10 Best Museums in Krakow

One of the main reasons to visit Krakow is its wonderful museums, which collect ancient artefacts, centuries of history and anecdotes from World War II. This city will take you on a sensory and time-travelling experience, so you never know what to expect. For example, you'll have the chance to visit an ancient medieval city turned museum, which is submerged in the underground passages of the Market Square, a place known for its outstanding activities.

It's no secret that Krakow's entertainment scene is headlined by the city's impressive activities and venues, something that is evident in the art collection of the Czartoryski Princes' Museum. You should also stop by the Museum of Optical Illusions, or learn about the history of a former Jewish refuge at the Museum of the former Oskar Schindler Factory. Do you want to go on a museum tour in this historic city? Here are the most interesting options.

For those who want a different experience, there is nothing better than the Rynek Underground Museum in Krakow, which you will pass over without even realising it. It is 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 ruins and you can enjoy interactive exhibits, see historical artefacts and join in fun learning activities. Of course, you will find multimedia exhibits that use modern technology, which makes it easy to retain anecdotes about the communist era, the Second World War, 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, which captures the glory of this era. Guided tours usually take place 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.

Interesting details

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

A visit to the Museum of the former Oskar Schindler Factory is a must on an authentic museum tour of Kraków. 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 wallpapered with symbols, testimonies and objects from the period.

You will have the opportunity to travel back to the time when Krakow was occupied by the Nazis, as you tour the remains of this factory that played a key role in the Second World War, being a covert refuge for Jews and other persecuted people. Keep your eyes peeled and be prepared to appreciate Oscar Schindler's original desk. This is a visit I do not recommend for young children, as it involves sensitive stories.

Details of interest

• Price: entrance to the museum starts at €8, for convenience you can consider a skip-the-line pass for around €14 ora guided tour from €19.
• Location: on 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 Kraków sightseeing bus routes.

If you're interested in Kraków's history, consider a stop at The Archaeological Museum, where you'll find an enriching experience. Its popularity lies in its affordable prices that offer a tour through 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, eventually transformed into a medieval palace, a Carmelite monastery and eventually an Austrian prison. Today it has even collected antiquities from Egypt. You can also see the stone statue of Swiatowid Zbrucz, a monument that once belonged to the Slavic tribes.

Interesting details

• Price: From €2, it is also included in the Krakov Card, a tourist pass that gives you access to the best things to do in Krakow and allows you unlimited access to museums, attractions and public transport.
• Location: 3 Poselska Street.
• Opening hours: generally open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00, on some days the opening hours may be slightly extended. Please note that it is closed on Mondays.
• How to get there: if you are in the city centre you can get there on foot, 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, in fact it is one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is considered one of the must-see activities in Krakow, as it has exhibits 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, as well as delve into the history of pilots and pioneers. Highlights include relics from World War II, as well as the 1916 Soviet Grigorovich M-15, the only surviving Russian seaplane.

You can take the tour with a tour guide, however, the aviation history is easy to understand as each exhibit offers useful and detailed information. My suggestion would be to give priority to a skip-the-line ticket, as it tends to be very crowded.

Details of interest

• Price: from €7.
• Location: where the former Kraków-Rakowice-Czyżyny airport was located, at al. Jana Pawła II 39, 31-864.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00, closed only 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 area around the city, which can be reached in a short time. The best option is to combine this visit with a tour of the memorial, so that you have access to the full experience. Be prepared because here you will be transported to harrowing 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 will be able to understand the magnitude of the crimes committed and explore the ruins of the guard towers, the block and wall of death, the crematorium, among others. You will 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 you consider a tour with skip-the-line entry and transfers from Krakow included, which can be found for around €37.
• Location: on the outskirts of the city in Więźniów Oświęcimia.
• Opening hours: daily from 7.30am to 6pm.
• How to get there: you can consider tours to Auschwitz from Kraków which usually include transport, or travel by train, taxi or bus.

Krakow is a city full of immersive activities, and I particularly recommend stopping off at one of my favourite museums, which is the closest thing you'll find to Madame Tussauds in Poland. It's the Polonia 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, sports and more.

As you walk around you can have your picture taken with Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Beyonce 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 doesn't take long, so you can combine it with a lesser-known and less crowded option, such as the muWi Stained Glass Workshop and Museum, a museum where you can participate in Polish stained glass workshops. This is a great place to learn about how the art has worked since 1902, learn about the main artisans and see some of the pieces on display.

Interesting details

• Price: Entrance 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 from €58 and family packages.
• Location: 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 daily from 10:00 to 22:00, with extended opening hours on weekends. The muWi Stained Glass Workshop and Museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30 to 4:30, with slight variations on some days.
• How to get there: Both are accessible by bus or tram.

A perfect playful space to visit with the family is the Museum of Optical Illusions, which is spearheaded by experiences that challenge the senses. It has more than 60 exhibits with holograms, rotating rooms, mazes, puzzles, escape zones with obstacles and mirages that will allow you to have fun, while you try to differentiate the real from the fictitious.

It also has 3D photographs that are really impressive, I especially recommend a walk through the intelligent games room, which offers challenges and mental challenges. It's a fun and educational experience, ideal if you're looking for things to do in Krakow with children, who will appreciate an age-appropriate alternative.

Interesting details

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

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

Here you can take a look at Leonardo da Vinci's Lady in Ermine, as well as decipher antiquities from Greece, Rome and Egypt. You'll meet many fans of collectible art, who come to appreciate Prince Adam Karol's piano. Are you ready to unravel the mysteries of Polish art?

Interesting details

• Price: from €13, free admission on Tuesdays.
• Location: ul. Jana 19.
• Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 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 of Japanese culture with exhibits of woodcuts, Asian handicrafts, Japanese costumes and professional armour. For example, you can get to 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 brewing authentic tea from the region. Most impressively, it is located on the banks of the Vistula River and can be combined with a visit to Wawel Castle, which, by the way, is perfectly visible from the museum's location.

Interesting details

• 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, one of the most special and fun ones is hidden in the Pinball Museum, where you will find more than 60 retro pinball machines and arcade games. This place evokes nostalgia and reminds you of what fun was like a couple of years ago, in fact you can share the space with other people who come here attracted by the wide range of entertainment on offer in this museum.

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

Interesting details

• Price: from €10.
• Location: in a basement in Stradomska Street, in the heart of the Old Town.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 2:00 to 21:00, Saturdays and Sundays you can visit from 12:00 to 22:00.
• How to get there: by bus or tram.