December in Warsaw: ideas and tips for making the most of your winter in Warsaw

Our Partner of the Month

The International Women’s Group of Warsaw (IWG), founded in 1982, is a group of women made up of different nationalities who meet regularly to create a sense of community in Warsaw and to offer support through social and cultural events. IWG organizes coffee meetings, walks, conversation groups in several languages, tours, and trips. They welcome new members throughout the year. Visit IWG’s website to learn more and send an email (iwg.warsaw@gmail.com) to join one of the IWG meetings.

Things to do in Warsaw during Christmas – what’s open (December 24-26)

Christmas mass in English in Warsaw

December 24, Christmas Eve
Special Christmas mass (pasterka) in English
Location: St. Paul’s English Speaking Catholic Parish of Warsaw, Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Kościół pw. Narodzenia NMP), al. Solidarności 80 Street (city center). A Christmas Vigil Mass in ENGLISH at 10 pm. Facebook page in English. Website in English.

December 25, Christmas Day

Location: St. Paul’s English Speaking Catholic Parish of Warsaw, Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Kościół pw. Narodzenia NMP), al. Solidarności 80 Street (city center). Christmas Day Mass in ENGLISH at 12 pm. Facebook page in English. Website in English.

Location: Temple of Divine Providence (Świątynia Opatrzności Bożej), Prymasa Augusta Hlonda 1 Street (Wilanów). Christmas Mass in ENGLISH at 6 pm. For inquiries, you can email englishmassatwilanow@gmail.com. Facebook page in English.

Food halls in Warsaw during Christmas

Hala Koszyki, Koszykowa 63 Street (city center). December 24: 12 pm – 3 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 12 pm – 12 am (restaurants open, stores closed). Website in English.

Elektrownia Powiśle – Food Hall, Dobra 42 Street (Powiśle). December 24: closed, December 25: closed, December 26: open from 2 pm. Website in English.

Fabryka Norblina – Food Town, Żelazna 51/53 Street (Wola). December 24: closed, December 25: closed, December 26: open from 12 pm. Website in English.

Attractions in Warsaw open/available every day on December 24-26, 2024

Multimedia Fountain Park – illuminations and shows with music & lights
Location: Multimedia Fountain Park (Multimedialny Park Fontann), a fountain complex located in between the Old Town/New Town area and the Vistula River, location on Google map, free entrance. The illuminations in Fountain Park are switched on every day after dark, and the multimedia shows are held on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (December 24, 25, 26, 31 and January 1, 6 ) at 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm. The show lasts about 15 minutes. More in English about the fountain park.

Dumplings cooking classes in English
Location: Pierogi & More cooking school, Stawki 3 Street (city center). December 24: 12.30 pm. During this experience, you will prepare pierogi with meat and/or vegetarian fillings. At first, you will learn how to knead the dough; then, you will learn various techniques for folding the dumplings and discover hacks that make them tasty. Lastly, at the end of the culinary workshop, you will enjoy a plate full of dumplings, so make sure you come to the class hungry. More in English and online booking.

Outdoor Christmas Market in the Old Town
Location: Warsaw Old Town, the Warsaw Barbican area, opposite the Royal Castle. Souvenirs, gifts, local crafts and food like pierogi, hot chocolate. Facebook page in Polish.

Warsaw Zoo
Location: Ratuszowa 1/3 Street (Praga), opening hours: 9 am – 4 pm. The last admission is one hour before the Zoo closes. Online tickets. The Zoo is open every day, including all public holidays! Website in English.

Indoor mini zoo/petting zoo  
Location: Mini Zoo, Kolorowa 19 lok. 156 Street, poziom/level -1 (Ursus), December 24: 12 pm – 2 pm, December 25: 1 pm – 3 pm, December 26: 10 am – 6 pm, December 31: 11 am – 7 pm, January 1: 1 pm – 7 pm, January 6: 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, and no reservation is required. Website in Polish.

A Christmas tree, festive illuminations, and decorations along Warsaw’s streets 
The lights are switched starting from dusk. The main attractions focus on the “The Royal Route”, from the Castle Square/Plac Zamkowy (including the Christmas tree), Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, Nowy Świat Street to the de Gaulle roundabout (Rondo de Gaulle’a). The Old Town is also decorated (including Piwna Street, Świętojańska Street, Old Town Square, Nowomiejska Street, Freta Street, New Town Square, Kościelna Street to Podzamcze). Find out more in our post on Warsaw’s illuminations in the 2024/2025 season.

Chopin music piano recitals and concerts by candlelight
Location: Fryderyk Concert Hall, Podwale 15 Street (the old town), December 24: 5 pm, 7 pm. December 25: 5 pm, 7 pm. December 26: 5 pm, 7 pm, online tickets. The recitals feature Fryderyk Chopin’s most famous compositions. Website in English.

Winter illuminations in the Łazienki Royal Garden
Location: Agrykola 1 Street (city center). The museums are closed, but the park is open every day: 6 am – 8 pm, free entrance. The festive lights in Łazienki Park are on every day from dusk until 8 pm (the gates at Agrykola Street and Gagarina Street close at 8.15 pm). Winter illuminations in Łazienki Królewskie are located in the part of the park called Aleja Chińska/Chinese Avenue (from the gate at Agrykola Street to the gate at Gagarina Street). The illumination includes several meters high, luminous figures in period costumes, located along the Aleja Chińska. Colorful lights also illuminate the gates at Agrykola Street and Gagarina Street. More about the Łazienki Park in our post.

Outdoor ice rink in the town of Konstancin
Location: the town of Konstancin, Park Zdrojowy, next to the stage (Amfiteatr). Tickets: adults 15 PLN, children 10 PLN. Opening hours: Monday – Friday 10 am – 9 pm, Saturday – Sunday 10 am – 9.30 pm (technical breaks during the day). December 24: 10 am – 4 pm, December 25-26: 10 am – 9.30 pm, December 31: 10 am – 4 pm, January 1: 4 pm – 9.30 pm. More in Polish.

Outdoor ice rink at Arkadia Shopping Center
Location: next to Arkadia shopping center, Jana Pawła II 82 Street. Opening hours: 10 am – 10 pm. Ice skates and support penguins can be rented on-site. Tickets: 20 PLN per hour adults, 15 PLN children. More in Polish. For those who want to learn to skate, there are free classes with an instructor – every Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 2 pm. December 24: 10 am – 4 pm, December 25: 12 pm – 9 pm, December 26: 10 am – 10 pm, December 31: 10 am – 6 pm, January 1: 12 pm – 9 pm, January 6: 10 am – 9 pm.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Please note that Christmas Eve (December 24) is not a public holiday in Poland. Stores can be open until 2 pm.

