April 2021 in Warsaw: ideas and tips for making the most of your spring in Warsaw
After long months of autumn and winter, Warsaw can be perceived as a grey and rainy city;) Fortunately, in spring, the city comes alive with flowering trees and parks wherever you look: magnolias, cherries (including sakura), daffodils, tulips, pansies. Now begins the flowering season of magnolias in Poland, soon after fruit trees, including sakura, the first rhododendrons are blooming now too. Where to see magnolia and rhododendron blossoms in the Warsaw area? You can admire the greatest variety of blooming shrubs, trees, and flowers in the botanical gardens, including magnolia and rhododendron – now ready to bloom. There are 3 botanical gardens in Warsaw and its vicinity: Other locations in the Warsaw area where you can find magnolias and rhododendrons in bloom include: Where to see sakura – Japanese cherry in the Warsaw area?
The Ogród Krasińskich Park A historic park located in the center of Warsaw, just 700 meters from the Royal Castle (location on Google map). The park is a step away from the metro, bus, and tram stations. It can also be easily reached by car or bicycle. Park was founded in 1676 in baroque style, meticulously restored in 2014. The name of the garden is related to the baroque palace located in the park, the first owner of which was Jan Krasiński. Currently, the palace houses the special collections of the National Library (manuscripts and old prints). The oldest trees in the park come from the end of the 19th century. There is a 2200 m² playground, a pond, numerous alleys and park benches, a historic fountain, 2 fenced dog runs. In the western part of the par, there is a partially preserved baroque gate and a fragment of a fence, on the eastern side, the Krasiński Palace (currently owned by the National Library) and the building of the Supreme Court. On the west side, there is the building of the Royal Arsenal with the Archaeological Museum. During World War II, the area of the park was outside the Jewish ghetto (its border ran from Świętojerska Street and today’s Bohaterów Getta Street). In the area of Świętojerska Street, there is a monument to the ghetto borders. The park is closed at night. Opening hours from April 1 to October 31: 5 am – 12 am, from November 1 to March 31: 6 am – 10 pm. The Botanical Garden of the Warsaw University Warsaw is lucky to have 2 botanical gardens. One is located in the city center (the Botanical Garden of the Warsaw University), and the other in the suburbs of Warsaw in Powsin. The Botanical Garden of the Warsaw University is closed for the wintertime and in 2021 has been reopened on March 21. The Botanical Garden of the Warsaw University – beautiful nature at your fingertips in the heart of Warsaw – sounds like a cheap advertising slogan, but the Garden is really wonderful. It is full of winding alleys, hills, paths among flower beds and hedges, pergolas, corners with fountains, and a pond. Secret garden like in a fairy tale. The Saxon Garden – Ogród Saski A green oasis in the heart of Warsaw, some of the trees are 250-years-old! Just a few steps from busy Marszałkowska Street and the Old Town. You can visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier located in the Garden. There is a 24-hour guard post (2 soldiers who change every hour – children will love it!). The Saxon Garden (Ogród Saski) dates back to the early 18th century. It was a baroque garden in the French style, the first public park in Warsaw, located next to the royal Saxon Palace (Pałac Saski). The Palace was blown up by the Nazis in 1944. The Garden was renovated, and now you can admire 21 baroque statues along the main avenue of the Garden, the fountain from the middle of the nineteenth century, and a sundial. Click here to read our post about the Saxon Garden.
The Kampinos Forest (Puszcza Kampinoska) is located right next to the northwestern border of Warsaw. Most of its area is protected within the Kampinoski National Park (Kampinoski Park Narodowy). This is very unique on a global scale – the national park borders on the capital of the state! Visitors can enjoy here 350 km of hiking trails, a 200 km long bicycle trail, horse trails, 10 educational paths, 19 parking lots, and 12 rest areas located on the edge of the park. How to get to the Kampinos Forest? Read more in our new post on the website, including detailed description of selected hiking trails (e.g. starting point, where to leave a car) and our tips: National parks in Poland: Kampinos Forest near Warsaw.
