Palace of Culture and Science

The Palace of Culture and Science is one of the must-see landmarks in Warsaw. You can take an elevator to the top and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The observation deck offers a fascinating, if somewhat chaotic, look at Warsaw’s urban landscape — a mix of massive skyscrapers standing right next to small, older buildings. The contrast is striking and tells a story of the city’s rapid development and post-war reconstruction. It’s definitely worth a visit, especially for the view and the unique Soviet-era architecture of the building itself.

One of the most recognizable landmarks of Warsaw. A magnificent building in the style of socialist realism with an interesting history. Inside, you’ll find numerous museums, theaters, cinemas, exhibition halls, and various institutions. Be sure to visit the observation deck on the 30th floor — it offers a stunning panoramic view of Warsaw. You can easily spend the whole day here exploring attractions, visiting exhibitions, events, and museums. A great place to get to know the city and its culture.

If you visit Warsaw and have time for just one landmark, make it the Palace of Culture and Science. This isn’t just a building — it’s a symbol. A living reminder of the city’s complex past and its vibrant, creative present. As you approach, the sheer size and bold, Stalinist architecture immediately capture your attention. Towering at over 230 meters, with 42 floors, it’s visible from nearly every corner of the city — like a silent guardian watching over Warsaw. The real magic begins when you step inside. Whether you’re heading to a film screening, a theater performance, a museum, or simply taking the elevator to the 30th floor viewing terrace, every moment feels special. And once you’re at the top? The panoramic view of the city is breathtaking. From green parks and historic streets to modern skyscrapers and the winding Vistula River, it’s a view that stays with you long after you leave. Inside, the palace is full of life. Art exhibitions, cultural events, coffee shops with vintage charm — it’s a place where history meets creativity in the most beautiful way. Whether you’re a history lover, an architecture enthusiast, or just someone looking to experience the soul of Warsaw, the Palace of Culture and Science is a must-see. It’s more than a visit — it’s a feeling.

One of the city's most striking and emblematic buildings, where modernity and communism meet in Poland. You can enter the building, climb to the top floor for an entrance fee, and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city. If you're there in the summer, I recommend visiting around 9 p.m. to see both the sunset and the nightfall. It's worth it if you're visiting the city.

We decided to stop by the Palace of Culture and Science while out for a walk in Warsaw, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our visit. Taking the lift up to the 30th floor gives you a stunning panoramic view of the city. From above, you can really appreciate the fascinating contrast of Warsaw’s skyline modern skyscrapers standing alongside smaller, older buildings, a reminder of the city’s rapid development and post-war reconstruction. You can buy the tickets on site (the cost about €13 for two). There is a small café at the top if you’d like a refreshment while enjoying the view. Be prepared to queue for the lift, but it moves quickly and is worth the wait. The building itself, with its striking Soviet-era architecture, is a landmark in its own right and definitely a must-see when in Warsaw.

Great place to visit with wonderful views. A museum, theatre, concert hall, cinema, offices and temporary exhibitions. It's the second tallest building in Poland and Warsaw and was completed in 1955. The viewing platform gives one of the best skyline views of Warsaw and is relatively cheap at about £6 per person. Definitely worth a visit, stunning building.

Located in the very heart of Warsaw, the Palace of Culture and Science is one of the city’s most iconic and striking landmarks. Originally built during the Soviet era, it has since become a central hub for Poland’s cultural and social life. With its impressive architecture and diverse offerings, the building stands tall at 237 meters, making it the tallest structure in Poland. Inside, you’ll find theaters, museums, cinemas, cafes, and even university facilities. One of the highlights is the observation deck on the 30th floor, offering panoramic views of Warsaw. Watching the sunset over the city from this viewpoint is truly a magical experience. The palace combines historical depth with the grandeur of socialist realist architecture, creating a time-travel-like atmosphere for visitors. It’s a must-visit not only for architecture and history enthusiasts, but also for those looking to explore the soul of Warsaw beyond the typical tourist spots. Whether you’re here for a cultural event, a scenic view, or simply to explore one of Warsaw’s most recognizable buildings, the Palace of Culture and Science will not disappoint. Highly recommended for a complete Warsaw experience.

