Autumn in Warsaw: things to do in Warsaw in September, October & November
The autumn months in Warsaw and Poland are very different in terms of weather – usually very pleasant September, October with mixed weather, and finally November, the quintessence of what is least enjoyable in autumn – increasingly shorter days, a lot of rain, and nature ready to hibernate.
Those who live in Warsaw know to take advantage of every ray of sunlight to go for walks, enjoy and observe colorful leaves, chestnuts (btw, chestnuts in Poland are inedible), and appreciate going outside without hats and gloves:)
For those planning to visit Warsaw in autumn, we recommend September and October. There are no longer crowds of summer holiday tourists, and local residents are at work and at school. You can easily explore Warsaw’s attractions. Here, everyone will find something for themselves – something for those who appreciate nature, for those interested in history, and certainly for gourmets – regardless of whether you want to try Polish traditional cuisine, are looking for vegan options or cuisine from around the world – Warsaw restaurant map will not disappoint you!
The peak of Poland’s most intense fall foliage colors is usually the second half of September and the first half of October. The queen of Warsaw parks – the Łazienki Garden – does not disappoint in autumn The huge park surrounding the summer residence of the last Polish king. A must-see on your Warsaw bucket list every season of the year. The photos speak for themselves! Our tips in English on visiting the Łazienki Garden. Admission is free. Seasonal roof garden – located on the roof of the Warsaw University Library, open until the end of October The Garden is located on the roof of a building of the University of Warsaw Library (in the Powiśle district of Warsaw) and is one of the largest roof gardens in Europe. You will have a wonderful view of Warsaw from the top, including the Vistula River and the Palace of Culture and Science. The Garden has two parts: the upper garden on the roof and the lower garden, where you will find the ponds, the fountain, and the granite sculptures. The Lower Garden is open all year, and the Roof Garden is open from April 1 until the end of October. Our tips on visiting the Roof Garden of the Warsaw University Library. Admission is free. A huge landscape park in Wilanów The Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów in Warsaw was a baroque summer residence of King Jan III Sobieski. Not everyone knows that the area next to the Wilanów Palace is huge – 45 hectares! You will find modeled palace gardens in the baroque style, a river, and a huge landscape park. Our tips on visiting the Wilanów Palace Garden. Admission is paid. The Saxon Garden / Ogród Saski – an oasis in the city center 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 with a 24-hour guard post. The Garden dates back to the early 18th century (some of the trees are 250 years old!). Our tips in English on visiting the Saxon Garden. Admission is free. Most pumpkin farms and pumpkin festivals take place in Warsaw in October. However, in September you can already find some pumpkin spots in Warsaw. Pumpkin farm ‘Dyniolandia’ in northwestern Warsaw Pumpkin farm in Powsin, south of Warsaw Pumpkin farm ‘Dynioland’ in Wieliszew, north of Warsaw Free Pumpkin Garden in the center of Warsaw Free Pumpkin Garden in Białołęka – pumpkin scenography for taking photos and having a walk Pumpkin Festival in Wilanów/Zawady Illumination festivals are usually associated with winter, but in Warsaw, the first light exhibitions start already in autumn – in October and November. Traditionally, Christmas illuminations on the streets of Warsaw and a Christmas tree in the Old Town are lit in the first week of December, but in Warsaw, for several years, there have been light exhibitions with paid admission that start before the winter season. Illumination festivals and light exhibitions in Warsaw with PAID admission: Illumination festivals and light exhibitions in Warsaw with FREE admission: For more things to do INDOOR in Warsaw, please read our post that includes the list of ideas for fun (indoor!) activities for a bad weather day in Warsaw: Indoor things to do in Warsaw. Explore Warsaw with our list of museums and galleries in Warsaw by district – there’s one to suit every interest and many of them are free to visit. Bowling in Warsaw Swimming in “Wodny Park Warszawianka” – an indoor water park in Mokotów Museums to visit with teenagers who love Instagram The exhibition of live spiders and scorpions Indoor mini zoo/petting zoo Indoor go-karting indoor tracks in the