Did you know that over the past twenty years, Warsaw has grown upwards by more than a hundred meters? It sounds like science fiction, but it's true. You're standing on the street, looking up. These glass giants reach the clouds. Sometimes I wonder how it's possible for people to build so high. My grandmother always used to say that when she was young, the tallest building in Warsaw was the Palace of Culture. Now? Now, it's a completely different story.
Skyline over the capital: record heights
People love tall buildings. Maybe because they give a sense of strength. Or simply because we want to be closer to the sky. Tourists take thousands of photos of Warsaw's skyline. Residents too — although perhaps a little less so.
Height is something that has fascinated us forever. Kids ask their parents: "Which is the tallest?", "How tall?", "Can I go up?". Adults ask the same questions, only pretending it's for the kids.
Soon you will find out which building is the king of Warsaw's sky. How many meters it exactly has. Who built it and why. And maybe also what you wouldn't expect to hear — that the story of the tallest building in the capital isn't as simple as you might think.
But let's take it step by step. First, we need to understand how it happened that Warsaw started growing upwards like yeast.
Varso Tower in numbers
Have you already seen this giant that rose in the center of Warsaw? Varso Tower — full name is Varso Place, but everyone just calls it Varso Tower. It stands on Chmielna Street, practically in the very heart of the city.
Height? Well, here you need to be careful. To the spire itself, it’s 310 meters. But if we count only up to the roof, it’s 230 meters. I used to get confused with these measurements until someone explained the difference to me.
It has 53 floors. The office space is about 144 thousand square meters. There are 46 elevators — sounds like a lot, but at such height, you probably still have to wait. It was completed in 2022. The investor is HB Reavis, a Slovak company.
Now for comparisons — this is truly impressive.
The Palace of Culture and Science is 237 meters with its spire. Varso surpasses it by 73 meters. That’s quite a lot, as if adding a few more floors to the Palace of Culture.
Other Warsaw skyscrapers? Warsaw Spire is 220 meters, so Varso is 90 meters taller. Cosmopolitan Twarda 2/4 — 160 meters, a difference of 150 meters. Złota 44 is 192 meters, so Varso wins by 118 meters.
Honestly, it completely changed Warsaw’s skyline. You can see it practically from every part of the city. Some complain that it ruins the view, but for me, it’s a symbol of how quickly we are developing.
Photo: varso.com
How the tallest Warsaw skyscraper was built
I once saw how a skyscraper was built in the city center. It was fascinating, but nothing compared to what happened with Varso Tower.
The project of this giant started at Foster + Partners. The same people who designed Apple Park and the London Gherkin. For Warsaw, it was a really big deal. Architect Norman Foster wanted to create something that would fit our city but also stand out from the rest.
Construction began in 2016. The first two years mainly involved foundations and underground levels. They had to dig a hole 15 meters deep, which in the center of Warsaw meant a lot of problems. Traffic, the metro underneath, old buildings around. Every transport of materials was like a puzzle.
The structure is a steel-glass hybrid. A steel skeleton, but not an ordinary one. They used a system where each floor can slightly move during the wind. Sounds scary, but that’s why the building is safe. The glass facade has special coatings that reflect heat in summer and retain it in winter.
Logistics was a nightmare, honestly. Every element had to reach the construction site by trucks through narrow streets. Sometimes they worked only at night to avoid paralyzing traffic. Cranes were assembled in parts because the whole cranes couldn’t pass under the overpasses.
Ecology has been a priority from the start. Varso Tower received a BREEAM certificate at the Outstanding level. The highest possible rating. It means the building consumes less energy, has better ventilation, and uses materials from responsible sources. It also has a WELL certificate, which concerns the health of the people working inside.
And now the best part – the observation deck on the 46th floor. You can visit it for free, but you need to register online in advance. The view is incredible, especially at sunset. I saw the entire Vistula River and Praga from there. It’s worth going on a clear day.The entire building is 310 meters tall. It’s truly impressive when you stand at its base and look up.
Warsaw from a new perspective
Do you remember when just a few years ago the tallest building in Warsaw was the Palace of Culture? Now everything has changed. Varso Tower is 310 meters high and has broken all records.
Honestly, I’m not even sure if I remember these technical details correctly. The building has 53 floors. The total area is probably around 144,000 square meters. The tower is located on Chmielna, right in the city center.
Construction took place from 2016 to 2022. I remember watching the progress from the window of a bus on my way to work. First, just a hole in the ground, then the skeleton, and finally the glass facade. Architects from Foster + Partners really did a great job. The facade is mainly glass and steel. Inside, there are offices, a hotel, and restaurants.
Now, when you look at Warsaw from afar, Varso Tower immediately catches the eye. Tourists specifically come to see the city from the viewing terrace on the 46th floor. I’ve been there once, and I must admit, the view is breathtaking. You see the entire Vistula River, the Old Town, and all the districts.
This shows how much Warsaw is developing. The city has ambitions to become a European business hub. Buildings like this are proof of that.
See for yourself what the capital looks like from 230 meters high – the view will surely stay in your memory for a long time.
