What is it? A traditional Warsaw 'milk bar' where you can sample traditional Polish plates like pierogi, dumplings filled with cheese, meat and veggies. 

Why go? Milk bars have a bit of a misleading name – they aren't the ones you'd find Alex and his droogs from ‘A Clockwork Orange’, plotting their wicked ways in. They're actually low-priced cafeterias that sell dairy-based Polish food. Bar Bambino is known as one of the best. Can't speak Pollish? No worries here. Ask for an English menu from behind the counter. 

Address: Hoża 19, 00-521, Warszawa

Hours: Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm, and Saturday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm

Price: Pancakes and pierogi from 14.40 PLN to 35 PLN, meat dishes from 14 PLN to 17 PLN, and desserts from 5 PLN to 31 PLN

What is it?  A weekend-only flea market for vintage goods and antiques 

Why go? Whether you're looking for old photographs, interesting furniture, traditional Polish handicrafts or vintage clothing and bags, Bazar na Kole offers bargains on thrifted goods that won't disappoint. Even fun for window shoppers, a stroll in the fresh air while rummaging through old school bits-and-bobs from the stall makes for an entertaining morning into the Polish past. 

Address: Obozowa 99, 01-433, Warszawa

Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 6 am to 3 pm. Closed on weekdays. 

Price: Cost varies by vendor

What is it? The heart of famous Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, interred away from his body in a monument inside Warsaw's Holy Cross Church.

Why go? Chopin died in Paris in 1849. Before his death he made the gruesome request that his heart be taken from his corpse and sent back to his home country. His sister Ludwika complied, smuggling it back to Warsaw in cognac before it was interred in the Church of the Holy Cross in the city centre. The monument became a rallying point for nationalists during the German occupation and was even stolen by the Nazis before being returned after the war.

Address: Krakowskie Przedmieście 3, 00-047, Warszawa

Hours: Sunday to Friday from 6 am to 8 pm, and Saturday from 6 am to 7 pm

Price: Free entry

What is it? Boozing in Warsaw is not all vodka, as this popular bar specialising in fizz proves.

Why go? A short walk away from the Gothic Old Town, Bubbles Restaurant and Bar pops a vast selection of champagne and prosecco bottles from across the world. Order a bottle, and to complement the fizz, choose from a variety of continental – and affordable – plates from the food menu, including raclette, caviar, blinis, and beef tartare. Proof you can live a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget.

Address: Plac Piłsudskiego 9, Śródmieście, 00-078, Warsaw 

Hours: Monday to Thursday from noon to 11 pm, Friday to Saturdy from noon to midnight, Sunday from noon to 8 pm

Price: Starters and salads from 14-69 PLN, mains from 26-99 PLN, desserts from 11-27 PLN, boozy bubbles start t 16 PLN per glass 

On the southend of Warsaw's Royal Route, Wilanów Palace stands as one of the few original buildings left untouched during WWII. The Baroque, pastel-yellow palace was home of King Jan III, and was built from 1677 through 1696, and currently houses an impressive art collection with pieces from Florentine painter Michaelangelo Palloni (not to be mistaken with the Sistine Chapel painter, Michaelangelo Buonarroti), to entire rooms filled with ‘chinoiserie’ - European-made art and decor inspired by East Asia. And we haven't even begun to talk about the palace gardens, a floral and geometrical masterpiece decorated with sculptures, fountains and gazebos. There's a reason these grounds are known as the Polish Versailles.  

Address: Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16, 02-958,  Warszawa

Hours: Wednesday to Monday from 10 am to 4 pm, closed Tuesday

Price: 60 PLN for general admission (free entry on Thursdays) 

Frozen, store-bought dumplings be damned, you're in Poland for Christ's sake. It's time to feast on, deliciously stuffed Polish pierogi, and GOŚCINIEC Polskie Pierogi is the place to do it. While yes, this is a local chain similar to the other popular spot, Zapiecek, it still serves a hefty variety of fresh-made, boiled or fried, Polish or Russian, sweet or savoury pierogi. For more substantial plates, GOŚCINIEC offers other traditional meals like Kiełbasa śląska (a traditional pork sausage dish), Gołąbki (stuffed cabbage rolls) and borscht, all served in a dining room with bright, bold-painted Polish folk patterns (including the symbolic proud rooster) wrapped around the walls.  

Address: Piwna 12/14, 00-265, Warszawa

Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 10 pm, and Friday to Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm.  

Price: