Warsaw library: Discover the hidden University of Warsaw Rooftop Gardens

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Are you looking for a hidden gem in Warsaw? The University of Warsaw library and its rooftop gardens are often overlooked by tourists, yet they are also one of the best things to add to your weekend itinerary to Warsaw. 

In this post, we share with you everything you need to know about visiting the University of Warsaw library rooftop gardens (also known as the UW library). We recently visited and were quite honestly blown away by how unique and eclectic the library and tis gardens were. This is one of the most unique library in Europe and definitely one of Warsaw’s hidden gems!

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Why a visit at the Warsaw library is great for couples on a budget

We loved visiting Warsaw together and especially visiting the Warsaw University library as it is both romantic and budget-friendly. 

Romantic visit to University of Warsaw library rooftop gardens

The premises and buildings of the University of Warsaw’s library are covered in greenery and flowers which create beautiful sights throughout your visit. When going to the rooftop gardens, you are offered incredible views on both the Vistula river and the city skyline. The area is even more beautiful at sunset. The Warsaw University library and the gardens are the perfect place to relax after a long day exploring the city. This is a lovely place to come with your partner and discover great sights of the city in a beautiful setting.

Check out our romantic destinations guides around the world for more ideas of where to go next with your partner.

Bugdet-Friendly visit

Entrance to Warsaw University library and the rooftop gardens is free. You don’t nee a Warsaw library card to enter the premises and to have access to the rooftop.

Best time to visit Warsaw University Library and the rooftop gardens

We would recommend visiting during any season. We visited during summer and the weather was amazing, making the experience memorable. During Spring and Fall, colours change which makes the whole area unique every time you come! 

During the day, we would recommend visiting at sunset both for the incredible views created by the sky colours and because it is a great place to relax after a long day spent exploring the city!

Practical tips

You can find the Warsaw University library hours here. Note that the Upper rooftop gardens are open only from April to October. 

University of Warsaw library

The Warsaw library is an eclectic building made of different materials such as concrete, glass and metal. The main wall on Dobra Street was built in a copper colour and in the form of pages of  books. This is the main green wall you’ll see when arriving at the gardens and it is engraved with music notes and mathematic formulas. 

When stepping inside the park, you will notice the library which was constructed as a glass house and which is covered in greenery and growing plants. One specificity of the library is that there are panels of grass all around it making it somewhat similar to a fairyland or a setting, one would only find in a fantasy video game! 

When walking around the library building, you will notice a steel pink building which originates from the former warehouse building. 

University of Warsaw gardens (Lower)

Before going up the glasshouse, you’ll find yourself in the lower gardens which are connected to the upper ones by stairs and grass covered panels. 

In these lower gardens, you will find a fish pond and ducks, granite sculptures, and a small river. There are lots of benches in this area and plenty of small paths to walk around. This is a greta place to relax for a bit. 

University of Warsaw library roof garden (Upper)

Of course, the main attraction of the UW library is the upper roof garden also called the rooftop gardens. 

Sitting on top of the glasshouses, this garden is quite incredible and feels like opening the doors to a different world. You can access the rooftop garden by going up a set of stairs along a sort of modern waterfall. 

When you get to the top, there are two sections of the gardens. On your left, you will find some windows and a glass dome in which you can look to get a glimpse of the inside of the library. By continuing this way, you will pass through greenery tunnels that lead to one of the main viewpoints. After crossing a metal bridge, you’ll get to the first viewpoint which offers great views on the Vistula river, the Vistula banks and the bridge. This is a popular panoramic viewpoint in Warsaw and is especially beautiful at Golden Hour! 

While you keep going in a loop around the rooftop, you’ll go through some additional greenery tunnels and well maintained paths with flowerbeds. There is a bigger bridge on the other side of the rooftop gardens, however, it is not always open. From that end though, you’ll be able to see the skyline of Warsaw and the gorgeous Palace of Culture and Science. 

There are benches on the rooftop gardens so you can sit, rest and appreciate the views for as long as you want!

What to do near the Warsaw library

There are quite a few things to do near the University of Warsaw library rooftop gardens, see below:

• Vistula banks: After visiting the UW library, we headed to the Vistula banks which are located about 5 minute walking from the University library doors. The promenade is really nice and you can either walk around, or sit on the steps and observe the sunset.
• Copernicus Science Centre: This is a great visit located right next to the library. You can also head to the rooftop for greta views. 
• Poniatówka beach: Who would have thought there would be a beach in Warsaw? Not us! This is a popular beach on the Vistula and is quite popular on a hot day! From here, you get great views on the bridge, the river and it’s especially nice at sunset!
• Neon Museum: This is a bit of a hidden gem in Warsaw but worth a visit. It features neon signs from the cold war advertisements! This is a different way to learn about history and is one of the few neon museums in the world!

The different Warsaw libraries in the world

Note that the University of Warsaw library is different from the Warsaw library NY or the Warsaw library Indiana offers. The Warsaw Indiana public library is open to the public where this Warsaw Poland library is part of the University of Warsaw and therefore not open to the public (apart from the gardens and the buildings).

Note also that the University of Warsaw library and the University of Warsaw library roof garden are different from the National Library in Warsaw which is a public library. The city saw it National Warsaw Library burning during World War II.

Any questions on the Warsaw University Library? Then drop them in the comments or on insta and we will get back to you asap.