Special Christmas MIDNIGHT mass (pasterka)
Every church in Poland has a special ceremonial Christmas Eve mass that usually starts at midnight. You will have a chance to listen to and/or sing Christmas carols during the mass. Check out the locations of churches in Warsaw with services in Polish: Warsaw on the left bank of the Vistula (Mokotów, Ochota, Wola, Ursynów, etc.), and Warsaw on the right bank of the Vistula (Praga, Białołęka, etc.). If you prefer a mass in English, St. Paul’s English-speaking Catholic Parish of Warsaw (al. Solidarności 80 Street) offers service in English, including a Christmas Vigil Mass in ENGLISH. (Facebook page in English).

“Wodny Park Warszawianka” – an indoor water park in Mokotów
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). December 24: 6.30 am – 2 pm. December 25: closed. December 26: 2 pm – 10 pm. 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 ten lanes. Website in English. 

LEGO exhibition: 130 mock-ups, thousands of models, 10 million Lego bricks
Location: PGE National Stadium, al. Poniatowskiego 1 (Praga), level -1, entrance from al. Zieleniecka Street. December 24: 10 am – 8 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 10 am – 8 pm. The exhibition is new; none of the mock-ups have been presented in Warsaw before. The exhibition includes a Fun Zone where you can create your own models. Tickets can be purchased online and on-site at the box office. More in Polish.

The Viewing Platform of the Palace of Culture and Science
Location: Plac Defilad 1 (city center). The platform is located on the Palace of Culture and Science’s 30th floor (114 m high). Online tickets. Our tips about visiting the platform. December 24: 10 am – 1 pm, December 25-26: closed.

Outdoor ice rink next to the Palace of Culture and Science
Location: Świętokrzyska Street side (city center). Free entrance. December 24: 10 am – 1 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 10 am – 9 pm. January 1: 3 pm – 9 pm, January 6: 10 am – 9 pm. Website. Facebook.

Museum of Life under Communism 
Location: Muzeum życia w PRL, Piękna 28/34 Street, next to Plac (Square) Konstytucji (city center). December 24: 10 am – 2 pm, December 25, 26: closed. The Museum presents how people used to live during communist times in Poland. There are a few different sections where you can experience propaganda, lifestyle, politics or ordinary day from times. The exhibition has descriptions in Polish and English. There is also an audio guide available in English (to be downloaded on the phone). More in English about the Museum.

Artificial ski slope in Ochota – Górka Szczęśliwicka
Location: Górka Szczęśliwicka, Park Szczęśliwicki, Drawska 22 Street (Ochota). Location on Google map. December 24: 10 am – 2 pm. December 25: closed. December 26: 10 am – 8 pm. The ski slope in Warsaw is located in the Ochota district of Warsaw and is available for skiing starting in October. The hill is called in Polish Górka Szczęśliwicka and is located in the center of the Park Szczęśliwicki. It’s the highest (152 m) hill in Warsaw. It’s an artificial ski slope. The height of the ski slope is 74.9 m, the run length is 227 m, and a plate lift and a chairlift are available. The ski season lasts from October, and the slope is artificially snowed from the first frost. A ski and snowboard equipment rental and a ski service are on site. Website and Facebook. The contact list of ski and snowboard schools working on the Górka Szczęśliwicka.

An outdoor free ice skating rink in the Old Town
Location: Old Town Square, Rynek Starego Miasta (city center). Free entrance. December 24: 10 am – 3 pm. December 25 – closed. December 26: 10 am – 9 pm. Facebook.

An indoor ice rink in Ursynów
Location: Kajakowa 12b Street (Ursynów), FREE entrance. Opening hours: 10 am – 9 pm. Technical breaks: 12.30 pm – 1 pm, 3.30 pm – 4 pm, 6.30 pm – 7 pm. December 24: 10 am – 12.30 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 1 pm – 9 pm, December 31: 10 am – 3.30 pm, January 1: 4 pm – 9 pm. Ice skates and support penguins can be rented on-site. More in Polish. Facebook.

An outdoor ice skating rink in Praga
Location: Plac Konesera, Centrum Praskie Koneser (Praga). Opening hours: 10.15 am – 10 pm (75-minute sessions and 15-minute breaks, additional long 90-minute breaks 2.30 pm – 4 pm and a 30-minute break 6.45 pm – 7.15 pm). December 24: 10.15 am – 2.30 pm, December 25 – closed, December 26: 10.15 am – 10 pm, December 31 – 10.15 am – 2.30 pm, January 1: 4 pm – 10 pm, January 6: 10.15 am – 10 pm. If you show a receipt for a minimum amount of PLN 40 (for shopping and restaurants at the Koneser Center on that day), entry to the ice rink and rental is free. More in Polish and Koneser’s Facebook page.

An indoor ice rink in Włochy
Location: an ice rink next to the primary school (Szkoła Podstawowa nr 87), Malownicza 31 Street (Włochy). FREE entrance. Open daily, 9 am – 9 pm. Maintenance breaks: 2.30 pm – 3 pm, 6 pm – 6.30 pm. December 24: 9 am – 2 pm, December 25 – closed, December 26: 3 pm – 9 pm, December 31: 9 am – 4 pm, January 1: 3 pm – 9 pm, January 6: 3 pm – 9 pm. Website.

Fun Park Digiloo – indoor playing area
Location: Fun Park Digiloo, Merliniego 2 Street (Mokotów). December 24: 10 am – 4 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 12 pm – 8 pm. Website in Polish & English. 

An indoor ice skating rink in Targówek
Location: Łabiszyńska 20 Street (Targówek). Opening hours: Monday-Friday 2 pm – 9 pm, Saturday-Sunday 9 am – 9 pm. Technical breaks: Monday-Friday 6.30 pm – 7 pm, Saturday-Sunday 12 pm – 12.30 pm, 3 pm – 3.30 pm, 6.30 pm – 7 pm. Ice skates and support penguins can be rented on-site. Website, Facebook. December 24: 9 am – 2 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: closed, December 31: 9 am – 2 pm. January 1: closed. Ice skates and support penguins can be rented on-site.

An outdoor ice skating rink in Targówek/Bródno
Location: Park Bródnowski (Targówek/Bródno). Opening hours Monday-Friday: 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:15, 20:45. Weekends: 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:15, 20:45. 45 pm. Technical breaks: 14:45 – 16:00, 18:45 – 19:15. Ice skates and support penguins can be rented on-site. Website. Facebook. December 24: 10.30 am – 2.45 pm. December 25 – closed. December 26: 10.30 am – 10 pm. December 31: 10.30 am – 2.45 pm. January 1: 4 pm – 10 pm.

