Warsaw's Wola

Wola, Warszawa

Wola has many meanings in Polish. The most obvious now is "will" like in "free will" or "strong will". And, I tell you, the people in here has a lot of will! Hardly anybody remembers now that in the past "wola" meant the place wasn't paying taxes or had them discounted. Wouldn't it be great, if it was still like this? Sadly, I live in Wola and I have to pay taxes.

Wola is truly the the best district in Warsaw. I've lived in Wola for most of my life. I like the fact that Wola is close to the city center, but it’s not so noisy, or traffic-packed. The life quality is better, too. It doesn't matter if you're looking for a place to eat, rest, play, learn or work - everything is here.  I'll show you.

Continue to read more about Wola.

Distance and transport

To get to the city centre on foot from my home takes around 30 (Plac Bankowy) or 45 minutes (Metro Centrum, Pałac Kultury i Nauki). You can choose one of tramways, buses or trains. Next year we should get also metro stations in Wola. 

I live short walking distance from several bus and tramway stops. Close to my home is minor train station Warszawa Koło connecting (not only) to Legionowo and Ciechanów. There is a good connection to one of the major train stations called Warszawa Zachodnia (Warsaw West) which is also in Wola district. 

There are several major Wola streets. The one connecting to further places from the city center is Górczewska. Aleja Solidarności on the other hand goes to the city center (Plac Bankowy) and to the Praga district on the other side of Vistula river. 

Buildings and parks

There aren’t (still) many skyscrapers in Wola. Apartment buildings aren’t too high and there isn't a lot of closed apartment buildings in here. The common courtyards are often green places. There is also a lot of parks and playgrounds. 



Three parks (one with amphitheatre, another with open-field gym, last one with lakes) are in a distance of less than 1 km. A bit further away there is even a small forest (called Lasek na Kole).

Shops, services and resturants

There are lots of shops and services really close to the apartment buildings. Some of the shops are in the 1st floor of the apartment buildings, from the front, with door to the apartments in the back. 

All type of shops selling food (like bakeries, groceries, fruit & vegetables, meat), chemicals, cosmetics, clothes, medicine, newspapers etc. can be found around. I like the fact that I don't need to go far to make a breakfast or dinner. Services like clinic, post office, ATM, xero/print and others are also around. 




Citizens of Muslim countries should be warned that there is a lot of alcohol shops in here. Some of them are open 24h. They can be labeled as (sklep) monopolowy or alkohole. In those shops you can buy beer, wine, vodka, rum etc. Alcohol can be also sold in regular shops, if they have a licence. 

Newspapers and magazines (in Polish only), tickets, cigarettes, small toys, sanitary napkins, shampoos, toilet papers etc. can be bought in kiosk. 


Need more shops? You can go to one of several shopping malls here like Wola Park (there is a small park there) or Fort Wola. Close to Warszawa Zachodnia there are 2 others shopping malls (Reduta and Blue City), but it's already outside Wola district. If not shopping malls then you can try one of bazaars or underground shopping places. More on shopping in later post. 


There are a lot of small restaurants, pubs and fast food places. Pizza Hut,  KFC and MacDonald's are given. But that's not the best what we have. Better try small pizzerias (I like the one near Górczewska/Płocka crossing) or even better Polish food! 

Education

All the levels of education are in Wola district. Kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school and senior high school shouldn't be far away from home. Like in my neighbourhood. None of the major Warsaw universities is in the Wola district, but there are some private universities. Going to one of the major universities shouldn't be a problem, Wola has good connection to them.

Culture, Entertainment and Sport

Wola was once industry district. But it's full of various cultural and/or entertainment places.

Wanna dance or go to a concert? There are some places. Wanna go to the cinema? Sure. Wanna see the old architecture? You can here. Wanna go to a museum? Choose one of several. Cultural events in the park? That's possible here too.

Are you interested in history? Wola is rich in history. Sometimes a history of blood and fight, which traces you can see in Wola cemeteries, for example in Warsaw Uprising Cemetery, where are buried people who fought in the Warsaw Uprising (01.08.-02.10.1944). 

For those who want to learn arts, handicraft, languages, computers etc. there are Culture Centers (Ośrodki Kultury) and Culture Homes (Domy Kultury) in every district. Usually the workshops are oriented for children and teenagers, but adults and seniors have some workshops for them too. The workshops are paid, often around 100 zł per month. Paid are also sport activities in Sport and Leisure Centers (Ośrodkach Sportu i Rekreacji) where you can join a group and play basketball, volleyball, use fitness, swim etc. 

You don't have to be living in a certain district to join the workshops. Everybody can join.