Warsaw at War: Walking Tour of WWII, the Ghetto & 1944 Uprising
We trace Warsaw’s WWII history—occupation, the Ghetto, and the 1944 Uprising—across the Old Town and city centre: Zygmunt’s Column, Monument of the Little Insurgent, Warsaw Uprising Monument, Ghetto boundary markers, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Basic Information
Total time
2h
Language
English, Spanish (check the calendar for availability)
Price
„Pay what you wish” tours do not have a fixed price. It is up to you to evaluate your guide’s work and reward it. Some people give 10€, others 50€ depending on their satisfaction and abilities.
Meeting point
Zygmunt’s Column, Castle Square Nearest public transport: Stare Miasto 02 tram stop; Stare Miasto 01 tram stop
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 no matter the weather. High or low temperatures, rain or snow is not a reason for us to cancel our tours. We are always here for you. The only reason for cancellations are extreme weather conditions (like heavy storms…), guide's sudden sickness or no minimum number of people (5) to run the tour, but we will always let you know using the data you provided during registration for the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our pay as you wish tours are designed for individual travellers and small groups. We don’t accept parties of more than 7 people on them. If you travel in a party of 8 or more (school groups, bigger groups of friends etc.), please choose a paid option of 18€ per person or book a Private Tour. For more information on the latter, please contact us.
About the tour
Imagine a city that had almost 1.4 million people before World War II. Six years later, its ruins were inhabited by only several thousand survivors. Imagine a city that fought against the occupiers from the very first till the very last day. Imagine a city where every street, every corner, every courtyard has a wartime story to tell.
First, there was 1939 and the German and Soviet invasions. Then, years of occupation. In 1940, the Germans created the largest ghetto in occupied Europe here, which was razed to the ground in 1943 after the crushing of the Jewish uprising. A year later, the city was again in flames – this time because of the Polish national uprising of 1944. After 63 days of heavy urban fighting, it was crushed while the Red Army stood idle on the other side of the Vistula River. When they finally crossed over, the city and its people were no more.
Enter a world of unimaginable terror and brutality. Understand people’s eagerness to fight back. Feel the grave meaning of the decisions they had to make. Listen to stories of bravery and cowardice, loyalty and betrayal, but also of daily life under the occupation. Enter a different world – the world of Warsaw at war.
The exact tour route can vary depending on the guide.
Highlights
- 1
Zygmunt's Column
Iconic city landmark that was toppled during the 1944 Uprising and later rebuilt.
- 2
Little Insurgent Monument
A moving tribute to the child soldiers who fought and died during the Warsaw Uprising.
- 3
Warsaw Ghetto
Site of the largest Jewish ghetto in occupied Europe, destroyed after the 1943 uprising.
- 4
Warsaw Uprising 1944
The heroic 63-day struggle by the Polish resistance to liberate Warsaw from German occupation.
- 5
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
A national monument honoring the unidentified soldiers who have died fighting for Poland's freedom.
6Warsaw Uprising Monument
A dramatic monument dedicated to the heroes and victims of the city-wide 1944 rebellion.
Map
Zygmunt’s Column, Castle Square Nearest public transport: Stare Miasto 02 tram stop; Stare Miasto 01 tram stop