An indoor ice skating rink in Wawer
Location: OSiR Wawer, V Poprzeczna 22 Street (Wawer). Opening hours: 9 am – 10.30 am, 11 am – 12.30 pm, 1 pm – 2.30 pm, 3.30 pm – 5 pm, 5.30 pm – 7 pm, 7.30 pm – 8.45 pm. Website and Facebook. December 24: 9 am – 2 pm. December 25 – closed. December 26: closed. December 31: 9 am – 2 pm. January 1: closed.

Stegny outdoor ice rink in Mokotów
Location: Inspektowa 1 Street (Mokotów). Ice skates and support penguins can be rented on-site. Website, info about tickets, and Facebook. December 24: 12 pm – 2.30 pm. December 25 – closed. December 26: 12 pm – 8 pm. January 1: 3 pm – 8 pm, January 6: 12 pm – 8 pm.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

A bank/public holiday in Poland. Stores, malls, shopping centers, public institutions are CLOSED.

The outdoor festive lights exhibition: “Garden of Lights”
Location: Botanical Garden in Powsin, Prawdziwka 2 Street, 02-973 Powsin (location on Google map). December 24 – closed, December 25: 4 pm – 9 pm, December 26: 4 pm – 9 pm. It’s the fourth season with an outdoor exhibition of illumination in the Botanical Garden in Powsin, a few kilometers south of Warsaw. The central theme of the fairy-tale light display in the 2024/2025 season is Alice in Wonderland. More in Polish and online tickets. Find out more in our post on Warsaw’s illuminations in the 2024/2025 season.

“The Royal Garden of Light” – the illuminations festival in the Wilanów Palace Garden
Location: Wilanów Garden, Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16 Street, December 25, December 26: 4 pm – 9 pm. Click here to read Kids in the City tips in English about the illuminations festival (opening hours, tickets, parking lots, etc.). 

The outdoor light display in the city center at the Botanical Garden of the Warsaw University
Location: Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego), 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). December 24 – closed. December 25 and 26: 4 pm – 9 pm. December 31 – closed. January 1: 4 pm – 9 pm, January 6: 4 pm – 9 pm. Online tickets. Our tips in English on visiting the Garden. Find out more in our post on Warsaw’s illuminations in the 2024/2025 season.

Free outdoor ice skating rink in Wola
Location: Browary Warszawskie, Grzybowska 58 Street (Wola), Browary Warszawskie, a square next to Warzelnia (Wola), free entrance. December 24: closed, December 25, 26: open. Monday-Friday: 3 pm – 9 pm. Weekends: 12 pm – 10 pm. On weekends, there is a technical break in the middle of the day that lasts approximately one hour. More in Polish.

Flavors of Polish Christmas – dumplings cooking class in English and dinner
Location: Pierogi & More cooking school, Stawki 3 Street (city center). December 25: 5.30 pm. During this four course Christmas dumplings cooking class and dinner, you will taste the most popular Christmas food. Moreover, you will learn how to make the famous Polish dumplings. Taste beetroot soup with mushroom-stuffed dumplings, pierogi with sauerkraut, and last but not least, indulge yourself in the festive poppy seed dessert. More in English and online registration.

Visit churches in the Old Town – nativity scenes
Each church builds its unique nativity scene (szopka) for Christmas. Sometimes, they are modern and metaphorical, sometimes with lots of details that children will love, e.g., animals, angels, different figures, and ornaments. Churches in Poland are usually open during the day until the evening, with free entrance.

Thursday, December 26, 2024

A bank/public holiday in Poland. Stores, malls, shopping centers, public institutions are CLOSED.

An immersive multi-sensory exhibition: “Dali Cybernetics. An Immersive Journey into the Brilliant Mind of Salvador Dali”
Location: Fabryka Norblina, Art-Box Experience, Żelazna 51/53 Street (city center/Wola). Online tickets (children under five years old have free entrance). December 26: 12 pm – 8 pm. The exhibition is intended for all ages and is bilingual – Polish and English. The exhibition is a unique combination of the poetic world of Salvador Dalí with the latest technologies, large-format projections, artificial intelligence (AI), educational content, and an exciting VR film. More in Polish about the Exhibition.

A multimedia exhibition: “TITANIC – the Artifact Exhibition”
Location: Soho Art Center, Mińska 63 Street (Praga), entrance to the free parking lot from Chodakowska Street (near the gas station). December 26: 10 am – 8 pm. The Exhibition is available in English. Tickets can be purchased online. Children up to 6 years old have free entrance. The exhibition presents the extraordinary history of the Titanic – the largest passenger ship in the world at that time. In the exhibition, covering an area of ​​1,500 m², you will find over 160 authentic exhibits recovered from the wreck of the Titanic. Audioguides are available in six languages. After entering the exhibition, viewers will be transported back to April 1912, when the ship set off on its first and last voyage. The tour will begin from the moment the visitors receive a replica of the boarding pass, putting themselves in the role of a specific passenger, and then experience the journey of a lifetime on the TITANIC – from the fascinating construction of the ship through the exploration of its full-size luxurious interiors, to the tragedy of the sinking. The Exhibition’s website in Polish. Facebook. Instagram.

Automotive Icons Exhibition – 100 rare and valuable cars and motorcycles
Location: PGE National Stadium, entrance from al. Zieleniecka Street, gate no. 1 (Praga), online tickets. Free outdoor parking is available in front of gate no. 1 from al. Zieleniecka Street (access via Targowa, Zamoyskiego, Sokola, and Siwca streets) and a paid underground car park. December 26: 12 pm – 7 pm. January 1: 1 pm – 7 pm. Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am – 7 pm, Friday 11 am – 8 pm, weekends 10 am – 7 pm. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati, Bentley, Aston Martina, and other top brands models – from oldtimers to modern cars with the latest technologies. Website, Facebook, Instagram.

LEGO exhibition: 130 mock-ups, thousands of models, 10 million Lego bricks
Location: PGE National Stadium, al. Poniatowskiego 1 (Praga), level -1, entrance from al. Zieleniecka Street. December 24: 10 am – 8 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 10 am – 8 pm. The exhibition is new; none of the mock-ups have been presented in Warsaw before. The exhibition includes a Fun Zone where you can create your own models. Tickets can be purchased online and on-site at the box office. More in Polish.

The Warsaw Rising Museum 
Location: Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego, Grzybowska 79 Street (city center/Wola). December 26: 10 am – 6 pm. More in English about the Museum.

Bowling in Ochota
Location: Klub Arco, Bitwy Warszawskiej 1920r. 19 Street (Ochota). December 26: open from 12 pm. Website in Polish.

An outdoor free ice skating rink in the Old Town
Location: Old Town Square, Rynek Starego Miasta (city center). Free entrance. December 24: 10 am – 3 pm. December 25 – closed. December 26: 10 am – 9 pm. Facebook.

