Praga is one of the oldest districts of Warsaw, which was incorporated into the city at the end of the 18th century.
Its central part is Old Praga, where buildings dating back to the beginning of the 19th century and the inter-war period can still be found. Old Praga offers a rare example of well-preserved architecture in Warsaw from before 1939.
Once a run-down neighborhood, Praga is gaining in popularity.
One of the most popular streets is Ząbkowska Street, where you can also find the historic “Koneser” vodka distillery.
Praga’s old tenement buildings and the abandoned walls of many factories now provide a home to art galleries, cafes, bars and clubs, showing Warsaw’s edgier side.
The central point of the district is Wileński Square, and nearby you can find the glorious St. Mary Magdalene Russian Orthodox Church, one of only two Orthodox churches saved from demolition in the 1920s.
Old Praga also includes the neo-Gothic Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian the Martyr, built as a direct response to the ‘russification’ of Poland in the 19th century.
Another local attraction the Różycki Bazaar is the oldest existing market in the city. The bazaar played an important role during World War II by providing not only goods rationed by the Germans, such as food and clothes but also ammunition and medical equipment.
We also recommend visiting The Praga Museum of Warsaw, which gives a rare opportunity to experience the rawness of Warsaw!