Warsaw area Chopin music piano recitals Chocolate Factory Museum Indoor playgrounds and soft play centers in Warsaw Horse Racing at Służewiec Racetrack Warsaw Zoo Apple picking in the Warsaw area Harvesting potatoes and other attractions at the Educational Eco Farm (the owners speak English) DINOWORLD – a playground with an exhibition of animatronic dinosaurs Famous outdoor piano recitals in the Łazienki Royal Park Multimedia fountain shows at Multimedia Fountain Park A corn maze in Czersk, 40 km south of Warsaw “Targ Śniadaniowy” – The “Breakfast Market” in Żoliborz, Mokotów Jewish Culture Festival “Singer’s Warsaw” (Warszawa Singera) International Festival of Street Puppet Theaters “Puppet on the Stage” The Cross Culture Festival (Festiwal Skrzyżowanie Kultur) Warsaw Autumn Festival (Warszawska Jesień) – International Festival of Contemporary Classical Music Festival of classical music (Szalone Dni Muzyki, La Folle Journee de Varsovie) Warsaw Marathon Warsaw Gallery Weekend International Festival of Circus Arts – shows by the largest and the oldest circus group in Poland and artists from around the world International Warsaw Film Festival (Warszawski Festiwal Filmowy) Jazz Jamboree – one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe Warsaw Jewish Film Festival Asian Film Festival “Five Flavors” The Fryderyk Chopin Polish National Piano Competition To help you plan and enjoy your time in Warsaw, we publish our monthly ‘What’s on in Warsaw’ post. These posts include a list of exciting events in Warsaw in a given month, such as concerts, fairs, exhibitions, festivals, and guided tours. You will also find there some new ideas for things to do in autumn in Warsaw, one-day trips around Warsaw, or news and updates from the life of the capital. Please note that these posts are updated before the month starts to ensure that the information is as up-to-date as possible. Subscribe to Kids in the City’s weekly newsletter in English. The newsletter, What’s on in Warsaw for Kids & Families, is emailed every Thursday and covers things to do in Warsaw with children and all kinds of family matters—information, tips, and resources in English.
Click on the photos below to read other posts:
The best places in Warsaw to admire autumn leaves and fall foliage
Pumpkin farms in the Warsaw area
Festive illuminations and light displays in Warsaw
You will find detailed information about Warsaw illuminations festivals in our post: Light displays in Warsaw: festive illuminations, lights festivals, and Christmas decorations in Warsaw.
Ideas for things to do in Warsaw in autumn – INDOOR
Try to pronounce bowling in Polish: kręgle! Bowling is relatively new entertainment in Poland, but many Poles – children and adults – have come to love it. Selected bowling alleys in Warsaw include Hulakula in Praga (website in English), MK Bowling in Galeria Młociny shopping center in Bielany (website in Polish), 7 Club in Praga (website in Polish), Arco in Ochota (website in Polish), Kręgielnia TB in Ursynów (website in Polish), Kręgielnia TB in Włochy (website in Polish), Kręgielnia TB in Ochota (website in Polish), Kręgielnia TB in Gocław/Praga (website in Polish), Kręgielnia TB in Saska Kępa (website in Polish), Bowl Pub in Mokotów – Warszawianka water park (website in Polish).
Location: Wodny Park Warszawianka, Dominika Merliniego 4 Street, 02-511 Warszawa (location on Google map). 4 km from the city center (in the Mokotów district). The recreational part of the Water Park includes a recreational and swimming pool with a maximum depth of 1.40 m, a paddling pool for children with an elephant-shaped slide, an artificial river, pipe-shaped slides (45 and 72 meters long) with separate landing pads, an open slide inside the swimming pool hall (15 meters long), outdoor year-round heated pool, connected to the main pool hall. The sports part of the Water Park includes a 50-meter “Olympic” swimming pool with 10 lanes. Website in English. Facebook page.
There are three museums (or rather a selfie exhibition?) in Warsaw that every teenager (and adult) with an Instagram account will love. Be Happy Museum – Selfie Point. Location: Atrium Reduta shopping center, al. Jerozolimskie 148 Street (Ochota). Dozens of scenes to take photos and rooms with the illusion (e.g., a pool with Marshmallow foams, a banana swing, and magical unicorns). More in English about the Museum, online tickets. Selfie Museum Warsaw. Location: Grzybowska 80/82 Street (city center). Facebook, Instagram. The Museum “World of Illusion”.Location: Świat Iluzji, Rynek Starego Miasta 21 (the Old Town Market Square), online tickets. More in English about the Museum.