Indoor ice rink at Wilanów Sports Center
Location: Centrum Sportu Wilanów (Wilanów Sports Center), Gubinowska 28/30 Street (Wilanów). December 26: 2 pm – 9.30 pm. Website.

Free outdoor ice skating rink in Wola
Location: Browary Warszawskie, Grzybowska 58 Street (Wola), Browary Warszawskie, a square next to Warzelnia (Wola), free entrance. December 24: closed, December 25, 26: open. Monday-Friday: 3 pm – 9 pm. Weekends: 12 pm – 10 pm. On weekends, there is a technical break in the middle of the day that lasts approximately one hour. More in Polish.

The Warsaw Royal Castle
Location: Zamek Królewski, Plac Zamkowy 4 / Castle Square 4, December 26: 10 am – 5 pm. Our tips in English on visiting the Castle.

The National Museum 
Location: The National Museum in Warsaw (Muzeum Narodowe), Aleje Jerozolimskie 3 Street (city center), December 26: 12 pm – 6 pm. Website in English.

The Museum “World of Illusion”
Location: Świat Iluzji, Rynek Starego Miasta 21 (the Old Town Market Square), December 26: 10 am – 8 pm. online tickets. More in English about the Museum.

Artificial ski slope in Ochota – Górka Szczęśliwicka
Location: Górka Szczęśliwicka, Park Szczęśliwicki, Drawska 22 Street (Ochota). Location on Google map. December 24: 10 am – 2 pm. December 25: closed. December 26: 10 am – 8 pm. The ski slope in Warsaw is located in the Ochota district of Warsaw and is available for skiing starting in October. The hill is called in Polish Górka Szczęśliwicka and is located in the center of the Park Szczęśliwicki. It’s the highest (152 m) hill in Warsaw. It’s an artificial ski slope. The height of the ski slope is 74.9 m, the run length is 227 m, and a plate lift and a chairlift are available. The ski season lasts from October, and the slope is artificially snowed from the first frost. A ski and snowboard equipment rental and a ski service are on site. Website and Facebook. The contact list of ski and snowboard schools working on the Górka Szczęśliwicka.

“Wodny Park Warszawianka” – an indoor water park in Mokotów
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). December 24: 6.30 am – 2 pm. December 25: closed. December 26: 2 pm – 10 pm. 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 ten lanes. Website in English. 

The outdoor festive lights exhibition: “Garden of Lights”
Location: Botanical Garden in Powsin, Prawdziwka 2 Street, 02-973 Powsin (location on Google map). December 24 – closed, December 25: 4 pm – 9 pm, December 26: 4 pm – 9 pm. It’s the fourth season with an outdoor exhibition of illumination in the Botanical Garden in Powsin, a few kilometers south of Warsaw. The central theme of the fairy-tale light display in the 2024/2025 season is Alice in Wonderland. More in Polish and online tickets. Find out more in our post on Warsaw’s illuminations in the 2024/2025 season.

The outdoor light display in the city center at the Botanical Garden of the Warsaw University
Location: Ogród Botaniczny Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego), 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). December 24 – closed. December 25 and 26: 4 pm – 9 pm. December 31 – closed. January 1: 4 pm – 9 pm, January 6: 4 pm – 9 pm. Online tickets. Our tips in English on visiting the Garden. Find out more in our post on Warsaw’s illuminations in the 2024/2025 season.

“The Royal Garden of Light” – the illuminations festival in the Wilanów Palace Garden
Location: Wilanów Garden, Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 10/16 Street, December 25, December 26: 4 pm – 9 pm. Click here to read Kids in the City tips in English about the illuminations festival (opening hours, tickets, parking lots, etc.). 

Christmas attractions & meeting with Santa at Smart Kids Planet – an edutainment center with playing zones dedicated to children aged 0-10
Location: Smart Kids Planet, Fabryka Norblina, level -1, Żelazna 51/53 Street (Wola/city center). Smart Kids Planet is open daily. Additional attractions are available on weekdays, 5 pm – 7 pm, and weekends, 11 am – 5 pm. You can meet Santa on Fridays at 5 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 1 pm and 5 pm. Special Christmas attractions include new for 2024: The “Hello, Santa?” Phone Booth – a one-of-a-kind attraction where kids can talk directly to Santa himself, thanks to the magic of Christmas; Daily Christmas workshops; Festive play zones like the Gift Wrapping Station and Smart Shopping Zone; Winter delights at Smart Cafe, featuring warming teas and holiday treats. Opening hours during holiday season: December 24 & 25: closed; December 26: 11 am – 8 pm; January 1: 11 am – 8 pm; January 6: 9 am – 8 pm. It is recommended that you buy tickets online – Smart Kids Planet has entry limits per hour. Website in Polish, website in English.

An indoor ice rink in Ursynów
Location: Kajakowa 12b Street (Ursynów), FREE entrance. Opening hours: 10 am – 9 pm. Technical breaks: 12.30 pm – 1 pm, 3.30 pm – 4 pm, 6.30 pm – 7 pm. December 24: 10 am – 12.30 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 1 pm – 9 pm, December 31: 10 am – 3.30 pm, January 1: 4 pm – 9 pm. ce skates and support penguins can be rented on-site. More in Polish. Facebook.

An outdoor ice skating rink in Praga
Location: Plac Konesera, Centrum Praskie Koneser (Praga). Opening hours: 10.15 am – 10 pm (75-minute sessions and 15-minute breaks, additional long 90-minute breaks 2.30 pm – 4 pm and a 30-minute break 6.45 pm – 7.15 pm). December 24: 10.15 am – 2.30 pm, December 25 – closed, December 26: 10.15 am – 10 pm, December 31 – 10.15 am – 2.30 pm, January 1: 4 pm – 10 pm, January 6: 10.15 am – 10 pm. If you show a receipt for a minimum amount of PLN 40 (for shopping and restaurants at the Koneser Center on that day), entry to the ice rink and rental is free. More in Polish and Koneser’s Facebook page.

An indoor ice rink in Włochy
Location: an ice rink next to the primary school (Szkoła Podstawowa nr 87), Malownicza 31 Street (Włochy). FREE entrance. Open daily, 9 am – 9 pm. Maintenance breaks: 2.30 pm – 3 pm, 6 pm – 6.30 pm. December 24: 9 am – 2 pm, December 25 – closed, December 26: 3 pm – 9 pm, December 31: 9 am – 4 pm, January 1: 3 pm – 9 pm, January 6: 3 pm – 9 pm. Website.

Visit churches in the Old Town – nativity scenes
Each church builds its unique nativity scene (szopka) for Christmas. Sometimes, they are modern and metaphorical, sometimes with lots of details that children will love, e.g., animals, angels, different figures, and ornaments. Churches in Poland are usually open during the day until the evening, with free entrance.

