Kids & Families

All kids just want to play, even young tigers in Warsaw Zoo (p.63)! | Photo: Warsaw City Authority.

Warsaw has a tonne of sightseeing, but not all places are suited for youngsters� You can only expect them to be quiet and respectful in museums for so long� There must be something else to do in this town, right? Yup! The first step to having a great family vacation abroad is to accept that what you want to do, and what your kids want to do are hardly one and the same� That said, there’s no reason you can’t find common ground in Warsaw’s major attractions�

Helpful Hints & Ideas

The perfect choice is to go to the Copernicus Science Centre (p�45), which will not only keep the kids entertained with the games and interactive nature of the museum, but the adults with also have a whale of a time too� The Warsaw Rising Museum (p�55) is super-modern and highly interactive, with kid specific educational zones� The Dollhouse Museum (p�63) is a charming experience showcasing over 120 historical dollhouses�

Multikino in Złote Tarasy (E-8) and Cinema City Arkadia (C-2) are good options to see the latest kids’ movies on a rainy day� If more action packed indoor attractions are your thing, Warsaw also has Hangar 646 for trampolining madness� Hulakula Leisure Centre (p�60) not only has bowling, but an indoor playground for the kids to run wild! MK Bowling Entertainment Centre (p�61) is a great venue for adults and families� IF that’s not enough, Pomaluj.art (p�61) is immensely fun with ceramic painting workshops! For something completely different, check out the World of Illusion (p�61), essentially an educational museum but also great for selfie pics!

Sometimes the best thing to do is simply take a charming walk along the Royal Route (p.30) and onward to the Old Town (p�24), where in the warmer months, the area has a family atmosphere� Other outdoor leisure activities could include a visit to Łazienki Park (p�36) with plenty of cute squirrels, peacocks and ducks around! For more animals, check out Warsaw Zoo (p�63)! Don’t forget that Warsaw has plenty of parks to choose from, all with play areas for the kids to jump, swing, duck and roll, with all the central ones marked on our maps at the back� The Vistula Boulevards (p�44) are great for those wishing to walk, bike, skate or play in specially installed play areas for the kids� For general cycling, we highly recommend using the Veturilo city bike hire service (stations marked on our maps, available Apr-Npv), with plenty of cycle lanes across Warsaw to ride safely� If you have hyperactive kids, then going to any of Warsaw’s swimming pools, such as Powsin Cultural Park (p�60), all with their own child-friendly play areas, are perfect anytime of year�

Museum of Dollhouses, Games and Toys

For anyone with irrational fears of dolls, breathe calmly, and don’t worry, this is not the house of horrors you may be imagining� This is a charming experience showcasing over 150 historical dollhouses, and various other settings, with unique detail borne from a passion centred around mankind’s oldest toy� Visit the museum and experience two permanents exhibitions ‘The Bygone World of Dollhouses’ and ‘Religious Toys’, both of which not only show handcrafted pieces, but how tastes and fashions have changed throughout human history� The museum bills itself as an exciting experience for all to enjoy, especially kids from ages 5-105 (you read that right)� Interestingly, those below 100cm and above the age of 100 get in for free! Group tours are available in English, Polish and Russian, costing 90zł, however, you must call in advance to arrange�QF-4, ul. Krzywe Koło 2/4, MNowy Świat-Uniwersytet, tel. (+48) 517 49 00 47, www.muzeumdomkow.pl. Open 11:00-19:00. Tickets 12/9zł. Group tours available in English, Polish and Russian (Polish groups up to 10 people = 55zł, over 10 people = 83zł. English/Russian groups up to 10 people = 110zł, over 10 people = 166zł).

Warsaw Zoo

Opened in 1928, Warsaw Zoo covers an area of 40 hectares and attracts some 500,000 visitors each year� In total there are 12,700 animals here, across 500 species� Conditions have improved dramatically in recent years, though a visit here will do little to change any opinions you have on locking animals in cages� It was bombed at the beginning of the conflict and by 1945 all the animals had either been killed, deported to the Third Reich, eaten by locals or escaped into the wild� Zoo director, Jan Żabiński, became something of a hero; wounded during the 1944 Uprising (p�54), he helped save countless lives by sheltering Jewish orphans inside the grounds of the zoo�QH-3, ul. Ratuszowa 1/3, MDworzec Wileński, tel. (+48) 22 619 40 41, www.zoo.waw.pl. Open 09:0017:00. From November open 09:00-16:00. Admission 30/20zł.

Fun Park Digiloo

Situated not far from the city centre on the otherwise never ending ul. Puławska, Digiloo is a vast kid’s paradise of themed activity rooms� Areas vary from a toddler space for the under two’s through to the main, jungle-inspired activity area, a modern climbing wall and a ‘laser paintball’ zone for budding young snipers! Seven themed birthday rooms are also available for private hire� You may ask what the grown ups can do while the nippers are running riot under the watchful eye of the expert assistants? They can take-five in the prize-winning café/restaurant with its home-style menu�QH-16, ul. Merliniego 2, MWierzbno, tel. (+48) 508 80 00 29, www.funparkdigiloo.pl. Open 10:0020:00; Fri 10:00-21:00; Sat 09:00-21:00; Sun 09:00-20:00. Climbing wall OH: Weekdays 08:00-22:30; Sat, Sun 09:00-21:00. Mon-Thu: 19zł/h, 33zł/2h, no limit 39zł Fri-Sun: 25zł/h, 39zł/2h, no limit 49zł Parents, Kids up to 1-year old and Kids with Disabilities - FREE entry.

Pools and slides - hours of fun!

Warszawianka Water Park

The best pool of the lot with saunas, steam rooms, snow cabins, solariums as well as loads of slides and other recreational facilities, including a playground for the kids� Prices range from 69-95zł/52-71zł all day, 23-38zł/18-30zł per hour and 39-62zł/30-47zł for 2�5 hours (yes, the pricing is weird)� Happy Hours are on offer with a fixed price Mon-Fri 17�50/9�50zł per hour from 09:00-15:00�QH-16, ul. Merliniego 4 (Mokotów), MWierzbno, tel. (+48) 22 854 01 30, www.wodnypark. com.pl. Open 06:00-22:00; Sat, Sun 06:30-22:00. (Spa open 11:00-22:00. Admission 46-82/36-63zł).