Monday 6 June 2011

How to spend summer in Warsaw - Part 1

For most of people, it is impossible to spend whole summer on holiday. We have to work, go to school or simply we can't afford spending whole summer on vacation. I would like to share with you, my ways of spending summer in Warsaw.

1. Bike

The only requirement for riding a bike is a bike. If you already have a bike you need to know where you can ride and where you can enjoy riding. Let start from places where you can ride a bike. Below I attach a map of available cycling routes in warsaw. The only problem in large cities with cycling is that it is not safe to ride on the streets, so plan your trip that way that you will have most of it on cycling routes.


Show bigger map

We can ask question then, where it is worth to ride?
I would like to recommend a place where I spend almost every summer weekend. This place is Park of Culture in Powsin. The shortest bike route to Powsin is from metro Kabaty. Alternatively, for lazy one, you can get pretty close by car or bus.


Show bigger map

What we can do there?
It is placed in the forest. You can just go there, relax, drink beer, eat a grilled sausage. You can even make yours own grill or campfire. There are specialy prepared places for it.
They are many volleyball and tennis courts. You can also find
football and basketball field. Also minigolf and pingpong. Prices of renting are very cheap. (except tennis which is always expensive). For older people, you can always see many of them playing cheese or bridge.
If it is too hot, you can always go to swimming pool.
Almost every weekend there are different event at Powsin. You can see details here:
http://www.parkpowsin.pl/
Moreover, there is botanical garden near. For more info check: http://www.ogrod-powsin.pl/
If you never been there I recommend it as a great place to spend whole day.

Do you like riding bike ?
Have you ever been in Powsin, if so, whether you like it?
Can you recommend other places for bike trip?

15 comments:

  1. Well, all those places are far away from my living place, so I'd have to get there somehow. With bike it's hard, it's so dangerous on streets, wherever you wouldn't ride drivers or eslking people will curse you. Bikes are not welcome.
    I got my first ticket because I was riding through crosswalk, but according to the law, I had to stop and walk on the other side, and police said to me "hello, we would like you to share with us your money~".
    So, I'm not riding on a bike in Warsaw, although I'd love to. To our school or to work but there are no possibilities.

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  2. Do you like bike riding?
    Yes, I like to ride a bike, but I think that in Warsaw even though they are designated cycling routes is just safe in the parks, not on streets or bicycle paths leading through the city.

    Have you ever been in Powsin, if so, Whether you like it?
    No, I've never been in this location, but it looks enticing.

    Can you recommend other places for bike trip?
    Certainly, I recommend the parks of Warsaw:)

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  3. I like riding bike very much but at first I don't have it, second I prefer car because it is faster and more comfortable, third I am lazy... Of course when I was younger and I couldn't drive car I had to use my bike. But for that moment many things have changed and now I am in so comfortable situation that I don't need bike.
    I have never been in Powsin so I can't said any more else on this topic.
    For me the best place for bike riding always was a forest. I recommend this kind of places because of original terrain and many way to ride.

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  4. I don`t like ride bike in Warsaw because of not completed paths. Despite the fact that not long since the cyclist has more rights in the way it did not think it's safe to squeeze between the cars. The exception are Pola Mokotowskie in Ochota district. In distance approximately 1.5 km form my flat. There is really nice - peace and quiet.

    I was in Powsin in the botanical garden last year. I really recommend it. It's nice to walk and to breathe fresh air , instead of everyday urban exhaust.
    I recommend go for a bike to Kampinos. Located about 20 km from Warsaw. There are a lot of bike trails for all levels. I recommend !!

    link:

    http://maps.google.pl/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=pl&geocode=&q=las+kampinoski&aq=&ie=UTF8&z=11

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  5. I personally find Powsin a bit overrated :) I've been visiting Powsin quite regularly . In summer the place gets crowded too much. I feel better in less 'popular' places.

    Riding the bike is just a lovely way to find leisure in the city during the hotest season, which is summer :) I don't really often have an occasion for bigger excursions, but riding bike to work is fun. A nice way to wake up in the morning.

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  6. I love riding a bike, I've just bought a new bike because the old one has been broken.
    I haven't been in Powsin on bike yet, because I used to every weekend ride a bike in the city where my parents live. I've been ones for a walk and I think is a good place for riding. Now I took my new bike to Warsaw and now I will start interesting good places for a bike trip. I heard that the good one we can find in forest Kabackim where you can breathe fresh air and you won't see any cars and hear any noise.

