Things to Do in Warsaw
Discover the turbulent history of the Warsaw Jews since the Middle Ages. Explore the remnants of the famous pre-war Jewish District which in 1940 was turned by the Nazis into the Ghetto and then completely destroyed in 1943.
We’ll show you the fascinating yet dramatic story of the Jews in Warsaw and tell you how the present Jewish community is making its way back to Warsaw after all the turbulent times.
You will visit the following places related to the Warsaw Jews:
- the former medieval Jewish quarter
- Krasiński Park
- relic of Nalewki Street
- memorial of the Ghetto Wall
- Monument to the Heroes of the Uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto
- Mordechaj Anielewicz Bunker
- Umschlagplatz Memorial
This tour covers in detail the historical core of Warsaw - the medieval Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage area) and the second oldest district of Warsaw - the New Town.
On this tour you will learn about life in medieval Warsaw, powerful Polish kings, Warsaw becoming the capital of Poland, the siege of the city by the Swedes, Marie Curie, World War 2 destruction, communist regime, post-war reconstruction, and much more, all this sprinkled with legends and anecdotes.
We will explore the streets, backyards, and picturesque alleyways of the Old Town.
You will see:
- The Royal Castle
- Sigismund’s Column
- The Cathedral of Saint John
- The Magic Bell
- The Vistula River viewpoint
- Market Square
- Medieval defensive walls
- The Barbican
- Marie Curie’s birthplace
- a monument of the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw is a city of contrasts, where 300-year-old aristocratic palaces are standing next to the Soviet blocks of flats. See these contrasts through the eyes of our experienced local guide, who grew up in communist-ruled Poland.
2in1 tour, ideal as the introduction to Warsaw. The first half of the tour covers the Royal Route, which is the most elegant Warsaw street. Here in the 17th and 18th century wealthy noblemen were building their luxurious residences, powerful religious orders were erecting their baroque churches, here in the 19th century Chopin lived and Marie Curie was studying. In the second half of the tour you will explore the 20th-century city centre, reshaped by communist architects and urban planners, with the most iconic Warsaw building: the Palace of Culture, the famous gift from Stalin to the People's Republic of Poland, aimed to give Warsaw the new communist identity.
- The first half of the tour covers the Royal Route, which is the most elegant Warsaw street. Here in the 17th and 18th century wealthy noblemen were building their luxurious residences, powerful religious orders were erecting their baroque churches, here in the 19th century Chopin lived and Marie Curie was studying.
- In the second half of the tour you will explore the 20th-century city centre, reshaped by communist architects and urban planners, with the most iconic Warsaw building: the Palace of Culture, the famous gift from Stalin to the People's Republic of Poland, aimed to give Warsaw the new communist identity.
World War 2 tour explores the most important places related to dramatic war events:
- Castle Square
- A former Nazi-German district
- Execution sites
- Pilsudski Square (former Adolf Hitler Square)
- The Jewish Ghetto.
You can't understand present-day Warsaw without knowing what happened here 80 years ago. Warsaw was among the cities which suffered the most during World War II.
The city and its inhabitants experienced the horror of bombings, and the terror of everyday life under the eye of the SS but also courageously fought in two uprisings: the 1943 Jewish Ghetto Uprising and the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.
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 a 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.
On this 2h 30 minutes’ FREE Walkative! TOUR you will see:
- Copernicus Monument on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street
- Royal Castle
- University of Warsaw
- The presidential palace
- Sigmund Column
- Old town Market Square
- St. John Cathedral
- and much more…!
The last stop is near the Zygmunt’s Column.
ℹ️ ⚠️ ATTENTION - booking rules
Please note that our free tours are designed for individual travelers and small private groups only. Hence, we do not accept parties of 8 or more people on regular free tours and guides have the right to deny participation to such groups. If you travel in a party of 8 or more please book a private tour in advance.
If you show up at the meeting point with the bigger group our guide will ask you for the payment (10 eur/person) before the tour or cancel your reservation on the spot. To confirm your reservation please arrive 10 minutes before starting. We can not guarantee participation when you will be late.
