Car Rental - Warsaw

Get car rental in Warsaw, Poland’s capital, Warsaw, and explore a city with spirit. After all, this is a place that had to adapt to different invaders, rulers and was almost razed to the ground during the closing days of World War Two. Plucky, yes, but also truly fascinating, with surviving remnants of the city’s past living next to newly thriving areas injected with energy by the latest generation of Warsaw natives.

Pick up your rental car in Warsaw at any of our Hertz rental locations, and you’re in prime position to explore this fascinating city and the rest of Poland too. You can head out to Lodz, Lublin, Krakow and Bialystok in a great country to explore by car. Don’t forget our best price guarantee and that there are no credit card fees or hidden charges. Explore Warsaw with car rental from Hertz today.

The rebuilding of Warsaw after World War Two, and the fact that it escaped the brunt of the recent worldwide economic downturn, means that there’s a freshness and vibrancy to the city, with plenty of investment. Where once there was rubble, now there is beauty. Whether you want to explore Polish history, simply soak up some culture or stroll in a gorgeous park, discover it all on your terms with a car rental for your time in Warsaw.

There was a Royal Castle in Warsaw in the 14th century and, while it took on many different shapes and uses as the Russians came and went, it was completely destroyed by the Germans during World War Two.

The current version is a detailed and lavish recreation with rooms decorated in styles from different centuries. Highlights are the Throne Room and the Canaletto Room, the latter boasting over 20 of the artist’s works.

It’s a focus for much national pride – which can’t be said for the Palace of Culture and Science, about which many locals are ambivalent at best. This was built during Soviet Occupation as a gift of friendship from Stalin, and is the tallest building in all of Poland.

It now contains museums and cinemas, along with a 30th floor observation deck that is a must-see. From here you can look out at the more modern Warsaw growing beneath you – from the stunning glass roof of the Zlote Tarasy shopping mall to the quirky Neon Museum, which gathers vintage neon signs erected during the Communist years.

Poles are keenly aware of their history, and there are several museums dedicated to events surrounding World War Two. The Warsaw Rising Museum charts the brave but ill-fated uprising against Nazi occupation in 1944 – it’s brilliantly curated and gives a glimpse into the courage of the locals during this period.

The Museum of the History of Polish Jews, opened in 2014, covers 1,000 years of Jewish history in the country, including the dark days of World War Two. The Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery is also an interesting place to visit, dating back over 200 years and full of ornate tombs.

Food in Warsaw is hearty and tailored toward meat eaters. However, it’s also a very international city, so you’ll find something for all tastes here, from burgers to sushi. While new restaurants shrug off the past, other stick to it.

Czerwony Wieprz – the Inn under the Red Hog – goes for a somewhat ironic take on the Communist era when it was a place where party bigwigs dined. The food, however, is still up to scratch – the menu includes wild boar marinated in juniper, borscht and dumplings.

Zapiecek is also highly regarded for that irresistible Polish specialty – pierogi. These filled dumplings come in plenty of classic savory options such as potato and cottage cheese. Look out for dessert versions too, in a place where the décor aims to evoke homely Polish hospitality of the past.

With much more to see – including the Chopin Museum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,Wilanow Palace andLazienki Park – car rental in Warsaw is the best way to make the most of your visit.

Warsaw sits towards the east of Poland, with the famous Vistula River flowing through it. Poland’s roads were not always in the best condition, but they’ve improved rapidly after the country became part of the European Union, and you’ll find you’re able to get Warsaw in a rental car around easily.

Speed limits can vary by time of day in both Warsaw and other Polish towns and cities. Between 5am and 11pm, the maximum speed in built-up areas is 30mph. Between 11pm and 5am, it increases to 35mph.

Limits outside the towns vary and are clearly signposted, with a top speed on freeways of 85mph, and don’t forget to use dipped headlights during the day. You can find a handy guide to other rules of road in both Warsaw and Poland online.

In central Warsaw, you’ll have to pay to park from 8am to 6pm. After that, it’s largely free to park across the city, as it is on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. You’ll also find paid parking lots in popular areas such as at Plac Krasinski near the Old Town.

A ring road is currently under construction within Warsaw, although you can bypass much of the city center if you wish to by taking the S2 to the south and south-west of the city, or the S8 to the north and north-west. The plan is for them to eventually meet in the east.

There are numerous bridge crossings in the city, including one near the Old Town. It’s also a very well-connected city, with the E30 leading west to Lodz and Poznan, the E77 north to Gdansk and the coast, or south to Krakow, the E67 north-east to Bialystok and the E372 south to Lublin, and then on to the border with Ukraine.