WARSAWESOME:
WEEKEND IN WARSAW
10 – 12 DECEMBER
The December weekend classic is undoubtedly a walk along the Nowy Świat, through Krakowskie Przedmieście to Rynek Nowego Miasta which allows you to fully appreciate the splendor of Warsaw’s winter illumination. But what then? Where to relax? Where to go on a date? Where to watch movies that will help you forget about the drought on Netflix? Where to buy Xmas gifts? We know and share this knowledge with you in Warsawesome.
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1) Warsaw Fantasy Fair
Since 2015, the Warsaw Fantasy Fair has been gathering fans of broadly understood fantasy, giving them the opportunity to meet their favorite authors, creators and devote themselves to the frenzy of shopping for books, gadgets, jewelry, cosmetics, toys, clothes, accessories of all kinds and sizes. Among the meetings with authors, we recommend ones with Sergiusz Marcin Przybyłek, the creator of the GAMEDEC universe, on Saturday at 17:00 and with the winner of international awards for science-fiction writers – Anna Kańtoch on Sunday at 15:00. The ticket for the event costs 10PLN.
When: Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12, from 10:00 to 18:00
Where: Dom Towarowy Bracia Jabłkowscy – ul. Bracka 25
2) Hanukkah
Warsaw’s heritage wouldn’t exist without Jews, so it is worth pausing the Christmas fever to take part in the celebration of Hanukkah, i.e. the Festival of Lights. The main attraction this year will be the Hanukkahbus. On board, delicious donuts await you, children will get beautiful wooden hanusticks to decorate, and the Niwiński band will teach us traditional Hanukkah songs. You can embark on Hanukkahbus on Sunday, December 12 at:
- 10:00 to 11:30 in front of the JCC, ul. Chmielna 9A;
- 12:30 to 14:00 in front of Zachęta – National Gallery of Art, Plac Małachowskiego 3;
- 15:00 to 16:30 in the courtyard of the Praga Museum of Warsaw, ul. Targowa 50/52;
- 17:00 to 18:00 in front of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, ul. Anielewicza 6.
On Friday, December 10, the celebration at the Jiydysz Cultural Center (15 Andersa Street) will kickoff with culinary workshops with Michał Lachur-Kolumpar, during which we will prepare, among others: potato dumplings with mushrooms, mamaliga, krupnik, cymes, and other delicious Jewish dishes in vegetarian versions. After feasting together, there will be a concert by Di Libre brent wi a nase Szmate. In the meantime, you can take part in calligraphy workshops with Aleksandra Ćwikowska, a game called “Heart Kabbalah” and a Hanukkah lottery with prizes from the Jewish Theater, the Polin Museum, and the Warsaw Ghetto Museum. Find out more at the FB event.
3) Movies: Mountaineering Films Review and Głębocka 66 Cinema
Warsaw is located both in the Warsaw Basin and the Warsaw Plain. Both names clearly indicate that geographically the capital has little in common with the mountains. Nevertheless, each of the previous editions of the Warsaw Mountaineering Film Review was a riot among the Warsaw audience. This year, among the selected films, the following stand out: #To_Be, which will take you to the world of Krzysztof Wielicki (Friday, at 20:00) with images, music, graphics, and animations, and Goodspeed. Los Polacos! about students from Poland who were the first to kayak through the Colca Canyon in Peru, considered to be the deepest in the world (Saturday, at 18:15). Tickets cost 26PLN for a movie or 80PLN for the whole day.
When: Friday, December 10, to Sunday, December 12
Where: Kino Wisła – pl. Wilsona 2
However, if you prefer to watch the warm, humorous story of a woman who does not want to be a good girl anymore with a stellar performance by Agata Buzek, go to Białołęcki Ośrodek Kultury. On Friday, December 10, at 18:30, there will be the screening of Moje wspaniałe życie, directed by Łukasz Grzegorzek, who won the Golden Lion in Gdynia. After that, you can attend a meeting with Łukasz Maciejewski – film expert, film and theater critic, cinema historian, academic lecturer, author of books. The meeting will be attended by invited guests, filmmakers, or actors. More information on the website of BOK.
