Capital of Poland, Warsaw is a city which is more or less welcoming. On that subject, I experienced my worst memory of a terrible welcome, from a lady in the ticket office at the bus station. It's probably why I don't keep excellent memories of the metropolis! However, I have to admit that its old town has an undeniable charm and a history is to be told.
I'd categorise the old town as falsely authentic. It was rebuilt in an identical manner after the bombings caused practically all of it to be destroyed during the Second World War. The damage was estimated to be a little over 80% of total loss. Fortunately, the city was able to reappropriate its past and today a visit to this sector is more than lovely. It's clearly the most beautiful part of the city (which is grey elsewhere).