10 Best Museums in Krakow

One of the main reasons to visit Krakow is its wonderful museums, which house ancient artefacts, centuries of history and anecdotes from the Second World War. This city will take you on a sensory journey and a trip back in time, so you never know what to expect. For example, you will have the opportunity to visit an ancient medieval city turned into a museum, which is submerged in the underground passages of the Market Square, a place known for its outstanding activities.

Likewise, it is no secret that Krakow's entertainment scene is led by the city's impressive activities and venues, as evidenced by the art collection at the Czartoryski Museum. You should also visit the Museum of Optical Illusions, or learn about the history of a former Jewish refuge at the Museum of Oskar Schindler's Former Factory. Would you like to take a museum tour of this historic city? Here are some of the most interesting options.

For those who want a different experience, there's nothing better than the Krakow Underground Museum, which you'll walk over without even realising it. It's a hidden gem in the underground part of the Market Square, and was built on the ruins of the old medieval city.

Today, this space is more than just ruins. You can enjoy interactive exhibitions, appreciate historical artefacts and take part in activities that allow you to learn in a fun way. Of course, you will find multimedia exhibitions that use modern technology, making it easier to retain anecdotes about the communist era, World War II, the partition of Poland, among others.

If you wish, you can let a professional tour guide take you on a journey back in time to the Middle Ages in Poland, as you walk around 4,000 metres on foot, which capture the glory of this era. Guided tours are usually conducted in small groups, but you can also opt for a private tour of Krakow's Rynek underground museum to enjoy the underground legends at your own pace.

Details of interest

• Price: admission is around €6, but you can find guided tours from approximately €25 per person.
• Location: it is one of the best things to see in the Market Square, as it is hidden four metres underground at this location. The exact address is Rynek Główny 1.
• Opening hours: open every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
• How to get there: it is easy to get there by tram from ZTP Kraków or by bus from MPK S.A. w Krakowie.

No authentic museum tour of Krakow would be complete without a visit to the Museum of Oskar Schindler's former factory. Here you can learn about the legacy of its creator, who risked his life to save hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust. In fact, the building is covered with symbols, testimonies and objects from that period.

You will have the opportunity to travel back to the time when Krakow was occupied by the Nazis, as you walk through the remains of this factory that played a key role in World War II, serving as a secret refuge for Jews and other persecuted people. Keep your eyes peeled and get ready to see Oscar Schindler's original desk. This is not a visit I would recommend for young children, as it involves sensitive stories.

Details of interest

• Price: admission to the museum starts at €8. For added convenience, you can consider a skip-the-line pass for around €14 ora guided tour starting at €19.
• Location: at ul. Lipowa 4, which is located in the Zabłocie district.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00, Mondays from 10:00 to 14:00.
• How to get there: it is very well connected by tram, bus or the Koleje Małopolskie and Polregio trains. Another option is to take advantage of the Krakow tourist bus routes.

If you are interested in learning about the history of Krakow, I recommend stopping by the Archaeological Museum, where you will find an enriching experience. Its popularity lies in its affordable prices, which offer a tour of 500,000 pieces dating from the Palaeolithic to the Modern Era.

In fact, the façade itself is steeped in history, as it was originally an ancient fortress, which over time was transformed into a medieval palace, a Carmelite monastery and eventually an Austrian prison. Today, it has even collected antiques from Egypt. You can also see the stone statue of Swiatowid Zbrucz, a monument that belonged to the Slavic tribes.

Interesting details

• Price: from €2, also included in the Krakow Card, a tourist pass that offers access to the best things to do in Krakow and allows you to visit museums, attractions and use public transport unlimitedly.
• Location: at 3 Poselska Street.
• Opening hours: generally open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00, with extended hours on some days. Please note that it is closed on Mondays.
• How to get there: if you are in the city centre, you can walk there or take advantage of unlimited transport with the Krakow Card.

Established in 1964, the Polish Aviation Museum houses an important collection of aircraft and engines, and is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is considered one of Krakow's must-see attractions, as it has exhibitions on the development of Polish aviation since its inception.

It is ideal if you are looking for things to do in Krakow with children, as together you can discover more than 300 aviation artefacts and learn about the history of pilots and pioneers. Among the most outstanding items are relics from the Second World War, as well as the Soviet Grigorovich M-15 from 1916, the only surviving Russian seaplane.

You can take a tour with a guide, but the history of aviation is easy to understand as each exhibit provides useful and detailed information. My suggestion would be to prioritise a skip-the-line ticket, as it tends to be very popular with tourists.

Details of interest

• Price: from €7.
• Location: where the old Kraków-Rakowice-Czyżyny airport used to be, at al. Jana Pawła II 39, 31-864.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00, closed on Mondays.
• How to get there: you can get there by tram, bus or taxi.

If you want to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum, you should know that it is one of the highlights of the city's surroundings and can be reached in a short time. The best option is to combine this visit with a tour of the memorial, so that you can enjoy the full experience. Prepare yourself, because here you will be transported to heartbreaking stories that will teach you about the concentration camps.

Krakow is one of the European cities that witnessed one of the most terrifying massacres in history, specifically during the Holocaust. Here you can understand the magnitude of the crimes committed and explore the ruins of the watchtowers, the death block and wall, the crematorium, among others. You can also see testimonies, photographs and objects from the period, relevant to the timeline of this event.

Details of interest

• Price: from €20, but I recommend considering a tour with skip-the-line tickets and transfers from Krakow included, which can be found for around €37.
• Location: on the outskirts of the city in Więźniów Oświęcimia.
• Opening hours: every day from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• How to get there: you can consider excursions to Auschwitz from Krakow, which usually include transport, or travel by train, taxi or bus.

Krakow is a city full of immersive activities. In particular, I recommend stopping at one of my favourite museums, which is the closest thing you'll find to Madame Tussauds in Poland. This is the Poland Wax Museum, an attraction where you can see wax exhibits of famous people. It is ideal for people of all ages and has sections on culture, entertainment, politics and sports, among others.

As you walk around, you can take photos with Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Beyoncé and other famous figures. There are also prominent Polish figures such as Pope John Paul II, as well as fictional characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants.

This visit does not take long, so you can combine it with a lesser-known and less crowded option, such as the muWi Stained Glass Workshop and Museum, where you can participate in workshops on Polish stained glass making. This space is ideal for learning about how this art has been practised since 1902, finding out about the main artisans and seeing some of the pieces on display.

Details of interest

• Price: admission to the Polonia Wax Museum starts at €10, as does the muWi Stained Glass Workshop and Museum. The difference is that the latter offers stained glass workshops starting at €58 and family packages.
• Location: The Polonia Wax Museum is located at Floriańska 32, while the muWi Stained Glass Workshop and Museum is at Aleja Zygmunta Krasińskiego 23.
• Opening hours: The Polonia Wax Museum is open every day from 10:00 to 22:00, with slightly extended opening hours at weekends. The muWi Stained Glass Workshop and Museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 to 16:30, with slight variations on some days.
• How to get there: both can be reached by bus or tram.

A perfect place to visit with the family is the Museum of Optical Illusions, which is full of experiences that challenge the senses. It has more than 60 exhibits with holograms, rotating rooms, mazes, puzzles, obstacle courses and mirages that will allow you to have fun while trying to differentiate between what is real and what is fictitious.

It also has some truly impressive 3D photographs. I particularly recommend a visit to the smart games room, which offers mental challenges and puzzles. It is a fun and educational experience, ideal if you are looking for things to do in Krakow with children, who will appreciate an age-appropriate alternative.

Details of interest

• Price: from €11
• Location: on Floriana Straszewskiego.
• Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 19:00.
• How to get there: by tram or bus.

Keeping Krakow's past alive is the main objective of the Czartoryski Museum, which takes you on a journey through three historic buildings, where pieces of great value to the European continent have been collected. It is considered a must-see and one of the best activities in the city, as it houses porcelain, jewellery and glassware.

Here you can take a look at Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine, as well as decipher antiques from Greece, Rome and Egypt. You will meet many collectible art enthusiasts who come to admire Prince Adam Karol's piano. Are you ready to uncover the mysteries of Polish art?

Details of interest

• Price: from €13, free admission on Tuesdays.
• Location: ul. Jana 19.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays.
• How to get there: by bus or tram.

A good choice is the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology, which offers a glimpse into Japanese culture with exhibitions of woodblock prints, Asian crafts, traditional Japanese costumes and professional armour. For example, you can see samurai swords, capes, shields, masks, kimonos, pipes and carpets.

Beyond the exhibits that blend antiquity with a modern perspective, this experience offers educational activities, such as learning Japanese words or preparing authentic tea from the region. Most impressive is that it is located on the banks of the Vistula River, and you can combine it with a visit to Wawel Castle, which, incidentally, can be seen perfectly from the museum's location.

Details of interest

• Price: around €3.
• Location: in the former branch of the National Museum in Krakow.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays.
• How to get there: the best option is by bus or tram.

There are many options for a museum tour in Krakow, but one of the most special and fun is hidden away in the Pinball Museum, where you'll find more than 60 retro pinball machines and arcade games. This place evokes nostalgia and reminds you of what fun was like a few years ago. In fact, you can share the space with other people who are attracted by the wide range of entertainment offered by this museum.

It's the perfect opportunity to learn about the history of these machines, which originated in the 1920s and 1930s but reached their peak between the 1950s and 1970s. This museum has ensured that they are not frozen in time, putting them to use and preserving the oldest ones. It also has a bar where you can take a break to refresh yourself or have a beer. Bear in mind that it is almost a clandestine activity, as it is located in a basement at the end of a small alley off Stradomska Street.

Details of interest

• Price: from €10.
• Location: in a basement on Stradomska Street, in the heart of the old town.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• How to get there: by bus or tram.