4) New festival of contemporary dance: International Movement Festival U:NEW – DANCE HIGHWAYS
A new, interesting event appears on the festival map in Warsaw. The International Movement Festival U:NEW – DANCE HIGHWAYS aims to popularize contemporary dance in its new forms and to bolster the cooperation of Polish artists with European partners. The idea of the festival is to pay special attention to topics related to ecology: green transformation, climate change, and the future of our planet, as well as to the tissue of the city, human rights, cultural identity, and tolerance. For us, the most interesting performance is Axiom of Choice about the organic need for closeness (Friday, December 10, from 19:20 to 20:00, ul. Podskarbińska 2).
When: Friday, December 10, to Sunday, December 12
Where: Centrum Promocji Kultury – ul. Podskarbińska 2; Teatr Baza – ul. Podchorążych 39; Instytut Teatralny im. Z. Raszewskiego – Jazdów 1;
5) Relaxation
Winter weather can be tiresome, so you’d better relax your mind and body at the weekend. In our opinion, for this purpose, it is worth visiting:
- Sauna Wisła with a view of the river and nature which will be available from 6:00 to 24:00. There is also a relaxation area that can be used before and after the sauna session. Fresh juices, kombucha, healthy snacks, and infrared beds that reduce muscle tension are true incentives.
Where: Port Czerniakowski
- Magical Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw illuminated with the Lumagica show. Interestingly, the site will be opened in winter for the first time in its 200-year history. Three zones await – romantic, deep breath, and one for kids. If you love light shows like us, you definitely have to go there.
when: until February 27
where: The Botanical Garden of the University of Warsaw – Aleje Ujazdowskie 4
- The Invisible. Stories of Warsaw servants exhibition is the first one about the forgotten history of women and the role of domestic servants. The topic broke through to the public awareness with Joanna Kuciel-Frydryszak’s book “Służące do wszystkiego”. To put it bluntly, the pre-war system of work and dependence which in 1938 affected over half a million women can be compared to slavery. You have to see it so as not to let it happen again.
when: until March 20
where: Muzeum Warszawy – Rynek Starego Miasta 28
6) Ice rinks
The cold outside must be fought with internal fire. And what warms you up better than a classy date? A trip to the ice rink and crowned with a session with mulled wine or hot chocolate to keep warm. Just a simple recipe for a successful winter romance. The best places to spend your time like this are:
- Park Bródnowski, from ul. Kondratowicza, more info;
- Praska Ślizgawka in Centrum Praskie Koneser, more info;
- Rynek Starego Miasta, more info;
- Galeria Północna, along Trakt Nadwiślański, more info;
- Galeria Młociny, on ul. Zgrupowania AK Kampinos 47, more info;
- Figlowisko, next to Metro Natolin, more info.
7) Christmas markets
December is all about gifts. Of course, the easiest way to buy them is online, but then you do not have access to often unique products from Polish handicraftsmen. You can meet them at multiple fairs and markets, though. They most often feature products from the following categories: fashion, accessories, jewelry, natural cosmetics, home decorations, candles, fragrances, ceramics, Christmas decorations, or posters. Perhaps the most sensible thing to do is to just go as close to home as possible. The markets we recommend can be found in:
- Elektrownia Powiśle (ul. Dobra 42), and that’s where I’m Slow! #Xmas Edition Market takes place on Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12, from 10:00 to 21:00, FB event;
- Browary Warszawskie (ul. Haberbuscha i Schielego 2 and 6) and its Christmas Market being in place until December 23, Saturday and Sunday from 13:00 to 21:00, Tuesday to Friday from 17:00 to 21:00, FB event;
- Fort 8 (Fort Służew 1b), and its Christmas Market on Saturday and Sunday, December 11 and 12, from 10:00 to 17:00, FB event;
- Chata Numinosum (Jazdów 3/5), with the Christmas Market with handicraft workshops for children on Saturday, December 11, from 11:00 to 17:00, FB event;
- Park Bródnowski and its SIEMIASZ – Slavic Christmas Fair open until Sunday, December 19, on Saturday and Sunday from 11:11 to 21:21, from Monday to Friday from 15:15 to 21:21, FB event;
- Pardon. To Tu (ul. Armii Ludowej 14) at Freakmarket on Sunday, December 12, from 12:00 to 18:00, FB event.
To find the best places for summer walks, bike trips, dates, etc. consult our list of the 35 AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN WARSAW IN 2021.
