Warsaw - The Royal Route

All Travel Guides

The Royal Route

Warsaw

Provided by: Warsaw Tourist Office

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Europe Poland Warsaw The Royal Route

Overview

The Royal Route The guide was updated: 2024-09-22

The Royal Route connects three former residences of Polish rulers: The Royal Castle, Łazienki Królewskie and Wilanów Palace. It is the city’s most famous route. Among the buildings lining the streets Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat are the Presidential Palace, the Warsaw University campus, as well as beautiful churches and townhouses. The Route continues along the elegant and green Aleje Ujazdowskie, with embassies and ministries situated along the way. The historical route ends at Wilanów Palace. The Route is not to be missed in the wintertime when it is illuminated with thousands of lights as part of the Great Illumination.

Castle Square

Castle Square

The Castle Square owes its name to the Royal Castle located there — the seat of former Polish rulers. The centre of the Square is occupied by one of the city’s most important monuments, the Column of King Sigismund III Vasa. It was erected on the initiative of King Władysław IV in honour of his father, who moved the capital of Poland from Krakow to Warsaw. The Column is an excellent point of departure for a stroll down the Royal Route and a favourite meeting place for local residents.

Krakowskie Przedmieście

Krakowskie Przedmieście

This picturesque street has maintained its heritage. Beautiful palaces and churches, such as The Visitationist Church or The Holy Cross Church, in which the heart of Fryderyk Chopin is immured in a pillar, line the route. Walking along this street, you will also pass by the Presidential Palace, the gates to the main campus of Warsaw University and the Academy of Fine Arts. In the summertime, the street is closed off to traffic and plays host to numerous outdoor events.

Nowy Świat Street

Nowy Świat Street

Krakowskie Przedmieście leads to Nowy Świat – a street filled with cafés, restaurants and trendy boutiques. Try a classic Blikle doughnut or have a rest in one of the cafés while watching the hustle and bustle of the city.

Aleje Ujazdowskie

Aleje Ujazdowskie

Adorned with abundant greenery, palaces and beautiful villas, Aleje Ujazdowskie is all about chic and elegance. Most of the foreign embassies in Warsaw are grouped along this street. Art lovers must not miss Ujazdowski Castle, currently home to the Centre for Contemporary Art.

Ujazdowski Park

Ujazdowski Park

Find a moment for a quiet walk along the paths of this 19th-century park. Its biggest attractions include a historical sculpture of a bronze Gladiator, and a modern playground that will no doubt prove a hit with younger visitors. Those who like to keep in shape can check their weight on an old, fully functional scale that dates back to 1912.

Warsaw University Botanic Garden

Warsaw University Botanic Garden

Nature lovers should definitely visit this place. There are some 10,000 plant species growing here. A walk down the aisles of blooming lilacs, the enchanting magnolias, or the rose garden is a great idea of how to rest from the hustle and the bustle of the city.

Łazienki Royal Park

Łazienki Royal Park

The vast park surrounding the summer residence of the last Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, is where Varsovians like to go for longer walks. The park is home to a winter garden, an amphitheatre, and even a Chinese garden. The biggest attraction, however, are the park’s permanent residents: the squirrels and peacocks. Another site worth seeing is the classicist Palace on the isle, with its enchanting interior design and gallery of paintings. The park is famous for its Chopin concerts, which take place from mid-May to the end of September every Sunday at noon and 4 pm. Come lounge on the grass and enjoy the music.

Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanów

Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanów

Wilanów Palace is a true pearl of Baroque architecture in Warsaw. Learn about King Jan III Sobieski, who successfully fended off the Turks in the battle of Vienna and who lived in Wilanów with his beloved Marysieńka. Take a walk in the park and tour the palace interiors; see the portrait gallery and listen to stories of great romances. The building and the park have both kept their original form, despite the partition, war, and occupation. Wilanów Palace is a must-see when visiting Warsaw. In the wintertime, the venue, illuminated with thousands of lamps, transforms into the Royal Garden of Lights.

Next section

Next Section