When the weather’s warm in Warsaw, the entire city gravitates towards the water. That means the Vistula River - the long banks of which comprise the city’s unofficial ‘19th district’ and provide a bounty of places to relax and explore, including sandy beaches, green forests, sports clubs, cycling paths, and dozens of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
First, a few guidelines
Alcohol: When it comes to drinking in public, the river is your friend. Basically you can consume your own alcohol anywhere along the river without fear of a fine, just please clean up after yourself.
Swimming: Although the temptation is ever present, we don’t recommend getting in the water. It is neither safe, nor sanitary. If you want to actually get wet, see our suggestions here.
Fires & Grills: Most beaches in Warsaw have designated grill areas, so if you want to build a fire, go for it, just keep it contained to the designated places, please.
The Left (West) Bank
The Vistula Boulevards
The main gateway to the river for most Varsovians is the M2 Metro stop ‘Centrum Nauki Kopernik,’ which deposits you right on the water. When people (this guide included) refer to ‘Bulwary Wiślane’ (EN: the Vistula Boulevards) - it’s typically this stretch of the left bank on either side of the Świętokrzyski Bridge between the Śląsko-Dąbrowksi Bridge (to the north) and Poniatowski Bridge (to the south) that they’re referring to. Certainly the busiest and most developed section of the river, there are many attractions that make this area essential for taking a stroll, not least of which are all the other people about.
Head north from the Metro to see one of the Warsaw Mermaid sculptures, the Copernicus Science Centre, Museum on the Vistula and University Rooftop Gardens. The areas between all of these cultural sites are filled with parks, gardens and public spaces that are a pleasure to spend time in. There are plenty of benches and stairs to relax on, and of course numerous cafes, bars, restaurants, ice cream stands, food trucks and river barges where you can find great food and refreshments. The Copernicus Science Centre has a rooftop garden, and frequently organises outdoor workshops and activities for kids, as well as a free summer cinema. Just beyond the colourful pavilion of the Museum on the Vistula you’ll find a sand-covered section of the boulevard for kids to play and parents to sunbathe. In the evening check out Przystań Nowa Fala - a popular two-level riverbarge with food, drinks and DJ parties parked right in front of the museum, or simply listen to the music and feel the vibes from the boulevard. Similarly, just south of the Metro, BarKa is another popular barge that hosts gigs and guest DJs and is regularly mobbed with partiers, creating an entire scene in its extended orbit on that part of the riverbank.
Płyta Desantu Beach
About 2km south of Copernicus Science Centre you’ll find this small left-bank beach near Śmigłego-Rydza Park. This area feels like a mini summer festival, with two bars right on the sand - Pomost 511 and Fala-Pawilon nad Wisła, and a third - Grunt i Woda - just metres away. Together they make this part of the riverbank a more laid back and less pretentious alternative to the boulevards further north. By day, chill out on the sand, have a grill, hit up the food trucks, rent a kayak or catch the ferry over to Saska Kępa. Grunt i Woda has a particularly family-friendly vibe during the day and even organises occasional activities for kids. In the evenings, the crowds (and mosquitos) start to pick up and concerts, films and even theatre shows are common, as are silent discos and barefoot dance parties on the sand as DJs do their thing.
Czerniakowski Port & Promontory
Just south of the beach at Płyta Desantu is the entrance to Port Czerniakowski, which provides a sheltering harbour and marina for private boats, and a cycling/pedestrian bridge that connects it to Czerniakowski Promontory (Cypel Czerniakowski) - a long headland that hosts the Miami Wars riverside hangout and the massive Monta Beach Volleyball Club further down. The former is perfect for a picnic or cycling pitstop, while the latter is a very professional facility with 10 proper courts, a cafe, restaurant and sauna; if you want to recreate the homoerotic beach volleyball scene from Top Gun, you won’t find a better place in Warsaw. In this area you can also rent motorboats, paddleboards from SUP Academy, take a river cruise or catch the ferry to Saska Kępa beach.
