Warsaw Old Town & Royal Route: Historic Centre Walking Tour
Introduction to Warsaw—its history and culture, destruction and rebirth: we walk the Royal Route along Krakowskie Przedmieście to the UNESCO-listed Old Town, starting by the Copernicus Monument and covering the University of Warsaw, Presidential Palace, Royal Castle, and the Old Town Market Square, all rebuilt after near-total destruction in WWII.
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Basic Information
Total time
2h 30m
Language
English, Spanish, German (check the calendar for availability)
Price
Our “Pay What You Wish” tours don’t have a fixed price — you decide how much the experience was worth. At the end of the tour, please make a fair contribution that reflects your satisfaction and appreciation for your guide’s work. Most guests give between €10 and €50 per person.
Meeting point
Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Krakowskie Przedmieście Street 2
Nearest public transport: metro line #2, station: Nowy Świat - Uniwersytet
ATTENTION! 9-22.10.2025 TEMPORARY MEETING POINT: ZYGMUNT'S COLUMN (Castle Square)
See on Google Maps
Additional info
☂︎ This tour is organised by Walkative Warsaw guides. Look for the guide with the yellow umbrella.
♿️ Tour suitable for people with reduced mobility and strollers
❗Our tours run in all weather conditions. High or low temperatures, rain, or snow are never a reason for us to cancel. We’re always here for you! The only reasons for cancellation are extreme weather conditions (such as heavy storms), a guide’s sudden illness, or if there are fewer than 5 registered participants. In such cases, we will always notify you using the contact information you provided when booking the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our “Pay What You Wish” tours are meant for individual travellers and small groups. Large groups (8 or more people) cannot join these tours, as they significantly affect the experience for others and the guide. For school trips, organised tours, or groups of friends, please book our paid option (18€ per person) or arrange a Private Tour. For more information or to schedule a group visit, please contact us directly.
About the tour
A city that suffered tremendous losses over the last 100 years. Come and see how it rose like a phoenix from the ashes: experience the invincible spirit of Warsaw and learn about the heroism of its people.
Today’s Warsaw is like a patchwork quilt. A few original, grand pre-war buildings; the fully reconstructed and colourful Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; hulking communist architecture and modern skyscrapers. It is different than any other place you’ve seen. The architectural fabric of the city reflects its unique, and often tumultuous, history. Over the centuries, Warsaw has been the setting for many extraordinary events and people: the adoption of the world’s second-oldest democratic constitution in 1791, one of the most decisive battles in history, the music and life of Chopin, and the birth of Marie Skłodowska-Curie, the only person to receive the Nobel Prize in two different scientific fields. The wartime deeds of Hitler and Stalin left an indelible mark on the city.
During our tour we’ll discover both the past and the present. We’ll start at Krakowskie Przedmieście at the monument of Nicolaus Copernicus to see one of the most beautiful and lively streets of the city with its astonishing buildings, wide pedestrian areas, restaurants, shops, and greenery, and we’ll finish in the Old Town – the historical heart of Warsaw.
But Warsaw is not only about the past. The thriving cultural scene, theater, music, fascinating museums, world-class restaurants and shops make visit to this city a stimulating experience.
Come and join our tour to understand Warsaw, Poles and Poland’s role in world history.
After visiting the historic centre we recommend taking Jewish Warsaw, Warsaw at War and Communist Warsaw free tours to understand Warsaw’s complicated history better!
Highlights
- 1
University of Warsaw
The largest and one of the most prestigious universities in Poland, founded in 1816.
- 2
Presidential Palace
The official residence of the Polish head of state on Krakowskie Przedmieście street.
- 3
Royal Castle
Reconstructed former residence of Polish monarchs located at the entrance to the Old Town.
- 4
Zygmunt's Column
A monument commemorating King Sigismund III Vasa, who moved Poland's capital to Warsaw.
- 5
St. John's Cathedral
One of Warsaw's oldest churches and the mother church of the Archdiocese of Warsaw.
- 6
Old Town Market Square
The historic heart of Warsaw, completely rebuilt after WWII and now a vibrant city centre and a UNESCO site.
7Copernicus Monument
Monument to the famous Polish astronomer who stopped the sun and moved the Earth.
Map
Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Krakowskie Przedmieście Street 2
Nearest public transport: metro line #2, station: Nowy Świat - Uniwersytet
ATTENTION! 9-22.10.2025 TEMPORARY MEETING POINT: ZYGMUNT'S COLUMN (Castle Square)
See on Google Maps
Our customers said about us
Warsaw
4.0Merece mucho la pena
Un tour muy bien explicado. Manuel es muy tranquilo y guía de forma alegre por la ciudad.
Warsaw
5.0Andrés
Contenido ameno sobre el casco antiguo por Manuel
Me pareció muy interesante y ameno, buen paseo y muy buen guia
Warsaw
5.0Lara
Great tour
Our guide was incredibly engaging, full of energy, and had a fantastic sense of humor!
Warsaw
5.0Daniel Camilla
Great tour!
Andrej was very charismatic with his funny sarcasm, and you could sense his passion and respect for the history and people of Warsaw.
Warsaw
5.0Marina
Muy buena experiencia
Hice el tour del casco histórico y del gueto judío con Manuel. Fue muy interesante con explicación del contexto histórco. Real mente recomiendo estos dos tours
Warsaw
5.0Francisco
Great tour and great guide!
He hecho la visita guiada de Varsovia con Manuel y me ha encantado. Es ameno, exhaustivo, está pendiente de todos y de nuestras necesidades. Realmente excepcional.
Warsaw
5.0Carmel Joe
Super Tour
Amazing tour! Learned lots about Warsaw history and saw a lot that we would have otherwise missed. Jacob (I think) was funny, engaging and very knowledgeable.
Warsaw
5.0Kathy
Amazing tour
Our tour guide was Mikhal and took us on a great journey of the history of Warsaw and Poland. His knowledge and passion is wonderful and a great sense of humour. I highly recommend taking a tour.
Warsaw
5.0Z
Excellent guide
Our tour guide Olivia has good sense of humor and high level of understanding of the Jewish history. She is an excellent speaker and explains everything so clearly and accurately. We covered almost the entire Ghetto and gained good perspectives from multiple angles. I’d highly recommend her tour.
Warsaw
5.0Pedro
Tour Varsovia
Manuel Excelente guia, muy recomendable la visita guiada. Muchas gracias por la profesionalidad del guia
