PL The Warsaw Tourism Office undertakes to ensure the accessibility of its website in accordance with the Act of April 4, 2019, on the digital accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public entities. This accessibility statement applies to the Warsaw Tourism Office website.
Website publication date: 2018-06-14.
Last significant update: 2018-06-14.
The website is partially compliant with the Act of April 4, 2019, on the digital accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public entities due to the following incompatibilities:
- No text alternatives for some non-text content (graphics, icons)
- No descriptions, audio descriptions, or subtitles for video materials
- No links to bypass navigation and other repetitive elements on subpages
- No mechanism for pausing/stopping automatically scrolling information
- No visible focus
- The order of navigating links using the keyboard may be unintuitive.
- Some interface elements do not have accessible names that contain visible text.
The inconsistencies are the result of using off-the-shelf, cost-effective technical solutions on the website that do not meet digital accessibility requirements.
This declaration was prepared on: March 31, 2021. This declaration was prepared based on a self-assessment conducted by a public entity. Standard browser keyboard shortcuts can be used on the website.
Feedback and Contact Details
If you have any issues with the accessibility of the website, please contact us. The contact person is Ryszard Podkowa, dostepnosc@go2warsaw.pl. You can also contact us by phone at 22 699 53 04. You can also submit requests for access to inaccessible information and complaints about lack of accessibility in the same way.
Everyone has the right to submit a request to ensure the digital accessibility of a website or any of its elements. Information may also be provided through an alternative access method, for example, by reading a digitally inaccessible document, describing the content of a film without audio description, etc. The request should include the details of the person making the request and a contact method. If the person requesting information requires alternative access, they should also specify a convenient way to present this information. The Warsaw Tourism Office should fulfill the request immediately, no later than 7 days from the date of the request. If this deadline cannot be met, the Warsaw Tourism Office will immediately inform the requester when it will be possible to fulfill the request, but this deadline cannot be longer than 2 months from the date of the request. If ensuring digital accessibility is not possible, the Warsaw Tourism Office may propose an alternative method of accessing the information. If the Warsaw Tourism Office refuses to fulfill the request to ensure accessibility or an alternative method of accessing the information, The requesting party may file a complaint regarding the digital accessibility of a website. After exhausting the above procedure, a request may also be submitted to the Commissioner for Human Rights.
Link to the Commissioner for Human Rights’ website: https://www.rpo.gov.pl
Architectural Accessibility
The Warsaw Tourist Office rents space at two locations. The office, which focuses primarily on activities for the tourism industry and online promotion, is located in the Palace of Culture and Science, a building under conservation protection. The main Warsaw Tourist Information Center is also located in the Palace of Culture and Science, but in a different area than the office space. Separate entrances lead to it. The second Warsaw Tourist Information Center is located on the premises of the Koneser Praga Center.
Office
The office of the Warsaw Tourist Office is located in the Palace of Culture and Science building at Plac Defilad 1, 00-901 Warsaw, on the 10th floor. It is partially accessible to people with disabilities. Accessibility limitations are mainly due to the historic nature of the office building. Activities related to direct tourist services are carried out outside the office, at Warsaw Tourist Information points.
Directions and Access to the Building
Pedestrian access routes lead from Marszałkowska Street, Świętokrzyska Street (main entrance), and from Jerozolimskie Avenue and Emilii Plater Street (inner courtyard, rear entrance). There are numerous obstacles and difficulties along the routes to the building, such as a park, a parking lot surrounding the building, posts on the route to the main entrance, illegally parked cars, cobblestones, and a row of wooden tables in the square in front of the main entrance. The nearest station—PKP Śródmieście—is located approximately 200 m away, and the station at Warszawa Centralna is approximately 400 m away. The exits from the platforms are equipped with escalators. Public transportation stops near the main entrance: Metro Świętokrzyska 01, 02, 03, 04 (buses); 05, 06 (trams); approx. 500 m away; Centrum 01, 03, 05, 06 (buses); 07, 08, 09, 10 (tram) approx. 400 m away. Metro stations near the main entrance: Świętokrzyska Metro: lines M1 and M2, approx. 400 m away; Metro Centrum: line M1, approx. 400 m away. Bus stops near the rear entrance: Dworzec Centralny 11, 16, approx. 300 m away; Emilii Plater 01, 02, 04, approx. 200 m away. There are obstacles and difficulties on the route (e.g., posts, uneven sidewalk, cobblestones, illegally parked cars, high curbs, narrow sections of the sidewalk). The schedule for lines stopping at the above-mentioned stops can be found at https://www.wtp.waw.pl/rozklady-jazdy/ Taxi stands are located at the Central Station, approximately 400 meters from the Palace of Culture and Science, and on Aleje Jerozolimskie at the corner of Emilii Plater Street near the Śródmieście Station, approximately 300 meters away.
