What to Do in Warsaw with Kids: 12 Fun Activities for All Ages

Wondering what’s there to do in Warsaw with kids? Even though the capital city of Poland is full of history and interesting museums, it doesn’t mean that it is boring for kids. Don’t go crossing it off your Poland itinerary just yet because there are plenty of things to do in Warsaw with kids!

Having spent my childhood in Poland and then giving birth to one of my own here, I can tell you that Warsaw has become incredibly fun with kids as they opened a lot of new places, and I wish all these activities existed when I was a child.

Over the years things have changed, and Warsaw is neither gray anymore (in fact, when I was a kid they painted many apartment complexes with random bright colors), nor in any way behind the rest of Europe. In Warsaw, you can find foreign brands, restaurant chains, shops, and many cool spots to hang out on top of museums and other attractions.

Warsaw is easy to travel to with kids, so don’t worry. Public transportation works just fine, so do taxis, and there are plenty of facilities for babies, toddlers, and older kids.

This guide focuses on main attractions and outdoor activities with kids in Warsaw. For indoor activities and what to do in Warsaw with kids when it rains, see my other post. If you’re planning any day trips (which I highly recommend) there are a lot of places to visit with kids as well!

Things to Do in Warsaw with Kids

1. Relax in Lazienki Park

If you’re looking for the perfect family-friendly introduction to Warsaw, Lazienki Park is it. The park not only has beautiful gardens and plenty of lawns for picnicking, but you’ll also find animals like ducks, peacocks, squirrels, and pigeons throughout, making it one of the best places to visit in Poland. 

For the little ones, there’s a new playground with different sections for specific age ranges. The playground even includes a water area that lets the kids do their science experiments!

In the summer, there are free summer piano recitals of Chopin’s work where you can take a picnic and relax on the grass while listening. While in winter, illuminations of historic figures in period dress are projected many meters high. 

For kids who are a little older and interested in learning more about Warsaw, there’s also a handful of museums in the park to explore. 

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2. Explore the Old Town (incl. Royal Castle & Multimedia Fountain)

Warsaw’s old town is a beautiful area of the city full of colorful historic buildings, tourist attractions, and over 600 hidden dwarves to find. 

Yep! Originally created in protest of the communist movement, these tiny statues have become a symbol of the city and are hidden both in plain sight as well as in some of the most obscure spots in the Old Town. See how many you can spot! 

On Friday and Saturday nights, you can also watch the sound and light display at the multimedia fountain. During the summer, music, lights, and fountains dance in unison to put on a show that is a must-see in Warsaw. 

Right next to the fountain, there’s a fenced play area called the Warsaw Family Zone. My kids absolutely love it.

When you’re in the Old Town area, don’t miss a visit to the Royal Castle and the main square. The original castle only lasted 30 years, after moving the capital from Krakow to Warsaw by Zygmunt III Waza (whose monument stands in front of the castle). The castle is completely restored and totally worth a visit.

With kids you can climb the tower of St Anna’s church and see the view. It’s one of the best things to do in Warsaw, full of exhibitions about the city, priceless art, and beautiful gardens to explore.

Another thing to see is Barbican, the ruins of the original late Medieval city fortification. Built by architect Giovanni Battista Venetian, it was only used in one fight in 1656. Today, it serves as a bridge between the Old and New Town. The best ice cream store is near Barbican gate – you won’t miss it!

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3. Enjoy the Vistula River Beaches in Warsaw with Kids

After you’ve done your fair share of walking around the city, it’s time for a break. So head to one of the sandy beaches that line the Vistula River for a fun afternoon with the whole family. 

The most popular spot to visit is the Smith Patton Boulevard which has a handful of mini beaches along the river. Towards the middle section of the boulevard, you’ll find some small commercial beaches where you can rent sun loungers and have access to showers, open-air exhibitions, and trampolines. 

Nearby there are also lots of restaurants and a few museums, so you could easily make a full day out here. Swimming in the river is okay but make sure to check the strength of the flow before letting your kids in as this can change depending on the water levels.

If you prefer a beach that is a bit bigger, try Poniatówka beach near the national stadium. This sandy beach has a wooden deck and grass, barbeques, a playground, and a 20 km walking path along the river.  

Rusałka beach is another good choice with a view of the old town, sand, beach volleyballs, BBQs, rope park, and a water playground. And if you can’t make up your mind, why not take a river cruise and choose one you like from the water?

4. Visit Warsaw Zoo

What kind of family-friendly list would this be without mentioning the Warsaw Zoo? The zoo in Warsaw is a huge 40-hectare property that’s home to over 12,000 animals including polar bears and sloths! 

While you can of course see all the typical animals you would expect to see in a zoo here, Warsaw Zoo also has a focus on rehabilitation and conservation so you have the chance to see many endangered animals here too.  

5. Take a Trip to Kampinoski National Park

For something completely different, head out of the city and take a trip to Kampinoski National Park. 

This unique national park protects the natural sand dunes and wetlands of this region of Poland and is also home to the Ignacy Mościcki Bison Breeding Centre. Make a stop at the viewing center here to have a chance to spot some bison! 

With plenty of easy hiking trails, playgrounds, and clearings with benches for a fun picnic, you can easily spend a whole day exploring the area here away from the hustle of the city. If visiting after rain, it’s also a great place to try mushroom picking. 

6. Have Fun on the Cities Playgrounds

For kids who need to burn off a little extra energy, Warsaw has some great adventure parks that your little ones will love!

