The Polish capital is one of the top cheap European cities to visit. From accommodation to food, you don’t need to break the bank to experience the best of it. If that’s not enough, there are also plenty of free things to do in Warsaw.
You should spend at least three days in Warsaw to enjoy more than just its highlights. Whether you want to get to know its history and culture or engage in leisure activities, here are 20 great free must-dos.
*This post may contain affiliate links from which I earn a commission (for more info, read my disclosure). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
*I try to keep the information on this blog as updated as possible, but I still recommend consulting the latest prices, opening hours, and other details on the official website of each site, hotel, and tour, as well as checking the updated public transport routes and timetables.
Best Free Things to Do in Warsaw, Poland
Take Some Free Walking Tours
While I love to roam around freely when traveling, I’ve embraced themed tours that uncover a specific side of a city.
Luckily, Warsaw offers quite a few of them, so if you want to explore the Polish capital with a guide, book yourself a:
- Free walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town
- Free street art tour
- Jewish history free tour
- Warsaw at war free tour
- Free tour of the unique Praga district
Explore the Old Town
It’s not for nothing that Warsaw’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It had to be reconstructed after WWII because most of the city was razed to the ground, and it was rebuilt in a way that preserved its pre-war architecture (fun fact: some decorative elements were saved).
Take your time to marvel at the colorful main square (Old Town Market Place – Rynek Starego Miasta), wander the lovely surrounding streets, take some photos of the beautiful Castle Square, and admire the Warsaw Barbican.
To learn more about this area and its history, consider taking a free walking tour of Warsaw’s Old Town.
Explore the Praga District
The unconventional Praga district is an area in Warsaw you have to explore. Unlike other parts of the city, it wasn’t utterly destroyed in WWII (“only” 20% of it), so it is now full of contrasts between the historic and the modern.
Alongside pre-war buildings, you’ll find 21st-century townhouses; hipster cafes and pubs are found next to milk bars (low-price Polish diners); alongside photogenic cathedrals are beautiful murals; quirky museums are waiting for you to visit (like the non-free Neon Museum and Vodka Museum).
While you can definitely enjoy this neighborhood on your own, consider taking a free walking tour of Praga.
Go Street Art Hunting
I don’t know what comes to mind when you think of Warsaw, but it is a city that preserves its history and heritage, yet it has become incredibly modern.
Its thriving street art scene is definitely worth exploring, especially in the districts of Praga and Muranów, where you can find giant colorful murals covering entire building walls.
To learn about the different pieces and artists, don’t skip out on taking a free street art walking tour.
Follow Warsaw’s Jewish History
Warsaw’s Jewish community was one of the largest in Europe up until WWII, so whether you’re Jewish (like me) or not, it’s incredibly important to get to know this aspect of Polish history.
From Nożyk Synagogue (the only one in Warsaw that survived the war) and the remains of the wall of the Warsaw Ghetto (the largest in Europe) to the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes and Mila 18, there are quite a few points of interest where you can learn about WWII and the Holocaust.
That said, Poland’s Jewish history is actually 1000 years old, so I highly recommend taking a free Jewish history walking tour, which talks about the community’s life from the Middle Ages until the present day.
Visit the Polin Museum
The free Jewish history tour ends at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, located right in front of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
Free to visit on Thursdays, the 4000-m2 museum hosts an extensive permanent exhibition dedicated to the 1000 years of Polish Jewish history.
Even if you don’t take the free tour or see the places I mentioned above, don’t miss the POLIN Museum, which is a must-visit spot in Warsaw.
Check out the City’s Indoor Markets
Wandering through local markets is a great free activity in any city, and the most prominent ones in Warsaw are Hala Gwardii, the adjacent Hala Mirowska, and Hala Koszyki.
From savory & sweet food stands to handicrafts to traditional market stalls selling vegetables, cheeses, and whatnot, there’s nothing you won’t find at Warsaw’s cool indoor markets.
Stroll Through the Beautiful Parks
City break destinations that are home to lots of parks and gardens where you can unwind and enjoy some change in scenery are my favorites, and Warsaw is no exception.
From the infamous Lazienki Park to the Krasiński Garden to the Saxon Garden (home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier), there’s no shortage of relaxing green spaces in Warsaw (that you can visit for free!).
Visit the Palace on the Isle
Sitting on an artificial island in the heart of Lazienki Park, the 17th-century Palace on the Isle was a bathing pavilion converted into a summer residence for King Stanislaus II Augustus. It’s also one of the few landmarks in Warsaw that survived WWII.
While the palace’s main facade seems relatively modest, its interiors, decorated with paintings, sculptures, frescoes, marble, and golden embellishments, are worth seeing.
Along with other royal monuments in the park (Old Orangery and Myślewicki Palace), the Palace on the Isle is free to visit on Fridays.
Visit the Zachęta National Gallery of Art
If you love contemporary art, head to the Zachęta National Gallery of Art. Officially open since 1900, it houses a permanent collection of more than 3500 works of Polish art and also hosts temporary exhibitions.
