Wilanów Palace
Pałac w Wilanowie
The “Versailles of Poland”, a 17th-century summer palace of King John III Sobieski. It survived World War II intact, preserving its original Baroque palace and gardens.
Wilanów Palace lies about 10 km south of central Warsaw. Construction began in 1677 for King John III Sobieski, who had defeated the Ottoman army at the Battle of Vienna. It combines the styles of a Polish noble estate, an Italian villa and a French palace, and its exterior reliefs and statues celebrate the king’s military victories. Unlike most buildings in Warsaw, it was not destroyed in World War II, and its interiors retain original 17th- and 18th-century decoration, including the king’s and queen’s apartments, a Chinoiserie room and a portrait gallery. It has been open to the public as a museum since 1805, making it one of Poland’s earliest museums. Behind the palace, a two-tiered Baroque geometric garden slopes down to the lake, and there are also English and Chinese-style gardens. Next door is the Poster Museum. In winter (about November to March), the gardens host the “Royal Garden of Lights” illumination display in the evening. Tickets: the palace is about 40 zloty and the gardens about 10 zloty (free on some days; check the official website). Getting there: take bus 116 or 180 from the city center to the terminus at Wilanów, about 35 to 40 minutes. It can be combined in one day with Łazienki Park.
Opening hours
Palace approx. 09:30–16:00/18:00 (seasonal changes; closed some days; check official website); gardens 09:00 to sunset
Nearby sights
- Łazienki Park
- National Stadium (PGE Narodowy)
- National Museum in Warsaw
- Vistula Boulevards
- Hala Koszyki
- Fryderyk Chopin Museum
- Nowy Świat & Royal Route
- Copernicus Science Centre