As the temperatures become colder and days shorter, Wilanow Palace transforms into a winter wonderland with the Royal Garden of Light. Thousands of lights and festive displays illuminate the garden of Wilanow Palace for this winter’s spectacular. Wilanow Palace is located just outside of Warsaw, making this one of the best things to do during the holiday season in Poland.
Wilanow Palace is well worth a visit while in Warsaw, yet the Royal Garden of Lights is even more reason to check out this palace. At dusk, when the lights switch on, the gardens are no longer merely a place to appreciate this palace; they are a place of pure wonder, a place to experience this dazzling light display.
The illuminations are some of the most intricate displays I have ever seen and one of the highlights of spending Christmas in Warsaw.
Table of Contents
Practical Information for See the Lights at Wilanow Palace
Where is Wilanow Place’s Royal Garden of Lights
The Royal Garden of Lights is located in the gardens of Wilanow Palace. This palace is in the Wilanow district of Warsaw. This district is a bit outside of the typical touristy areas of Warsaw, yet it is well worth going out of your way to visit.
If you are going by bus, it will take approximately 45 minutes to get to Wilanow Palace from Warsaw’s Old Town. The bus is straightforward and will drop you off across the street from the palace.
Depending on where you are coming from in Warsaw, these following busses will get you to the Royal Garden of Lights: 116, 130, 139, 163, 164, 180, 200, 251, 264, 317, 339, 519, E-2. You can check the bus schedule here.
I recommend checking Google Maps from where you are to see what the best bus route is.
Depending on traffic, if you have a car, it will take approximately 30 – 45 minutes to get to Wilanow Palace.
Parking at Wilanow Palace
If you are driving to Wilanow Palace, there are two options available for parking: ul. Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 31, opperated by the Wilanow District office and ul. Stanisława Kostki Potockiego 6A, the official Wilanow Palace parking lot. Both of these lots charge for parking.
Parking fees
1 hour– PLN 5
2 hours – PLN 5
3 hours and more – PLN 10
The maximum charge would be PLN 50 for 24 hours.
Royal Garden of Lights Dates
The official 2021-2022 dates of the Royal Garden of Lights at Wilanow Palace run from October 9, 2021, to February 27, 2022.
The lights at Wilanow Palace run for almost all winter, making it a fun experience all winter, not just for Christmas time.
Keep in mind; closures include November 1 and December 24 (Christmas Eve) and 31st (New Year’s Eve).
Royal Garden of Lights Hours
October 9th-October 31st 2021: 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
November 2nd 2021- February 27, 2022: 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The last admission is at 8:30 p.m. Plan to arrive by at least 8:00 p.m. as you will want at least half an hour to an hour to experience the Royal Garden of Lights.
How much are Tickets?
The ticket prices depend on the day of the week you are visiting Wilanow Palace’s Royal Garden of Lights. Weekdays are cheaper than weekends; however, there are more experiences during the weekend. So the extra cost is because the weekends draw more crowds and there are more things to see.
Monday through Thursday: 20 PLN for Regular tickets ($5 USD)
Friday through Sunday: 40 PLN for Regular tickets ($10 USD)
Weekend prices apply on November 11, December 6, 25, and 26, and February 14. These dates include the additional experiences that are usually only available on the weekends.
You can purchase your tickets online in advance or at the gate
Light Installations at the Royal Garden of Lights
The light installations at the Royal Garden of Lights at Wilanow Palace are incredible. As night falls over the garden of Wilanow Place, the garden illuminates in the most surreal way. It is an experience that is pure, exhilarating, and absolutely magical. It brings the otherwise dead winter garden to life.
One of the best ways to experience the light installations at Wilanow Palace is to wander around the garden. The garden is big enough to spend ample time checking out the displays, yet not too big where you will get lost and miss a key light display. Sparkling light installations are scattered throughout the garden, and festive classical music plays in the background, keeping you in the holiday spirit as you walk around.
These are some of the top lights at Wilanow Palace you will see:
Tunnel of Lights
The first spot I started was at the light tunnel, which is close to the garden entrance. The light tunnel is a 75-meter long tunnel of lights, which is one of the top displays to visit. Walking through this tunnel, twinkling with thousands of lights, is a great way to get into the festive spirit. This is also one of the best spots to stop and take photos while at the Royal Garden of Lights.
The King’s Winter Garden
The King’s Winter Garden is on the rear side of Wilanow Palace, in the Upper Terrace of the garden. This area features lights in King Jan III’s coats of arms, which nods to the royal aspect of the Royal Garden of Lights. One of the key elements here is the orange trees with lights, beautifully dazzling in the forefront of the Palace.