The viewing terrace is absolutely stunning - especially at night. Great visibility gives an outlook that catches both nearby skyscrapers and Vistula - including its bridges and cars that move through them. The area was very windy though.

This place really stands out in the city! The tall point with the clock, the old architecture inside, the viewing floor, all pretty amazing. There's booths on the main floor to sell you tickets to go up to the top and to other attractions. The staff were friendly.

Good high up views. Gives you an overview of the city and how expensive it is, or not. Near the main train station and two large malls. So a convenient stop.

Built in the 1950s, this massive soviet communist era monstrosity was Stalin's gift to the people of Warsaw, whom really didn't have a say. The local Poles also called it "Stalin's P***S"...I don't see it, do you? :) Despite the dark history, seeing this building certainly makes an impression on you, especially architectural nerds like myself. The interior reflects the era. I didn't have a chance, but building has a couple of large theaters to see shows and concerts. 25PLN/$6 will let you ride up to the "tip", I mean top of the building at 30 floors up. You'll get some sweeping panoramic views for some pretty good photos and Instagram posts...though the Warsaw skyline is rather flat and dull compared to other views. Still worth the cheap $6, and it won't take much time out of your day. I think I paid $45 to go up Seattle's Space Needle a few months ago.

This place was advertised as to have the best view in Warsaw, so I definitely wanted to see the city from the top. There's at least 1 hour long wait to go up. Although we had the Warsaw pass which promised no lines, no one was enforcing it, so we had to wait. Worst part is: definitely not worth it, the view from the top is not as good as I thought. The wires obstruct all view. No opportunity to take picture as the wall is so tall. And no glass, so you can't see the city. If you're short, you won't be able to see anything. Overall, this place is decent just to get the idea of how things are like in Poland. But if you've been to "the view" or one world at NYC, you'll be so underwhelmed.

The Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland. It has been around since the 1950s. It was gifted to Poland from Stalin. This building has over 3,000 rooms. It is still used for public activities, concerts, different companies use it, universities etc. You can even go for movies here, they have a cinema within the place. Lastly, there are a few viewing galleries as well as the observation tower. It is open for the public to visit. You can buy the ticket which leads to the elevators. The views of the city are gorgeous from the tower. There are also eating options while you visit. The price of the visit was inexpensive in what it has to offer to all those who visit. I loved the architecture of the building. The columns and statues surrounding it were neat to look at. In winter time they have a ice skating ring around one of the entrances. Also for the holidays they light the building with Christmas colors. If in Warsaw, stop here for a quick moment.~

communist propaganda now used as museums and offices This is one of the most recognizable and hated buildings in all of Warsaw. Built under the direction of the USSR and dedicated in 1955 while Warsaw was in ruins after WWII, it symbolizes communist excess and oppression for many Warsaw residents. While the common people were literally living in war-torn ruins, this gigantic Soviet designed monstrosity (the architecture of the building seems to have resulted from a consensus by a group of mediocre government architects) demanded thousands of workers and raw materials that most feel should have gone to reconstruction. The communist party met in the large theater section of the building for official meetings. The observation deck provides excellent views of Warsaw. Our tour guide spoke perfect English and provided excellent background and history.

Amazing place directly in the middle of Warsaw. Close to the central station and the station "Centrum" of many buses and trams. I have visited only oberservation deck, the view was great and price was only 20 PLN. Besides of that, it is possible to book a guided tour through the building to see memories from socialistic times. On the other side, cinema is located. Building with many facets and options...

True to its origins we got a very communist experience. There was a long line to purchase tickets so we decided to purchase them on our phones. The woman working the line was extremely unpleasant and got into a screaming match with people who tried to walk over the ropes instead of walking all the way around to enter the line for ticketed people. After scanning your own ticket you get in a line for an elevator where you push a button that takes you up to the top. It is a nice view of the city with some information. However everything is screened in so you don't really get that great of photos. There is a small cafe and a place for ice cream. Since the admission fee is only $5 it is a cool way to spend about 30 minutes but if the fee is increased or the line is especially long I would recommend skipping.

