Old Town Market Square

Meticulously reconstructed between 1948 to 1953, Warsaw’s Rynek Starego Miasta – or Old Town Market Square – is a must-see for any first-time visit to the city. It is an atmospheric place to eat a meal and you’ll find the main Museum of Warsaw building.

Warsaw Old Town Market Square details

The Old Town Market Square is historically the oldest part and former centre of Warsaw, and dates back to the very founding of the city. As such, the architecture changed in line with the financial fortunes of wealthy merchants who lived and traded here. However, like much of Warsaw, what you see today is a kind of time travel. The square was effectively destroyed by the Nazis and then constructed after the war, closer to its 17th-century splendour rather than how it had looked in the 1930s. You can learn more about the history of the Market Square by taking part in a tour of the Old Town.

Though fairly small, the square is beautiful, with high buildings in multi-coloured shades, and fine details wherever you look. The square takes on a different personality at different times of day. It’s quiet in the early mornings and the rising sun glints off the gold patterning. At night, the square is atmospherically lit, with outside restaurant tables. The rebuild of the whole area was so successful that UNESCO granted World Heritage status in 1980.

What To See In Old Town Market Square

Warsaw Mermaid

There are a handful of museums in the Old Town Market Square, including the main building of the excellent Museum of Warsaw. The museum also has a fascinating branch, called the Heritage Interpretation Centre, just behind the square, telling the story of the Old Town’s reconstruction.

You’ll also find the Adam Mickiewicz branch of the Museum of Literature, dedicated to the 19th century political activist, often regarded as Poland’s greatest poet. Though interesting to look at, the museum is effectively aimed at Polish visitors.

The focal centre of the Market Square is the Syrenka – or little mermaid – statue by Konstanty Hegel, based on the Warsaw coat of arms. Although, yet again, this is a 2008 reconstruction. The original was relocated to the Museum of Warsaw. The symbol recurs all over Warsaw, in various shapes and sizes, including a drawing by Picasso in Saska Kępa.

However, the Market Square is as much about the tiny details as the big attractions. It’s definitely worth spending time looking around and seeing what you can spot.

Read more reviews on TripAdvisor.

How To Visit Old Town Market Square

Warsaw Old Town Market Square

There is no cost to visit the Market Square and it is freely open 24 hours a day. It is fairly easy to find, once you’ve arrived at the Old Town – either wander up Świętojańska or Kanonia from the Castle Square, or follow Nowomiejska down from the Barbican. All routes are full of fascinating landmarks, as outlined in our guide to the Old Town.

Old Town Market Square address: Rynek Starego Miasta, Warsaw 00-272 Poland

We have full details for visiting the Museum of Warsaw on a separate page, as well as links for how to visit the Heritage Interpretation Centre.

You can also find visiting information for the Adam Mickiewicz branch of the Literature Museum, although the website is only in Polish.

A tour of the Old Town is also recommended for full historical context.

Old and New Town Districts: Meticulously reconstructed after WWII, Warsaw’s historical Old Town contains many of the city’s key landmarks, including the must-see Royal Castle, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The New Town is quieter and home to excellent boutique hotels, such as the Mamaison Le Regina. The district is full of great restaurants, but try traditional U Barssa on the Market Square, if you can’t decide.

Tips For Visiting Old Town Market Square

Warsaw Old Town Market Square at night

• You can get a good grasp of the Old Town Market Square in 10 minutes but it is worth looking a bit closer, as the buildings reveal so many details over time. Look, for example, at the iron dragon that hangs outside the Bazyliszek Restaurant or the beautiful lion cornices on the corners of the square. The gravity-defying roofline alone has many fascinating windows.
• Similarly, try to return at a different time of day, as the atmosphere is very different as the natural and artificial lighting changes, and the crowds of people come and go. The same goes for different times of year. It’s a nice place to sit out in summer and very festive around Christmas.
• Also take a look at the streets branching out from the square. Celna, in particular, leads to a viewpoint over the river and to the other side of the city. It’s a nice area to wander, with lots of little surprises along the way.
• There are benches around the square, so it’s a nice place to stop and take stock. The area is also largely pedestrianised, so you don’t really need to worry about getting knocked over while you’re looking around.
• Though cobbled, the roads are fairly accessible, tables and crowds can cause obstacles.
• In addition to the restaurants and bars around the square, you’ll also find food and drink in the Carrefour Express on Wąski Dunaj
• You’ll also find lots of gift shops in the streets off the Market Square, from fairly cheap tourist souvenirs to finer items like silver and amber.
• Keep your eyes open for signs to public toilets. There are three in the area, which can be handy!

Where Is This Place Located?

Find this location on the Warsaw Visit Google map:

• Open the Warsaw Visit map
• Click on a marker and it will give you the name of the landmark, with a brief description and links for more information and directions. You can pan, scroll, and zoom around the map, or use the + or – buttons in the bottom left of the map to zoom in and out
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side, sorted by category. Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Each category is on a different layer, which can be switched on and off. So you can just see the Hotel or Restaurant pins, for example
• If you are using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location

Map pins are color coded:

• YELLOW: Warsaw Sightseeing
• BLUE: Warsaw Hotels
• RED: Warsaw Places To Eat – Michelin restaurants are DARK RED
• ORANGE: Warsaw Nightlife
• PURPLE: Shopping In Warsaw
• GREEN: Warsaw Transportation