Warsaw

Very safe, very nice. Locals are a bit colder, however, but not in a rude way—just an introspective way. Good options for Airbnbs too, but not as good as Krakow or Budapest.

Lived here, as a guy, most of my youth, so I can't speak about expat experience very much, but I want to address some issues:

1. It's very safe, no pick pocketers, no scammers, no addicts, streets are safe at night, and women are not afraid in general to walk at night, very unlikely to attract even catfishing. Not sure why it rates lower than cities with culture of thinking a single woman is a willing woman.

2. The country itself is not friendly to LGBTQ+ citizens: no gay marriage, pushbacks towards gender correction, and long aggression history from family members. Having said that, it's not bad for visitors: two guys or gals holding hands or kissing may attract attention and possibly some insults if you are unlucky, but that's about it. You will not be denied service anywhere on these grounds.

3. Racism is relatively rare, at least for Poland, with an exception to middle eastern people, which may meet with some enmity. If you keep to tourist/more upscale areas and white collar communities, you'll be fine.

4. Lots to do, most young people speak at least basic English (though few among people remembering communist times). People may sometimes seem abrasive due to a culture of directness and honesty over manners, but they are generally willing to help and are much more open than in western or northern Europe.

5. Cost of living is considerably lower than in other European cities. Accommodation is expensive, like everywhere, but expect to pay 50-66% of what you'd pay in Western Europe. Tourism is not an important industry (relatively), so there are no backpacking hostels with mingling culture that I know of. Overall, however, it is not Asia, so you'd better have a western-level job.

6. Winter can be cold, and autumn is typically overcast and rainy.

7. A mix of nice Old Town, modern downtown and nice modern compounds with old, ugly soviet architecture. Sadly, everything seems to lack a guiding thought and is often laughably incoherent.

8. Lots of parks, big and small! A lot of streets are lined with trees, so, time of year permitting, you are never far away from some green. The city is clean, and areas built after the fall of communism are well-kept, but in the poor districts you may see (ugly) graffiti or an occasional drunkard (especially at night).

9. Free libraries. Although you might not be able to get a member card and borrow books, the larger ones will generally let you work in silence for free, although electric sockets or wifi may be missing. 5G is however cheap and generally reliable enough to stream even movies.

Overall, I'd probably recommend Wrocław/Gdańsk more due to proximity to the mountains/sea and better preserved architecture, but Warsaw is definitely more cosmopolitan and busy.

One of the safest capitals in Europe. A lot of culture, museums, people interested in architecture will be in paradise (mixed styles, from old to modern), cosmopolitan. It is a very big business city, so it is hectic, you can find different people like in every big city, mostly people are friendly and ready to help. The weather is quite good, sometimes it gets cold in the winter but then you can go ice skating :) Many activities, nightlife, nature around the city. One of my favorite capitals in the world.

Warsaw, as a destination for digital nomads, presents a mixed bag of experiences. It's often praised for its affordability, good quality of life, and excellent infrastructure, including fast internet and walkable neighborhoods【8†source】【7†source】. However, it's also characterized by a bustling atmosphere, high traffic, and an ongoing political agenda that some find off-putting.

While many digital nomads and locals have found a home in Warsaw, it's worth noting that this city may not be everyone's first choice. Many reside here out of necessity, due to work or university commitments. This is not to say that Warsaw lacks charm or potential; it's just that it takes time to grow on you. The city's culture, like its architecture, is often described as "brutalist", and it can take up to three years of living there to fully integrate and form a strong social network.

Nevertheless, there are aspects of Warsaw that are beloved by its residents. Enthusiasts of brutalist architecture will find much to admire in the cityscape, and the Vistula river offers delightful kayaking opportunities. The city is also home to a vibrant restaurant scene, although these establishments can be crowded and often require waiting for a table. Prices can be steep, and while the quality of the food is generally high, some establishments may not live up to their hype.

In comparison, cities like Kraków, Gdańsk, and Gdynia, along with smaller towns in Southern Poland, are often considered more appealing to digital nomads. These locations offer a slower pace of life, less crowding, and a more relaxed atmosphere, making them preferable for those who value tranquility and close-knit communities over the hustle and bustle of the capital.

In conclusion, while Warsaw has its merits, it is not a city that appeals to everyone. Its crowdedness, high traffic, and political climate can be off-putting to some. However, for those who are willing to look past these aspects and give it time, Warsaw can offer a unique and rewarding experience. As always, your mileage may vary, and it's recommended to visit before making a commitment.

Warsaw is the best city in Europe in my opinion, I can't see a city with a better quality/price. Safe, clean, affordable, a lot of good restaurants, good nightlife, good airport etc... The only issue is the winter that can be really long and cold, don't expect to see sun before May (until October maximum). Polish people can be a bit cold and seem not so friendly, but with time, you will get closer to them.

I just wanted to mention one thing, It is funny how it is listed that it is not safe for women and is not LGBTQ friendly meanwhile I have lots of friends recently who moved to Warsaw because they consider Warsaw to the safest city in the EU! I also have some Latin America LGBTQ friends coming to Warsaw because it is just safer here. If safety is your main concern, go to Warsaw, it's the best selling point of Warsaw. As a woman it is safe to come back to your place by yourself at 3 am.

