Warsaw Ghetto walking tour: Sites and stories from 1943

The synagogue that survived, the wall fragments that remain, the bridge that became a symbol

This three-hour walking tour of Warsaw traces the history of the ghetto's establishment, daily life under occupation, and the 1943 uprising, with a live guide in English or German. You visit the Nozyk Synagogue (still in operation), walk the last surviving streets, see fragments of the original ghetto wall, and stop at key sites including the Umschlagplatz and the bunker at Miła Street 18. Hotel pickup from the city center is included. The day splits between roughly two and a half hours on foot and thirty minutes by public transport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Warsaw Ghetto history and sites

• Visit surviving synagogue
• Explore last ghetto streets
• See ghetto wall fragments
• Stop at Small and Big Ghetto bridge
• Visit Umschlagplatz site
• Learn about Warsaw Ghetto uprising
• Stop at Willy Brandt kneeling spot
• See former bunker at Miła Street 18
• Learn about Pawiak Prison

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Warsaw's city center and moves directly into the ghetto's geography. You visit the Nozyk Synagogue, the only one that survived the Second World War and still operates today, though on Friday afternoons from 1 p.m., Saturdays and Jewish holidays, the synagogue visit does not happen. From there you walk the last surviving streets and neighborhoods within the ghetto boundaries, seeing the fragments of the original wall that still stand. A live guide walks you through the origins of the ghetto, what everyday life looked like under occupation, and the events of 1943.

The route takes you to the spot where the connecting bridge between the Small and Big Ghetto once stood: the landmark that became the symbol of the Warsaw Ghetto. You'll hear the authentic stories tied to these places, including accounts from Władysław Szpilman, whose life inspired the film "The Pianist." The guide explains the Umschlagplatz, the staging point where the final solution plan was carried out, and walks you through the bunker at Miła Street 18, where the ghetto's resistance made its last stand. You also see the Ghettohelden Memorial, where Willy Brandt performed his famous Kniefall, and learn about the heroic uprising: why the Jews took up arms, who helped, and what life was like during those months.

About two and a half hours of the tour is on foot. The remaining thirty minutes uses public transport (bus, tram or underground) to move between key sites. The route and timing adjust based on where your hotel is located. The POLIN Museum is mentioned as part of the tour's historical context, though the main exhibition is not included. If you want to visit it separately, allow about two and a half hours and note that it's closed Tuesdays.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from the city center.
• a live guide in English or German.
• walking access to the surviving Nozyk Synagogue, ghetto wall fragments, the Umschlagplatz and the bunker at Miła Street 18.
• public transport between key sites.

Options for this experience

3 options

Hotel pickUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or German · 10:00Guests are collected at the reception of their hotel in the city centre. Pickup is included.

Meeting pointUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English or German · 10:30, 14:00 and 15:00If the hotel is outside the city centre, meet at the corner of Prozna and Plac Grzybowski (address: Prozna 9).

The Warsaw Ghetto by carUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English or German · 10:00 and 14:00In an air-conditioned VW Sharan, with pickup included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 10:30, 14:00 and 15:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (26 to 66 years) · Senior (67 and older) · Youth (16 to 25 years) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 5.68

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by PolinTours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand the Warsaw Ghetto's history through the actual places where it unfolded, with a guide who can answer questions as you walk: the combination of on-foot exploration and the guide's knowledge is what turns scattered ruins and memorials into a coherent story.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 25 years); Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

What exactly do I see at the Nozyk Synagogue on this tour?

The Nozyk Synagogue is the only synagogue that survived the Second World War and remains in operation today. You visit it as the starting point for understanding the ghetto's religious and community life, though visits do not happen on Friday afternoons from 1 p.m., Saturdays or Jewish holidays.

How much of this tour is walking versus using public transport?

You spend roughly two and a half hours walking the streets and sites of the ghetto, and about thirty minutes traveling by bus, tram or underground to move between key locations. The exact route adjusts based on your hotel's location in the city center.

Will I see the ghetto wall on this tour?

Yes. You see fragments of the original ghetto wall that still stand in Warsaw, as well as the spot where the connecting bridge between the Small and Big Ghetto once stood: the landmark that became the symbol of the Warsaw Ghetto.

What is the Umschlagplatz and why does the guide spend time there?

The Umschlagplatz was the staging point where the final solution plan was carried out. The guide explains its symbolic meaning and how the plan of the final solution was put into action at this location.

Is the POLIN Museum included in this tour?

The POLIN Museum is part of the tour's historical narrative (you learn about it and see where it stands), but the main exhibition is not included. If you want to visit the exhibition separately, allow about two and a half hours. It's open Monday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed Tuesdays.

Does the tour include the bunker at Miła Street 18?

Yes. You stop at the former location of the bunker at Miła Street 18 and learn about its eventful history during the uprising.