Location: the Palace of Culture and Science, pl. Defilad 1, entrance from Marszałkowska Street, open every day, 10 am – 7 pm, online tickets, children up to 4 free entrance. Each weekend (every hour on the hour), the visitors can hold a spider (the most gentle tarantula) in their hand and take close photographs with the assistance of an exhibition employee. More in Polish about the Exhibition.
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 are available for purchase on-site, no reservation is required. Facebook page. Website in Polish.
There are 4 indoor karting tracks in and around Warsaw – open all year round. They offer go-karts for both adults and children. Click here to read our post featuring karting tracks in the Warsaw area.
Location: Fryderyk Concert Hall, Podwale 15 Street (the old town), every day at 5.30 pm and 7 pm, online tickets. The recitals feature Fryderyk Chopin’s most famous compositions. Website in English.
Location: Fabryka Czekolady E.Wedel, al. Emila Wedla 5 Street (Praga), location on Google Maps. Open from September 2024. This interactive museum tells the story of chocolate, where visitors can learn the secrets of chocolate production step by step. In addition to visiting the museum (individually or in groups), you can also sign up for workshops (individually or in groups) and organize a sweet birthday party there. This is a paradise for anyone who loves chocolate – not only will you be able to taste chocolate in the museum, but the tour takes place in unique chocolate aromas, which come to the museum from actual chocolate production lines that are part of the museum building! Is it worth visiting the Museum if I don’t speak Polish? Yes! The museum labels and captions are in both Polish and English. Organizing group workshops in English is possible if such a need is reported in advance when booking. Photos in Kids in the City’s post on Instagram. Website in Polish with online tickets. Facebook. Instagram.
Stuck for ideas on what to do with the kids in Warsaw on a rainy day? We’ve rounded up the best indoor and soft play areas in Warsaw in our quest to discover brilliant family attractions in Warsaw. Parents have told us their favorite play centers in Warsaw, from slides and climbing frames to ball pools, role-play games, and trampolines. Find the perfect places to go with your kids and get out on your next adventure! More in our post: Top indoor play spaces in Warsaw.Ideas for things to do in Warsaw in autumn – OUTDOOR
Selected weekends in September, October & November. Location: Tor Wyścigów Konnych Służewiec, Puławska 266 Street (Ursynów), more in Polish and online tickets (visitors up to 18 years old free entrance). The Służewiec Horse Racetrack is not only a horse race but also an essential monument in Warsaw – the track was opened in June 1939, and at that time, it was the most modern and largest horse racing track in Europe. Of course, you don’t have to play sports betting if you don’t want to. It’s fun to watch the horses (sometimes you can even get up close), the children can play on the playground, you can eat something, and the race area itself is a vast green space! It is also worth paying attention to the kilometer-long wall separating the area of the Racing Track from Puławska Street, which has become a street gallery of Polish graffiti artists. Horse racing in Warsaw occurs almost every weekend from the end of April to mid-November. How to get there? By car, through the main gate at Puławska Street, where there is a large parking lot. You can also take tram no. 4 or 10 to the terminus. Website in English.
Location: Ratuszowa 1/3 Street (Praga). Online tickets. The Zoo is open every day, including all public holidays! Website in English.
Location: You will find some options for apple picking in the Mazowieckie region on this website (myzbieramy.pl). In addition to apples, you will also find options for picking, e.g., plums, pears, vegetables. The season for apple picking in Poland usually lasts from September until mid-October. Please note that you need to contact a selected orchard/garden/farm to book a slot in most cases.
Selected weekends. Location: Ekologiczna
Location: Dinoworld Warszawa, Wał Miedzeszyński 407 Street (Saska Kępa), near the beach on the Vistula River. Location on Google Maps. There you will find realistic sculptures of 20 species of dinosaurs that make sounds and move their bodies. Children can ride on one of the dinosaurs. Other attractions include a playground – slides with dinosaurs, swings, trampolines, a sandbox, and an inflatable trampoline. Opening hours: 10 am – 8 pm (Monday – Sunday). Tickets: Monday-Friday: visitors aged 12+ 40 PLN, children aged 3-12 35 PLN, family ticket 2+1 105 PLN, family ticket 2+2 140 PLN. Weekends: visitors aged 12+ 50 PLN, children aged 3-12 40 PLN, family ticket 2+1 120 PLN, family ticket 2+2 160 PLN. Children up to 3 years old have free entrance. Online tickets. Website in English. Website in Polish, Facebook. Instagram. Check the photos in our post on Kids in the City’s Instagram.
