Warsaw Old Town walking tour: Royal Castle to the Ghetto

Royal Castle, hidden squares, a 17th-century bell, the Ghetto boundary, and the mermaid of Warsaw Old Town

A two-hour walking tour of Warsaw's Old Town led by a live English-speaking guide, starting at the Royal Castle and moving through St. John's Archcathedral, the Old Town Market Square, and the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto memorials. The tour covers nine stops including hidden gems, defensive medieval walls, Marie Curie's birthplace, and the monuments of the Warsaw Uprising, with a full info pack and visual aids provided before you start.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Warsaw Royal Castle15m
2. Warsaw Old Town Market Square10m
3. St. John's Archcathedral10m
4. Warsaw Jewish Ghetto10m

Explore Warsaw's historic landmarks

• Visit Royal Castle
• See monumental king's column
• Explore hidden square by cathedral
• View 17th century old bell
• Enjoy lookout over Vistula River
• Walk Warsaw Old Town Market Square
• Visit St. John's Archcathedral
• See medieval defensive walls
• Visit Maria Skłodowska-Curie's birthplace
• View Warsaw Ghetto boundary markers
• See Warsaw Uprising monument

The experience

The Royal Castle opens the walk: a beautiful structure that witnessed Warsaw's entire history. From there the route moves through a monumental column topped with a king of Poland, then into a charming square hidden behind St. John's Archcathedral, where a 17th-century bell still draws visitors from across the world. A lesser-known lookout point in the Old Town gives you a view across the Vistula River to the other side.

The Old Town Market Square is the heart of the walk: colorful tenement houses frame the mermaid monument, the symbol of Warsaw itself. St. John's Archcathedral, the most important church in the city, stands nearby. Medieval defensive walls that once encircled Warsaw are still visible, and the tour passes the birthplace of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, the double Nobel Prize winner. The walk ends at the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto boundary markers (memorial plaques marking the maximum perimeter of the ghetto established in 1940), and a monument dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising of 1944.

You get a full information pack about Warsaw before the tour starts, with an FAQ, useful links, and recommendations for other places to visit and where to eat and drink. Visual aids accompany the guide's stories throughout the two hours. The route is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces work for strollers and prams. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.

What’s included

• A full information pack about Warsaw with an FAQ and useful links.
• visual aids used throughout the walk.
• recommendations for other places to visit, restaurants and bars in the city.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (3 to 17 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Warsaw UnDiscovered

Is this one for you?Two hours leaves room for another neighborhood or museum in the same day, so this works well as a morning or afternoon slot in a longer Warsaw itinerary. The walking pace suits all fitness levels and the route is fully accessible.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

58 verified traveler reviews

5 ★57

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto memorial I'll see on this tour?

The Warsaw Jewish Ghetto boundary markers are memorial plaques that mark the maximum perimeter of the ghetto established in 1940. They stand as a record of that history within the Old Town walk.

Can I visit inside the Royal Castle on this tour?

The tour passes the Royal Castle and covers its history, but entry to the castle itself is not included in the walking tour.

How long is the walk and what's the pace like?

The tour runs two hours and is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The route covers nine stops across the Old Town, moving at a pace that lets you take in each site.

Will I see Marie Curie's birthplace?

Yes, the tour passes the birthplace of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, the double Nobel Prize winner. Entry to the museum is not included, but the guide will point out the building and share her story.

Is there a lookout point with a view of the river?

A lesser-known lookout point in the Old Town offers a view of the Vistula River and the other side of the river: one of the hidden gems the guide includes on the route.

What language is the guide in?

The tour is led by a live guide who speaks English throughout the two hours.