Unmissable. Zachęta National Art Gallery (Narodowa Galeria Sztuki) is one of the leading art galleries in Poland, with a focus on the contemporary. Located in a beautiful Renaissance-style palace in the centre of Warsaw, just across from the Saxon Garden, the setting itself is worth a visit. The name of the gallery derives from the Polish word for encouragement and refers to the group that created it in 1860: The Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts (Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych). What makes Zachęta more of a gallery than museum is that, while they have their own collection, there is no core permenant exhibition on display, but rather top-notch temporary exhibits showcasing the best in Polish and international contemporary art. As a result you get leading-edge art in an old European environment. Recommended.

Average visiting time: 60-90mins.