Take a stroll through Warsaw’s pristine Old Town and Royal Castle and you’d think the city had enjoyed a comfortable existence the past 200 years. But at the end of WWII they, and nearly the entire metropolis, lay in rubble and ruin. The fact that Varsovians picked themselves up and rebuilt almost everything is reason enough to pay the country’s capital a visit.

Warsaw’s unquenchable energy not only extends to construction. Today it is a thriving, dynamic and progressive city, the epitome of a Polish nation firmly fixed on the future. Its bar, clubbing and music scene is unmatched in the country, and its yearly calendar is filled with theatre productions, operas and art-house film premieres. If culture is your thing, then Warsaw is your place.

The city’s museums are often testament to its terrible past; many, like the Warsaw Rising Museum, retell the devastation WWII wrought. But there are more light-hearted gems too, like the picture-perfect palaces at Łazienki and Wilanów. Shoppers will max out credit cards on handmade products, and diners can satisfy their hunger with quality Polish cuisine and an ever-increasing array of food from around the world.

True, Warsaw is an acquired taste, and the first impressions probably won’t appeal – stepping off the train or airport bus at Warszawa Centralna train station and staring at the drab blocks lining Al Jerozolimskie may tempt you to hop straight back on. But the vibe and drive of Poland’s greatest city is infectious, and if you give it a little of your time, you’ll be richly rewarded.