Palace of Culture and Science
Pałac Kultury i Nauki
Love it or hate it, the Palace of Culture and Science is a symbol of Warsaw. For many Polish people, it’s also a symbol of Soviet domination (there are even occasional calls for the Palace to be demolished) or a representation of ugly architecture that destroyed Warsaw urban system. The Palace was built in the area where many of the houses survived the Warsaw Uprising in 1944 and were good enough for reconstruction. Additionally, sections of 6 streets were torn down (including Chmielna Street which nowadays is divided into 2 parts: 1 in Śródmieście district between Nowy Świat and Marszałkowska, and the other in Wola district).
There is no doubt that the Palace of Culture and Science and surrounding huge Plac Defilad (Parade Square where during communism time there were held marches of support for the authorities) need a coherent concept of development so that it keeps pace with changes in other parts of Warsaw.
If you would like to explore the Palace with children, start with the viewing platform on the 30th floor. Other attractions include the Dollhouses Museum, dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum or Museum of Technology and Industry.
From Marszałkowska Street
You will find there:
- Main entrance to the Palace (ticket office for the Viewing Terrace, business offices, university lecture halls, Teatr 6 Piętro, a restaurant)
- Viewing Terrace on the 30th floor. Please click here to learn more and read our tips on the Viewing Terrace / Observation Platform
- Drama Theatre (Teatr Dramatyczny) and Cafe Kulturalna restaurant and club located in the foyer
- Studio Theatre (Teatr Studio) and Bar Studio (café and club)
From Emilii Plater Street (Złote Tarasy shopping center and Dworzec Centralny railway station side)
You will find there:
- Concert Hall (Sala Kongresowa) – one of the biggest concert venues in Warsaw. Unfortunately, it’s closed since 2014 when the reconstruction works have started. It will be reopened not sooner than in 2018
- “Mirage” Disco Club
- Tourist Information
- Opening hours: January – April: 8 am – 6 pm, May – September: 8 am – 7 pm, October – December: 8 am – 6 pm
- Holidays: April 15: 9 am – 2 pm, April 16-17: closed, May 1-3: 9 am – 5 pm, June 4: 9 am – 6 pm, June 15: 9 am – 5 pm
- Entrance to the Dollhouse Museum (Muzeum Domków dla Lalek) which is located in the inner courtyard of the Palace. It’s a cute and small museum that hosts over 100 dollhouses. Please click here to learn more and read our tips on the Dollhouse Museum
From Świętokrzyska Street
You will find there:
- LALKA Puppet and Actor Theater (Teatr Lalka). Website available only in Polish: www.teatrlalka.waw.pl. The Theatre includes also Tarabuk café and bookstore. Please click here to learn more and read our tips on the LALKA Theater
- Natural History Museum (Museum of Evolution). The museum is outdated and underinvested but there are dinosaurs so kids will love it anyway. Please click here to learn more and read our tips on the Natural History Museum
- “The Youths Center” (Pałac Młodzieży) – afterschool classes for kids organized since 1955 by the City of Warsaw (swimming pool, artistic gymnastics, diving, arts & crafts, dancing etc.)
- Free outdoor ice rink open December – February (opening hours: every day 10 am – 9 pm, maintenance breaks: 1 pm – 2 pm and 6 pm – 7 pm). Onsite you can rent skates and penguins to help young children learn to balance on the ice. During summertime, there are basketball courts open 8 am – 11 pm (June 8 – September 10)
From Aleje Jerozolimskie Street
You will find there:
- “Kinoteka” movie theater: 8 screens and café, Website available only in Polish: http://kinoteka.pl/
- Temporarily closed: Museum of Technology and Industry. The Museum is really old-fashioned, to go there is like to step back in time – which can be an advantage for foreigners who can catch a glimpse of the communist times in Poland. Please click here to learn more and read our tips on the Museum of Technology and Industry
Parking Lot
- There is a huge parking lot surrounding the Palace of Culture and Science. The Parking is available 24 hours a day including weekends and public holidays. There are 4 entrances where you collect a ticket: 2 entrances from Emilii Plater Street and 2 from Marszałkowska Street. When you are ready to leave, before returning to your car, pay the parking fee in one of 10 pay stations (CASH only!). There are 7 exits (2 toward Marszałkowska Street and 5 toward Emilii Plater Street)
- The parking lot fees: first hour 5 PLN, second hour 4 PLN, each next hour 3 PLN