Below I have listed a few of our favourites for you:

• Warsaw Family Zone – Located near the multimedia fountain, this fun playground has lots of ropes to climb and a water park. 
• Olkówek – Jurassic Park – This dinosaur-themed playground has lots to do for kids of all ages and is fully sanded. 
• Ujazdowski Park – A modern playground with plenty of different features such as rope nets and bridges with a rubber floor. This is my kids’ favorite playground! 
• Prosze Slonia – An incredible big playground in a quiet neighborhood. It has things to do for all ages.

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7. Have an Adult Meal While the Kids Are Entertained

Warsaw has quite a few restaurants that offer kids play areas perfectly hidden. It’s so easy to eat out with kids in Poland, so we could all enjoy normal food and eat in peace while the kids are playing in ball pits, climb slides and have some games.

For those wondering, these restaurants don’t seem to miss out by providing fun stuff for families. Quite the opposite, most of these spots are usually fully booked and about 75% by adults without kids.

Our favorite restaurants with play areas in Warsaw are:

• Otto Pompieri
• Der Elefant
• Videlec
• Cafe Przygoda (more of a cafe)

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8. Get High at Rope Park Bielany

For an outdoor adventure for the whole family, the Bielany Rope Park offers high rope courses for many different skill levels. 

There are 5 routes of varying difficulties, with an option starting for kids that are just 2 years old but you must be at least 120cm tall to participate.

The courses include obstacles as easy as a ball pit suspended 1.5 meters above the ground, all the way up to exhilarating Tarzan swings and zip lines! 

9. Visit the Polish Army Museum

If your kids are fascinated with weapons, the Polish Army Museum will not disappoint! 

Here you will find huge tanks, airplanes, helicopters, guns, knives, and countless other artifacts on display.

Of course, there is also plenty of information about the history of the Polish Army, but not much is written in English so the star of the show is certainly the countless full-scale vehicles to see! 

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10. Try Skiing at Szczesliwicka Gorka + Ice Skating at PGE Stadium

Another fun winter experience in Warsaw with kids is to go skiing on Szczesliwicka Hill. Located in the west of the city, this is the highest hill in the city and has a chairlift that transports you to the top. 

While its 50m length might not excite experienced skiers, it’s a great place to try skiing for the first time or simply have some fun snow play with your family. 

In the summer months, there’s also an alpine luge there overlooking Warsaw. Smaller kids can ride it with a parent.

Alternatively, you can head to the PGE Stadium to try ice skating! The two rinks make up the largest indoor skating complex in Poland, but make sure to check the schedule online as certain sessions are suitable for kids.  

11. Visit Targ Sniadaniowy

There are two breakfast markets in Warsaw: one in Mokotow and another in Zoliborz. Both are good with plenty of choices to eat, but the Zoliborz one is right next to a playground, which makes it convenient with kids.

In Zoliborz it’s open 9-16 every Saturday and here’s a link to the location. If you visit in the spring or summer walk around to spot some beautiful houses covered in vines and wisteria.

12. See the Winter Lights at Wilanow Castle

The ‘Polish Versailles was another Baroque summer residence of Polish royalty that gleams with white and yellow decor. The place is full of random artifacts and the gardens are fun to stroll through with kids. Wilanow is very easy to get to with buses 116 and 180 from the Old Town, or 519 from downtown.

Every winter, the gardens surrounding Wilanow Castle turn into a magical winter wonderland with a huge light display called the Royal Garden of Light. 

There are countless sculptures created from colorful lights for you all the explore from October to February each year and the tradition is a favourite amongst locals and expats alike. 

Some of the light sculptures even have musical shows that are times to interact with the lights, as well as a 3D light projection on the Palace itself. 

How to Get Around Warsaw

There are many direct flights to Warsaw from anywhere, with LOT Polish Airlines and many other major carriers. You can choose to fly to either Chopin Airport or Modlin where cheap airlines like RyanAir or WizzAir fly to (30 minutes away). Check on Skyscanner which one is cheaper to fly to.

Thanks to Warsaw’s hosting of the Euro 2012 football championships, getting to and from the airport is now easy due to new train lines and bus routes.

If you’re flying into Chopin Airport, you can simply take a taxi (approx. 40 PLN to downtown), train, or a local bus (no. 175, 188, 148, 331 during the day, and N32 at night). If you choose to travel by bus remember to validate your ticket inside the bus.

If you’re flying into Modlin, then you have fewer options, but it’s also doable. The fastest option is a train that runs every 20-30 minutes.  There’s also a Modlin Airport Bus that costs 9 PLN and takes 40 minutes to downtown.

There is free Wifi at both airports, so don’t you can also easily navigate once you arrive. If you prefer to purchase a local SIM card instead, I recommend Orange as it has the cheapest and fastest 4G.

Taxis

Taxis are everywhere in Warsaw, and you can just stop one or call for one. However, Uber works totally fine too. Tipping your driver isn’t common.

Most Ubers will not take you if you don’t have your own car seat, so keep that in mind. They usually don’t care if your child is 4 and over, but even for a short ride you’re required to have it.

Public Transportation

Warsaw has an extensive bus and tram system across the city and the kids love riding the trams! There are many bus routes with each one having a number and at night all night buses display the letter N in front of the number. Marked red, are express buses that skip certain stops.w

The standard fare is 4.40 PLN for adults. There is also a 20-minute ticket priced at 3.40 that allows you to change buses and go into trams and metro within a limited time frame. Tickets can be bought from some street kiosks, ticket machines (with English instructions) near stops or at metro stations, or anywhere with a sign saying Bilety.