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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.

Pay what you wish
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Bronze statue of Nicolaus Copernicus with an armillary sphere in Warsaw, in front of the Staszic Palace under a blue sky.
The Nicolaus Copernicus Monument in Warsaw, standing before Staszic Palace on Krakowskie Przedmieście, one of the city’s m...

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

  • Ending point

    Directly beside the Warsaw Barbican along Nowomiejska Street.

    Nearest public transport: Boleść 01; Plac Krasińskich 02

  • 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

Bronze statue of Nicolaus Copernicus with an armillary sphere in Warsaw, in front of the Staszic Palace under a blue sky.
The Nicolaus Copernicus Monument in Warsaw, standing before Staszic Palace on Krakowskie Przedmieście, one of the city’s m...

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. 1

    Nicolaus Copernicus Monument

    A bronze seated statue of the renowned astronomer, positioned before the Polish Academy of Sciences.

  2. 2

    University of Warsaw

    The largest and one of the most prestigious universities in Poland, founded in 1816.

  3. 3

    Presidential Palace

    The official residence of the Polish head of state on Krakowskie Przedmieście street.

  4. 4

    Royal Castle

    Reconstructed former residence of Polish monarchs located at the entrance to the Old Town.

  5. 5

    Zygmunt's Column

    A monument commemorating King Sigismund III Vasa, who moved Poland's capital to Warsaw.

  6. 6

    St. John's Cathedral

    One of Warsaw's oldest churches and the mother church of the Archdiocese of Warsaw.

  7. 7

    Old Town Market Square

    The historic heart of Warsaw, completely rebuilt after WWII and now a vibrant city centre and a UNESCO site.

FAQ

Map

Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Krakowskie Przedmieście Street 2 Nearest public transport: metro line #2, station: Nowy Świat - Uniwersytet

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