Fun Park Digiloo – indoor playing area
Location: Fun Park Digiloo, Merliniego 2 Street (Mokotów). December 24: 10 am – 4 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 12 pm – 8 pm. Website in Polish & English. 

An outdoor ice skating rink in Targówek/Bródno
Location: Park Bródnowski (Targówek/Bródno). Opening hours Monday-Friday: 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:15, 20:45. Weekends: 10:30, 12:00, 13:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:15, 20:45. 45 pm. Technical breaks: 14:45 – 16:00, 18:45 – 19:15. Ice skates and support penguins can be rented on-site. Website. Facebook. December 24: 10.30 am – 2.45 pm. December 25 – closed. December 26: 10.30 am – 10 pm. December 31: 10.30 am – 2.45 pm. January 1: 4 pm – 10 pm.

“Torwar” indoor ice rink 
Location: Torwar, Łazienkowska 6A Street (city center). Opening hours: Tuesday 8 pm – 9.30 pm, Thursday 8 pm – 9.30 pm, Saturday 6.30 pm – 8 pm, Sunday 11 am – 12.30 pm (including a separate area for kids and people learning to skate) and 6.30 pm – 8 pm. During each slot, there is a rental and a sharpening room available. Learning supports are available to rent. Website and online tickets. December 26: 6.30 pm – 8 pm.

An indoor ice skating rink in Wesoła
Location: Armii Krajowej 72 Street (Wesoła). Opening hours: Monday-Friday 4 pm – 9 pm (technical break 6 pm – 6.30 pm), Saturday-Sunday 10 am – 9.30 pm (technical breaks 12 pm – 12.30 pm, 2 pm – 3 pm, 6 pm – 6.30 pm. Free entrance. Website. December 24: closed December 25 – closed. December 26: 12 pm – 9 pm. December 31: 10 am – 4 pm.

Stegny outdoor ice rink in Mokotów
Location: Inspektowa 1 Street (Mokotów). Ice skates and support penguins can be rented on-site. Website, info about tickets, and Facebook. December 24: 12 pm – 2.30 pm. December 25 – closed. December 26: 12 pm – 8 pm. January 1: 3 pm – 8 pm, January 6: 12 pm – 8 pm.

Outdoor ice rink next to the Palace of Culture and Science
Location: Świętokrzyska Street side (city center). Free entrance. December 24: 10 am – 1 pm, December 25: closed, December 26: 10 am – 9 pm. January 1: 3 pm – 9 pm, January 6: 10 am – 9 pm. Website. Facebook.

Christmas markets and gift fairs in Warsaw

Festive illuminations, a Christmas tree, lights on Warsaw’s streets in 2024/2025

The Christmas tree and festive illuminations on the streets of Warsaw are turned on on the first weekend of December and are on until mid-February. 

Information on the exact date of launching the illumination in Warsaw is usually announced on December 1. 

We will publish the season 2024/2025 dates as soon as the city authorities announce them. In 2023, the illuminations in the Old Town were launched on December 6 at 3.30 pm, and the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Castle Square in the Old Town was on December 7, 2023, at 6 pm. The illuminations were on until February 18, 2024.

Warsaw has new illuminations from the 2023/2024 season: retro-style illuminations refer to the 1950s and 1960s in Poland.

27-meter Christmas tree, the largest in Warsaw (and in Poland), is lit on Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy) in Warsaw’s Old Town. The main attractions on Warsaw streets are focused on “The Royal Route”, from the Castle Square/Plac Zamkowy (including the Christmas tree), Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, Nowy Świat Street to the de Gaulle roundabout (Rondo de Gaulle’a). The Old Town is also decorated (including Piwna Street, Świętojańska Street, Old Town Square, Nowomiejska Street, Freta Street, New Town Square, Kościelna Street to Podzamcze).

In Warsaw, there are three outdoor displays with paid entrance:

• “The Royal Garden of Light” – an illumination festival in Wilanów Palace Garden: October 19, 2024 – February 28, 2025.
• A light display in the Botanical Garden in Powsin (a few kilometers south of Warsaw), new decorations this season: “Alice in Wonderland”: October 25, 2024 – March 2, 2025.
• A light display in the Botanical Garden in the center of Warsaw: “Magical Botanical”: November 9, 2024 – February 16, 2025.

You will find detailed information about Warsaw illuminations festivals in the 2024/2025 season in our post: Light displays in Warsaw: festive illuminations, lights festivals, and Christmas decorations in Warsaw during the 2024/2025 season.

Christmas illuminations in Warsaw:

Photo source: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa, C. Warś, S. Pulcyn

Ideas for things to do in Warsaw in December

For more ideas for 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.

Free winter cruises on the Vistula River in Warsaw
Every Saturday in December. Location: start and finish at the beach at Płyta Desantu, Pomost 511 (city center), 2 pm, 3 pm, and 4 pm. Online registration for Saturday cruises will begin every Monday at 9 pm (an additional pool of places will be available at the end of the week). This is an hour-long cruise with winter tea on a festively decorated boat under a blanket. All cruises will be operated on covered boats, so poor weather is not a problem. More in Polish on the website. Facebook. Instagram.

Christmas attractions & meeting with Santa at Smart Kids Planet – an edutainment center with playing zones dedicated to children aged 0-10
Until January 12. Location: Smart Kids Planet, Fabryka Norblina, level -1, Żelazna 51/53 Street (Wola/city center). Smart Kids Planet is open daily. Additional attractions are available on weekdays, 5 pm – 7 pm, and weekends, 11 am – 5 pm. You can meet Santa on Fridays at 5 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 1 pm and 5 pm. Special Christmas attractions include new for 2024: The “Hello, Santa?” Phone Booth – a one-of-a-kind attraction where kids can talk directly to Santa himself, thanks to the magic of Christmas; Daily Christmas workshops; Festive play zones like the Gift Wrapping Station and Smart Shopping Zone; Winter delights at Smart Cafe, featuring warming teas and holiday treats. Opening hours during holiday season: December 24 & 25: closed; December 26: 11 am – 8 pm; January 1: 11 am – 8 pm; January 6: 9 am – 8 pm. It is recommended that you buy tickets online – Smart Kids Planet has entry limits per hour. Website in Polish, website in English.

Santa Claus House – 50 minute-drive from Warsaw
Until December 22. Location: Odnaleziony Dom Świętego Mikołaja, Rezydencja Miętowe Wzgórza – Mansion House, Trębki Nowe 90, 05-170 Zakroczym. Location on Google Maps. Santa Clause House (Polish name of this attraction: Odnaleziony Dom Świętego Mikołaja) is located northwest of Warsaw. Attractions include visiting the House of Santa Claus, Christmas scenery for taking magical photos, a visit to the Elves’ workshop (here you will be able to write your letters to Santa Claus and decorate them with Christmas decorations), Santa’s maze and slide, Santa Phone: Christmas phone booth, and alpacas. Entrance ticket for one person – PLN 59, children up to 2 years old free entrance. Food zone: pizza, traditional Christmas dishes, bonfire with sausages or marshmallows, mulled wine, warming tea and hot chocolate. Individual visitors: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am – 6 pm. Kindergartens and schools: Monday-Friday, booking required. Facebook, Instagram, website.

