Warsaw

About

Founded in the 13th century, Warsaw became the capital of Poland in 1596 when King Sigismund III Vasa moved his court from Kraków. However, to say the city's had a turbulent history would be an understatement: it's been sacked by the Swedes and Transylvanians, withstood the full force of the Red Army, and was nearly annihilated during World War II. Warsaw, however, rose from the ashes more vibrant than ever. The UNESCO-listed historic center was one of the most ambitious restoration projects in history, and now stands in all its colorful 18th century glory. At the Warsaw Uprising Museum, you can learn about the bloody battle that caused the deaths of as many as 300,000 Varsovians and the city's destruction, while the POLIN museum is dedicated to the history of Polish Jews. However, the city's museum's aren't all so sobering - you learn about the legacies of Chopin and Marie Curie, or test the laws of nature at the groundbreaking Copernicus Science Center.