Warsaw and Munich Comparison Munich

Warsaw and Munich Comparison

Munich is Germany's third biggest citiy, located to the north of the Bavarian Alps, on the River Isar. It is Bavaria's capital, a city with many tourist attractions, combining proud provincialism with international appeal. Warsaw is the capital of Poland, a large, vibrant city, that can shock with its postwar architecture, including infamous communist-era buildings. The city is the geographical core and political center of the country since 1611. Both locations are unique through history, cultural background or people.

What will a trip to Warsaw, Poland cost, compared to a trip to Munich, Germany?

In terms of overall costs, Warsaw is cheaper than Munich. The cost of an airfare is roughly the same for both locations. From the Eastern coast, for example, a round-trip to Warsaw costs 950-1200$, depending on the carrier. The same price goes for a trip to Munich. The hotels, however, are more expensive in the Bavarian capital. While a three star hotel from Warsaw charges about 70-120$ a night per double, one from Munich charges 80-200$. And the price difference is constant in all hotel categories (Yahoo! Travel). The car hire prices revolve around 20-30$/day (for an average sedan), with offers as low as 15$ (for small or older cars, e.g. Fiat Uno) in both locations. As far as food and drinks are concerned, Munich is more expensive. A complete meal, comprising main course, drink and desert costs about 20-25$ in Warsaw, in a medium quality restaurant, whereas the same meal costs about 10$ more in Munich. In terms of entertainment, as well, Germany is a little more expensive. Entrance fees for theatres, cinemas, nightclubs vary between 5-15$. For both locations, travel agencies offer cost saving package deals that can save up to 30% of the price (for fare, accommodations and extra trips in nearby locations). Also, there are available deals on tourist cards that offer discounts for museum entrance fees or other cultural activities. All these costs vary throughout the year. In high season (July-August), they are up to 20% higher.

II. Is the language barrier greater in one of these countries than the other?

Both the Germans and the Polish are, on average, good speakers of the English language. Both Warsaw and Munich are large cities, so the language barrier is potentially less of an issue. Because English is the language of international business, big metropolitan areas are mostly inhabited by people who are familiar on some level with it. Furthermore, due to the large flux of tourists, there is an ease of communicating in English (Fodor's). But a trip to one of the two cities can also offer the opportunity to learn some German or Polish useful phrases. As far as orientation is concerned, the roads are not marked in English in none of the two cities, but there are available maps and guides easy to find. Considering all these, I think that the language barrier would not make the trip less enjoyable in neither of the cases.

III. Is crime against tourists a problem in either country?

The crime rate in Munich is very low, especially compared to other large German cities (Hamburg or Berlin). This high safety has caused the city to be nicknamed "Toytown" amongst some of the English-speaking residents. Hence theft is not a problem. Warsaw is also a safe city overall, but is has some dangerous areas, such as the borough of Central Praga, Called by the Varsovians the "Bermuda Triangle" for its high crime rate (Wikipedia). Law enforcement is extremely realible in both locations.

IV. What are the attractions and features of each city?

Considering the fact that this trip is planned for a solo young person, the attractions plan has to addapt to the traveler's needs and preferences. Of course, historical sites will not be overlooked, but the nightlife, for example, is also an important factor. Munich is famous for many tourist attractions. In the center of the city is the Marienplatz - a large open square with the Old and the New Town Hall. Structures from demolished medieval fortification have survived to this day, including three gates. There are also a number of remarkable churces - the Peterskirche, close to Marienplatz, the gothic hall-church Heiliggeistkirche (The Church of the Holy Ghost), the Frauenkirche ("Dom zu unserer Lieben Frau" - Cathedral of Our Lady), which is the most famous building in the city center or Michaelskirche, the largest Renaissance church (Cityguide).

The palaces are another feature of the old city. The Alte Hof, a medieval castle and first residence of the Wittelsbach dukes in Munich can be seen in the inner city. The large Residenz palace is one of Europe's most significant museums of interior decoration. The international renown Nationaltheater is another attraction. As far as museums are concerned, the most famous is the Deutsches Museum - one of the oldest and largest science museums in the world. But the city is also abundent in modern architecture. The Olympic Park and its stadium were built for the Munich 1972 Summer Olympics and are famous all around the world. Concerning nightlife, Hofbr uhaus is one of the oldest brewery in Munich and Kultfabrik is an old industrial area transformed into an area of discos and pubs (Wikipedia).

Warsaw also takes pride in many tourist attractions. The Old Town quarter is home of the Royal Castle, King Zygmunt's Column, and the barbican. Then there are the classicist palaces: the Presidential Palace and the Warsaw University campus. Ogr'd Saski is the city's oldest park. Other attractions include: the Palace of Culture and Science, a Soc-realist skyscrapper in the city center and a large market called Stadion Dziesi-ciolecia. Nightlife is very busy, with many establishments, especially in the central part of the city.

V. What are the personal points of interest of each city?

As far as culture and history are concerned, I would really like to have the chance to visit the Deutsches Museum from Munchen, because science displays have always fascinated me. I would also like to see the famous Nationaltheater. In Warsaw I would especially like to admire the intertwining of architectural styles, whitness of the historical becoming of the city. Another important factor is that my family is of both Polish and German descent, and this trip to either one of the locations would give me a chance to discover some aspects of the cultural background that has influenced my ancestors.