Free excursions
The first thing I recommend doing when you arrive in Warsaw is to find and book a free tour. It’s better than walking around aimlessly and marveling at the sights. Local guides know the city, its history and secret places by heart.
For example, I wouldn’t have found the narrowest street in the Old Town or the bell that makes wishes come true on my own. The guide is very interesting, answers all my questions and advises me where else to go during my stay in Warsaw.
The free tours are varied: historical, military or communist Warsaw. There is also an alternative Warsaw with a walk through unconventional places. This tour goes through the right bank district of Prague, where the movies The Pianist and Korczak were filmed.
Two companies offer a free introduction to Warsaw:
- Orange Umbrella. Tours are offered 3 times a day all year round. Even in bad weather. The schedule changes, so it is worth checking the website.
- Free Walking Tour. There are 3—4 tours per day for a group of up to 7 people. The schedule depends on the season. Guides are waiting near the Sigismund Column, holding a yellow umbrella. The tour lasts 2 hours.
Free tours of Warsaw are only in English and sometimes in Spanish. The guides don’t ask for money for their services, but tips are welcome — it’s their salary. You need to sign up in advance on the website.
Warsaw University Library
Always free admission to the library’s rooftop garden. Why should you go to this place? It is a cozy and quiet corner in the center of the capital, which few people know about yet. The garden serves as a viewing platform, a park for relaxation and picnics, a location for Instagram photos.
On the roof of the library is one of the largest and most beautiful gardens in Europe. It is divided into four parts according to the colors of the plants: green, gold, purple and silver. There are also benches in the shade of trees, bridges over the river, arches in the greenery and a pond with fish.
- Open May 1-September 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., April-October from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Free museums
Almost all of Warsaw’s most interesting museums are free of charge. You don’t need a Warsaw Sightseeing Pass, Museum Night or Open Day. Often there are expositions that introduce Poland, its culture and history for free.
The map shows museums with free admission on different days. I will tell you about the most popular ones.
Royal Castle
The former residence of the royal family was destroyed during the war, but then rebuilt from scratch. Inside, the whole atmosphere has been recreated with royal luxury and pomp, with paintings and sculptures in the halls. Photography in the castle is free of charge.
- Wednesday is free from 1:30 to 6 p.m.
- Website.
Chopin Museum
The interactive exhibition occupies five floors! The museum exhibits the composer’s personal belongings and plays his music. A non-standard and atmospheric place for connoisseurs of creativity.
- Free on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Website
Poster Museum
The Polish poster is a special kind of art, and it is also a popular souvenir. Warsaw even has its own «Poster School», where they teach how to use graphics to create ideology, advertising or humor. The museum has more than 200 posters on the most poignant topics. The museum is not located in the very center, but there is another attraction near it — Wilanów Palace.
- Free on Mondays 12:00—16:00pm.
- Website
Cartoon Museum
For a dose of humor we go to the Museum of Caricature. It is small, but it guarantees a good mood. In the halls are original works by an artist who ironically talks about the problems of the world.
- Free on Tuesdays 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
- Website
Lazienki Park
It is a huge territory with museums, architectural monuments, a greenhouse and a palace, here you can listen to Chopin’s music, feed the squirrels or just relax.
Peacocks walk in the park, pleasant music plays from the speakers and folding chairs are on the lakeside. In summer, there are free events, yoga or workshops. The announcement is posted on the park’s website. In 2019 there was the Festival of Lights and it was magical.
In summer, every Sunday near the Chopin Monument there are musical concerts of young pianists. The schedule of events is available on the website.
There are museums within the park:
- A palace on the water.
- Center for Contemporary Art.
- The old greenhouse.
- Hunting and Riding Museum.
On Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., you can visit the Palace on the Water for free.
Free walks on the Vistula
As soon as the water level in the Vistula River reaches normal levels (usually by May 1—2), free river transportation begins. Ferries move around the center and can accommodate up to 40 people. You can take your bicycle with you! They take you to the pier near Rusalka beach, to the zoo or the stadium.
The journey takes no more than 7 minutes. It is much more convenient than walking across the Šlensko-Dąbrowski Bridge and more profitable than taking public transportation.
- Schedule: May through September. Weekdays 12:00—20:00 every 30 minutes, weekends and holidays 10:00—20:00 every 20 minutes.
- Address: the Wilga ferry runs to the zoo and the beach. It leaves from the Podzamcze pier (at the Fountain Park). The Pliszka from Most Poniatowskiego runs to the stadium.
Free parking lots
Paid parking in Warsaw on weekdays from 8:00 to 18:00. During other hours, weekends and holidays you can leave your car for free. In Poland, May 2, December 24 and December 31 are not holidays, but parking is free on these days.
Free Wi-Fi
In Warsaw, you can catch the Internet at Starbucks, McDonald’s. You can catch Wi-Fi at Plac Unii and Złote Tarasy shopping centers, near the Galeria Wileńska hotel, at the Main Station, Chopin and Modlin airports, and at Costa Coffee.
Free Wi-Fi is available in the Old Town, the network is called UMWarszawa. To connect, you need to enter your e-mail address. The session lasts half an hour.
Public transportation in Warsaw is equipped with Wi-Fi. The connection is not yet available everywhere and does not always work. The signal is weak and the speed is low, but it’s better than nothing.
Free water
In 2015, many restaurants and cafes in Warsaw started hanging a sticker «Tu dostaniesz wodę z kranu» on the door. Look for such a sign and boldly ask the establishment to pour a glass of water for free.
In 2019, drinking fountains appeared around the city. Now there are only 30 of them, but they promise to increase them to 200. In shape and color they resemble «Gruba Kaśka» — a water tower on the Vistula River. For animals, bowls are placed on the ground: you fill them from the fountain and feed your pet.
What else is free in Warsaw?
- For free or for the price of the ingredients, you can have lunch or dinner with locals. On Eataway, Warsaw residents post when and what they will be cooking and how much the dish costs.
- Movie screenings in the park in Polish with English subtitles or in English.
- The center has 15 Chopin benches in places related to the composer’s life. There is a button on the surface of each bench, and if you press it, a popular piece of music will play.
- Summer music concerts in the evenings at Plac Defilad.
