Life Behind the Iron Curtain Warsaw Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Of all the things you think you know about communism, there’s one thing you can never wrap your mind around: its absurdity.
On the outside it was a Cold War and the hammer and sickle, but to the average citizen it was just one ridiculous thing after another that made life difficult.
Learn how the Poles managed to survive nearly 40 years of communist oppression with ingenuity, smarts, and a tractor full of humor.
Join this walking tour to hear about: the most controversial building in the entire city (and for more than one reason!), the smallest icon of communism that’s so cute you’ll want one of your own, how people were able to buy things at completely empty stores, why “what can I get you?” was one of the biggest jokes at the time, how the state made sure Poles didn’t travel too far, socialist realism and why you’ll probably think it looks nice, but Poles won’t agree
Don't just visit Warsaw, discover it!
Tour duration: approx. 2,5h
Distance: approx. 3 km
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Not recommended for travelers who have problems with walking long distances
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Plac Konstytucji
Let's meet at Constitution Square, where we'll start by exploring the square that was supposed to be the new city center of the Polish People's Republic.
From the Square, we'll go along the wide Marszałkowska Street, which was used for parades and marches. On the way, we'll see one of the most iconic places of the Polish People's Republic.
What‘s Included
Full info pack about Warsaw prior to your tour (FAQ, useful links, and more!)
Visual aids
Recommendations about more places to visit, where to eat, drink, etc.
Entry fee to the viewing terrace in the Palace of Culture and Science (28 PLN)
Options
French - public
Language: French
Life Behind the Iron Curtain Warsaw Walking Tour
Language: English
Reviews
33 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great insight into Warsaw’s past.
lorrainel178,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Super informative and interesting guided walk. Olivia was very engaging and we learned loads!
Informative and a great guide.
Bryan P,,Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Olivia was great. Learned a lot. She gave great recommendations. Honestly, she set the standard for the remainder of the tours I did on this vacation.
Agnieszka super guide!
ROBERT E,,Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Tour guide Agnieszka was great...a lot of knowledge, cheerful and good stories...couldn't be better...Thanks a lot from the 6 friends from Holland
Fantastic tour
Laure K,,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was such an amazing tour! Aga speaks easily about her city and what life was like under communism. Her ‘real-life’ accounts helped the time period ‘come to life’ for us. We enjoyed the tour so much that I wish we had booked another tour either her. Highly recommend!!
The Iron Curtain
Y5838LJjeffreyh,,Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had such a great time with Warsaw Undiscovered that I ended up taking two of their tours in just a few days! On Monday, I did the Life Behind the Iron Curtain tour with Oliwia, and it was so fascinating and well done that I signed up for their Historic Heart of Warsaw tour on Wednesday with Agnieszka. Both tour guides were fantastic storytellers who really knew how to make history come alive. They shared so many interesting stories that kept me engaged the whole time, and they gave great insight into Polish culture. I didn’t feel like a tourist—I genuinely felt immersed in the city’s rich history and culture. Oliwia’s tour gave me a powerful look at life in Poland during the Iron Curtain years, while Agnieszka’s tour brought the historic heart of Warsaw to life with amazing details and behind-the-scenes stories. Each tour was a different experience but equally captivating. If you want to go beyond the usual sightseeing and truly understand the soul of Warsaw, I highly recommend Warsaw Undiscovered. These tours were enjoyable and really opened my eyes to the city’s history in a way that stuck with me.
Excellent tour.
Y2212CBrachels,,Sep 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very informative and enjoyable. Interesting to hear individual stories from that time. I would thoroughly recommend this tour.
Fun and enlightening tour
HH in AZ,,Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I learned a lot during this tour that shows us what life was like during the communist era from the perspective of the common man or woman. Our guide was highly knowledgeable, witty, and engaging. One of the top tours I've been on!
We enjoyed the peek!
tanyak3012,,Aug 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Terrific tour with Olivia - we learned so much about life behind the Iron Curtain and appreciated the old photos and map she shared. Olivia made what could have been a boring tour really quite interesting. We enjoyed Olivia’s personal anecdotes and her dry sense of humor. If I am able to visit Warsaw again I will definitely sign up for one of the other tours Olivia leads - we just ran out of time in this trip!
Fantastic
Judith D,,Aug 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Olivia’s Life Behind the Iron Curtain walking tour was fascinating. I learned a lot and found it interesting to compare how each country managed things differently during that time- after doing similar tours in other countries. Highly recommend!
A great morning
rbD5218IG,,Aug 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a great tour, led by a kind and knowledgeable tour guide who taught me lots. I would highly recommend. Thanks very much for a great morning!
From PLN 100.00
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Operated by Warsaw UnDiscovered