Winter in Warsaw: festive illuminations, lights, and decorations in Warsaw during 2020/2021 winter season
The post features 4 locations in Warsaw: winter illuminations on Warsaw’s streets (“The Royal Route”), the illuminations festival in Wilanów, Multimedia Fountain Park, and Łazienki Royal Garden.
Holiday illuminations, a Christmas tree, and lights on Warsaw’s streets
December 5, 2020 – February 15, 2021
The Christmas illuminations in 2020 in Warsaw are on from December 5 and will stay on until mid-February 2021.
The largest Christmas tree in Warsaw is lit on Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy) in Warsaw’s Old Town.
This year, due to savings, illuminations light up fewer streets in Warsaw than in previous years. The main attractions on Warsaw streets focus on the “The Royal Route”, from the Castle Square/Plac Zamkowy (including the Christmas tree), Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, Nowy Świat Street to the de Gaulle roundabout (Rondo de Gaulle’a).
The Old Town is also be decorated (including Piwna Street, Świętojańska Street, Old Town Square, Nowomiejska Street, Freta Street, New Town Square, Kościelna Street to Podzamcze).
It is worth visiting the Old Town Square where you can take a photo with the illuminated monument to the Warsaw Mermaid and buy a small takeaway snack (several restaurants sell take-out food out of the counters/windows). You can buy, among others hot chocolate, red borscht, grilled oscypek cheese, bigos (cabbage stew), dumplings.
Compared to previous years, in the 2020/2021 season illuminations will not be installed in the following locations: Trzech Krzyży Square, Aleje Ujazdowskie Street to Belweder next to the Royal Łazienki Garden, Aleje Jerozolimskie Street (from Warszawa Centralna Railway Station to Rondo Waszyngtona Roundabout and Poniatowskiego Bridge), Bankowy Square, Marszałkowska Street, Targowa Street, Solidarności Street (from Bankowy Square to Wileński Square, including Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge).
This year’s new illuminations are to reflect the spirit of pre-war Warsaw. Key attractions include:
- The 27-meter-high Christmas tree on Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy), decorated with classic baubles in gold, silver, and red colors.
- The “balloon seller” and the “Warsaw barrel organ” on Castle Square.
- 54 m long “light tunnel”, “chess pieces”, and “chessboard” in the square of ks. Jan Twardowski (Skwer ks. Jana Twardowskiego).
- “Horse tram” at the monument of Nicolaus Copernicus, Krakowskie Przedmieście/Nowy Świat Street.
- “Carousel”, “gazebo for lovers”, and a “greeting card” in Hoover Square (Skwer Hoovera).
The photos below show Christmas illuminations in Warsaw in the 2020-2021 season.
The photos below show Christmas illuminations in Warsaw in previous years.
“The Royal Garden of Light” – illuminations festival in Warsaw in Wilanów Park
October 10, 2020 – March 14, 2021
“The Royal Garden of Light” is Warsaw’s must-see sight during the wintertime and both adults and children will love it. It’s located in the gardens of a baroque royal palace called the “Polish Versailles”, in the Wilanów district of Warsaw. The Wilanów festival is a unique open-air exhibition with thousands of diodes forming tunnels, trees, installations, and sculptures. The illuminations are accompanied by classical music and mappings on the palace façade (3D shows featuring sounds, images, and lights). Read our tips in English about the Festival in Wilanów (ticket info, opening hours, etc.).
The Rose Garden
From Saturday, December 5, 2020, a new part of “The Royal Garden of Light” illuminations festival is opened – the Rose Garden (Ogród Różany). In summer and autumn, you can admire wonderfully blooming roses here, in winter – 6,000 color-changing flowers that make up the colorful carpets and a fountain animated with light.
Winter illuminations in Łazienki Royal Garden
December 6, 2020 – February 28, 2021
Winter illuminations in Łazienki Królewskie are located in the part of the park called Aleja Chińska/Chinese Avenue (from the gate at Agrykola Street to the gate at Gagarina Street).
The illumination includes several meters high, luminous figures in period costumes, located along the Aleja Chińska. Colorful lights also illuminate the gates at Agrykola Street and Gagarina Street.
The festive lights in Łazienki Park are on every day from the dusk until 8 pm (the gates at Agrykola Street and Gagarina Street close at 8.15 pm).
Location: Agrykola 1 Street (city center). The park is open every day: 6 am – 8 pm, free entrance.
Our tips:
- In the center of Łazienki Park (next to the main building ‘Palace on the Isle’), there is a small café offering take-out coffee and different kinds of gofry/waffles (location on Google map).
- Łazienki Park is poorly lit after dark, so it is worth helping yourself with a phone or other flashlight.
- When you are in Łazienki Park after dark, take a close look at the trees around the pond – you will notice black silhouettes of peacocks sitting on the trees!
Click here to read more about visiting the Łazienki Park in our post.
Photo source: Łazienki Królewskie
Winter illuminations at Warsaw Multimedia Fountain Park
until February 14, 2021
Multimedia Fountain Park is a free fountain complex located in between the Old Town/New Town area and the Vistula river. The festive illuminations (including a special installation: thanks to the employees of medical services) are on from December 5, 2020. In the 2020/2021 season there will be NO multimedia shows with music and lights. More in English about the fountain park.
Photo source: www.park-fontann.pl
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