In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The 30th-floor viewing terrace (Taras Widokowy) of the Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki, PKiN) is open daily 10:00 to 20:00 (PKiN). Tickets are 30 PLN (25 PLN reduced). The lift reaches 114 metres in 19 seconds, with views over the skyscraper district, the Vistula and the rebuilt Old Town. Or book a tour: Warsaw: Palace of Culture and Science Tour with Terracead (from 88 PLN, 4.3 stars from 481 reviews) is a guided tour with skip-the-line access to the viewing terrace.
⚠️ Seasonal holiday closures: The viewing terrace is closed all day on 1 November (All Saints’ Day), 24 December (Christmas Eve), 25 December (Christmas Day), and 26 December (Boxing Day). On New Year’s Eve (31 December), the terrace closes early at 15:00. The Christmas market on Plac Defilad, around the palace, runs from 20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 (go2warsaw.pl).
Viewing terrace ticket prices and concessions
Tickets are sold at the terrace desk in the main hall, straight ahead of the entrance, and through the PKiN webshop. Prices are the terrace’s own:
| Ticket | Price | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard adult (bilet normalny) | 30 PLN | Everyone not covered below |
| Reduced (bilet ulgowy) | 25 PLN | Pupils, students under 26 with a student card, seniors 65+, disability card holders |
| Warsaw resident card (Karta Warszawiaka) | 25 PLN | Holders of the Warsaw resident card |
| Polish Big Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny) | 18 PLN | Holders of the national card |
| Adult group | 22 PLN | Adult groups of more than 10; the group leader or guide goes free |
| School group | 17 PLN | School groups of more than 10; the group leader or guide goes free |
| Warsaw Pass | Free | Holders of the Warsaw Pass |
Pay in złoty cash or by card. The terrace takes no reservations: your ticket puts you in the queue at the lift.
The socialist-realist exterior of the Palace of Culture and Science. Photo: Georgii Zukhar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tours and guided experiences
The Palace of Culture and Science measures 237 metres to the tip of its antenna spire and has 3,288 rooms. A terrace ticket covers only the 30th-floor platform; the guided tours below add commentary on the building’s architecture and history.
Warsaw: Palace of Culture and Science Tour with Terrace
From 88 PLN · 4.3 stars from 481 reviews · 45 minutes · skip-the-line terrace access
Warsaw: Palace of Culture and Science Tour with Terracead: a guided tour of the Palace of Culture and Science with skip-the-line access to the viewing terrace.
Warsaw: Palace of Culture and Science Guided Tour
From 215 PLN · 4.1 stars from 98 reviews · 1.5 hours · guided tour with terrace views
Warsaw: Palace of Culture and Science Guided Tourad: a guided tour of the Palace of Culture and Science covering its architecture and history, with views from the 30th-floor terrace.
Warsaw: Highline Warsaw Entry With 360° Views & Rooftop Bar
From 45 PLN · 4.6 stars from 4,056 reviews · 15 minutes · 360° deck and rooftop bar
Warsaw: Highline Warsaw Entry With 360° Views & Rooftop Barad: entry to a 360° observation deck, with access to the HighGarden rooftop bar.
Box office or tour
The box office ticket is the cheapest way up and needs no booking. A tour adds a guide or skips the lift queue.
| Option | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Terrace ticket from the box office | 30 PLN (25 PLN reduced) | Lift to 114 m, the open terrace and the Gothic Hall |
| Palace of Culture and Science Tour with Terrace | From 88 PLN | 45 minutes, guide and skip-the-line terrace access |
| Palace of Culture and Science Guided Tour | From 215 PLN | 1.5 hours on the architecture and history, with terrace views |
| Highline Warsaw | From 45 PLN | A deck and rooftop bar on a modern skyscraper, with a view of the palace |
Colonnaded loggia on the 30th-floor viewing terrace at 114 metres. Photo: Cybularny, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
What to see from the 30th-floor observation terrace
The 30th-floor terrace wraps around the tower. It is outdoors, under an arcade of stone arches, with safety netting across the openings.
The four panoramas
- North: The Saxon Garden (Ogród Saski), Muranów, the POLIN Museum, and the rebuilt roofs and church spires of the Old Town and New Town.
