Old Town

Old Town

About
After being leveled when the Nazis left, this whole neighborhood of cobblestone Gothic streets and alleyways, baroque palaces, numerous churches and tiered burghers' houses were masterfully reconstructed to reflect the atmosphere of bygone days.
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The area

Neighborhood: Stare Miasto
Stare Miasto, or Old Town, represents the historic soul of Warsaw. With cobblestone alleys and baroque buildings, it's a neighborhood that whispers tales of the city's past, punctuated by the imposing Royal Castle and the impressive St. John's Archcathedral. Visitors can indulge in traditional Polish cuisine at quaint cafes and high-end restaurants alike, or shop for unique souvenirs at the local boutiques. Accessibility is a breeze with an array of public transport options, including buses and trams. The vibrant atmosphere of the Old Town Square, especially during the summer months when it plays host to various cultural festivals, is a testament to Warsaw's enduring spirit.
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See what travelers are saying

  • IOANNA R
    Kallithea, Greece26 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you like medieval castles, you must visit it. We went on a Sunday and the area outside the castle was full of people. The scenery is colorful with dancing groups of young people, jugglers, locals who were demonstrating and tourists.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 27, 2024
  • Maksym L
    13,727 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The historical center of Warsaw is the main attraction of the city, which every tourist must visit. Despite the fact that it was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, after restoration it has not become any less attractive and continues to delight with its quiet streets and cozy atmosphere. The area of the old town is small. If you don’t visit museums, etc., you can walk around at a slow pace in about 30 minutes. On the ground floors of the buildings there are many souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants where you can have a good snack or just spend time with a cup or glass of some drink.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 22, 2024
  • Massimiliano P
    Novara, Italy48,434 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Warsaw's Old Town, although almost entirely rebuilt after the war, is the oldest core of the city. Visiting the old town you can come across many points of interest that for better or worse are in the vicinity of the two main squares, the Market and the Castle, or along the Via Reale. Among the things to see I would mention the stretch of fortified walls with the imposing Barbican, the Cathedral and several monuments, among which those that remain most impressed are the column of Sigismund and the statue of the Little Insurgent. A very pleasant old town although personally the part that most surprised and impressed me about Warsaw is the modern district.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 26, 2024
  • Natasa K
    Thessaloniki Region, Greece41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Old Town is for me the best part of Warsaw! You can't stop wandering through its narrow streets, admiring the colourful buildings with the little shops and ending up in one of the squares, the most beautiful being Rynek Starego Miasta with the statue of the mermaid. It really takes you back in time..
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 24, 2024
  • The Truth
    London, United Kingdom295 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Huge very picturesque main square bordered by the castle and restaurants Free entertainment provided by numerous buskers day and night Colourful buildings contrast with redbrick walled shops and churches More than enough bars and restaurants to deal with the crowds of tourists so it never seemed overcrowded Adjacent to the new town with its wide roads and pavements so walking around is convenient Museums . Opera house nearby Railway station and huge shopping centre 5 to 10 minutes in an Uber taxi 20 minute walk to the riverside , ideal after 6.00 pm to enjoy a beer , ice cream or just a walk
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written October 23, 2024
  • Stephanie R
    London, United Kingdom834 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Came here for the Christmas markets and Just love the old town in general it wasn’t heaving which was nice but cold enough to make it feel Christmassy the restaurants do get busy in the evening so be prepared to wait for food and service I would recommend coming to Warsaw to see the lights and the Christmas atmosphere lots of shops n restaurants to choose from There are the Christmas markets to take a slow walk round and get a chimney cake!!!
    Visited December 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 11, 2024
  • ninaboel
    Malmö, Sweden115 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit but not unlike other ancient cities around Europe. What is different is that it is new, built after the 1950s to mimic what was there before the bombing of Warsaw during World War II. Cute square with ice skating when we were there in February.
    Visited February 2025
    Traveled with family
    Written February 19, 2025
  • brixton456
    Indianapolis, Indiana313 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a great area in Warsaw. There are plenty of shops and places to eat. Because the area is large it does not feel crowded. Nice overlook of the river. A UNESCO site, this is a must see in Warsaw. Take the time to get lost down a cobbled street while not on a schedule. We visited early evening, just enough time to see the last of the sunset and the beautiful lights of the town. You won't be disappointed.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 30, 2024
  • Marcelo Mattar
    Santos, SP327 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The old town of Warsaw is worth visiting. Although Warsaw was devastated in World War II, its reconstruction is fabulous, especially the Historic Center. Buildings and monuments were rebuilt according to their original designs.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 5, 2024
  • Leonhkny
    Hong Kong, China23,904 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This was the face of historic Warsaw and is now the postwar treasure of the Polish capital. The completely rebuilt old town is neat and impressive. Touristy in many ways, it is still the prime attraction for visitors.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 17, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Pam L
Carmel, IN27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
If you're planning a trip to Poland, please consider StayPoland.com as your travel agent for everything Poland. My family and I just returned on Monday, 6/27/2023, from our tour and it couldn't have been better. This is our third experience with this agency and we haven't been disappointed.
We arrived in Kracow, Poland on 6/16, the driver picked us up at the airport and delivered us to Hotel Unicus for a two night stay. Having stayed there on our last trip in 2017, we knew what to expect, and the excellent standards were maintained. The next day, our agent, Anna, had arranged a walking tour of Old Town and Wawel Castle. Our guide was a font of information and kept us entertained for the three hour tour. Well worth the tired feet!
Our guide/driver, Peter met us in the hotel lobby, loaded us up in our 8 passenger Mercedes van and away we went. Even though our tour was private, it was a curated tour, Simple Pleasure, a seven day driving tour.
We visited the cities of Lanckorona, Novy Sacz, Łańcut, Zaność, Kazimierz, and ending in Warsaw.
The hotels we stayed in were all local to each city. Each were individual in their styles, but all clean and comfortable. The Hotel Modrzewiowka, in Lanckorona, had small rooms with double beds. that was a challange for our 6'4" son-in-law! Hotel Zamojski, in Zamość, had no central air conditioning. It was a warm day, but opening the balcony door soon cooled the room after temperature dropped after sunset.
We ended our tour in Warsaw and a two night stay at the Marriott. It was a real treat to be at an American hotel brand with some of the amenities we missed, AC and king beds. Again, our agent, arranged a 4 hour tour of Warsaw. It was a city drive, walking tour of the Royal Castle, and ended in Old Town.
This trip was to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We took our two children and their spouses. No party will be able to out-do this trip and the memories will be relived for a very long time.

