"What’s the matter that you have such a February face?", a certain English playwright would ask. There is always plenty to do during winter, even in a city! Take a look at our top activity ideas this month.

Break the ice

If you've never tried skating before, this is an excellent opportunity to do so. The National Stadium in Warsaw offers a variety of winter sporting activities, including two ice rinks, an ice hill, and even a curling sheet, which are open seven days a week until March 3rd.

24th to March 3rd Warsaw.

Ticket prices range from 14 to 27 PLN.

. Zimowy Narodowy

What if slipping and sliding on ice isn't your cup of tea? Don't worry, you can always go skiing in Warsaw's Szczliwicki Park! The slope isn't quite the Matterhorn (it's only 227 meters of pure bliss), but it should enough for kids and first-time skiers. When in doubt, keep in mind what the old-timers say: "There is no such thing as bad snow (or slope...), only terrible skiers!" English-language ski lessons are offered!

The restaurant is open all year. Warsaw. Lift tickets cost between 19 and 50 PLN, while individual ski lessons cost between 50 and 160 PLN.

 Górka Szczęśliwicka (Polish)

Polish your English

Do you have the dreaded ex-pat blues? Or perhaps you'd want to brush up on your foreign language skills? If that's the case, you're welcome to participate in a language exchange at Gdynia's Emigration Museum. Chat with other ex-pats, share your experiences, and practice your language abilities. On the website, you can register for the meeting. museum’s website.

9 & 23 February. Gdynia. Admission free. Gdynia Language Swap

If the stage is your natural environment, you could enjoy participating in an English-language improvisational comedy. Participate in an open mic night in Kraków and have a good time! Newcomers are always welcome!

Kraków, 6 February. For the performers, admission is free.

 Improv comedy in English

Go, Chopin

Is there a more enjoyable way to pass the time in Warsaw than by listening to Chopin? From February 22 to March 1, the annual Chopin Birthday Concerts Festival, now in its tenth year, will commemorate the composer's birthday. The majority of the Chopin-inspired concerts and recitals will take place in Warsaw's Nowy Wiat Muzyki Café, as is customary. There is no charge for admission!

February 22nd - March 1st Warsaw. Admission free. Koncerty Urodzinowe 2019

Meet Shakespeare

Gdańsk has a Shakespearean theatre, in case you didn't know. As surprising as it may seem, English acting troupes frequented Poland in the 17th century. In Gdask's earliest public playhouse, the Fencing School, the performers used to perform Shakespeare's plays. The new theatre was built on the old location and opened in 2014. Apart from its historic and artistic significance, the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre is notable for its architecture, particularly its light wooden (although technologically advanced) interior, which is hidden under a black casket-like structure with a retractable roof on top. Pre-arranged guided tours in English, German, and Russian are offered.

Open all year round. Gdańsk. Tickets: PLN 10-18. Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre

Go to the cinema

Paweł Pawlikowski’s Oscar-nominated Zimna Wojna ("Cold War") was the most well-received Polish picture of the previous year. If you haven't seen it yet, see if your local cinema has an English-friendly version - Kino Muranów in Warsaw and Kino pod Baranami in Kraków both host screenings with English subtitles.

1- 13 February. Warsaw, Kraków. PLN 15-22. Kino Muranów; Kino pod Baranami

And a little treat for all opera fans out there: the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series allows viewers from around the world to see Met performances on cinema screens in their vicinity. This time around, it will be Georges Bizet's Carmen. You can watch it being broadcast live in a number of Polish cinemas and concert halls, including Kraków’s Kino Kijów and philharmonic halls in Łódź and Białystok. Find all the venues here.

2 February. 34 venues in Poland. Language: French with Polish subtitles. Tickets: PLN 50-100. The Met: Live in H