Who would have thought that New Years 2026 in Warsaw would have been a winter wonderland? I had my choice of several European cities to visit in late 2025 but settled on Poland’s capital. Upon arriving, I had some reservations about my decision, but within a few hours, a blanket of fresh snow covered the city. My experience turned out to be excellent!
Wanting to try something different
In December 2025, I traveled to Paris to visit my sister. She was working in France at the time and, because of her schedule, going home to Chicago for the Holidays was not possible. I did what any good brother would do and bought a plane ticket to visit her. It also helped that I had a free couch to sleep on for a few days — a major perk of having a sibling. We ended up spending Christmas together at Paris Disneyland.
Since I would be in Europe, I decided to spend my New Year’s in Poland. That had been on my bucket list for quite some time. I had visited my parents’ homeland on three separate occasions already, but each time was during early to late summer. Growing up, I heard many stories of harsh winters in Poland, with beautiful Christmas celebrations. This was something that I wanted to experience for myself. The location I would choose to do so, however, pained my family members’ ears — Warsaw. My roots are in the area of Kraków, which served as the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1596, and to this day, there is still somewhat of a historical rivalry between Kraków and Warsaw. Thankfully, it’s not major!
I only spent a single night in Warsaw previously. Now I had the chance to explore it. First, I would spend a few days in Kraków with family.
My New Year’s Eve experience in Warsaw
1) Arriving at Central Train Station
On the morning of New Year’s Eve, I boarded a PKP Intercity train in Kraków bound for Warsaw. I purchased a 2nd Class seat for 92,95 zloty, $26 USD, three weeks in advance. On a previous trip to Poland, I learned the hard way that good tickets on intercity trains sell out fast. On a train from Poznan to Warsaw, I stood in the aisle of a 2nd Class wagon, leaning against my suitcase for several hours. This I did not wish to repeat!
The train pulled into Warsaw Central station early in the afternoon. An overcast day, the temperature outside was around 27 °F, but it felt colder. Standing on the sidewalk on Emilia Platter Street, I looked around and thought to myself, “what did I get myself into?” The train station’s parking lot was a sloppy mess with dirty slushy snow. And the sidewalks were no different, as pedestrians made wet puddles with their heavy boots. I had over 10 hours until the New Year and still had plenty of time to check into my Airbnb. Turning around, I headed back inside the station and found a short-term storage locker for my luggage. It was time to explore.
2) Catching a movie at the Palace of Culture
My first stop was the Palace of Culture and Science — right across from Warsaw Central. Built in the aftermath of World War II, with much of the city destroyed, the palace is one of Warsaw’s most iconic buildings. It was a “gift” from Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to the Polish people, designed by the architect Lev Rudnev. Two unique styles inspired Rudnev: Polish historical architecture and American art deco. The result is the unique 42-floor high rise which serves as an entertainment hub, filled with cinemas, theaters, museums, a swimming pool, and more.
Entering inside the cinema multiplex, I stepped back in time. What awaited me truly had taken me aback! The lobby’s original elements are well preserved, with art deco wrought iron gates, metal wall decor, and geometric patterns on a polished stone floor. It felt like being in the 1930s. Technology has caught up, however, with self-service ticket kiosks available. What did I end up seeing? Avatar: Fire and Ash.
I ended up leaving the kino about an hour and a half in. Sitting through the whole movie, over 3 hours long, without a break, was a challenge that I did not wish to take. The time was not yet 5:00 pm. Exiting the building, I pushed the heavy doors of the palace open and before me, a winter wonderland awaited! It had snowed outside while I was watching Avatar. A fresh layer of white powder covered the ground. The crunch of snow was music to my ears as I walked to the locker where I left my luggage. I proceeded to check into my Airbnb.
3) A stroll through Saxony Garden
After unpacking my suitcase at the Airbnb, I returned to the city center by tram. I decided to catch the fireworks in Stare Miasto, Old Town, some 2.5 kilometers away — a brisk 45-minute walk. The night was still young, just a little past 6 pm, so I decided to take my time exploring. Prodding through the growing snow, I headed north. Along the way I stopped at Saxon Garden. As the oldest park in the city, opened in 1727, and one of Europe’s earliest public parks, it has a long and interesting history. German forces destroyed it during World War II and partially rebuilt by the Polish authorities, the renovations to return to its pre-war splendor continues to this day.
The garden was peaceful. Warm streetlamps navigated couples on walking paths as they stumbled through the snow, arms linked together. Days-old snowmen built by children received a fresh new coat of white. At the eastern entrance of the park, I just had to stop by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There, two soldiers solemnly stood watch with the eternal flame burning between them, glowing in the night. From PiÅ‚sudski Square, adjacent to the tomb, I stood in awe of Warsaw’s nighttime skyline.
4) Celebrating in Stare Miasto — Old Town
Fireworks to conclude the night awaited me a short distance from Saxony Garden. A brisk 15-minute walk away, which I stretched out considerably, was Castle Square in Old Town. From there, I spent the next several hours walking the historic heart of Warsaw.
Along snow-covered cobblestone roads, narrow pastel-colored houses loom over — four or more stories tall. The facades are a mixture of stucco and exposed brick, harkening back to earlier times centuries ago, but don’t let the cover fool you. World War II left Warsaw’s Old Town, along with the majority of the city, in ruins, with empty building shells and rubble. The Polish authorities would meticulously restore this neighborhood from 1949 to 1963. Behind historical facades are modern interiors.
Throngs of people packed the neighborhood, growing bigger as midnight approached. I started out at Castle Square, where neon lights in the shapes of candles and arches, and a tall lit-up Christmas tree, created a festive atmosphere. Mulled wine warmed visitors’ throats and bellies, sold by vendors from carts. It was also selfie galore.
Walking down narrow streets, I soon came upon Old Town’s square. Likewise, this small plaza was just as cheerful as Castle Square, but it had something different in addition — an ice-skating rink. I’m not much of a skater, so I didn’t pay to get on the ice. Instead, I circled back to Sigismund’s Column, from where I observed the fireworks.
Overall New Years’ experience in Warsaw
Did I have a blast on New Year’s Eve in Warsaw? I most certainly did!
Pros:
- Pretty Views: although most of Central Warsaw consists of post-1945 construction, built following the devastation of World War II, much care was taken to restore the Old Town neighborhood, which is very picturesque.
- Food Prices: the conversion rate to Polish Zloty is greatly in favor of the US Dollar and compared to Western European cities, it is comparatively more affordable to eat out in Warsaw. It just depends on the location:
- In Old Town, for example, a cup of mulled wine from a cart cost me $4.75.
- Across from the Palace of Culture, a kebab wrap was $9.50.
- At the cafeteria-style Bar Mleczny (Milk Bar) Grazyny 1, in Old Mokotów, I had a filling breakfast of tomato soap with pasta, a plate of rice with applesauce, and a cup of coffee, all for $6.18.
- Crime Safety: walking around Old Town, I felt completely safe — crime wise. There was a large police presence around Sigismund’s Column in Old Town. After midnight, I did encounter some drunk young people using public transportation, but I had no issues with them.
Cons:
- Accommodations: I planned my Warsaw trip a week before, and finding affordable accommodations last minute in Warsaw around the holidays is difficult. Three nights at a studio apartment, on Airbnb, set me back $423.
- Fireworks Safety: Locals shooting off fireworks on sidewalks, in the city center and in the residential area where I was staying, did happen. Be careful!