Please note that multiply bookings (under different names) for 7 people who belong to one group will still be treated as one organized group and the guide has the right to deny participation to such parties.
This policy is implied in the best interest of our individual visitors.
Please respect our rules.
Just arrived in Warsaw and trying to find out whether you can hang out with your partner in a gay friendly environment? Get hosted by a guide belonging to Warsaw’s LGBT+ community who will introduce you to the city and its rainbow side like no one else.
First, you'll find out where and what was the brights side to be locked up by the “Milicja” (the police back in Communist Poland) and as we continue our walk from the meeting point, through Plac Bankowy and Saski Park you'll learn why Warsaw Pride is called the Equality Parade or how far right groups and nationalists hatefully shout slogans which commemorate a lesbian writer (without probably realizing).
The tour will end in Plac Trzech Krzyży that used to be one of the hottest points for the gay community in the comunism.
Of course, you’ll get from me a list of places worth visiting, eg. restaurants, bars and clubs. Follow QUEERSZAWA on Instagram to find the best events in Warsaw.
So don’t hesitate any longer and book some rainbow time with me 🌈
Before the Second World War, Warsaw was a city with the biggest Jewish community in Europe. The only other city with a Jewish community of similar size was… New York! The story of Jewish Warsaw is a story of stubborn returns. For many years, even centuries, Jews were banned from the city. However, that did not stop them from participating in city life – during good times and bad. Jews joined Varsovians in their struggles against occupying powers, and they played an active part in the Polish uprisings. The city experienced a major influx of Jews in the 19th and 20th centuries. During the Interwar Period, Jewish Warsaw flourished. Hundreds of artists, actors, writers, and journalists called the city home. Its cultural life was incomparable to any other time and place in history. Realizing what Warsaw was helps us understand the tremendous loss.
The Second World War and Holocaust left the city changed forever. The wounds and scars will never heal. But, alongside stories of destruction, there are stories of the unimaginable bravery of those who fought without hope. There are also stories of the present; stories of rebirth… Let’s get back first to the past. This city was once famous for its Jewish culture. There are many people whose names history will never forget and Varsovians will always be proud of: Ludwig Zamenhoff, the inventor of Esperanto; Isaac Bashevis Singer (born Icchok Baszewis Singer), who won the Nobel Prize for literature are just two examples.
The stories of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Uprising there, and of people like Janusz Korczak and Mordechai Anielewicz will leave you trembling. While the story of Oskar Schindler’s rescue of over a thousand Kraków Jews has become internationally famous with the release of the film Schindler’s List, a much less well-known story is that of Warsaw resident Irena Sendler, who actually saved more Jews than Schindler did. Her story is depicted in The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler. Last, but not least, it is worth mentioning one more person made famous by a Hollywood film: Władysław Szpilman, better known as The Pianist from Roman Polański’s film. But there is more to Jewish Warsaw than the past. There is also the here and now – the living Jewish community with a synagogue, kindergarten, school, and the only regularly functioning Yiddish theatre in the world: the Ester Rachela Kamińska Jewish Theatre.
To discover all of this, just come and join us at the meeting point and be ready for journey through times and emotions!
ℹ️ ⚠️ ATTENTION - booking rules
Please note that our free tours are designed for individual travelers and small private groups only. Hence, we do not accept parties of 8 or more people on regular free tours and guides have the right to deny participation to such groups. If you travel in a party of 8 or more please book a private tour in advance.
If you show up at the meeting point with the bigger group our guide will ask you for the payment (10 eur/person) before the tour or cancel your reservation on the spot. To confirm your reservation please arrive 10 minutes before starting. We can not guarantee participation when you will be late.
Please note that multiply bookings (under different names) for 7 people who belong to one group will still be treated as one organized group and the guide has the right to deny participation to such parties.
This policy is implied in the best interest of our individual visitors.
Please respect our rules.
