Museums in Krakow

60 PLN, reduced 45 PLN; free on Mondays (no advance booking)

The former enamelware factory of Oskar Schindler, now a powerful museum documenting Krakow under Nazi occupation (1939-1945). The award-winning exhibition traces daily life, resistance, and the fate of the city's Jewish population.

Permanent exhibitions 45 PLN, reduced 35 PLN; free on Tuesdays

Krakow's main art museum with an impressive collection spanning Polish and European art. Highlights include Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine" (one of only four surviving Leonardo paintings), medieval arms and armor, and Polish design collections.

45 PLN, reduced 35 PLN; free on Tuesdays (box office only)

A high-tech archaeological museum 4 meters beneath the Main Market Square, revealing the medieval foundations of Krakow through interactive displays, holographic recreations of medieval merchants, and preserved remains of 11th-century trading stalls.

65 PLN, reduced 50 PLN; free on Tuesdays

One of the oldest museums in Poland, founded in 1796. Houses a world-class collection including Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine," Rembrandt works, and ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts.

The oldest building of Poland's oldest university (founded 1364, second oldest in Central Europe). The stunning Gothic courtyard and museum displays include the desk of Copernicus and the oldest surviving university astronomical instruments.

Krakow's premier contemporary art museum, opened in 2011 on the site of Schindler's factory. Rotating exhibitions by international and Polish artists, with a permanent collection exploring the relationship between art and social commentary.

35 PLN; seniors and students 25 PLN

A photography museum documenting the traces of Jewish culture in southern Poland. The permanent exhibition challenges traditional approaches to Holocaust memory, presenting both the destruction and the contemporary efforts to remember and preserve Jewish heritage.

22 PLN, reduced 16 PLN; free on Wednesdays

The pharmacy of Tadeusz Pankiewicz, the only Gentile permitted to operate within the Krakow Ghetto. Now a moving museum documenting life in the ghetto and Pankiewicz's efforts to help its Jewish residents - recognized as Righteous Among the Nations.

Housed in the historic former Town Hall of Kazimierz, this museum showcases Polish folk culture - traditional costumes, painted Easter eggs, wooden sculptures, and szopki (Krakow nativity scenes). The courtyard hosts seasonal markets.

A striking contemporary building dedicated to the legendary avant-garde theater artist Tadeusz Kantor. The museum documents his revolutionary theatrical works and houses the archive of the Cricot 2 theatre. The building itself is an architectural marvel.

A tiny museum in the historic headquarters of the Krakow Marksmen's Fraternity (Bractwo Kurkowe), one of the oldest civic organizations in Poland (founded 1257). The silver rooster trophy, historical firearms, and the quirky story of this shooting club make for a unique and little-visited experience.

A new-media art space in the Zablocie industrial district hosting interactive installations, digital art, and technology-art crossover exhibitions. