Warsaw for kids
The capital is a tourist paradise for families with children. Not only are there traditional museums where additional attractions for younger visitors are often organised, but also places tailor-made for children. The capital is bustling with life all year round. But especially in the autumn, the kids will not get bored here.
The Royal Łazienki Park is a real paradise for little ones. Children who love nature, animals and art will feel perfectly at home here—especially when the majestic trees are covered in autumn colours. Walking along the paths, you can see cute red squirrels hopping in the trees and brightly-coloured peacocks, which in many cultures are a symbol of beauty. There are also special educational facilities for families with children: the Old Guardhouse, the Ecological Education Centre in the New Palm House, and the Moulding Shop in the Old Orangery. It is also worth visiting the Palace on the Isle, as well as listening to summer recitals by the most outstanding pianists by the Chopin Monument. Every year as part of the ‘Free November at royal residences’ campaign, you can also visit the Royal Łazienki Museum at no charge. The free admission applies to all permanent and temporary exhibitions. The programme also includes guided tours, walks, workshops and museum lectures. ‘Free November’ also includes the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanów and the Royal Castle in Warsaw.
Learning by playing
At the Norblin Factory (Fabryka Norblina), there is a place that will delight every child and parent—Smart Kids Planet, the first Smart Play Centre in Poland. This unique place for children up to 10 years of age is designed to develop the skills of the future in the young. There are as many as nine smart play zones for children, featuring over 50 engaging attractions. Each of them is not only a source of incredible fun, but also valuable experiences that teach cooperation, familiarise children with the latest technologies, and help form sound environmental behaviours. Kids can experiment, discover and create in a friendly environment that supports their natural curiosity about the world, while adults can indulge in some shared family fun or relax with a coffee in the Smart Cafe. The Smart Play Centre is a place where the youngest can play at being engineers, couriers, shop assistants, artists or ecologists, learning through interactive games and workshops.
Since last year, a miniature town has been operating in the Praga district, where children from 7 to 15 years of age can take on various professional roles and gain their first valuable experience. At minicity, there are as many as 13 jobs to choose from in various fields: a bank, an art gallery, an engineering workshop, a fitness club, a laboratory, a police station, a studio, a radio, an internet portal, an autoshop, a fire station, a television studio, and a hospital. Kids have the opportunity to work on real equipment, performing tasks developed by industry professionals. And they get paid for their work in the town’s currency. At miniciti, children learn through experience, acquire practical skills and develop the skills of the future.
Willy Wonka on Kamionek Lake
From September, you can take the whole family to a new museum—the E.Wedel Chocolate Factory Museum. The innovative 8,000 m² attraction is located next to Wedel’s production plant in Warsaw’s Praga district. It houses both an exhibition and production section as well as a Chocolate Lounge and souvenir shop. An additional attraction is the observation deck on the sixth floor, which offers a beautiful panorama of Warsaw as well as a view of Kamionek Lake. The façade is particularly noteworthy as it resembles a chocolate bar with each of its ‘squares’ decorated with a different motif recalling the historical decorations of the Wedel factory building. Visitors will be able to follow the process of creating chocolate treats from the selection of cocoa beans, through their roasting, to the final packaging of the product.
Museums for the youngest
This year, to mark the POLIN Museum’s 10th birthday, on the last weekend of September, a host of attractions have been prepared for the youngest and their carers. The main hall will house a unique installation—a wishing fountain, where you can make wishes, write them down and throw them into the water. In addition, there will be creative workshops during which children will be able to make unique gifts themselves, including a special pop-up card and other items with museum motifs. For those interested, there is also a family game covering selected sections of the permanent exhibition: from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Players can win prizes! You can’t go without a delicious cake on a birthday! The museum invites you workshops at its culinary studio. You will be able to bake delicious cakes together, sing ‘Sto lat’ (Polish Happy birthday), and then eat the treats. But that’s not all! Kapela Niwińskich (The Niwiński Band) will entice you to sing and dance. The repertoire includes Jewish klezmer tunes and the traditional ‘Sto lat’. Entrance to the museum on the birthday weekend—September 26–30—is free of charge for everyone, including families with children. Check out the children’s programme.
Or perhaps you would rather be carried away by a little magic? If so, there is something in the Old Town that will definitely interest you. Of course, we are talking about the World of Illusion Museum. From the moment they cross the museum’s threshold, children are swept away in a whirlwind of incredible experiences. Here, mirrors are no ordinary looking glasses, and corridors can lead to unexpected places. The World of Illusion is a real playground for the mind—full of optical illusions, interactive installations, and surprising effects that will make everyone’s head spin. Each exhibition encourages interaction—children can touch, experiment and play with no limits. This is no ordinary museum where touching is forbidden. On the contrary—here everyone is encouraged to make discoveries and enjoy experiences.
Let’s go further. There is a Museum of Evolution at the Palace of Culture and Science and to visit it is to journey back to the time when giant dinosaurs roamed our planet. If your children are fans of Jurassic Park, for sure they will be delighted to see the huge skeletons of these prehistoric creatures with their own eyes. The museum offers not only exhibitions but also interactive activities and workshops that engage the young in discovering the secrets of evolution. As a result, children not only see, but also play and learn at the same time. It is worth checking out what’s on offer for kids at our website: go2warsaw.pl.
