Royal Route (Trakt Królewski), Warsaw, Poland

The Royal Route (Trakt Królewski) is a historic thoroughfare that runs roughly 10–11 kilometres southward from Castle Square, through the heart of Warsaw, to the baroque Wilanów Palace. It follows the ceremonial path once used by Polish monarchs and connects three former royal residences: the Royal Castle, the Palace on the Isle in Łazienki Park, and Wilanów Palace. The route is made up of several connecting streets — most notably Krakowskie Przedmieście, Nowy Świat and Aleje Ujazdowskie — and is recognised as one of Poland’s official national Historic Monuments.

What to See

The most concentrated stretch of landmarks lies along Krakowskie Przedmieście, often described as Warsaw’s most elegant street. Highlights include St. Anne’s Church, whose tower offers panoramic views over the Old Town; the neoclassical Presidential Palace; the historic campus of the University of Warsaw; and the Holy Cross Church, where an urn containing the heart of composer Frédéric Chopin is enshrined in a pillar. Continuing south, Nowy Świat is lined with cafés, boutiques and restaurants, while the tree-shaded Aleje Ujazdowskie passes grand townhouses and embassies before reaching Łazienki Park. The Nicolaus Copernicus Monument and numerous Chopin benches, which play the composer’s music at the touch of a button, are scattered along the way.

Practical Information

The Royal Route is a public street network, free to walk and open at all times. The northern end begins at Castle Square, reachable via the “Stare Miasto” bus stops or Ratusz Arsenał metro station. For those who prefer not to walk the entire distance, bus 180 conveniently follows almost the whole length of the route, from the Old Town all the way to Wilanów, making it easy to hop on and off between sights. Walking the central section from the Royal Castle to Nowy Świat takes around 20–30 minutes at a leisurely pace.