Skaryszewski Park

Skaryszewski Park (Park Skaryszewski im. Ignacego Jana Paderewskiego) is Warsaw's largest and one of its most beautiful city parks, laid out in the English landscape style in the Praga-Południe district. It covers 58 ha, with ponds and channels, a waterfall, avenues of mature trees and a rose garden with sculptures. In 2009 it was named the Most Beautiful Park in Poland and came third in a European competition. It is a good place for a walk, a bike ride, a picnic or a quiet break from sightseeing in the capital.

Where it is and how to say it

Skaryszewski (skah-rih-SHEV-skee) Park is on the east bank of the Vistula, about 3.5 km east of the Palace of Culture and Science in central Warsaw. It is bordered by Zieleniecka Avenue, Waszyngtona Avenue, Międzynarodowa Street and Kamionkowskie Lake. Entry is free; no zloty needed.

A short history

The park was founded in 1905 on the former Skaryszew pasture and the Kamion settlement area, on a Vistula floodplain terrace that was then outside the city. Franciszek Szanior designed it in English style, and the landscaping, led by Edward Ciszkiewicz, was completed in 1922. A rose and dahlia garden designed by Leon Danielewicz opened in 1926, and in 1929 the park was named after the pianist and statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

Fighting took place in the park on 1 August 1944, the first day of the Warsaw Uprising. After the war the fence was removed, some paths were asphalted and Paderewski's name was dropped for political reasons. The park was entered in the register of monuments in 1973, and a renovation finished in July 2024 restored the shape of the main avenue and replaced the lamps. Since 2017 it has been managed by the Warsaw Greenery Board.

What to see

• The rose garden (rosarium) in the northwest part of the park.
• Sculptures, including "Rhythm" (1929), "Dancer" (1927), "Bather" (1929) and a replica of "Faun" unveiled in August 2022; a bust of Paderewski stands at the main entrance.
• An artificial waterfall and artificial hills.
• Four ponds, among them the Duck Ponds, and Kamionkowskie Lake on the southern edge.
• A concert shell used for summer concerts.
• Wildlife: about 280 species of trees and shrubs, and beavers settled here in 2006.

How long to allow

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a relaxed walk around the whole park, or half a day with the rose garden, ponds and lake. The park is flat with many paths, so it suits strollers and cycling. There is a cafe in a former toilet building. General Warsaw rules apply: dogs on a leash.

Practical information (as of October 2026)

The park is a free city park with no gates. We could not confirm official opening times or detailed rules; check the Warsaw Greenery Board's site or call 19115.

Getting there

According to travel sites, you can take a tram or bus to the Rondo Waszyngtona stop or the M2 metro to Stadion Narodowy (about a 10-minute walk); check current timetables with ZTM. Street parking nearby is limited. Is it worth visiting? Yes, especially in late spring when the roses bloom and in autumn colors.

Nearby

The National Stadium is close, and the Vistula boulevards lie on the other side of Praga.