The gallery is conveniently located in the heart of Warsaw and is free to visit on Thursdays (open from noon to 8 PM).
Visit the Royal Castle
Originally constructed in the Middle Ages, the striking Royal Castle was the official residence of the Polish monarchs for several centuries, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Old Town.
While touring the castle, you’ll get access to some of its most beautiful rooms, including the King’s Apartment, the Senators’ Chamber, and the Marble Room. It also houses two Rembrandt paintings, a Stradivarius violin, and many other works of art.
Situated at Castle Square, this unmissable Polish landmark is free to visit on Wednesdays.
Visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum
Free to visit on Mondays, this highly-visited museum is dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising, the 2-month operation of the Polish resistance against the Germans in 1944.
Interactively showcasing the city’s history before, during, and after the Uprising, it is a must-visit museum if you want to dive into one of the most significant events that ever happened in Warsaw.
Visit the Wilanow Palace
A short bus ride will take you from the city center to the 17th-century Wilanow Palace, the royal residence of King Jan III Sobieski and a Polish monument that survived both world wars.
The palace’s most notable features are its art collections, yellow outer walls, and magnificent gardens adorned with sculptures, fountains, pavilions, and more.
You can visit it for free on Thursdays, but the number of tickets is limited, so be sure to be at the ticket office right when it opens.
Good to know: From October to February, the palace hosts the Royal Garden of Light, a spectacular evening exhibition turning the gardens into a magically illuminated wonderland.
It is not free, but I’m sure you’ll think it’s worth it and understand why Warsaw is a great European winter destination.
Walk the Royal Route
This photogenic walkable route connects the Royal Castle and the Wilanow Palace while passing alongside the city’s most significant palaces, churches, parks, and other points of interest.
Covering some of the landmarks I mentioned as well as other important monuments, it includes St. Anna’s Church, the Presidential Palace, Holy Cross Church, Nowy Świat Street, Lazienki Park, and the list goes on.
Visit the National Museum
One of the largest and oldest art museums in Poland, the National Museum houses a collection of more than 800,000 pieces from all over the world, including ancient art, medieval art, and Polish art from different centuries.
On Tuesdays, you can visit the permanent exhibitions for free.
Unwind at the Warsaw University Library Garden
Not to be confused with the University of Warsaw Botanical Garden (located in Lazienki Park), the 1-hectare rooftop Warsaw University Library Garden is a free place to visit in the city you cannot miss.
The garden consists of a lower part (open year-round) and an upper part (open from April to October), boasting lush vegetation, ponds, statues, and much more.
Its unique layout and design, combined with the tranquility it offers, make it feel like a total hidden gem in Warsaw.
Check out the Multimedia Fountain Park
There’s no shortage of multimedia fountains in European cities that let you enjoy evening shows that combine sounds, colorful lights, and water, Warsaw included.
Taking place on Fridays and Saturdays in May-July (9:30 PM), August (9 PM), and September (8:30 PM), the shows are a free activity for the whole family.
They also have a Christmas edition in December on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (at 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM, and 8 PM).
Enjoy a Chopin Concert
You don’t have to love classical music to appreciate the cultural contribution of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin (who grew up in Warsaw).
But if you do, you’ll be happy to know that from mid-May to the end of September, free Chopin concerts take place each Sunday at noon and 4 PM around the Chopin Monument at Lazienki Park.
These open-air summer concerts are one of the most notable events in all of Poland, featuring gifted pianists from all over the world.
Consult the full program here.
Stroll Alongside the Vistula River
If the sky is clear, one of the best things to do in Warsaw for free is to walk along the Vistula Boulevards, a lovely riverside promenade dotted with trees, benches, and a few cafes and restaurants.
Spanning several kilometers, it’s an ideal spot for a laid-back afternoon stroll (or even a bike ride if you feel like renting one).
Go to the Beach
It may sound odd, but if you’re visiting Warsaw in the summer, another free activity offered by the Vistula River is enjoying its beaches, including Poniatówka Beach, Prague City Beach, and Saska Kepa Beach.
While you shouldn’t expect them to remind you of the coast of a Mediterranean Island, they’re still a popular place to soak up some sun, have a riverside picnic, and appreciate the views.
If that’s not enough, you can also cross the river with a free ferry ride, operating daily in July and August.
Need some more Poland travel tips? Read:
- Reasons to visit Poznan
- Things to do in Poznan
- Reasons to visit Warsaw
- Cities to visit in Poland
- One week in Krakow
- Cafes in Krakow
- Hidden gems in Krakow
- Things to do in Kazimierz, Krakow’s Jewish Quarter
- Painted village of Zalipie, a day trip from Krakow
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Extremely beautiful presentation and explanation about free things to do in Warsaw! This historic capital city of Poland seems to an ideal destination for a family vacation. Thanks a lot for all your efforts.
Glad you found this post helpful!