Fall in love with Warsaw
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Some people love to hate Warsaw. This is especially true for Poles from other parts of Poland who only know the capital from television, films and newspapers – they quickly get the impression that the city is populated by a bunch of dishonest and immoral people who consider themselves smarter and better than other Poles.
For some people, Warsaw is a temporary place to be
This impression is reinforced by a lot of people from the lesser populated areas in Poland travelling to Warsaw to find work. They rent temporary accommodation, work hard to earn money, feel lonely, and on weekends they go home to their families and tell them how awful Warsaw is – they may never get to know the city.
A metropolis that has it all
But… it’s easy to fall in love with Warsaw, just enjoy your stay and don’t stress. Warsaw is a metropolis that offers everything: new and old, elegant and simple, refined and vulgar. The choice is yours.
Old fashioned gentlemen – they might kiss your hand
If you’re a girl or woman, you’ll (possibly) instantly go soft when you experience the attention of Polish men. Even young guys will hold doors for girls, you’ll get to go first in the lift, and in general, Polish men love to play medieval knights who worship the “fairer sex”. On the naughtier side, you’ll also find middle-aged men kissing your hand, and the more vulgar ones might even discreetly lick your hand at the same time. Hand kissing is not necessarily popular among Polish women. It will also be normal for a Polish man to pay for food and drinks, although… it won’t be automatic if you come as a “rich” Western tourist.
A bit more of a flirt
Of course, this knight and lady game also affects the girls, many of whom are sweet and expect to be wooed. Don’t forget that as a man, you’ll be considered a bully if you rush past a woman when entering a lift.
Of course, all of this also creates opportunities for flirting, and the game will quickly detect smiles, interest and attraction. If the wavelength seems to fit, there’s an opportunity to (slowly) move on. Perhaps with a “I’m a tourist, can you help me?”
More relaxed among young people
Most observe the basic rules of door opening and the like. That said, Poles are human, much like people from other countries, and not every Polish girl is a sweetie pie and not every Polish man is a knight in shining armour. Whether you’re into romance or the raw and direct, you’ll be able to find your dream date in Warsaw. But it sometimes takes a little more work than in some other countries.
It takes a bit of work
Especially among young people, socialising is often casual, and embraces as greetings between acquaintances are increasingly common. Otherwise, the privacy zone is similar to Northern Europe – don’t get as close as in Spain or Italy, but don’t be too far away either. As a foreigner, however, you have a longer leash than Poles, as any breaches of the norms will often simply be seen as exotic.
Some are Catholics, but…
If you’re a man thinking about a relationship, you may well bump into a girl who thinks you should wait until the priest has given his blessing before you enter into a physical union. And if you’re a woman looking for a man, you might also run into a guy with a clear church-inspired outlook on life. But you’ll have to be relatively (un)lucky to bump into her (him). There’s a good chance you’ll meet a nice girl who doesn’t believe in the Lord at all, but even if she goes to church, the majority of people don’t live strictly according to the church.
Ĺazienki Park in Warsaw – a perfect meeting place for a fling
Love in Warsaw – a lot happens online
A lot of dating takes place online. Tinder has a presence in Poland, but much of it is also done on Polish dating sites. You’ll usually meet in one of the popular and well-known places – for example, in front of the Zygmunt Column in Castle Square or the rotunda in front of the Palace of Culture. The city’s many parks are also popular meeting places, and if you want to sit down, a cup of coffee at a cafe will be appropriate – there’s no need to immediately advertise your love of alcohol. But of course, you can go out for a beer or wine if the mood strikes you.
If you prefer to look for new acquaintances in bars and pubs, you should read the section “Eat and get drunk in Warsaw”. But in general, cultural events are a great places to meet new people; they also provide a common ground to start a conversation. And you’ll probably meet someone if you take a lazy day by the riverside or in one of the city’s many parks, although… you’re more likely to meet someone in the summer and on weekends.
Please send an email to m@hardenfelt.pl if you would like an English-speaking tour guide to show you the most important places in Warsaw.