A Walking Tour of Communist Warsaw: Architecture & Daily Life

We trace Warsaw’s communist era (1945–1989) through the city center – Palace of Culture and Science, Grzybowski Square, Ministry of Agriculture, a milk bar – and talk about architecture, propaganda, daily life and opposition.

Pay what you wish
enes
4.713
  1. The Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw under a dramatic sky.
  2. Close-up of a weathered stone statue holding a book inscribed with 'Marx Engels Lenin'.
  3. Sunny view of Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science.
  4. Two vintage tour buses in Warsaw, Poland.
  5. Rust-colored "Solidarnosc" sculpture in Warsaw, Poland.
  6. A low-angle view of a grand building in Warsaw, Poland, with a KFC restaurant visible.
  7. Impressive classical building in Warsaw, Poland.
  8. Artificial palm tree in a Warsaw street.
  9. The Church of St. Alexander in Warsaw reflected in a fountain.
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Basic Information

  • Total time

    2h

  • Language

    English, Spanish (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

Church of All Saints, Plac Grzybowski 3/5 Nearest public transport: metro line #1 or #2, station: Świętokrzyska

  • 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

  1. The Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw under a dramatic sky.
  2. Close-up of a weathered stone statue holding a book inscribed with 'Marx Engels Lenin'.
  3. Sunny view of Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science.
  4. Two vintage tour buses in Warsaw, Poland.
  5. Rust-colored "Solidarnosc" sculpture in Warsaw, Poland.
  6. A low-angle view of a grand building in Warsaw, Poland, with a KFC restaurant visible.
  7. Impressive classical building in Warsaw, Poland.
  8. Artificial palm tree in a Warsaw street.
  9. The Church of St. Alexander in Warsaw reflected in a fountain.
Item 1 of 9

The thing you simply cannot help not to notice when arriving in Warsaw is the Palace of Culture and Science. Despite the new development and skyscrapers built in the last two decades, the 46-floor Gotham-like colossus still remains the city’s icon. Let us tell you the story behind it: the story of Warsaw between 1945 and 1989. Rebuilt from a sea of ruins and transformed into the grey capital of the communist paradise: the People’s Republic of Poland.

Communism left its marks all over the city; it was meant to overshadow everything that was before and that was to come in the future. Let us show you some of the iconic post-war architectural landmarks and learn about their role in shaping a new kind of person – Homo Sovieticus. Hear a story of control, terror, and propaganda, but also of the absurdities of daily life under communism. Understand the everyday struggle to have a normal life in a situation that, from today’s point of view, was very abnormal.

We will talk about:

· everyday life in the People’s Republic of Poland

· the inner workings of communist propaganda

· examples of monumental architecture

· anti-communist movement

Highlights

  1. 1

    Milk Bar

    A traditional Polish cafeteria, a culinary remnant of the communist era offering affordable meals.

  2. 2

    Communist Propaganda

    Understand the mechanisms of control used by the state to shape public opinion.

  3. Show more
    6

    Ministry of Agriculture

    A monumental building and a prime example of the imposing Socialist Realist architectural style.

Map

Church of All Saints, Plac Grzybowski 3/5 Nearest public transport: metro line #1 or #2, station: Świętokrzyska

Our customers said about us

  1. Great tour!

    Warsaw

    5.0

    Devora

    Great tour!

    We joined Michael and it was great! He is very knowledgeable and explained a lot of little unknown details that really shed light on the city's history! He had also a bunch of recommendations for the rest of our stay :)

  2. Warszawa Legend

    Warsaw

    5.0

    Natalia

    Warszawa Legend

    Jacek—what a guy. No museum can bring to life stories from the socialist bloc like this tour will. We especially appreciated his personal anecdotes and sense of humor.

  3. Very informative, entertaining, and educating.

    Warsaw

    5.0

    Matthew

    Very informative, entertaining, and educating.

    This tour guided by Jacek was amazing. We were able to see a lot of architecture and the remnants of urban planning during the period. We also learned about the social and economic parts of life during the period.

  4. Muy interesante

    Warsaw

    5.0

    Cris MMM

    Muy interesante

    Hicimos el tour con Andrzej nos contó muchas curiosidades personales e historicas respecto al comunismo, te hace tener una idea mucho más amplia de lo vivido en aquellos años. Tanto él como todos y cada uno de sus compañeros han vivido en primera persona los cambios sufridos en esta ciudad y eso lo transmite muy fielmente. Gracias por vuestra sabiduría.

  5. Excellent!

    Warsaw

    5.0

    Alexis Brunet

    Excellent!

    The guide has a high knowledge of the soviet time in Poland and East Europe, whether by history studies or by his own experience. He knows how to connect the academic knowledge with the sensible experience. Talking about such a dramatic history without making pathos is not easy but yes, he does it with a very welcome sense of humour and it is great. I highly recommend.

  6. Interesante

    Warsaw

    4.0

    Javi

    Interesante

    Repetimos con Piotr el tour comunista. Explicaciones entretenidas aunque esperaba recibir más información o ver más lugares significativos

  7. Warsaw

    4.0

    Carmen

    Entretenido y ameno, me gustaría haber podido profundizar más en el tema.

  8. Tour interesantísimo!!

    Warsaw

    5.0

    Maya Faulkner Fernández

    Tour interesantísimo!!

    Andres un excelente guía, explicando todo de maravilla con ejemplos muy ilustrativos e interesantes. Muy recomendado para entender la opinión actual del Comunismo en Polonia.

  9. Tour por Varsovia

    Warsaw

    5.0

    Carlos Vega

    Tour por Varsovia

    Andrés nos dio un tour por Varsovia el 22 de octubre de 2023. Un chico muy majo y se le nota que le gusta y está apisonado por lo que hace.

  10. Para entender el comunismo en Varsovia

    Warsaw

    5.0

    Francesca

    Para entender el comunismo en Varsovia

    Andrés es un buen guía para este tour porque ofrece su experiencia personal y es impagable.

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