Automotive Icons Exhibition – 100 rare and valuable cars and motorcycles
From December 12 until February 25. Location: PGE National Stadium, entrance from al. Zieleniecka Street, gate no. 1 (Praga), online tickets. Free outdoor parking is available in front of gate no. 1 from al. Zieleniecka Street (access via Targowa, Zamoyskiego, Sokola, and Siwca streets) and a paid underground car park. Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 11 am – 7 pm, Friday 11 am – 8 pm, weekends 10 am – 7 pm. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Maserati, Bentley, Aston Martina, and other top brands models – from oldtimers to modern cars with the latest technologies. Website, Facebook, Instagram.

The Great Elf Factory (Wielka Fabryka Elfów) – indoor Christmas playing areas for children aged 3-10
Until January 10. Location: PGE National Stadium, Ks. Jozefa Poniatowskiego 1 Street, entrance from Wybrzeże Szczecińskie Street – gate no. 5, a paid underground parking lot is available – gate no. 6 (Praga). Ten playing areas with attractions for kids (e.g., an inflatable playground) – children help elves; in the end, they meet Santa. The games and attractions take about 2 hours. Individual visitors: Monday-Friday 2.30 pm – 5.30 pm, weekends 9 am – 6 pm. Recommended age of children: 3-10 years old. Ticket prices depend on days and hours and start from 74 PLN. 1 ticket is admission for one child and one guardian. Visiting the Elf Factory for groups of children is possible in English – you must report such a request in advance (+48 583 501 651, warszawa@wielkafabrykaelfow.pl). Website in Polish. Facebook. Instagram.

LEGO exhibition: 130 mock-ups, thousands of models, 10 million Lego bricks
Until March 2. Location: PGE National Stadium, al. Poniatowskiego 1 (Praga), level -1, entrance from al. Zieleniecka Street. Open daily: 10 am – 8 pm. The exhibition is new; none of the mock-ups have been presented in Warsaw before. The exhibition includes a Fun Zone where you can create your own models. Tickets can be purchased online and on-site at the box office. More in Polish.

An immersive multi-sensory exhibition: “Dali Cybernetics. An Immersive Journey into the Brilliant Mind of Salvador Dali”
Until March 16. Location: Fabryka Norblina, Art-Box Experience, Żelazna 51/53 Street (city center/Wola). Online tickets (children under five years old have free entrance). The exhibition is intended for all ages and is bilingual – Polish and English. The exhibition is a unique combination of the poetic world of Salvador Dalí with the latest technologies, large-format projections, artificial intelligence (AI), educational content, and an exciting VR film. More in Polish about the Exhibition.

A multimedia exhibition: “TITANIC – the Artifact Exhibition”
Until March 31. Location: Soho Art Center, Mińska 63 Street (Praga), entrance to the free parking lot from Chodakowska Street (near the gas station). Open every day: 10 am – 8 pm. The Exhibition is available in English. Tickets can be purchased online. Children up to 6 years old have free entrance. The exhibition presents the extraordinary history of the Titanic – the largest passenger ship in the world at that time. In the exhibition, covering an area of ​​1,500 m², you will find over 160 authentic exhibits recovered from the wreck of the Titanic. Audioguides are available in six languages. After entering the exhibition, viewers will be transported back to April 1912, when the ship set off on its first and last voyage. The tour will begin from the moment the visitors receive a replica of the boarding pass, putting themselves in the role of a specific passenger, and then experience the journey of a lifetime on the TITANIC – from the fascinating construction of the ship through the exploration of its full-size luxurious interiors, to the tragedy of the sinking. The Exhibition’s website in Polish. Facebook. Instagram.

Ice skating
Since December, ice rinks have already been operating in all districts of Warsaw. The ice rinks in Warsaw are usually open until February/March, weather permitting. You can read more about 20+ indoor and outdoor ice rinks in different districts of Warsaw (location, opening hours) in our post: Ice skating rinks in Warsaw.

A winter walk in the center of Warsaw: Krakowskie Przedmieście and Nowy Świat Streets a car-free zone 
December 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 24-29 and January 4-6. Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmieście streets (from rondo gen. Ch. de Gaulle’a to Miodowa Street) change into a car-free zone, accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists. It is part of the so-called Royal Route, a historic part of Warsaw, leading from Rondo de Gaulle’a (the famous traffic circle with a palm tree) to Castle Square with Sigismund’s Column and the Royal Castle. It is worth going for a walk there, especially after dark, when the Christmas illuminations are already on!

A new exhibition at the Museum of Asia: “Holi Colors”
Until June 1. Location: Muzeum Azji i Pacyfiku, Museum of Asia and the Pacific, Solec 24 Street (Powiśle). The exhibition presents the painting of Mithila, which is practiced by women from a region today divided between India and Nepal. More in Polish about the Exhibition.

Artificial ski slope in Ochota – Górka Szczęśliwicka
Location: Górka Szczęśliwicka, Park Szczęśliwicki, Drawska 22 Street (Ochota). Location on Google map. The ski slope is open every day, 10 am – 8 pm. The ski slope in Warsaw is located in the Ochota district of Warsaw and is available for skiing starting in October. The hill is called in Polish Górka Szczęśliwicka and is located in the center of the Park Szczęśliwicki. It’s the highest (152 m) hill in Warsaw. It’s an artificial ski slope. The height of the ski slope is 74.9 m, the run length is 227 m, and a plate lift and a chairlift are available. The ski season lasts from October, and the slope is artificially snowed from the first frost. A ski and snowboard equipment rental and a ski service are on site. Website and Facebook. The contact list of ski and snowboard schools working on the Górka Szczęśliwicka.

Outdoor Christmas Market in the Old Town
Until January 6. Location: Warsaw Old Town, the Warsaw Barbican area, opposite the Royal Castle. Open every day, 12 pm – 9.30 pm, free entrance. Souvenirs, gifts, local crafts, and food like pierogi, hot chocolate. Facebook page in Polish.

Flavors of Polish Christmas – dumplings cooking class in English and dinner
Location: Pierogi & More cooking school, Stawki 3 Street (city center). During this four course Christmas dumplings cooking class and dinner, you will taste the most popular Christmas food. Moreover, you will learn how to make the famous Polish dumplings. Taste beetroot soup with mushroom-stuffed dumplings, pierogi with sauerkraut, and last but not least, indulge yourself in the festive poppy seed dessert. More in English and online registration.

