Warszawa

Warszawa is the capital and largest city of Poland, situated on the Vistula River in the east-central part of the country. It is the political center, housing the president, parliament, government ministries, and the Supreme Court, and it is the nation’s principal hub for economy, education, culture, and science.

The city has a long history dating to the Middle Ages. It received town rights in the 13th century and became the seat of the Polish–Lithuanian monarchy’s capital in 1596, moving from Kraków. In the following centuries it grew as a commercial and administrative center. World War II brought severe destruction, including the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, and most of the historic core was rebuilt in the postwar years. Since the fall of communism, Warsaw has undergone rapid development and integration into the European economy.

Geographically, Warszawa lies on both banks of the Vistula and is divided into 18 districts. The central area, Śródmieście, contains many landmarks. The city has a temperate climate and functions as a major transport hub with two international airports: Warsaw Chopin and the smaller Modlin airport; a network of tram and bus routes and a metro line that has expanded since its opening in the 1990s.

Economically, Warsaw is Poland’s largest center for finance, services, and research, hosting banks, multinational companies, universities, and the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Cultural life is rich, with institutions such as the National Museum, the Royal Castle, the Wilanów Palace, and Łazienki Park. The University of Warsaw and the Warsaw University of Technology are among the country’s leading universities.

Demographics: the city proper has about 1.8 million residents, while the wider metropolitan area houses roughly 2.5 to 3 million. The population is predominantly ethnic Polish, with growing international communities.