An idea for a spring nature walk: Roof Garden of the Warsaw University Library An idea for a spring nature walk: the Kampinos Forest near Warsaw The “Breakfast Market” in Żoliborz / Targ Śniadaniowy – an outdoor shopping & street food [OUTDOOR] The “Breakfast Market” in Mokotów / Targ Śniadaniowy – an outdoor shopping & street food [OUTDOOR] Mini zoo/petting zoo Warsaw Zoo The Lower Garden of the Royal Castle Botanical Garden of the Warsaw University Park in the town of Konstancin and the graduation tower (tężnia) Park of the King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanów Botanical Garden of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Powsin
Bagno Całowanie (forest & turf bog) It is not often that you can “visit” swamps… And besides, walk them dry foot! 40 km from Warsaw you can admire nature and wild swamps on wooden platforms. The place is called “Bagno Całowanie”, it’s a charming destination out of the city for a walk and a close encounter with nature. “Bagno Całowanie” is one of the largest peat bogs in the Warsaw area, located in the Mazovia Landscape Park (Mazowiecki Park Krajobrazowy), in the Vistula valley. The name comes from the nearby village – Całowanie. Konstancin town Konstancin-Jeziorna (Konstancin for short) is a town located 20 km south of the center of Warsaw, on the Jeziorka river. It is the only health resort / spa town in the immediate vicinity of Warsaw – Konstancin has a distinctive microclimate associated with the surrounding pine forests and natural deposits of healing waters. The central place of Konstancin is the Park Zdrojowy, nicely renovated and revitalized in 2012. The park is friendly to children in prams, there are two playgrounds (for younger and older children). You will find there lots of alleys, paths, benches, a wooden footbridge with viewpoints leading through the pool. The park is worth visiting also outside the weekend, during the week it is extremely calm and pleasant there. The graduation tower (Tężnia Solankowa, also known as a thorn house) is a unique place located in the park. It is an open-air ‘inhalatorium’ – a huge natural inhaler. It’s a wooden structure, covered with blackthorn branches that were originally used in the production of salt. Photo source: www.uzdrowisko-konstancin.pl Powsin Botanical Garden Arboretum Forest Educational Center in Rogów Looking for the best photo spots in Poland? You will find them in one of the biggest botanical gardens in Poland – the Arboretum Forest Educational Center in Rogów near Łódź (100 km from Warsaw). The Arboretum Forest Educational Center in Rogów – established in 1923 – is one of the biggest (over 50 hectares) botanical gardens in Poland, run by the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. The Arboretum in Rogów has also one of the most valuable plant collections in Europe. It’s “a forest park”, located in the thinned-out area of the forest. You can admire there the collections of trees and shrubs of Central and Eastern Europe, protected, endangered, and rare plants, as well as “experimental” parts of the forest with foreign species and the Alpine Garden – the aplinarium. Click here to read our post on visiting the Botanical Garden & Arboretum in Rogów.