Gingerbread cookies baking and decorating class for all ages – cooking class in English
Location: Pierogi & More cooking school, Stawki 3 Street (city center). Book the gingerbread cookies baking class to learn how to bake, decorate and store „pierniczki”. Then, you will learn how to make your gingerbread spice mix. Last but not least, you will discover how to turn gingerbread cookies into beautiful Christmas tree decorations or unforgettable presents for your loved ones. More in English and online registration.

Eating out in one of Warsaw’s indoor food halls
Are you going out for lunch with friends or family, but everyone wants something different? Sounds familiar? Food halls will settle restaurant selection fights. They offer a wide variety of ethnic cuisines and local restaurant concepts. An excellent solution for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in a group – everyone orders from a different restaurant and eats at a shared table. Click here to read our post featuring food halls in Warsaw.

A winter walk among the magic lights 
During winter, many parks in Warsaw transform after dark into a magical world of lights, allowing you to spend time outdoors, walking in winter festive scenery. Add to that a Christmas tree on Plac Zamkowy (Castle Square in the Old Town) and illuminated streets in the center of Warsaw! You will find detailed information about Warsaw illuminations festivals and lights displays in our post: Light displays in Warsaw: festive illuminations, lights festivals, and decorations in Warsaw during the 2024/2025 season.

And if it snows – it’s time for a sled!
When it starts to snow in Warsaw, we often are asked where a good place to go sledding and building a snowman is. Here is a rundown of some popular areas in Warsaw by district: Sledging in Warsaw: best spots for sledding in Warsaw.

Indoor go-karting tracks in the Warsaw area
Four indoor karting tracks are open all year round in and around Warsaw. They offer go-karts for both adults and children. Click here to read our post featuring karting tracks in the Warsaw area.

Indoor playgrounds and soft play centers in Warsaw
Are you 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 been telling 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.

Indoor ice skating? Yes! On the “Torwar” indoor ice rink 
Location: Torwar, Łazienkowska 6A Street (city center). Opening hours: Tuesday 8 pm – 9.30 pm, Thursday 8 pm – 9.30 pm, Saturday 6.30 pm – 8 pm, Sunday 11 am – 12.30 pm (including a separate area for kids and people learning to skate) and 6.30 pm – 8 pm. During each slot, there is a rental and a sharpening room available. Learning supports are available to rent. Website and online tickets. The Torwar ice rink is open until mid-May.

Chopin music piano recitals
Location: Fryderyk Concert Hall, Podwale 15 Street (the old town), online tickets. The recitals feature Fryderyk Chopin’s most famous compositions. Website in English.

Exhibition and fair of exotic animals and plants  
December 1. Location: Sports Center at Siennicka 40 Street (Praga), 10 am – 4 pm, online tickets. Snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, snails, insects, spiders, ants, fish, and plants from all over the world. Facebook event in Polish.

Free concert of Christmas evergreens
December 6. Location: Elektrownia Powiśle shopping mall, Food Hall, Dobra 42 Street (Powiśle), 8 pm, free entrance. Facebook event in Polish.

Free concert of Christmas songs
Location: Browary Warszawskie, Food Hall, Grzybowska 58 Street (Wola), 6.30 pm. Facebook event in Polish.

Film music concert
December 6. Location: Torwar, Łazienkowska 6A Street (city center), 7.30 pm. The orchestra and choir will perform James Horner’s most famous compositions for films such as: “Avatar”, “Titanic”, “Braveheart”, “Apollo 13”, “Glory” and “Alien”. The concert program will also include the latest music for “Avatar 2”. More in Polish and online tickets.

Christmas pantomime performance
December 6 & 7. Location: American School of Warsaw, Warszawska 202 Street, 05-520 Konstancin Jeziorna, 6.30 pm. For tickets, please email britpanto@yahoo.com. All proceeds go to charity. Facebook event in English.

Guided tour IN ENGLISH at the National Museum dedicated to adults and teenagers
December 7. Location: Muzeum Narodowe, the National Museum, Aleje Jerozolimskie 3 (city center), meeting point: main hall, 1 pm, tickets: 25 PLN / reduced 10 PLN. Facebook event in English.

Christmas folk concert and dance show by Mazowsze – the oldest and most significant Polish folk dancing and singing group
December 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Location: Matecznik “Mazowsze“, Świerkowa 2 Street, 05-805 Otrębusy (a village about 25 km from the center of Warsaw), online tickets. More about the Mazowsze group in English.

Railway Modeling Fair (Giełda Modeli Kolejowych)
December 8. Location: Warsaw Railway Museum (Stacja Muzeum), Towarowa 3 Street (Wola), 10 am – 2 pm (the Museum is open 10 am – 6 pm). A chance to buy model railways and trains and meet railway modeling enthusiasts. During the event, reduced tickets for everyone (7 PLN, children up to 7 free entrance). The Museum website in English. Facebook event in Polish.

A concert of classical music by young artists at the Ballroom in the Palace on the Isle in Łazienki Royal Garden
December 15. Location: Łazienki Royal Garden, Pałac na Wyspie, Sala Balowa, Agrykola 1 Street (city center), 12 pm, tickets 10 PLN. Facebook event in Polish.

“Mufasa: The Lion King” – children’s movie in ENGLISH, without Polish subtitles 
December 20. Location: Cinema City, Sadyba Best Mall, Powsińska 31 Street (Sadyba/Mokotów), 4.30 pm and 5.15 pm. The screening is in English, without subtitles. The movie tickets cost 35 PLN for an adult and a child ticket is 25 PLN each and they are available to purchase via email to brianmason79@gmail.com. For any questions etc. please contact Brian at 668 519 462 or by email.

ALICE amazing circus show
December 21. Location: Palladium Theatre / Teatr Palladium, Złota 9 Street (city center), 4 pm. More in Polish and online tickets.

Polish Christmas traditions – a guided tour in ENGLISH at the Centre for Polish Folklore
December 22. Location: Centrum Folkloru Polskiego “Karolin” (Centre for Polish Folklore), Świerkowa 2 Street, 05-805 Otrębusy (a village about 25 km from the center of Warsaw, location on Google map), 3 pm, booking: kontakt@karolinmazowsze.pl, +48 22 208 87 00, +48 605 501 770. The Centre for Polish Folklore is located in the restored palace – a historic home to Mazowsze – the oldest and biggest Polish folk dancing and singing group. More in English.

Sunday Yoga in Łazienki Royal Garden
December 22. Location: Łazienki Royal Garden, 10 am, the meeting point on Google Maps. Families with children are welcome. There is no need to sign up. Facebook event in Polish and English.