How the f is this city in the #1 spot for europe? Is the Warsaw city council paying for the spot?
I spent a month here mostly to help during the ukraine refugee crisis. This was the most meh city I've visited in my life. People are incredibly cold. They have this attitude (I was about to write slavic, but actually I've been to other slavic countries and they've been really friendly, so I don't want to bunch them together) kind of a cold indifference, but you can never tell if they're purposefully being an jerk either. Kind of like a big city attitude without having any of the actual benefits of a real big city to back it up. Like every adult is stuck in angsty teenager mode. There definitely is no customer service, but again, it's not that they are being difficult, they really just don't care. Example:
Went to 3 diff coworking spaces and none of them got back to me about doing a tour. So I spent a whole day physically going to the 3, then picking the least standoffish one (HUBHUB). The receptionist gave me a contract starting on Friday, I paid for a 24/7 access accnt, but I couldn't get my keys till Monday, so wasting the 1st weekend, and I kept bringing up payment and kept being told in the future. They never ended up charging me.

The caveat is that this city DID take in a million refugees without blinking an eye and everyone has shown much charity to all the newcomers. So deep down, they are actually incredibly good people. And there is a lot of classical music w/ free chopin concerts. That was the one redeeming factor for me. Also it was cheap. But I don't mind paying slightly more to not live in an unfriendly snoozefest.

I lived in Central Warsaw on and off for about 1 year pre and post-pandemic. Central Warsaw is the "New York of Eastern Europe".

Pros:
- Very convenient, safe and clean.
- Lots of modern, futuristic buildings. Easy to find nice apartments.
- Very bike-able.
- Not too expensive.
- Lots of coworking spaces.
- Some startup culture and quite a few meetups (pre-pandemic).
- Polish women are beautiful.
- Interesting history.

Cons:
- Not much of a nomad scene.
- Coworking spaces have a rather corporate hustle vibe (WeWork, etc).
- People aren’t very open to foreigners.
- Weather is quite bad most of the year. City is quite polluted.
- Racism and homophobia is frequent,
- Populist government.
- Construction everywhere.

I prefer the laid back vibes of Krakow more.

I already living more than 1 year in Warsaw and i still think it's one of the best cities to live as a nomad as well.
there is plenty of meetups to meet other expats, the people are nice, its cheap, its very big and not crowded, and very clean,
pros:
cheap
easy to make international friends , as there is many meetups
great public transport
plenty of cafes to work from
warm and honest locals
the cons :
Not many nomads,
big city so some places far from each other .
expensive cowork places (around 200-250eur a month for hot desk)

I lived in Warsaw for 5 months and loved it! While it isn't as cool as warm countries like Portugal, Italy and Spain, it is very inexpensive and provides a high-quality life. The best thing is that the city is very active, with lots of things to do. I would have colder months though

I'm there 5 month already, I love this city ! great and honest people great atmosphere and very cheap !
there is many green areas and huge parks, good nightlife, and if you dance Latin (bachata, sals etc..) it have a huge scene.
and if you single guy this city have the most attractive, easy going and beautiful ladies you even meet.

Really enjoyed my time in Warsaw. Besides being cheap, it was beautiful, super liveable, and had a ton of great restaurants and coffee shops everywhere. Very active city with very friendly people. Almost everyone spoke English too which was nice.

Loved Warsaw. The city has great vibes, nice people, a good nomad, and business community, delicious restaurants, fun nightlife, and extremely inexpensive in my eyes (coming from Miami, USA). Got a nice apartment near the city center with less than $600 USD/month and meals out/groceries are half if not a quarter of the price at home. Throughly enjoyed my month in Warsaw and will be back.

Honestly, I enjoyed seeing more of WARSAW than KRAKOW. the 2nd biggest city in POLAND is not as spectacular or wider as the capital. Loved a lot the architecture + the prices in the old and new town (Stare MIASTO and Nove MIASTO). Good food in the center and you have a lot of things to see around there. Although it was pretty much reconstructed after the 2nd World War, the city still has a good shape with skyscrapers and old comunist architecture! :)

I'm a nomad, but this is my city. I was born and raised here. I think it takes at least a few months to understand and feel this city. Because Warsaw has many many levels.

Warsaw is incredible. Berlin-style nightlife is way more accessible, cheap, and friendly than "Western" Europe. Plenty of cafes, co-working spaces, and very very nice public libraries (registration is free! I highly recommend working there!) and overall an atmosphere of getting shit done. People are down-to-Earth, and if you speak English natively you will have plenty of work opportunities.

One of the best cities I've been to. Much better then Berlin, Budapest, etc. so experiences can be quite different. I loved it.

Cleanest city in Europe. Nightlife is big in my opinion, especially Mazowiecka. Also beautiful river with a lot of things to do during the summer.

Warsaw must the most boring capital of Europe. Nothing to see, nothing to do. Polish people very unhelpful and disinterested in talking. City however is remarkable clean and food is very cheap.

nothing to see . better if you want to stay in cemetary