Visitors can explore the Wilanów Palace independently, with the option to pay a small extra fee for an audio guide. The palace is also featured on many Warsaw tours, a convenient way to see the out-of-town sight. Other options include combos that incorporate an audio-guide tour and a visit to a second attraction, such as the Palace of Culture and Science.
The easiest way to reach Wilanów from Warsaw is on a tour that includes round-trip transportation; the best alternative options are buses or cabs—though the latter just take almost as long as the former. The #116 and #180 bus lines run to Wilanów from Warsaw Old Town, as does the #519 from ul. Marszałkowska. If you're driving, a parking lot with paid parking is a short stroll from the palace.
The palace is open Monday to Friday year-round, but it’s worth checking the schedule before visiting; last admissions are an hour before closing. The palace has extended hours between April and October, and closes for Easter, Christmas, and Polish holidays. The palace park generally closes around sunset.
The Wilanów Palace is home to priceless artworks, including masterpieces such as Madonna and Child by Peter Paul Rubens. Other treasures include the fresco-coated King’s Bedroom, where Jan III held meetings in bed, and the freestanding bathtub of noblewoman Izabela Lubomirska, who owned Wilanów in the 18th century. Be sure to stroll around the park to admire its manicured baroque gardens, tree-lined avenues, and lake nature reserve.