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  7. I do not have a bike in Warsaw, I prefer running to riding a bike. As you wrote "The only requirement for riding a bike is a bike" and the only requirement for running is to have legs and a bit of free time ;). And every time I can I leave Warsaw for the weekend.
    I have also been in Powsin in the botanical garden but it was couple years ago. I have to visit it some time in near future.

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  8. I like riding a bike although I think Warsaw isn't the friendliest place for cyclists. Bike lanes placement is segmentated and a bit chaotic.
    Powsin is a nice place to spend some time but for me it's too far away.
    For a bike trip I can recommend Kampinos National Park or Łosiowe Błota (Bemowo district).
    In my opinion the best place to enter Kampinos is a village called Truskaw. It is located about 10km from the western border of Warsaw. On site there are places to leave your car and playgrounds for children. From there it's only 7 kilometers to the Palmiry Cemetary which is worth seeing.
    Łosiowe Błota is good for a bike or hiking trip aswell. It's located in Bemowo, not far away from the Military University of Technology. It is quite common to notice a Moose wandering along the forrest.

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  9. I think that riding a bike in a city like Warsaw is not very pleasant, it can be dangerous. There are not so many bike routes (which are often used by pedestrians) and most drivers are not careful enough when overtaking bike riders.

    I was in Powsin a few times, but not during summer weekends, so it wasn't too crowded, I liked that place. There are a few activities that you mentioned, so everyone should find something he or she likes to do there.

    I would recommend to go as far from the big city as possible. If the distance is a problem, you can take your bike by car somewhere and then enjoy cleaner air and better views during your trip (which in my opinion should be pleasant, not dangerous). I agree with Adam, that Kampinos may be a good place to go.

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  10. Riding a bike is very popular in Warsaw. Many of my friends from work ride a bike every day, even to work :) I also enjoy this type of activity, but I don't have enough place in my apartment to keeping my bike, so it is still at my parent's house :/ I like the most riding out of town. It is safer and more pleasant :)
    I have never been in Powsin, but I think I will visit this place some day. I like to spend weekends out of Warsaw resting and having fun. Powsin seems to be a good place to spend free time.
    I don't know places like Powsin close to Warsaw, but I know many of them around Białystok. My favorite is Supraśl. I is a small town about 15 kilometers from Białystok, with cycle path all the way. You can see there Orthodox monastery and church, swim or sunbathe on a beach. There are many basketball, volleyball or football places, you can play tennis or pingpong. There are of course places when you cou can eat grilled sausage or local dishes :))

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  11. I've a bike, but I don't like riding on hot day at city, because temperature at city is so high and there aren't any wind, so I like going far away from Warsaw for relax, to sea, mounatins or normal country where my family lives.
    I was at Powsin so many time, I dont remember how much, but it was a great time under trees and sun.
    If I've a much freetime, then I go to my family's home or I've meeting with friends at city and go to park, swim, cinema or drinking beer at Old City :)

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  12. Do I like bike riding? I love it! I ride to school by bike every day. I think it's the best way to travel in town. You can ride on streets and sidewalks, you don'thave to wait for anything, etc.
    I've been in Powsin many times, I like it very much. I like to get up early, get on my bike and ride there. While I'm in Powsin I like to go play basketball (there are many very good basketball courts) and after game go to the swimming pool, swim for a while and the do some sun bathing. It's glourius :D
    Few days ago I was in Wilanów. It's a good destination for everyone who don't ride everyday and thonk Powsin is too far. There are bicycle path to Wilanów so it's quite nice to ride. While you reach destination you can enjoy beautiful park, or make some swimming by boat.

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  13. As I'm not keen on cycling and I don't spend my free time riding a bike I can't recommend any places suitable for bike trips. As far as Powsin is concerned I do go there a lot. I live at Natolin, so I often go for walks there. I really enjoy Powsin, having a beer and eating grilled food, a very good way to spend a warm day.

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  14. Ever since I moved from Olsztyn to Warsaw I stopped riding a bike, mainly because of no interesting places to go to. I hate riding a bike on the streets, it's no fun for me.

    I've been to Powsin but not on a bike actually. I've been playing beach volleyball with my friends and most of them came there by bikes.

    Olsztyn's surroundings are great for a bike trip - that's for sure! :) Unfortunately, I don't know any interesting places for bike riding in Warsaw..

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  15. i am not a great fan of bike, but i think that warsaw is a great city for this who love this kind of recreation. In warsaw there are many parks and green places. There are also some old fortifications, around capital there are parks or even very well kept villages, so there are many opportunities. City is becoming more pleasant for cyclists because it is preparing bike paths, maybe not very fast but as we can see on the map there are a lot of them. Not so long ago i read that city want to take an example from cities on west and they will prepare flood-gates for bikes.

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