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
„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
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 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
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
Copernicus Monument
Monument to the famous Polish astronomer who stopped the sun and moved the Earth.
- 2
University of Warsaw
The largest and one of the most prestigious universities in Poland, founded in 1816.
- 3
Presidential Palace
The official residence of the Polish head of state on Krakowskie Przedmieście street.
- 4
Royal Castle
Reconstructed former residence of Polish monarchs located at the entrance to the Old Town.
- 5
Zygmunt's Column
A monument commemorating King Sigismund III Vasa, who moved Poland's capital to Warsaw.
- 6
St. John's Cathedral
One of Warsaw's oldest churches and the mother church of the Archdiocese of Warsaw.
7Old Town Market Square
The historic heart of Warsaw, completely rebuilt after WWII and now a vibrant city centre and a UNESCO site.
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
