InterContinental Warsaw, an IHG Hotel

Rooms and decor

Picture a 43-storey tower with a curved geometric notch carved out of its middle, standing right in the heart of Śródmieście in central Warsaw — that is the InterContinental Warsaw, open since 2003, with 414 rooms and suites inside. The look runs to earth tones: soft browns, cream, warm wood, set off by heavy curtains that pull fully across the big glass windows. Open the door of a high room and the first thing you see is floor-to-ceiling glass framing the Warsaw skyline, with the Soviet-era Palace of Culture and Science standing out across the way. The beds are the soft IHG kind that several reviews single out as especially easy to sleep on, and the marble bathrooms have a rain shower separate from the tub. Some rooms, like the River View Suite, go further with a jacuzzi set right at the window so you can soak in warm water and watch the city lights all evening. The overall design is not flashy, just warm and clean in the way of an international business hotel that pays attention — it works for couples after something romantic on a high floor and for business travelers who want quiet after a full day of meetings.

Food and amenities

Ask what the heart of this hotel is and the answer is unanimous: the indoor pool on the 43rd floor, right at the top. It runs about 15 meters, built with floor-to-ceiling glass that opens the city up on every side — swim one way and the Palace of Culture and Science stands tall, swim the other and you get the downtown skyline and the Vistula river in the distance. Plenty of reviews land on "maybe the best spot in Warsaw," especially in the evening when the whole city lights up at once and it feels like floating in mid-air. Next to the pool is the EVITA Wellness spa on the 44th floor, with private treatment rooms, a sauna, and a jacuzzi, plus a fitness center open 24 hours for anyone who wants a late workout. The food side holds up too — the main restaurant, Downtown, serves both traditional Polish and international dishes, and the breakfast buffet ranges from Polish sausage and fresh-baked bread to Asian options. Then there is Platter by Karol Okrasa, a contemporary Polish restaurant from a well-known local chef, and Bar & Books, a classic-style bar with walls of old books and a collection of more than 300 whiskies — a good stop in the evening after a day out walking.

Location and getting there

The central Śródmieście location more or less covers everything. A few minutes' walk from the lobby gets you to Warszawa Centralna, the central rail station and the hub that takes you to other Polish cities — Kraków, Gdańsk, or Wrocław — in a single day. Right next to the hotel is the Złote Tarasy shopping center, connected by an underground passage so you never step out into the cold in winter, with dozens of restaurants, a cinema, and a late-opening supermarket. The Palace of Culture and Science, the city's signature tower, is about a 6-minute walk — easy whether you go up for the viewing floor or just pass by for photos. To reach Warsaw's classic Old Town, walk down Nowy Świat for about 20 minutes or take a 5-minute taxi. Chopin airport (WAW) is roughly 20 minutes by car, or you can take the S2/S3 train from Warszawa Centralna with no awkward transfers. The short version: if it is your first time in Warsaw and you want travel to be as easy as possible, both around the city and beyond it, this location is the answer.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide — the most common gripe is the total cost, which can land higher than expected once you add parking and breakfast. For a 5-star of the same tier outside Śródmieście or over in Praga, you might get a better-value package, and if you are not driving yourself, choosing a rate without parking saves a fair amount. The next thing that comes up is uneven room views — some reviews note that rooms below the 14th floor may only see the building next door rather than the full city in the promotional photos, so it is worth specifying "high floor with city view" facing the Palace of Culture to get your money's worth out of a tall tower. The 43rd-floor pool is not always quiet either — weekends and Friday-Saturday evenings get busy, and you may wait for a free deckchair; some reviews suggest going up before 8 a.m. or after 10 p.m. for calm. On top of that, rooms facing Emilii Plater street can pick up traffic noise during rush hour, so light sleepers may want to ask for a room facing into the building.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real reviews, InterContinental Warsaw sells a simple idea — "stay at the top of a tower in the center of the city, with the best-view pool in Warsaw" — and it actually delivers. The central Śródmieście location puts you within walking distance of the central station and every major landmark, the 43rd-floor pool and bar have become the signature, the high-floor rooms give the skyline view people remember, and the staff bring the warm, friendly service IHG is known for. If your picture of a Warsaw trip is walking the Old Town by day, coming back to soak in a jacuzzi over the city lights, then swimming on the 43rd floor before a whisky at Bar & Books in the evening, this fits perfectly. But if you are a budget backpacker, or you want the old, boutique feel of the Old Town, this may not be the one. Overall we give it 8.8/10, best for luxury travelers, couples, and business guests who value a central location, panoramic views, and a one-step rail connection.