Visiting the snow plow train interior
December 29. Location: Warsaw Railway Museum (Stacja Muzeum), Towarowa 3 Street (Wola), 9 am – 5 pm. Visiting the interior of this train is only allowed a few times a year. The Museum website in English. Facebook event in Polish.

A concert of classical music by young artists at the Ballroom in the Palace on the Isle in Łazienki Royal Garden
December 29. Location: Łazienki Royal Garden, Pałac na Wyspie, Sala Balowa, Agrykola 1 Street (city center), 12 pm, tickets 10 PLN. Facebook event in Polish.

Where to buy a Christmas tree in Warsaw (including options to order online & home delivery) & tips for picking the right Christmas tree

In December, you can buy a Christmas tree in Warsaw on a street corner – pop-up tree lots appear overnight on street corners or in front of shops. There’s no standard pricing, so if you like, you can bargain a bit about the price;)

Major supermarkets and home improvement stores in Warsaw typically set up their live Christmas trees in the garden section or the parking lot. You can also buy a tree from your local garden center.

They will cut the stem of the tree you pick, net it, and help you secure it to the top of your car if needed. You can buy a cut tree, a potted tree (grown in a field, dug up, and placed in a pot), or if you know that the Christmas tree will later go to your garden, you can buy a “rooted” tree (choinka ukorzeniona) – a pot grown tree (which has been planted in a container as a seedling).

A glossary of terms that are useful when buying a Christmas tree: choinka – a Christmas tree, w doniczce – potted, obsadzanie – putting a real Christmas tree in the stand, stojak – stand, lampki – lights, bombki – Christmas baubles, utylizacja – the service of picking up the Christmas tree after holidays.

Stores offering home delivery of Christmas trees in the Warsaw area

In addition to delivering the Christmas tree to your home, stores offer additional paid services, such as putting a Christmas tree in a stand (obsadzanie). This service covers adjusting the trunk of the tree to the stand as well as adjusting the tree correctly (stable and straight) in the tree stand. Another service covers the utilization – after the holidays end, the store will take the Christmas tree from your home to the appropriate point, where it will be converted into biomass.

The most popular real Christmas trees you can buy in Poland include: the Norway Spruce (świerk pospolity), the Blue Spruce or Colorado Spruce (świerk srebrny or świerk kłujący), the Caucasian Fir or Nordmann Fir (jodła kaukaska).

Sleigh and horse carriage rides in the vicinity of Warsaw

Horse-drawn sleigh rides are a unique winter attraction in Poland. Usually, they are associated with the mountains, but in the vicinity of Warsaw, we can also go for a sleigh ride! It is great fun and an opportunity to spend time with family or friends in nature. Of course, a tiny little detail – snow is needed. However, in most cases, when the weather changes and the snow melts, there is an option to ride a wheeled carriage.

In our post Sleigh and horse carriage rides near Warsaw, we present several options for organizing a sleigh ride near Warsaw – you can contact all the organizers in English.

Top indoor play spaces in Warsaw

Are you stuck for ideas on what to do with the kids in Warsaw on a cold 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 been telling 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!

Read more in our post: Best indoor playgrounds and soft play centers in Warsaw: family fun, birthday parties, workshops for kindergartens & schools.

Weather in Poland in December

In 2024, astronomical winter begins on December 21 with the winter solstice – the day with the fewest hours of sunlight in Poland all year. On a positive note, starting on December 21, the days in Poland will get longer and the nights shorter. The length of the day goes from 7 hours 42 min. on December 22 to 10 hours 50 min. at the end of February.

Winter in Poland is cold and usually snowy. To stay cozy in the cold weather in Poland, you will need a hat, coat, scarf, gloves, and winter boots. The lowest temperature is recorded in eastern and southern Poland. Remember that the temperature in the wintertime in Poland drops significantly at night!

The weather in Poland differs during the winter. Usually, the temperature is around freezing or a few degrees below, but it happens that the temperature drops below -20 °C (-4 °F). In recent years, there has been an increase in average winter temperatures compared to previous years.

Because of Christmas and New Year’s Eve, December is a favorite month for many people in Poland. The name of the month – grudzień – comes from the Polish word gruda, meaning frozen ground. The average temperature in December in Poland drops below zero: -0,16°C / 32°F. The average rainfall level in December in Poland is 38 mm (similar to March and April). Sunset on December 1: 3.27 pm, December 31: 3.32 pm.

Read more about the weather in Poland in winter (December, January & February).

Shopping Sundays in Poland in December 2024

December 15 and December 22 are shopping Sundays in Poland – stores are open. The next shopping Sunday will be on January 26, 2025.

Click here to read our post about shopping Sundays in Poland in 2025. Read our post with the list of online stores in Poland delivering groceries to your home.

Public holidays and dates to remember in Poland in December 2024

St. Nicholas’ Day (Mikołajki)
The name Mikołajki comes from Mikołaj (Polish for Nicholas), meaning little Nicholas. On the night of December 5-6, small gifts are secretly given to children while they are sleeping (little treats – toys but most of all sweets). One of the traditions is to hide treats in shoes. Children should clean them the night before, and the next morning (on Mikołajki day), they would find inside their shoes a small surprise. Chocolate Santas are often such a gift – they can be bought in Polish stores already at the end of November. In Polish schools, on December 6, there is a custom of exchanging small gifts between students. Children decide in advance the amount for which they will buy a gift and draw a person from the class to be given a gift.

The beginning of astronomical winter
The shortest day of the year. Click here to learn about the weather in Poland in the wintertime (December, January, and February).

Christmas Eve (Wigilia)
Christmas Eve is not a public holiday in Poland. Shops and businesses are open no longer than 2 pm. Christmas Eve Dinner – kolacja wigilijna – is Poland’s most important Christmas celebration. Click here to learn more about Christmas traditions and celebrations in Poland. The Christmas Eve traditions include waiting for a first star, the Christmas wafer (opłatek), 12 meat-free courses, an extra seat for an unexpected guest, hay under the tablecloth, and a special midnight mass (pasterka).

Christmas Day (Boże Narodzenie)
A public holiday in Poland. Stores, malls, shopping centers, public institutions, schools are CLOSED. People in Poland usually visit family and friends to celebrate together, go to church, sing carols (kolędy), and spend long hours at the table.

Second Day of Christmas (Drugi Dzień Świąt Bożego Narodzenia)
A public holiday in Poland. Stores, malls, shopping centers, public institutions, schools are CLOSED.

New Year’s Eve / St. Silvestre’s Day (Sylwester) 
It’s the start of the carnival season in Poland. People usually go out to parties and balls. Stores are typically open no longer than 5-6 pm.

Read more about public holidays and dates to remember in Poland in the wintertime.

Grocery ONLINE shopping: stores offering home delivery in the Warsaw area

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