Extension of the paid parking zone in Warsaw by 2 districts (Żoliborz and Ochota) & changes in parking subscriptions from September 6, 2021 Also, from September 6, 2021, there will be a change in parking subscriptions for people living in the paid parking zone. Only people who settle PIT tax in Warsaw are to be able to obtain a subscription entitling them to free parking. There will also be a new extended option for the parking subscription. Currently, subscription holders can park for free in a small area close to their place of residence. This subscription, costing PLN 30 per year, includes several (maximum 8) parking meters located no more than 150 m from the house. The new option of the parking subscription will entitle you to a free parking space in a much larger area, covering the entire estate or a significant part of the district (e.g. the entire Rakowiec or Powiśle). These areas will include several dozen streets and from several hundred to 1.5 thousand parking spaces. Thanks to this new subscription, you will be able to get an ID allowing you to park in additional places reserved only for residents. The cost of the new subscription will be PLN 600 per year. Residents will also be able to stay with the previous subscription, which will continue to be issued on the current terms. The changes will enter into force on September 6, 2021. It will be possible to apply for new subscriptions in August. Photo source: Zarząd Dróg Miejskich A new metro line in Warsaw The third metro line (M3) will be built in Warsaw. M3 will connect Praga Południe district with the center of Warsaw, and ultimately – also with Ochota and Mokotów. In the first stage, which will end in 2028, six stations will be built. In the photo below, the M3 is marked as a yellow line. The first bridge in Warsaw only for pedestrians and cyclists The bridge will connect the Vistula Boulevards (in the vicinity of Karowa Street) with the Praga district (Okrzei Street). It will be one of the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridges in the world (the new bridge will be approx. 500 m long). Important renovation in the center of Warsaw On March 1, the reconstruction and revitalization of the square in the center of Warsaw began – at the intersection of Bracka, Chmielna, Krucza, Zgoda, and Szpitalna Streets (a place commonly known as “the square of five corners”). A new square will be built here without separate pavements and roadways. Pedestrians will be given priority. The square will feature a fountain, numerous benches, new lanterns and greenery, including 22 maples. Photos source: Urząd m.st. Warszawy Warsaw Veturilo city bikes Veturilo Warsaw public bikes are available from March 1. In Warsaw, there are 4500 city bicycles to rent in 300 stations. The Veturilo website is available in Polish, English, German, Russian, Ukrainian, and Spanish. You will find there an interactive station map of Warsaw (you can browse by available bikes, electric bikes, children bikes, etc.). You need to register first. What’s new in 2021 The process of selecting a new operator is in progress in Warsaw. As the tender was not completed, the current operator will remain the temporary operator in 2021. Everything is to work as before, but the city will now formally be the operator. Hence, registered Veturilo users have recently received e-mails with information about the termination of the contract. The money on the current Veturilo user account is to be transferred to the new account. FAQ for the new season 2021 (in Polish). April in Poland has a similar saying as March (‘Kwiecień plecień, bo przeplata – trochę zimy trochę lata‘ – April interweaves a little bit of winter and a little bit of summer), however, with the climate change, April in Poland is relatively warm and considered (along with May) by many people as the most beautiful time of year in Poland. An average monthly temperature in April in Poland is 8,5°C / 47.3°F and the average monthly rainfall level is 37,3 mm (the second-lowest after February). The Polish name for April – kwiecień – leaves no doubt, and the explanation of its origin is very simple – it comes from the flowers that are blooming in Poland in April (kwiat means flower in Polish). It’s April when over 80,000 white storks (bocian) arrive from Africa to Poland (20% of their world population). You can notice yellow forsythias (forsycja) and daffodils (żonkil) blooming this time of year in Poland. Read more about the weather and changes in nature in Poland in spring.
In April 2021, there is one shopping Sunday in Poland: April 25. April 4, 11, and 18 are trade ban Sundays in Poland. Click here to read our post about shopping Sundays in Poland in 2021. Read our post with the list of online stores in Warsaw and other cities in Poland delivering groceries to home.
April Fools’ Day (Prima Aprilis) Good Friday (Wielki Piątek) Holy Saturday (Wielka Sobota) Easter Day (Wielkanoc) Easter Monday (Poniedziałek Wielkanocny), “Wet Monday” (Lany Poniedziałek) Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (1943) and the Daffodils Campaign Find out more in our posts to stay up to date: Subscribe to the Kids in the City’s weekly newsletter in English. The newsletter called What’s on in Warsaw for Kids & Families / Family life in Warsaw during the pandemic is emailed every Thursday and covers things to do in Warsaw with children and all kinds of family matters – information, tips, resources in English.
Warsaw in bloom: best places in the Warsaw area to admire magnolias, Japanese sakura cherries, rhododendrons blossom
Parks to relax in April in Warsaw
In 1818, the Garden was separated from the Łazienki Royal Park. It is not large and during sunny weekends there are not as many visitors comparing to the neighboring Łazienki Park.
