An undoubtedly controversial icon of Warsaw, the Palace of Culture and Science was presented to the Polish people as a gift from Stalin in the 1950s. Since its opening, it has been hated, tolerated and eventually grudgingly accepted as part of the city landscape and part of city history. While many Varsovians may have wanted to pull it down as soon as Stalin's influence began to wane, it has now taken its place among the ranks of historic symbols, representing an era of foreign domination that has been overcome.
The Palace is no longer the tallest building in Warsaw, with new ultra-modern skyscrapers bursting into existence at an alarming speed, but its clock tower (the second-tallest clock tower in the world) is still one of the highest, most central and most easily recognizable orientation points in the city. The entire building is 230 meters tall, with 42 floors and 3,288 rooms.
The whole project was meant to impress the Polish people with the power, genius and generous goodwill of Stalin. In 1952, 3500 Soviet workers were shipped in, housed at Poland's expense in a brand-new suburban housing complex, and set to work at breakneck speed, completing the building in only three years (perhaps the reason why 16 of them died in accidents during construction). While the building was modeled on several recently raised skyscrapers in Moscow, the architects added details which they felt to be typically Polish, traveling round the country to view historic buildings and drawing on the architecture of Kraków and Zamosc for inspiration.
The Palace has hosted many notable events and performances, including a 1967 Rolling Stones concert - the first appearance by a western rock band behind the Iron Curtain. Inside, you'll find cinemas, theatres, museums, a conference hall, shops, offices, a swimming pool, a post office, libraries and even a university. On the 30th floor is a terrace from which you can see the best bird's-eye view of the city, at a height of 114 meters.
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Discover a lesser-known side of Warsaw and see the most interesting sites like a former vodka factory and a black market. Try a local hot chocolate and admire the Praga murals.
Experience exceptional daily concerts organized at a unique location in the heart of the Warsaw's Old Town. Our outstanding pianists perform Chopin's pieces with their own interpretation of his works.
Immerse yourself in the captivating and moving history of the Warsaw Ghetto on this 3-hour tour. Learn all about its origins, everyday life inside and the 1943 uprising of the ghetto.
Take a private day trip to Wolf’s Lair, which was one of the most important military headquarters of Adolf Hitler. It is a location in which he spent approximately 800 days throughout the years 1941-1944.
See the beautiful parts of Warsaw on 3-hour bus trip through the city with professional guide. Drive by the Royal Gardens, Umschlagplatz, the Royal Castle, and many monuments to the victims of WWII's
Learn about Jewish history and the Holocaust on this guided tour of Majdanek concentration camp and Lublin.
Depart from Warsaw for the day to discover Kazimierz Dolny – one of the most picturesque towns in Poland. It is situated by the longest river in Poland and surrounded by local vineyards, charismatic loess ravines, and forests.
Take a self-driving tour to see the most important sights of the city. Get behind the wheel and enjoy the driving with help from the guide sitting in the back seat.
Visit Hitler’s former headquarters on our guided tour. Explore a complex of bunkers hidden in the Mazurian forest. See where the commander of the Third Reich stayed for 900 days during World War II.
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
Handpicked by a Local Expert
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