Written July 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kaye S
Brisbane Region, Australia66 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
We were recommend Old Town by a friend who is Polish

Old Town met all expectations

We stayed in the heart of Old Town it is close all restaurants and there are so many to choose from.

There are a number of tours you can book we did the food tour which included food and history which was excellent.

The town has kept parts of the buildings to show damage/ bullet holes from the wars. They have preserved the original castle with mote, you can see the bullet holes in the century old buildings. In other parts of Old Town they had to rebuild completely

If you want to experience the culture and history of Warsaw then Old Town is a must see in your list

Would definitely stay there again

Excellent experience
Written July 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gary W
Richmond, Australia866 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
Extremely lovely old town. Picturesque and full of open air restaurant areas. Each restaurant seems to want people to queue even though tables are available. If you don't expect good service, it is well worth a visit. Easily accessible by foot or public transport. Everyone vapes or smokes, it seems.
Written April 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PRAIRA
Ankara, Türkiye719 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
How they preserved it, how they restored it to its original state, and how they still keep it alive as if it were tens or hundreds of years ago. It's like you're in another century, like you're in another world. Perhaps one of the most beautiful old cities in Europe. Breathe it, feel it, wander around for hours, go during the day, visit at night, get lost among thousands of people, you will enjoy it very much. If you get tired, sit in one of the dozens of places where beautiful, smiling, positive-energy people work, order something, and understand life and the fact that you are living it.
Google
Written September 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WadadLahadLEB
2,053 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
The Old Town is a must see.
It has a unique style, many Churches and the Royal Castle.
You can enjoy a walk, stay at a Cafe watch people walking and hanging.
It is a nice place to visit.
Written October 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robyn-and-John
Australia2,295 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
This is where you find most of the tourists wandering around the cobblestone streets and stopping in at the numerous cafes. It has a great atmosphere as there is always something happening. There are buskers and small kids playing accordions trying to earn money.
Written September 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GR44
24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Family
Thanks to Anna, we had a very comprehensive tour of the city.
History, the origins of Poland, life under the communist regime, war, Nazism, massacres, deportation, reconstruction and cuisine, culinary specialties, current life, development of the city. Finally, Anna is a wealth of knowledge and speaks, among other things, French.
Thank you Anna for these good times
Google
Written September 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

polarislovestotavel
Seven Hills, OH275 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Much of Old town was rebuilt after World War II but it's still a great place to visit. It is very lively on the weekend. There are many people out including street performers life fire dancers.
Written August 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wencke
Norway519 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
The reconstruction of the old town square is impressing, and well worth being on the Unesco world heritage list. But the place is too crowded, and full of not so good restaurants. This was our 5th visit to Warsaw, and this time we did not bother….
Written August 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amy
Fairfield, CT465 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
The old town was pretty much rebuild after the war. Very pretty and vibrant. It’s compact and there are plenty things to do: people watching, visit a cathedral, go to a restaurant, and there also plenty of benches available for people to sit. A must do in Warsaw. Lovely fun place
Written May 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Old Town (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)

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