Discover green Warsaw
The Kampinos Forest near Warsaw – 350 km of hiking trails
Ideas for things to do in Warsaw in April
Location: Dobra 66 Street (Powiśle), the building of the Warsaw University Library. The Roof Garden is open from April 1. Opening hours in April: 8 am – 6 pm. Free entrance. Open every day. More in English about the Roof Garden and lots of photos in our post.
The Kampinos Forest (Puszcza Kampinoska) is located right next to the northwestern border of Warsaw. Most of its area is protected within the Kampinoski National Park (admission to the park is free). In our post on the website, you will find a detailed description of selected hiking trails (e.g. starting point, where to leave a car) and our tips.
Every Saturday. Location: al. Wojska Polskiego 1 Street (Żoliborz), 9 am – 4 pm, free entrance. Street food, bread, pastries, cheese, sausages, vegan delicatessen, vegetables, fruits, flowers, fish. Facebook event in Polish.
Every Sunday. Location: Skwer Grupy AK “Granat”, corner of Puławska and Woronicza Street (Mokotów), 10 am – 5 pm, free entrance. Street food, bread, pastries, cheese, sausages, vegan delicatessen, vegetables, fruits, flowers, fish. Facebook event in Polish.
Location: Mini Zoo, Kolorowa 19/156 Street, poziom/level -1 (Ursus), Monday – Friday 11 am – 7 pm, Saturday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm. At the Mini Zoo, you can feed and stroke the animals. The visits take place in the company of a Mini ZOO employee who will show and teach how to deal with animals. The Mini Zoo is located in the indoor heated room; tickets available for purchase on-site, no reservation is required. Facebook page. Website in Polish.
Location: Ratuszowa 1/3 Street (Praga), opening hours in April: 9 am – 6 pm. Last admission one hour before the Zoo closes. Online tickets. The Zoo is open every day, including all public holidays! Two entrances/exits are open: from Ratuszowa Street and from the Gdański Bridge. The ticket office on the side of Gdańsk Bridge is open only on Fridays and weekends. Website in English.
Location: the Garden is located at the back of the Castle. You can enter the lower garden from Wisłostrada Street / the Vistula Boulevard side. Opening hours in April: 10 am – 8 pm. Free entrance. More about the Gardens of the Royal Castle in our post.
Location: Aleje Ujazdowskie 4 Street (city center), the garden on Google map. The Garden is located next to the Łazienki Royal Park (in 1818, the Botanical Garden was separated from the Łazienki). Opening hours in April: 10 am – 6 pm (every day). Greenhouses are open only from Friday to Sunday. Regular ticket Monday – Thursday: 12 PLN; Friday – Sunday: 20 PLN. Reduced ticket Monday – Thursday: 6 PLN; Friday – Sunday: 10 PLN. Our tips in English on visiting the Garden.
Location: Park Zdrojowy, Henryka Sienkiewicza Street, Konstancin-Jeziorna (The Park Zdrojowy‘s location on Google map. The Graduation Tower’s location on Google map). The tower’s opening hours: 10 am – 7 pm (every day). The park is friendly to children in prams, there are two playgrounds (for younger and older children). You will find there lots of alleys, paths, benches, a wooden footbridge with viewpoints leading through the pool. The graduation tower (Tężnia Solankowa, also known as a thorn house) is an open-air ‘inhalatorium’ – a huge natural inhaler. It’s a wooden structure, covered with blackthorn branches that were originally used in the production of salt. To enter the tower area you need to buy a ticket (a regular ticket 12 PLN, a reduced ticket 7 PLN, a family ticket 2+2 30 PLN, children up to 3 free entrance). More in English about visiting Konstancin.
Location: Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16 Street (Wilanów). The park is a part of the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace – a baroque summer residence of King Jan III Sobieski and his wife, Queen Maria Kazimiera (the museum building is closed). It’s a vast park (45 hectares!) with gardens of different styles (Baroque, English landscape garden, rose garden, Anglo-Chinese garden) as well as Wilanowskie Lake, and lots of beautiful nature. The park’s opening hours in April: 9 am – 8 pm (last entry 7 pm). The park is open every day. Regular ticket 7 PLN, reduced ticket 4 PLN (children up to 7 years old – free entrance), tickets for children from the European Union – 1 PLN. The ticket area begins in the courtyard (it used to be free). On Thursdays free admission based on tickets to be collected at the ticket office and ticket machines. It’s recommended to buy tickets online. More about the park and beautiful photos in our post.