Car Parking
Parking at the Palace of Culture and Science (PKiN) is paid and features a payment booth adapted for people with mobility impairments who use wheelchairs to pay for parking tickets. The booth is located next to the “Studio” Theater and is specially marked. The other automated ticket machines at the PKiN parking lot are equipped with an additional button that can be used to summon a parking attendant. All devices in the PKiN parking system—from the ticket booths at the entrance, through the automated ticket machines, to the exit barriers—have intercom buttons for immediate communication with parking staff. Parking attendants are available to assist with using the parking lot and its equipment. People with mobility impairments may also pay by driving up to the Technical Service point at the exit onto Marszałkowska Street, bypassing the automated payment machines. Parking services are available 24 hours a day. Parking spaces for people with disabilities are located in the PKiN outdoor parking lot, including in front of the main entrance and at the entrance to the inner courtyard from Emilii Plater Street, next to the Congress Hall. In addition, there are 18 such spaces distributed around the PKiN building.
Entrances to the building
There are two entrances to the Palace of Culture and Science: the main entrance on Marszałkowska Street and the rear entrance on Emilii Plater Street, through the so-called inner courtyard. The rear entrance is more accessible for people with mobility impairments.
Main Entrance
The main entrance is located on the side facing Plac Defilad and is marked with a large sign on the facade reading “Palace of Culture and Science.” Stairs lead to the entrance, with contrasting markings on the first and last steps. The stairs are not equipped with balustrades or handrails. Contrasting lines lead from the parking lot to the stairs. To the left of the stairs is an elevator with doors that open automatically when the button on the call panel at the landing is pressed. The ride from landing to landing operates in the same manner. The floor area of the elevator car is 108×138 cm. The cabin is equipped with a handrail, voice announcements, and signage for the visually impaired. The main entrance features a manually operated door that is very large and heavy, making it impossible for wheelchair users to open it on their own. The door has a wooden threshold ranging from 0.5 cm to 3 cm in height. The inner glass door beyond it opens automatically, posing no obstacle to movement.
Rear Entrance
The second entrance is located at the rear of the building in the inner courtyard on the side facing Emilii Plater Street. To reach it, go through the gate located between the Warsaw Tourist Information Center and the Congress Hall, which leads to the first part of the courtyard, then turn left and go through the inner gate to the second part of the courtyard. The entrance to the building is located just past the inner gate on the right. If you have trouble finding your way, you can ask the guard on duty at the entrance gate. The rear entrance features a small 1.5-meter-wide ramp with a handrail on one side and a door that opens automatically outward. Inside, there are sliding glass doors. A wide corridor leads to the elevator lobby located on the same level as the entrance (-1).
Restrooms
Two restrooms for people with mobility impairments are located in the elevator lobby, next to the men’s and women’s restrooms situated in side alcoves of the lobby. The restrooms are locked and opened by the staff member on duty in the elevator lobby. There is limited maneuvering space inside the restrooms. The restroom located next to the men’s restrooms provides space for a side transfer to the toilet seat. These restrooms are also adapted for mothers with small children.
