How to make friends in Warsaw as an expat: parkrun, Polish classes and the Vistula boulevards

30 October 2026 · 3 min read · By the I Am Mate team

Warsaw is fast-growing, affordable and increasingly international, but friendships with Poles can take time and winters are long. Where people in Warsaw actually meet (parkrun, Polish classes, language exchanges, volunteering), the best things to do alone, and a first-month plan.

Warsaw has transformed in the last few decades into one of Central Europe's most dynamic cities: glass towers beside a carefully rebuilt Old Town, busy riverside boulevards and a growing international community. Many people move here for work in tech and business services. Making friends can still take time. Poles are often reserved with strangers, social life tends to happen with family and old friends, and winters are cold and grey.

Once you're in, though, Polish hospitality is famous. This guide covers where people in Warsaw actually meet, the best things to do alone and a first-month plan.

Why Warsaw can feel lonely

• Reserved at first. Small talk with strangers is less common than in many other countries.
• Family and old friends. Weekends are often spent with family, sometimes in another town.
• The language. Many young Poles speak good English, but Polish is a big step for social life.

Where people in Warsaw actually meet

parkrun

parkrun is a free, timed 5k every Saturday morning, and Warsaw has several events in parks such as Pole Mokotowskie and Park Skaryszewski. You can run, walk or volunteer, and regulars often go for coffee afterwards.

Polish classes and language exchanges

Polish courses at universities and language schools give you classmates in the same situation. Language exchange evenings in bars pair you with Poles practising English, and making the effort in Polish is warmly appreciated.

Sports and outdoor groups

Running groups meet along the Vistula and in Łazienki and Pole Mokotowskie, and amateur football, volleyball, climbing and cycling groups are common. In summer, Warsaw life moves to the river beaches and boulevards.

Volunteering

The Warsaw food bank (SOS Bank Żywności), animal shelters and many local foundations need regular volunteers, and it's a great way to meet Poles of all ages.

Libraries and culture

Warsaw's public library network runs free events, reading groups and language groups, and the city's many cultural centres host workshops and talks.

Great things to do alone in Warsaw

• Walk through Łazienki Park; on summer Sundays there are free open-air Chopin concerts by his monument.
• Explore the Old Town, rebuilt after the Second World War and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Visit the Warsaw Rising Museum or POLIN, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
• Walk the Vistula boulevards at sunset, then cross to the wilder east bank.
• Explore Praga, across the river, for murals, old courtyards and cafés.
• Go up to the viewing terrace of the Palace of Culture and Science.

A first-month plan for Warsaw

• Week 1: Find your café, your nearest park and a library branch. Learn "dzień dobry" (good morning) and "dziękuję" (thank you).
• Week 2: Do your nearest parkrun and go to one language exchange evening.
• Week 3: Sign up for a Polish course, a sports group or a weekly volunteer shift.
• Week 4: Make one specific invite: "Want to walk the boulevards on Saturday after parkrun?" And if a Polish friend invites you home, say yes and bring something small.

Chat while you settle in

Every I Am Mate character chats in your language, so you can practise Polish phrases: write in Polish and they'll reply in Polish. Chloe, an AI flight attendant, is great for planning cheap trips around Europe from Warsaw (see Chloe's travel planning guide), and Olivia, an AI chef, will happily help you make pierogi. They're AI characters, not real people, and they're there to help you get out and meet people. The general method is in our new city friends guide.

If it gets heavy

Long winters can affect mood. If you feel low for weeks, see a doctor. If you're struggling or thinking about hurting yourself, call 116 123 (emotional support for adults) or 800 70 2222 (24/7 support line for adults in crisis), both free. In an emergency, call 112.

Frequently asked questions

Is it hard to make friends in Warsaw?

Poles can seem reserved with strangers, so friendships take a little time. Regular activities like parkrun, language exchanges, Polish classes and volunteering are the best ways in.

Do I need to speak Polish in Warsaw?

Many younger people speak English, but learning some Polish makes everyday life easier and is warmly appreciated by locals.

What are free things to do alone in Warsaw?

Łazienki Park and its summer Chopin concerts, the Old Town, the Vistula boulevards, Praga's streets and parkrun on Saturday mornings.

Is Warsaw good for expats?

Yes. It's affordable compared with many Western European capitals, increasingly international and has a growing community of newcomers.