Fun Day Trips from Warsaw with Kids
There are many great things to do around Warsaw, so don’t hesitate to get out of the city for a bit. If you want to travel to other bigger cities in Poland, I’d advise planning for a few days.
Places like Krakow, Wroclaw, and Gdansk shouldn’t be done on a day trip unless you want to be extremely rushed. Stay at least 2 nights.
Suntago: Largest Waterpark in Europe
Just 45 minutes from Warsaw, there’s a tropical 32°C and a year-round waterpark called Suntago and this is also why I highly recommend visiting even when it’s raining. You should plan a whole day for Suntago because there are simply too many slides, spas, thermal pools, and other attractions to enjoy it fully in just a few hours.
Some say that Suntago is aimed at older kids, but I have to disagree as long as your kids are comfortable in the water. There are slides for even the smallest visitors, and the lazy river was cute as well. Additionally, there’s a nearby area called Crocodile Island, which features a dry area upstairs and serves as a play spot for kids, complete with animations – all of these things were pretty suitable even for toddlers.
Malbork Castle
This UNESCO Heritage castle isn’t usually a place that everyone talks about, but it should be. The Castle of the Teutonic Order is the largest in the world, measured by land area. It’s a must-visit place in Poland.
The best way to get there is by train that goes to Gdansk (another beautiful place, full of history – it was an independent port city once) and getting off at Malbork station. It takes about 2:15h to get there. While it can be done on a day trip, I highly recommend spending one night in Gdansk before heading back to Warsaw.
Torun
You probably heard of Nicolaus Copernicus? He was born in Torun. It’s a beautiful and lively city that owes its origins to the Teutonic Order, which built a castle there in the mid-13th century. The old town is remarkably well-preserved, and it’s a pleasure to stroll around and admire its architecture from street level or from the tower of the town hall. Think Bruges of Poland.
For museum enthusiasts, there’s a Museum of Gingerbread, an Astronomical Observatory and much more. I actually had a chance to study in Torun, so if you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Powsin Park Kultury
Powsin is pretty much still a part of Warsaw as it’s part of Wilanów district, but it’s on the outskirts. Powsin Park is a wonderful place to spend the day with kids, as there’s a lot to do. You can visit a big, partially shaded playground where children can enjoy the carousel, slides, swings, rope climbing structures, hanging bars, somersaults, rockers, a sandbox with molds, and equipment for transporting and pouring sand.
If you walk for about 5 minutes, you can find a small zipline park. Kids need to be 4 years old minimum to go on the smaller course and 6 years old to go alone. While it’s a short course, we went with a few kids ages 5-8, and all of them had a blast.
In the park, there’s also an outdoor pool with a slide that can be visited during the summer on a hot day.
Julinek Amusement Park
Less than a 50-minute drive from Warsaw, Julinek is a circus school, but they also have a ropes course for children and adults. The park offers routes for both the youngest and experienced adventurers, but I recommend it for kids over 4 years old as there’s not much to do for younger.
You’ll also find an inflatable bouncy castle (lots of them!), a mini-golf course, playgrounds, sports fields, and a rally track with electric bumper cars and performances from their circus students. There’s also a water park, but make sure to check heights and age limits, as toddlers will be extremely limited in what they can do.
Lodz: Zoo & HopaLupa
The city of Lodz is less than 2 hours away from Warsaw and offers a nice walkable old town, but with kids you might want to check out a few of their top places to go.
First, there is a ZOO which has recently added its Orientarium building with an underwater tunnel and species from all over the world. It’s also a place to see elephants swimming and playing in the water, considered a unique attraction.
The second spot to go to is Hopa Lupa, my kids favorite playspot in the world. It’s the biggest indoor playspot in Europe, and honestly, you can easily spend a whole day there. They have three different sections: one is for infants, City Zone is for preschool and early elementary kids, and a trampoline-oriented park for older kids and adults. To be honest, I enjoyed playing with my kids at the City Zone as well.
Alternatively, Lodz is also home to the biggest indoor amusement park (Lodz likes to have the biggest of everything, it seems) called Mandoria. It’s a perfect spot when the weather is crappy in the winter and outdoor amusement parks are closed. It obviously won’t be the same as going to Energylandia theme park, but there is even a roller coaster at Mandoria.
Kosmiczne Rancho (Space Ranch)
Kosmiczne Rancho is a space-themed park with no crowds, which is perfect for a quick half-day trip. There are 28 attractions and some animations with people dressed like aliens. There’s also a space exhibit and a few places for a snack or lunch.
Farma Iluzji
The place is full of funny exhibits and objects creating optical illusions, encouraging to interact. You can easily spend a whole day exploring or chill with friends and family by the grill in prepared areas to have a rest.
If you’re visiting on a hot day, bring swimsuits for the kids as there’s a splash pad area. They do serve some good gofry (thicker Polish waffles), so don’t forget to buy one!
Dzielnica Filmowa
Less than 25 km from Warsaw, you’ll film a place called Film District. Walking among film-inspired sets surrounded by trees and peace feels like stepping into another world. It’s more of an experience with rides and playgrounds for kids to enjoy.
There are picnic areas, and for kids, it’s an adventure land full of creative installations featuring cars from various movies, as well as military planes and tanks. It’s a great spot for a weekend outing with friends or family — or even a romantic walk with a cinematic twist
Magiczne Ogrody (Magical Gardens)
Magical Gardens is a fun spot with younger kids (I’d say up to 10 years old). It’s a giant thematic playground with magical creatures and moving statues. There are also animations and little shows for the curious kids.
Each land offers stimulating activities and games. A prime example is Water World, where numerous devices allow children to conduct exciting experiments with water themselves. Magic Fountains allow them to control the water with hand movements.
You can easily spend all day at the park, and parents will have to get involved as well because some carousels and trains are human-operated – the same way it works at Europe’s largest playground in the Netherlands.