Location: Prawdziwka 2 Street, 02-973 Powsin. The Garden is located in Powsin, in the suburbs of Warsaw – between Wilanów and Konstancin. Opening hours in April: 9 am – 7 pm (every day). The orangery opening hours: 10 am – 6.30 pm. Our tips on visiting the Garden (ticket info, location, photos).Day trips from Warsaw
Click here to find out more about one-day trips from Warsaw in our post. 10+ spots to explore in the Warsaw area (how to get there, opening hours, tickets info, photos).
News from Warsaw: extension of the paid parking zone, a new metro line and a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists
The new line will run from the Stadion Narodowy station. From there, the M3 will go to the following stations: Dworzec Wschodni, Mińska, Rondo Wiatraczna, Ostrobramska, Jana Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego and the Gocław station.
The National Stadium in Warsaw will become a key communication node on the right-bank of Warsaw, enabling a change to trains at the railway station, bus lines, and trams.
The project is ready and the building permit is valid. The planned time for the construction of the bridge is 2-3 years.
Weather in Poland in April
Shopping Sunday and trade ban Sundays in Poland in April 2021
Dates to remember in Poland in April 2021
A day of pranks and jokes. Don’t trust anyone;) Including Polish media which also participates in the celebrations with lots of fabricated stories.
Good Friday commemorates the passion and crucifixion of Jesus. In major cities in Poland, there are processions on the streets – people carrying a huge cross and contemplating the passion of Jesus. In Poland, for many people, it’s a day of fasting – no meat, no parties, no alcohol.
People bring to churches baskets (called in Polish święconka) filled with food to get a special blessing. Baskets usually include eggs as a symbol of rebirth (pisanki – boiled eggs painted in various colors and patterns), bread, salt, sausage, sometimes other food – chocolate, cake, horseradish, etc. Food from święconka basket is shared the next morning during festive Easter breakfast. Click here to learn more about Easter traditions in Poland.
A public/bank holiday in Poland. Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus. Many people in Poland start the day with 6 am morning mass (Rezurekcja) with a procession. The key event of a day – a family breakfast that starts with eating Święconka, then żurek soup (also known as white barszcz), bigos, sausage with horseradish, mazurek cake. Public institutions, stores, malls, shopping centers closed, only some smaller local convenience stores can be open and stores at gas stations. Click here to learn more about Easter traditions in Poland.
A public/bank holiday in Poland. Śmigus dyngus – an old tradition in Poland in which people use buckets (kids usually play with water guns) to soak each other with water. It’s safe to stay home on Wet Monday and avoid street water fights;) Another Easter Monday tradition is to beat legs with willow branches or Palms (the ones used for Palm Sunday). Public institutions, stores, malls, shopping centers closed, only some smaller local convenience stores can be open and stores at gas stations. Click here to learn more about Easter traditions in Poland.
The major celebrations of the anniversary of the uprising in the Jewish ghetto in Nazi-occupied Warsaw are held each year at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes and POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. POLIN Museum created the Daffodils (żonkile) Campaign to commemorate the Warsaw ghetto uprising. Every year on April 19th, hundreds of volunteers hand out paper daffodils to raise awareness of the uprising and its significance (Marek Edelman, the last leader of the Uprising, before he died in 2009, used to lay daffodils at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes every anniversary). Click here to read our tips in English on visiting the POLIN Museum, and here to read about visiting the POLIN Museum with children. Click here to read more in English about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.Covid restrictions & regulations in Poland in April
Changes in restrictions announced on April 21, 2021
Regulations for all voivodships in Poland until the end of April 2021
Differences in restrictions at the voivodeship level until the end of April 2021
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