- East: Across Marszałkowska Street to the Vistula, the National Stadium (PGE Narodowy) with its red-and-white facade, and the east-bank district of Praga.
- South: Along the Royal Route towards Łazienki Park, Mokotów, and the road south to Wilanów Palace.
- West: The glass towers of the business district, including Varso Tower (310 metres, the tallest building in the European Union), the Złota 44 residential tower designed by Daniel Libeskind, and the Warsaw Financial Center.
Amenities on the 30th floor
- The Gothic Hall (Sala Gotycka): An indoor vaulted hall with panels on the palace’s construction between 1952 and 1955.
- Café: Coffee, tea, soft drinks and pastries.
- Souvenir counter: Guidebooks, postcards and tower replicas.
The entrance hall of the Palace of Culture. Photo: Frunze103, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Other cultural venues inside PKiN
The Neon Muzeum
Historic neon signs rescued from Polish shops, cinemas and bars of the Cold War era. Tickets are 25 PLN (18 PLN reduced, children under 6 free), open 11:00 to 18:00 (19:00 on Fridays and Saturdays), sold at the museum’s own desk (PKiN). The lifts are to the left of the main stairs.
National Museum of Technology (Narodowe Muzeum Techniki)
Poland’s engineering heritage, from Enigma cipher machines and vintage motorbikes to space exploration models.
Kinoteka
An eight-screen cinema on the lower levels showing Polish arthouse films and international festival releases.
Practical advice for visitors
- Best time for photos: Late afternoon, 60 to 90 minutes before sunset, when the sun lights the glass towers to the west.
- Wind and clothing: The outdoor terrace at 114 metres is windier and colder than the street. From autumn to early spring bring a windproof jacket, gloves and a hat.
- Security: Bag scanners and metal detectors operate at the entrance. Suitcases over cabin size cannot go up in the lifts; leave them in the left-luggage at Warszawa Centralna.
- Toilets: On the ground floor near the ticket counter and on the 30th floor beside the Gothic Hall.
Getting there
The Palace of Culture and Science is located at Plac Defilad 1 in the very centre of Warsaw, bounded by Marszałkowska, Aleje Jerozolimskie, Emilii Plater, and Świętokrzyska.
- Metro: The palace sits directly above the intersection of Warsaw’s two underground lines. Take Line M1 or Line M2 to Świętokrzyska station (exits lead directly to Plac Defilad), or Line M1 to Centrum station.
- Train: Warszawa Centralna (Warsaw Central Station) is situated 200 metres to the west; an underground pedestrian shopping concourse connects the train platforms directly to the palace basement.
- Trams: Routes 7, 9, 22, 24, and 25 stop at Dworzec Centralny on Aleje Jerozolimskie, while routes 4, 15, 18, and 35 stop at Centrum on Marszałkowska.
What to see next
- Warsaw Old Town and Barbican: The rebuilt medieval core, visible from the north side of the terrace.
- Warsaw Christmas Market and Winter: The market on Plac Defilad, ice rinks and illuminations.
- Warsaw in 1 or 2 days: Itineraries that use the terrace as an orientation stop.
- Public transport in Warsaw: Fares, validation rules and routes for trams, buses and metro.
- Warsaw travel guide: Sights, neighbourhoods, food and transport.
Common questions
How high is the viewing terrace and how long does the lift take?
The open-air terrace is on the 30th floor, 114 metres above the ground. The lift takes 19 seconds.
What are the opening hours for the Palace of Culture viewing terrace?
The terrace is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. It is closed on 1 November and 24, 25 and 26 December, and closes at 15:00 on 31 December.
How much is a ticket to the Palace of Culture viewing terrace?
30 PLN for an adult, 25 PLN reduced, 25 PLN with the Karta Warszawiaka resident card and 18 PLN with the Polish Big Family Card. Warsaw Pass holders go in free.
Can I book a timed-entry slot in advance?
No. The terrace takes no reservations: a ticket bought online or at the desk puts you in the queue for the next lift.
What else is housed inside the Palace of Culture and Science?
Theatres (including Teatr Dramatyczny and Teatr Studio), the Kinoteka cinema, the Museum of Evolution, the National Museum of Technology, the Neon Muzeum and several university faculties.
