Photo: Thierry Ehrmann. Flickr.
If you are visiting Warsaw between 05-06 July, umm, we’re sorry, but you may experience some disruption during your stay! If you haven’t already heard, President of the United States, Donald Trump, and his wife Melania, will be in town as of tonight at 22:00, kicking off a visit that will last until 14:00 on Thursday.
It’s not everyday the President of the United States visits Poland, in fact, the last time was in 2014 when Obama rolled into Warsaw for his official visit (although he did attend the Warsaw NATO summit in 2016 along with other world leaders), and prior to that, 2003 when George W Bush was in Kraków.
Inevitably, with such a top level visit, there will be disruption for locals and tourists alike, especially around the Old Town area. To keep you informed, here’s what you can expect to happen (and potentially try to avoid).
First and foremost, the most prominent disruption for any tourist to Warsaw will be the closure of Castle Square in the Old Town area to pedestrians and vehicles, along with a host of surrounding streets including Miodowa, Długa, Podwale and Senatorska. Pl. Krasińskich (location of the Warsaw Uprising monument) will also be closed as this is where Trump will give his 30 minute speech at 13.00 (CET).
Travelling around the city may prove time consuming as numerous bus and tram routes are diverted from anywhere near the Old Town (bus no.s 116, 178, 180, 503, 518 and N44). A full list of transport diversions can be found on the site of Warsaw’s transport authority, ZTM, found here.
If you have a car, you will not be able to park anywhere near the route the President will be travelling, nor in the city centre itself (between 00:01 04/07 to 22:00 on 06/07). If you really have to park somewhere, make sure there are no ‘do not park’ signs posted. Parking where you shouldn’t will lead to your car being towed, and all at your expense!
Following the President’s speech, his convoy will travel to Warsaw Chopin Airport, and although not closed to traffic, you can expect traffic delays on the route from the Old Town to the airport: ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście, al. Jerozolimskie, ul. Marszałkowska and ul. Żwirki i Wigury. If you are flying out of Warsaw during the President’s stay, we strongly advise you add at least an extra hour in travel time to get to the airport.
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S WARSAW TIMETABLE
- Wednesday 05/07
Arriving in Warsaw at 22:00. - Thursday 06/07
09:00 – meet with President of Poland Andrzej Duda in Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski / Old Town)
13:00 – 30 minute speech on Pl. Krasińskich (Krasiński Square)
06.07 14:00 – leaving Warsaw from Chopin Airport
For a detailed list of disruption to be expected in Warsaw during the President’s stay, please refer to the photos below, and visit the following sites:
City of Warsaw Authority (Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa).
Warszawa19115 (live information service detailing traffic problems and diversions in Warsaw).
City Centre Disruption.
Photo: City of Warsaw (Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa)
City Centre Disruption.
Photo: City of Warsaw (Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa)
Route to the Airport.
Photo: City of Warsaw (Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa)
