At the start of the Royal Route, away from Warsaw Castle, Krakowskie Przedmiescie is a boulevard with some of the city’s most prestigious palaces and churches. Here is what to see.
Chopin’s heart in the Holy Name Church
Following on from Nowy Świat, Krakowskie Przedmiescie forms part of the Royal Route from the Castle down to Łazienki Park and Wilanów Palace. As such, some of the city’s key key churches and palaces sprung up along this attractive boulevard, as well as Warsaw’s academic institutions. Today, it’s a concentration of political power, as the President’s Palace is to to be found here.
Many guided tours of Warsaw’s Old Town will include time on Krakowskie Przedmiescie, as it houses some important landmarks.
What To See In Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Following on from the shops, bars, and restaurants of Nowy Świat, Krakowskie Przedmiescie makes for a pleasant stroll right to the edge of the Old Town. It, too, has a number of great places to eat and drink, as well as two of Warsaw’s most iconic hotels – the Bristol and the Raffles Europejski.
There are several key academic buildings, such as the University of Warsaw and the Polish Academy of Sciences, and impressive churches, including the Holy Cross Church, where Chopin’s heart is kept. You’ll find a number of stately statues and monuments, including Copernicus and the national poet Adam Mickiewicz.
Being the first leg of the Royal Route, where Poland’s kings would use it for processions, this tree-lined boulevard has been one of the city’s most prestigious addresses since the 1600s and a concentration of power. One of the grand palaces on the street is now the Presidential Palace.
Krakowskie Przedmiescie is full of grand buildings and things to so. We have listed the highlights below.
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What To Expect When Visiting Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Adam Mickiewicz and Carmelite Church
Krakowskie Przedmiescie follows on directly at the top of Nowy Świat and stretches for just over a kilometre all the way up to Warsaw’s Castle Square.
Copernicus Monument
Copernicus Monument
Poles are rightfully proud of their scientific heritage and Copernicus’ enormous contribution to our understanding of the cosmos is celebrated by this statue outside the Polish Academy of Sciences. This is the very first thing you’ll see, immediately on the right, as you enter Krakowskie Przedmiescie from Nowy Świat.
Holy Cross Church
Holy Cross Church
Located on the left-hand side of Krakowskie Przedmiescie, a little further up from the Copernicus monument, the Holy Cross Church is one of the finest baroque buildings in Warsaw. It is also notable as the final resting place for Chopin’s heart, which is contained within one of the church’s pillars.
Czapski Palace
Czapski Palace
Located opposite, the University of Warsaw, the Czapski Palace is one of the finest examples of rococo architecture in Warsaw. The building now contains a branch of the Chopin Museum – the composer once lived here – and the The Academy of Fine Arts, a museum that holds 30,000 works. The Palace itself is actually off the main road, but the image above shows the main gate on Krakowskie Przedmiescie.
University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The oldest and largest university in Poland has its gates on the eastern side of Krakowskie Przedmiescie. There campus is made up of some former palaces and there is a museum that is open to the public.
Church of St. Joseph of the Visitationists
Church of St. Joseph of the Visitationists
The rococo Church of St. Joseph of the Visitationists was one of the few churches in Warsaw that was not completely destroyed during the Second World War. Chopin used to play organ here and the church got its name from the French Order of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for whom it was originally built in the 17th century. Continue up from the university and you’ll find the church to the right.
Presidential Palace
Presidential Palace
Now the official home of the Polish president, the Presidential Palace has served many purposes over the years. It is well guarded and you’ll see a bustle of important looking cars drive in and out of the gates, as well as regular protests out front. You’ll find the Palace just beyond the Bristol Hotel, on the same side of the road. The statue with the horse is a monument of Józef Poniatowski.
Carmelite Church
Carmelite Church
Also on the right-hand side of the road, the Carmelite Church is also known as the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and of St. Joseph. The 18th-century neoclassical church is noted for the twin belfries, shaped like censers, and the green globe, representing the earth.
Adam Mickiewicz Monument
Adam Mickiewicz Monument
Often compared to Byron or Goethe, Adam Mickiewicz was a Romantic poet and activist, engaged with the Polish struggle for independence. You’ll find the Mickiewicz statue just past the Carmelite Church.
St Anne’s Church
St. Anne’s Church and Viewing Terrace
The bell tower of St Anne’s Church provides one of the best views in Warsaw – see our separate page on St Anne’s for details.
St. Anne’s marks the very end of Krakowskie Przedmiescie and the start of the Old Town.
How To Visit Krakowskie Przedmiescie
The view to Nowy Świat from Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Krakowskie Przedmiescie is very easy to find. Many buses that run up Nowy Świat continue on to the Old Town and the Nowy Świat-Uniwersytet M2 Metro stop lies just around the corner.
Perhaps the best way to visit, however, is to walk the length of Nowy Świat, and retrace the Royal Route back up to the castle. See our Warsaw Three-Day Itinerary for more details.
Krakowskie Przedmiescie address: Krakowskie Przedmiescie, Warsaw Poland
The street is very lively during the weekend, when many people are out for a stroll, especially if weather is nice and the roads are semi-pedestrianised.
There are plenty of places to take refuge if the weather turns.
Powiśle and Northern Śródmieście Districts: Sometimes referred to as ‘downtown Warsaw’, Śródmieście contains the Royal Route of Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmiescie – two historic streets crammed with things to see and do. The area is also home to the iconic Palace Of Science And Culture and the stunning InterContinental Warszawa hotel. These districts are peppered with amazing restaurants, including the Michelin listed Szóstka.
Tips For Visiting Krakowskie Przedmiescie
Pijana Wiśnia
- Although Krakowskie Przedmiescie only takes 15 minutes to walk, there is enough to see for a leisurely 60 minute walk.
- There are other landmarks along this famous route, not listed here, including the Kino Kultura, the Galeria Kordegarda, and a national library, so it pays to keep your eyes open for anything that takes your interest. It’s also worth exploring within the grounds of buildings and on the side streets, as the grandeur spills out from the main route.
- Krakowskie Przedmiescie is flat, with wide pavements, so even those with mobility issues should find it smooth going. You’ll find places to sit and some toilets just past the Mickiewicz monument.
- Most of the buildings are very photogenic.
- The churches are usually open from early in the morning and are free to enter. Please dress respectfully and be mindful that for many visitors this is a place of prayer.
- There are plenty of places to eat and drink, from expensive bars and restaurants to the chain cafes clustered at the very top of the street. You’ll also find convenience stores and there are green spaces where you can eat a picnic.
Where Is This Place Located?
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