Until the end of September. Location: Royal Łazienki Garden, next to the Chopin Monument, closer entrance – from Aleje Ujazdowskie Street. The exact location of recitals on Google Maps. Outdoor piano recitals of Chopin music in the Łazienki Royal Park usually return in mid-May. Next to the monument of Fryderyk Chopin, in the park, there is a piano on which Chopin’s music is played by award-winning pianists from Poland and abroad: every Sunday, there are two concerts: 12 pm and 4 pm. Free entrance. Our tips in English on visiting the Łazienki Royal Park.
Until the end of September. Location: Multimedia
Location: Labirynt Królowej Bony, ul. Sadowa 1, 05-530 Czersk location on Google map. A corn maze, called in Polish Labirynt Królowej Bony. It is located 40 km south of Warsaw in the town of Czersk, close to the Vistula River and medieval castle ruins (click here to read our tips on visiting medieval castle ruins in Czersk). You can pay by credit card. Other attractions include a playground, beach volleyball court, and relaxation area. Facebook. Instagram. More tips on the corn maze and other ideas for day trips from Warsaw in our post.
Selected Saturdays in Żoliborz, location: al. Wojska Polskiego 1 Street, corner of Śmiała Street (Żoliborz), 9 am – 4 pm. Selected Sundays in Mokotów, location: Skwer Grupy AK “Granat”, corner of Puławska and Woronicza Street (Mokotów), 10 am – 5 pm. Free entrance. Street food, ice cream, bread, pastries, vegan delicatessen, vegetables, fruits, etc. Please note that due to the weather conditions, outdoor events like ‘Breakfast Market’ may be canceled at the last minute (it’s recommended to check their social media for information before heading out). Facebook, Instagram.Events in Warsaw in autumn – concerts, festivals, a marathon
The turn of August and September. The Jewish culture festival dedicated to Isaac Bashevis Singer: music, theater, film, dance, exhibitions, meetings. Different locations in Warsaw. More in English. Facebook.
Early September. Location: New Town Market Place / Rynek Nowego Miasta (city center, the area of the old town), free entrance. Facebook. Website in Polish.
Mid-September. Location: Teatr Dramatyczny Theater, the Palace of Culture and Science. The Festival features world culture and music. Artists from Armenia, Georgia, Mali, Algeria, Niger, France, Portugal, and Cuba. Website in Polish.
The second half of September. Location: different venues all over Warsaw. This is the largest international festival of contemporary classical music in Poland. The Festival includes events dedicated to children. More in English.
The second half of September. Three locations in Warsaw: Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, Plac Teatralny 1 (city center); the pavilion in front of the Teatr Wielki; The Church of Art Communities, Senatorska 18b Street (city center). The Festival includes events dedicated to children. The Festival’s website in English.
The second half of September. Many streets in Warsaw will be closed to car traffic. Website in English.
The second half of September. An annual festival (exhibitions and special events) of contemporary art, put together by private galleries in Warsaw, free entrance to 30+ galleries in Warsaw. Website in English.
October. Location: circus tent next to Wola Park shopping center, Górczewska 124 Street (Wola). The program includes motorbikes and “a death ball”, Clown Rico, Strongman, a hula-hoop show, illusion shows, bungee jumping, gymnastics, Sky Wheel, acrobatics on chairs, and famous characters from cartoons and games. Website in Polish.
October. Location: Atlantic Movie Theater (in the city center) and Multikino Złote Tarasy Movie Theater (located in the Złote Tarasy shopping center). This is the most significant international film festival in Poland. All films will be screened with Polish and English subtitles. More in English, including the detailed agenda.
The second half of October. Location: Klub Stodoła, Batorego 10 Street (Mokotów). More in Polish.
The end of October. Location: The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews (Anielewicza 6 Street), Kinogram cinema, Muranów cinema. More in English.
The second half of November. Location: Kino Muranów (Andersa 5 Street), Kinoteka (the Palace of Culture and Science). Films will be screened in the original language with Polish and English subtitles. More in English.
The turn of November and December. Location: Concert Hall of The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Okólnik 2 Street (city center). More in English.Our monthly ‘What’s on in Warsaw’ posts with detailed info on events and things to do in Warsaw in September, October, and November
