Warsaw’s Chopin Airport, named after Polish composer Frederic Chopin, is just 10km from the city centre. It’s been keeping up with Warsaw’s fast paced growth, handling an increasing number of passengers and international flight connections every year. A taxi ride into town costs about 50 to 60 zloty ($12 to $15) and takes about 30 minutes.

Money matters

Poland still hasn’t adopted the euro and has no immediate plans to abandon its local currency, the zloty, which translates to golden. These days the exchange rate is favourable to travellers holding euro, pounds or dollars — about $1 equals 3.94 zloty. But the city is also very credit card friendly. While most taxis, restaurants and bars accept cards, it’s handy to have a few zloty on hand for tips, which is typically about 10% of the bill.

Where to stay

Built in the late 19th century as a private residence, the building that houses the H15 hotel has undergone several incarnations. In the 1920s, the Soviet Union transformed it into its embassy. The German army took it over during the Second World War, saving it from ruin as they destroyed the rest of Warsaw. The hotel, opened in 2013 after a seven-year renovation, is furnished with contemporary Italian pieces and modern Polish pop art, but manages to hold on to historical touches. The conference centre, which was once a grand ballroom, preserves the original columns which display the Soviet hammer and sickle symbol. The hotel has 46 units and suites in four towers that radiate off of a glass roofed courtyard, as well as a penthouse that companies usually rent for product launches or press conferences. Rooms, which come with pillow menus, start at $100.