Horizontal and vertical circulation spaces in the building
Stairs located on the left and right sides lead from the main entrance to the elevator lobby on level -1, with contrasting stripes on the first and last steps. Next to the stairs on the left is a folding stair lift with a load capacity of up to 300 kg. The stairlift platform measures 120 x 100 cm. A staff member trained to assist with the platform is on duty in the main lobby. The platform allows users to descend to the elevator lobby (Level -1) as well as ascend to the main lobby level. The platform’s track can also serve as a handrail for pedestrians. To reach the office located on the 10th floor, use elevators 7, 8, 9, or 10 in the elevator lobby, located opposite the stairs. External and internal control panels are positioned at a height of up to 120 cm. The elevators are equipped with a handrail positioned at a height of 110 cm. The reception desk of the Warsaw Tourist Office is located in room 1051, opposite the exits of elevators 9 and 10. Wide corridors accessible to wheelchair users lead to the office spaces. The entrances to the work areas are equipped with double doors approximately 120 cm wide and have no thresholds. The kitchen is located in the emergency stairwell and is not accessible to wheelchair users due to the doors being too narrow. The public restrooms—men’s and women’s—are also not adapted for use by people with mobility impairments (doors are too narrow)
Information on the floor plan of the building
There is no visual information about the floor plan in the building. Voice-based information is available from a Palace of Culture and Science staff member on duty in the main lobby. Voice-based information regarding the layout of rooms used by the Warsaw Tourist Office is available at the Office Secretariat located in room 1051 on the 10th floor, opposite elevator exits 9 and 10. On the entrance doors to individual rooms, there are nameplates with information about the people working in that room and faintly visible room number markings.
Additional Information
Assistance dogs and guide dogs are permitted in the building and office. There are no induction loops in the office. Neither the building nor the office has Braille signage, high-contrast signage, or large-print signage for blind and visually impaired individuals. No one in the office uses sign language.
Evacuation
The building features clear signage for evacuation routes, an audible emergency alarm system, and emergency lighting. The two main evacuation stairwells begin on either side of the elevator lobby. The stairs are approximately 100 cm wide and are equipped with round handrails located on the inner side at a height of 90 cm; there are no markings indicating the first and last steps in each flight. On the 6th floor, it is necessary to walk through a corridor to reach the stairwells serving the upper floors.
Warsaw Tourist Information Point at the Palace of Culture and Science
It is located in the side wing of the Palace of Culture and Science at Plac Defilad 1, 00-901 Warsaw, on the side facing Emilii Plater Street. It is difficult to access for people with mobility impairments. The limited accessibility is due to the historic nature of the building.
Getting to the building and access
Pedestrian access routes lead from Emilii Plater Street and Aleje Jerozolimskie. The nearest station—PKP Śródmieście—is located approximately 200 m away, and the station at Warszawa Centralna is approximately 300 m away. Exits from the platforms are equipped with escalators. Nearest bus stops: Dworzec Centralny 11, 12, approx. 200 m away; Emilii Plater 01, 02, 04, approx. 300 m away. The schedule for lines stopping at the above-mentioned stops can be found at https://www.wtp.waw.pl/rozklady-jazdy/ Taxi stands are located on Aleje Jerozolimskie at the corner of Emilii Plater Street near Śródmieście Station, approx. 200 m away, and near Central Station, approx. 300 m from the Palace of Culture and Science building, as well as
Car parking
Within the paid parking lot surrounding the Palace building, directly in front of the entrance to the Warsaw Tourist Information Center, there are two parking spaces for people with disabilities. All equipment in the Palace of Culture and Science parking system—from the ticket booths at the entrance, through the automatic pay stations, to the exit barriers—is equipped with intercom buttons for immediate communication with parking staff. Parking attendants are prepared to assist with using the parking lot and its equipment. People with mobility impairments may also pay their fees by driving up to the Technical Service point at the exit onto Marszałkowska Street, bypassing the automated payment machines. Parking services are available 24 hours a day. There are 18 additional parking spaces for people with disabilities located around the Palace of Culture and Science building. Two parking spaces for people with disabilities outside the Palace’s parking system are located on Emilii Plater Street and on Aleje Jerozolimskie near the Warszawa Śródmieście station.
Entrances to the building
There are two entrances to the building: the main entrance, located on the sidewalk running along the Palace and intended for visitors, and the rear entrance, used by employees of the Warsaw Tourist Information Office, located on the side of the building’s inner courtyard.
