Warsaw in Winter: Ice Rinks, Light Displays and Warm Museums
What to know: Warsaw fills with municipal ice rinks each winter - in the most recent, 2025/26 season the city listed more than a dozen locations, several of them free, with skate rental around 10-15 PLN per hour, led by the Old Town Square rink circling the Mermaid and the 400-metre Stegny track. The city has not yet announced its 2026/27 season; the examples below describe 2025/26.
Photo: Rakoon, Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Krakowskie Przedmiescie street in Warsaw in January snow.
Warsaw does not shut down when the temperature drops - it straps on skates. Here is how to do winter in the capital, based on the city's own announcements.
Municipal ice rinks
The city opens municipal ice rinks across the districts each winter; the season starts in November and usually runs to about March. The details below come from the city's announcement for the most recent, 2025/26 season - dates and prices for 2026/27 have not yet been published.
In 2025/26 more than a dozen locations operated. Free admission applied at the rink by the Palace of Culture (Plac Defilad 1, with free rental against a 50 PLN refundable deposit), at Park Bródnowski in Targówek and at Armii Krajowej 72 in Wesoła; the Kajakowa 12B rink in Ursynów was free for under-18s and Warsaw Resident Card holders. Elsewhere tickets ran about 10-22 PLN, and skate rental cost around 10-15 PLN per hour at the rinks that offered it.
Stegny and the Mermaid rink
Stegny, at Inspektowa 1 in Mokotów, is a professional 400 x 11 m artificially frozen speed-skating track that has hosted World and Polish Championships - the city's record holder with over 107,000 entrances in one season. In 2025/26 it opened on 1 December with tickets at 22 PLN (14 PLN concession). The most scenic rink is the circle around the Warsaw Mermaid on the Old Town Square: in 2025/26 it opened on 3 December with 10 PLN tickets, 10 PLN rental and food kiosks beside the Old Town tenements.
Light and warmth
December brings the Christmas market and the Royal Route illuminations. When the weather turns, Warsaw's museums step in: the National Museum, POLIN and the Uprising Museum all offer full indoor days, many with late openings and free days.
Practical notes
Rink opening hours, technical breaks and any weather-related changes are posted by the city's Aktywna Warszawa sports service and on each rink's website. The city typically announces the new season's rinks, dates and prices in late November.
FAQ
Are there free ice rinks in Warsaw?
Yes - in the 2025/26 season the rinks at Plac Defilad by the Palace of Culture, Park Bródnowski and Armii Krajowej 72 in Wesoła were free, and the Kajakowa rink was free for under-18s. The 2026/27 list is not yet announced.
What is the best ice rink in Warsaw?
For scenery, the Old Town Square rink circling the Warsaw Mermaid; for real skating, the 400 x 11 m professional track at Stegny.
What can you do in Warsaw in winter besides skating?
Christmas illuminations and the Christmas market in December, plus full days in the big museums, many with free admission days and late openings.
Sources
Follow Warsaw Daily on Instagram
Daily Warsaw news, events, concerts and city tips in English: @warsawdailynews
Related articles
Wilanow Guide: Royal Palace, Poster Museum and the Garden City
Wilanow, on Warsaw southern edge, pairs the royal palace of King Jan III with the Poster Museum and the modern Miasteczko Wilanow. A district guide.
Srodmiescie Guide: Making Sense of the Warsaw City Centre
Srodmiescie, the central district of Warsaw, holds the Old Town, the Royal Route, the Palace of Culture and Lazienki Park. How to plan a visit to the heart of the capital.
Ochota Guide: Quiet Streets, Big Parks and One Unusual Hill
Ochota, one of the oldest districts of Warsaw, offers Szczesliwicki Park, the Warsaw Uprising Mound and residential calm minutes from the centre. A district guide.