The best neighbourhoods for students in Warsaw

Śródmieście (the centre of Warsaw)

This is the liveliest district of the city, with an intense pace lifestyle. It's a large district that encompasses the most modern area of the city centre (Nowe Miasto), the old town (Stare Miasto) and other nearby neighbourhoods. One of the most notable is Powiśle, a vibrant neighbourhood with beautiful buildings on the banks of the Vistula, making it one of the best student neighbourhoods in Warsaw. In addition, the main campus of the University of Warsaw is located in Śródmieście Północne, which translates to “northern centre”.

The nightlife is very lively throughout the Śródmieście district, and usually the largest number of bar options are on Nowy Świat street. Likewise, the most frequented nightclubs are usually located in the Newonce area.

Warsaw’s city centre is a district that offers the largest number of cultural attractions in the city, comprising both historic and modern sites. Some of the most important are: the royal route linking the Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski) with the old town, museums such as the Chopin Museum (Muzeum Fryderyka Chopina), the central square of the historical area (Rynek Starego Miasta), and buildings such as the Presidential Palace (Pałac Prezydencki).

Śródmieście also has plenty of green spaces to enjoy the outdoors! Its gardens include Ogród Krasińskich and Ogród Saski, and among its parks are Park im. Marszałka Edwarda Rydza-Śmigłego and Park Romualda Traugutta.

In addition, this neighbourhood stretches along the Vistula River, allowing you to stroll and exercise in its peaceful atmosphere. In fact, the staircase area along the river is a frequent meeting point for students when the weather’s nice.

Śródmieście is crossed by two metro lines (M1 and M2) that connect with the rest of the city in a short time. It’s also served by tram, train, and bus lines, as well as cycle paths in different areas.

Mokotów

This large district extends south of central Warsaw, and it’s another of the most popular districts for students to live in. It’s divided into several neighbourhoods, and one of the most chosen to live in is Old Mokotow (Stary Mokotów).

This district’s very close to the institutions in Ochota (both the Ochota Campus of the University of Warsaw and the Medical University of Warsaw).

The liveliest area is Old Mokotów. It’s home to the largest number of bars and restaurants (both local and international), as well as vintage, secondhand, and concept stores. It's also one of the areas with the best connections to the centre of Warsaw.

Mokotów offers a variety of cultural sites to visit, although, of course, not in such abundance as the central area. For example, you can visit museums of various themes: the Geological Museum (Muzeum Geologiczne), a sculpture museum (Muzeum Rzeźby im. Xawerego Dunikowskiego w Królikarni), and the Museum of Polish Military Technology (Muzeum Polskiej Techniki Wojskowej).

This district stands out due to the amount of green spaces to enjoy. One of the parks that attracts the most students and people is Pole Mokotowskie, where you can do everything: exercise and play different sports, have picnics or barbecues, sit in a bar and spend the afternoon, walk along its paths... Another park, Park Morskie Oko, with its fountains, monuments, and lagoons, is also worth mentioning.

In terms of public transport, there are two M1 metro stations, as well as several trams and bus stations.

Praga Północ

Located on the other side of the Vistula River from the centre of Warsaw, Praga Północ is a district with an artistic and lively atmosphere. It also attracts students and young people thanks to its affordable rents, which is why it’s considered one of the best student neighbourhoods in Warsaw.

Praga Północ is home to several private universities, such as the Kozminski University or the Warsaw Management University. It’s very close to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (SWPS).

In line with its artistic atmosphere, this district has plenty of alternative bars and live music venues. These are mostly located in one of the main streets, Ząbkowska, and its surroundings.

Prague Północ’s notable for its art galleries and large murals in the old buildings. In addition, there are several historical and cultural sites to visit, such as:

• The Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene (Katedra Metropolitalna Św. Marii Magdaleny)
• The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian the Martyr of Warsaw (Parafia Katedralna pw. Św. Michała Archanioła i Św. Floriana Męczennika w Warszawie)
• The District History Museum (Muzeum Warszawskiej Pragi)
• The Museum of Fantastic Art (Muzeum Sztuki Fantastycznej)

In terms of green spaces to enjoy, not only the large Praski park with the zoo stands out, but also the trails and beaches on the banks of the Vistula River, such as the Praska Plaża Miejska.

This district is connected to the rest of the city through the M2 metro line, as well as with several lines of tram, buses, and trains.

Ochota

Ochota is the quietest and most residential of the districts mentioned in the article, but it still has a lively atmosphere in certain parts. In fact, many students choose this district that’s located southwest of Warsaw’s city centre because it’s home to several academic institutions. Among them are the Medical University of Warsaw and the Ochota Campus from the University of Warsaw.

Two of the liveliest neighbourhoods of this district are Old Ochota (Stara Ochota) and Szczęśliwice. Among them are the largest number of bars and restaurants, as well as entertainment venues such as theaters and live music venues.

As for cultural visits, there’s not really a wide variety available. There are a few monuments, but it's best to head to the city centre to explore everything it has to offer.

This district has plenty of parks to enjoy. These include Park Szczęśliwicki which has a lake, outdoor pools and exercise trails; Pole Mokotowskie with lakes, sculptures and trails; and Park Pięciu Sióstr with its skatepark.

It’s true that there are no metro stations available in Ochota, but it’s so close to the city centre that using the tram and bus lines is enough. It’s also next to important train stations, such as Warszawa Główna and Warsaw Ochota.

FAQ about neighbourhoods in Warsaw