Where to go in Warsaw and beyond

* Stare Miasto and Nowy Miasto (Old and New Town): The complex of the Mazovian royal clan built in the 18th century. Most of the complex was ruined during World War II and was later rebuilt. New buildings were built outside the old complex, hence the name new town.

* Lazienki Park: Located close to the State Guest House, the wide park has an artificial lake and a castle. Lazienki means bathing site. The park was the residence of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski, the last Polish king. * Wilanow Palace: Located on the outskirts of the capital, the building was apparently inspired by Versailles at the end of the 17th century. King Jan III Sobieski initiated the building of the palace.

* Palac Kultur i Nauki (The Palace of Culture and Science). A monumental building with 3,000 rooms located in downtown Warsaw. The building was a gift of the government of the Soviet Union to the Polish people in 1955. The architecture is similar to that of Russian buildings. The building houses a museum, theater, offices, restaurants and a gallery.

* Fryderyck Chopin Museum: A museum honoring the great composer.

* The Museum of the History of Warsaw: Everything you wanted to know about the capital.

* Auschwitz and Treblinka: Concentration camps built by the Nazis for the elimination of Jews and other "undesirables". Chilling reminder of the Nazi's heinous acts.

* Czecztochwa Jasna Gora Church. A Roman Catholic worship place with a painting of the miraculous Black Madonna.

The cities of Krakow and Zakopane are also interesting places to visit. Krakow is located around 300 kilometers south of Warsaw. One of Poland's oldest cities, Krakow was the only town untouched by Nazi bombs. In the area of Wieliczka, close to Krakow, there is a salt mining museum, which is 315 meters underground. Zakopane, a beautiful hilly area south of Krakow, is the favorite place for skiers during the winter.

-- Soeryo Winoto