Main Entrance
It is shaped like a portico and is marked by a large, blue, square billboard featuring the letter “i” and the words “Tourist Information,” which are clearly visible from a distance. Stairs lead to the entrance from both sides, with tactile markings on the first and last steps. The stairs are not equipped with balustrades or handrails. People with mobility impairments who use wheelchairs can receive informational materials outside the building without having to climb the stairs leading to the center inside the Palace of Culture and Science. The main entrance has a door that is very large and heavy, making it impossible for people in wheelchairs to open it on their own. The door has a wooden threshold that is 3 to 4 cm high. During the summer season, the door remains open.
Rear Entrance
It is located on the side of the building’s inner courtyard. To reach it, go through the gate located between the Warsaw Tourist Information Center and the Congress Hall leading to the courtyard, then turn right. Low stairs without handrails or contrasting markings on the steps lead to the entrance. There is a 4.5 cm high wooden threshold at the door
Restrooms
The restroom in the Warsaw Tourist Information Office is not accessible to people with disabilities. The two accessible restrooms are located in the main building of the Palace of Culture and Science, in the side alcoves of the elevator lobby, adjacent to the men’s and women’s restrooms. To reach the elevator lobby, go through the gate located between the Warsaw Tourist Information Center and the Congress Hall, which leads to the first part of the courtyard, then turn left and go through the inner gate to the second part of the courtyard. Immediately past the inner gate, on the right, is the entrance to the building, from which a wide corridor leads to the elevator lobby. The restrooms are locked and opened by the staff member on duty in the elevator lobby. There is limited maneuvering space in the restrooms. The restroom located next to the men’s restrooms provides space for a side transfer to the toilet bowl.
Horizontal and vertical circulation spaces in the building
The Warsaw Tourist Information Center consists of a main room for serving visitors and staff rooms connected to it by a threshold-free door and a corridor approximately 130 cm wide. In the main room at the back, there are stairs without contrasting step markings. The restroom designated for staff is not accessible to people in wheelchairs.
Information on the building’s floor plan
Service for visitors to the Warsaw Tourist Information Center is provided in a single room.
Additional information
You may enter the center with an assistance dog or a guide dog. The center is equipped with an induction loop; sign language interpretation is not available.
Evacuation
The center features clear evacuation route signage and an audible emergency alert system. Evacuation takes place through the main entrance.
Warsaw Tourist Information Center at the Koneser Praga Center
It is located at Plac Konesera 2, 03-736 Warsaw, in a building adjacent to Ząbkowska and Nieporęcka Streets. It is fully accessible to people with mobility impairments.
Directions and Access to the Building
There are pedestrian access routes from Ząbkowska and Nieporęcka Streets. The nearest bus stops are Markowska 01 and Korsaka 02, approximately 200 m away; Markowska 02, Korsaka 01, approx. 400 m away. The schedule for lines stopping at the above-mentioned stops can be found at https://www.wtp.waw.pl/rozklady-jazdy
Car Parking
The Koneser Praga Center features a 24-hour paid parking lot with spaces for people with disabilities.
Building Entrances
To reach the information point, enter the Koneser Praga Center through one of the gates. If entering through the gate on Ząbkowska Street, walk along the building’s wall and then turn right. The entrance to the Warsaw Tourist Information point is located 100 meters from the turn on the right and is marked with a neon sign featuring an “i” symbol and the words “Warsaw Tourist Information.” There is a 2-centimeter-high threshold at the door.
Restrooms
The restroom inside the Warsaw Tourist Information Center is not accessible to people with disabilities. A restroom accessible to wheelchair users is located in another building, the Koneser Center. To get there, exit the center, turn left, turn right behind the Polish Vodka Museum building, and after walking another 100 meters, turn left into the Koneser passage.
Horizontal and vertical circulation spaces in the building
The Warsaw Tourist Information Center consists of a main reception area for visitors and a back office with a restroom, connected by a threshold-free door. The restroom intended for employees is not wheelchair accessible.
Information on the building’s floor plan
Service for visitors to the Warsaw Tourist Information Center is provided in a single room.
Additional information
You may enter the center with an assistance dog or a guide dog. The center is equipped with an induction loop; sign language interpretation is not available.
Evacuation
The facility has clear signage indicating the evacuation route.