Recently, I was taking LOT airlines, which is the national airline carrier for the country of Poland. The biggest hub airport for LOT airlines is Frederic Chopin Warsaw National Airport. This airport is named after the Polish musical composer whose work is renowned even over two hundred years since its debut. Chopin was best known for being a virtuoso pianist.
The Chopin Warsaw Airport is extremely modern and well connected to public transportation. In fact, connected to the main terminal is the rail terminal that provides multiple departures each hour to the city center. During my stopover, I took advantage of the short five-minute walk through some hallways to the train station.
One thing about Poland is that everything is extremely inexpensive. My rail tickets only cost $1.40! The train makes about a dozen stops between the airport and the main rail station; the journey takes approximately 25 minutes. When arriving at the main train station in the city center, it is a hub of activity. There are numerous restaurants and shops in the train station, and it is also home to more regional and international train connections. I saw many trains that were headed to other parts of Europe.
Within walking distance of the train station is Warsaw’s tallest building and one of the tallest buildings in all of Europe, the Palace of Culture and Science. This magnificent building was covered in green lights when I visited and was originally built in the 1950s, when Poland was under Communist rule. Inside the building is not only offices, but also a concert hall and even a community swimming pool!
Warsaw and Poland have an incredible history as throughout the past two hundred years, Poland has gone through various occupations including by Nazi Germany and the USSR. Poland recently in 1989 following the collapse of the communist government modernized with the Third Democratic Republic. When you fly into Chopin Warsaw Airport, I have seen on multiple occasions the presidential aircraft and other Republic of Poland aircraft lined up on the field. Poland is now part of both NATO and the European Union. Although, the official currency remains the Polish Zloty. The fact that Poland has not adopted the Euro tends to keep prices down.
Warsaw has many incredible eateries, and I highly recommend finding some of the traditional polish dishes including Pierogies which are little dumplings and also Packzi which are polish donuts.