The Royal Castle
For centuries the Royal Castle was the seat of Poland's kings and the meeting place of parliament; it was here in 1791 that the Constitution of 3 May was passed — the first modern constitution in Europe. In 1944 the Germans blew the castle up entirely. Rebuilding came only in 1971–1984, largely funded by public donations.
Today the castle is a museum with recreated royal interiors (the Great Assembly Hall, the Throne Room and the Marble Room among them) and a picture gallery that includes works by Rembrandt. The interiors are ticketed; on one day a week selected routes are free.
The old town market square and its lanes
The heart of the old town is the market square, ringed by tightly packed townhouses with colourful facades — all rebuilt after 1945 from historic views. In the middle stands the statue of the Warsaw Mermaid, the city's symbol.
From here narrow lanes lead to the Gothic Cathedral of St John and to the Barbican — a semicircular defensive tower in the surviving line of town walls. It is worth walking on to the viewing terrace by Castle Square.
Castle Square and around
- Sigismund's Column — Warsaw's oldest secular monument (1644), on Castle Square, the city's most popular meeting point
- The Barbican and the walls — the surviving defensive ring, with artists' stalls in summer
- The Royal Route — the ceremonial axis of Krakowskie Przedmieście begins at Castle Square and runs towards Łazienki
- A viewpoint — the terrace above the Vistula escarpment looking across to the right bank
How to get there and practical info
- Location
- Castle Square, at the start of the old town
- Castle admission
- Ticketed; selected routes free on one day a week
- The old town
- A pedestrian zone, open to all
- From Warszawa Centralna
- Metro plus a walk, or a bus; about 20–25 min
- Time needed
- From 2 hours (a walk) to half a day (with the castle)
- Tip
- The castle interiors in the morning, then the lanes without the crowds
When to go
Pleasant and not yet crowded, with good light on the facades of the square.
The biggest crowds, café terraces and street performers — best come early.
Fewer visitors and golden autumn above the Vistula escarpment.
The Christmas market and illuminations; the castle interiors especially atmospheric.
Other sights in Warszawa
Straight-line distances from „The Royal Castle and the old town" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Where to stay nearby
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