Warsaw is at its best when seen from above – offering memorable vistas and bird’s eye perspectives, the following viewing spots promise a sight to remember.
Warsaw is at its best when seen from above – offering memorable vistas and bird’s eye perspectives, the following viewing spots promise a sight to remember.
Dobra 68/70
The rooftop garden that sits atop of the BUW Library feels as futuristic now as it did when it first opened 21-years back. Brimming with vine encrusted pergolas, silvery willows, metallic walkways and pops of sculptural art, it’s been described as “a symbolic keystone between culture, nature and the cosmos.” This description feels particularly apt when the skies turn scarlet.
Burakowska 14
How’s this for a wildcard entry – part of a fancy office development, visit Forest to enjoy a verdant world of landscaped hills and flowering meadows. Open to all, the 2,100 sq/m rooftop garden is a remarkable project with views that stretch over Powązki Cemetery’s treeline and towards the city centre’s skyline. Never before has Warsaw seen such a public-spirited office development!
Scissored in shadows from its criss-crossing support pillars, Gdański Bridge is perfect for early evenings. Opened in 1946 as Warsaw’s first permanent post-war bridge, the noisy wooden slats over which trams run add a sense of atmosphere that’s amplified yet further when the evening skies put on their natural show of colour. The view is simply awesome.
Held in place by thick orange cables (to stop birds from splatting into them), this southern bridge is a favourite of city photographers looking to capture the contrasts of Warsaw – bordered by thick, tangled woodland, the bend in the river and the distant, gleaming skyline create a stunning juxtaposition that pits raw nature against the city’s manmade glories.
Krakowskie Przedmieście 68
Consider the 178 steps that lead to the top of this tower a “stairway to heavenly views”. Attached to a Neo Classical church, find yourself looking down on the Royal Castle in front. Just as impressive is the sight of Warsaw’s skyscraping skyline rising majestically over the Royal Route – it’s almost enough to forgive the morons that clatter into you with their selfie sticks.
Grzybowska 79
As sobering as a visit to the Rising Museum invariably is, getting the elevator up the viewing tower at the end is an uplifting way to finish – having digested the manner in which Warsaw was obliterated in 1944, it’s inspiring to gaze out towards the forest of skyscrapers that stand directly in front. Immediately, you get a sense of the city’s indefatigable spirit.