Yeah, its maybe good-looking inside and outside, you have good view on the top of Palace, but yesterday I went there with my mom, and we came inside and took some photos etc. But security looked at us like "they want to stole or burn this whole palace". It's very uncomfortable for people. No one from staff came to us, no one smiled etc. So we just go from there. And the same man from security have problem to my mom that she can't open the door... So, i dont recommend this as much as other places.

Imagine enduring a devastating war to result in the liberating forces taking control of your country, imposing an unpopular government, and concluding with the construction of a giant towering landmark you couldn't miss from any corner of the capital if you tried. The Palace of Culture and Science, which is the tallest building in Poland, and the surrounding Palace Square was the symbol of Soviet domination. Built by the government of the U.S.S.R. as a gift from the Soviet people to the Polish nation, the building continues to be a source of controversy. PKiN is located on one of Warsaw's main squares, Plac Defilad, where people naturally flock to and for multiple reasons: it's a gateway to the city's various modes of public transportation with a number of restaurants and shopping malls located in the vicinity. PKiN contains over 3,000 rooms and is home to the Congress and Concert Halls; 2 museums; an 8-screen multiplex cinema; bars; four theatres; and the largest casino in the country. The building's exterior features statues sculpted in the style of Michelangelo's ignudi, which include those of Nicholas Copernicus, Adam Mickiewicz, and Marie Skłodowska Curie, and of the idealized worker, one of which holds a tablet with the names of Marx, Engels, and Lenin etched into it (Stalin's was removed in 1956). A guided tour is required to explore the majority of the building. Today, PKiN's main attraction for locals and tourists alike is the observation terrace on the 30th floor providing a panoramic view of the capital and beyond. From here you can view almost the entire city from the hodgepodge of downtown's newest skyscrapers to the oldest part of town. Regular admission price is 20zł, students are 15zł. Open everyday from May to September. Be sure NOT to miss this part of history and its view!

The best viewing platform in the city. It reminds us of the city's communist history, but still manages to be a beautiful focus on the skyline.

The Palace of Culture and Science... a gorgeous gorgeous building that takes up the downtown Warsaw skyline. We went on a Sunday morning and there was maybe a five-minute wait for tickets. It costs 18 PLN (about 4 Euros) per person and then you take an elevator up to the top. Beware, the Polish people aren't as good at queueing as the Germans, so we had a lot of people "cut" in line. Even so, we were still up pretty quickly. The views are awesome and totally worth it. Just make sure you go on a clear day.

The price is 20 PLN, which is only about 5 USD, so it's worth the cost but probably not worth trying to fit in to a packaged itinerary. We only had a half day in Warsaw and thought it'd be a great way to see the city. However, even in early May, it was a little chilly in Warsaw, but very, very windy and cold on the observation deck, which is open air and not shielded from the elements. That made it pretty miserable, combined with the fact that it was a wet mess from recent rain. They'd do well to enclose this. There are souvenirs for sale on the top level, as well as a pretty decent little cafe with smoothies, green juice, desserts, coffee, etc.

Pros: From the terrace in the 30th storey you have a great view on the entire city of Warsaw and with about 20 Złoty it's not even that expensive. Cons: The waiting time can be long, that's why you should visit the observatory before noon, also bigger bagpacks are not allowed in the elevators which is why they need to be stored in the basement with payment. Also, the building is a bit run down and there are few signs to the entrance from other sides of the building.

So this looks pretty awesome from the outside and it really is a beast of a building. Gifted by Uncle Joe Stalin to try and make up for abandoning Warsaw at the end of WWII (check your history) it reaches for the sky in an unashamed Stalinist style. I only went there for the viewing platform which did take quite a long time to queue up for as there are only a couple of (decadent) lifts to the top. The view is OK but the nearby new skyscrapers ruin the view. Not especially worth the time unless you've time to kill.