The upscale stretch of Nowy Świat Street is lined with fashionable clubs, high-end shops and chic restaurants. During weekends in the summer, Nowy Świat is closed to traffic and the street fills with café tables along with lively groups of tourists and locals. Find a seat in the sun and spend an afternoon people-watching. Look inside the interesting shops and galleries along the street.
Nowy Świat means “New World,” a name given to the street in the 17th century when the city expanded beyond the Old Town walls. The street quickly evolved into a glamorous shopping area, lined with elegant manors and townhouses. Walk down the street and look for plaques marking the former residences of famous Poles, including composer Karol Szymanowski and poet Leopold Staff. The street was severely damaged during World War II and most of its buildings were later rebuilt into the uniform neoclassical style you see today.
Explore the small side streets branching off Nowy Świat, where you’ll find more restaurants and coffee shops. Find a seat at a café and sample traditional Polish cakes or pastries, such as makowiec, a sweet poppy seed roll, similar to a strudel, or napoleonka, a Polish version of mille-feuille.
At its southern end, Nowy Świat opens up into Plac Trzech Krzyzy (Square of the Three Crosses), an area known for its designer boutiques, such as Escada, Burberry and Hugo Boss. Try to spot one cross on the dome of neoclassical St. Alexander’s Church, which dominates the centre of the square. Two more crosses are mounted on stone columns marking the entrance to the square. These crosses are the most easily visible, but look closely for three more crosses hidden around the square.
Find Nowy Świat Street across the intersection of Świętokrzyska Street, picking up from the end of Krakowskie Przedmieście. It’s within walking distance of the Old Town. You can also reach the street by bus or tram.