In the King’s Winter Garden, you will also find illuminated picture frames. These perfectly frame Wilanow Palace in the background and are a perfect place to take a photo to capture the location and experience.
The Musical Garden of Dreams
The Musical Garden of Dreams is in the Lower Terrace of Wilanow Palace garden. During the Royal Garden of Lights, the Lower Terrace is not open to walk around. However, a beautiful light display set to music in the Lower Terrace can be viewed from the Upper Terrace. This display combines classical music with a timed light show allowing you to experience light uniquely.
This light show is open daily and plays on a loop, so you will not miss it, no matter the time you visit. It is genuinely dazzling and one of the highlights of visiting the Royal Garden of Lights.
Find a spot along the railing to look down at the light show. The display is set perfectly to the music, each illumination lighting up to the beat of the music.
The Rose Garden
The Rose Garden at Wilanow Palace is a way to experience the garden “in bloom” in winter. This is a stunning installation that is not to be missed. The Rose Garden is a small garden off to the side that showcases six thousand color-changing roses, and it is really something special to see.
The Music Tunnel
At the entrance of the courtyard to Wilanow Palace is the Music Tunnel. To reach Wilanow Palace and enter the Royal Garden of Lights, you will pass through this tunnel. This illuminated Music Tunnel has shows daily, with lights set to music. It is a great way to begin your experience at this palace.
The Shows at The Music Tunnel are held daily, three times per hour. Here are the times:
October: 5.00 p.m., 5.15 p.m., 5.45 p.m., 6.15 p.m., 6.45 p.m., 7.15 p.m., 7.45 p.m., 8.00 p.m., 8.15 p.m., and 8.45 p.m.
from 2 November: 4.00 p.m., 4.15 p.m., 4.45 p.m., 5.00 p.m., 5.15 p.m., 5.45 p.m., 6.00 p.m., 6.15 p.m., 6.45 p.m., 7.15 p.m., 7.45 p.m., 8.00 p.m., 8.15 p.m., and 8.45 p.m.
Light Shows- Mappings
There are special displays called mappings on the weekends and on specific holiday dates where 3D projections are displayed on the palace. These displays are illuminated on the facade of Wilanow Palace and create a show combining light, images, and music. The yellow facade completely transforms with this unique lighting display.
It is a great way to experience this palace in a new and exciting way and bring it to life. There are five different shows each night, every half an hour from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Each show lasts approximately 15 minutes. If you want to see these shows, keep an eye on the time so you can be in front of Wilanow Palace once the Mapping Shows begin.
Keep in mind, the mappings are only on the weekends and on other specific dates mentioned above. Mappings are included in your ticket and are why the entrance fee is more expensive on the weekends.
How Long to Spend Seeing the Lights at Wilanow Palace
Depending on your attention span for light displays, you could spend several hours here. An hour is the average amount of time needed to experience this Wilanow Palace lights display. An hour would allow you to see all the displays and check out the shows. However, I spent two hours at the Royal Garden of Lights, taking my time enjoying this experience.
If you don’t foresee yourself spending at least a half-hour to an hour here, I don’t recommend going. Wilanow Palace is a little out of the way from Warsaw, so you want to ensure you make the most of your time.
I highly recommend combining a visit to the Royal Palace of Lights with a visit to Wilanow Palace during the day. I arrived at Wilanow Place before 3:00 p.m., which is the last entry time to visit the palace’s interior. Then I strolled around the gardens during the daytime. It would be incredible getting to experience Wilanow Palace before and after dark. If you plan to enter the palace, plan for three hours total, including visiting the palace, checking out the grounds during the day, and experiencing the Royal Palace of Lights.
Weekday Vs. Weekends at the Royal Palace of Lights
Visiting on the weekdays and weekends, both have their benefits and downfalls.
Weekdays at the Royal Palace of Lights are a cheaper, more budget-friendly option. Additionally, if you visit on a weekday, it is much quieter than visiting on weekends.
On the other hand, while weekends are double the price of visiting on a weekday, there is the additional experience of the Mappings. The Mappings on Wilanow Palace are well worth the difference in price if you can visit on the weekend.
I visited on a weekday and had an incredible time. Everything was beautiful, and there was so much to see. However, I chose that day as I was not in Warsaw over the weekend. If I could visit on a weekend night, I think it would be worth the price difference to see the Mappings on the palace.
Lights at Wilanow Palace: Wrap-up
That concludes the guide to visiting the Royal Garden of Lights at Wilanow Palace. If you are visiting Warsaw in the winter, you must plan a visit to Wilanow Palace. This light display is truly incredible and a great way to spend the evening in Warsaw, especially with the early winter sunsets. For more Christmas cheer, check out these Christmas markets in Poland, and don’t miss the best things to do in Warsaw.
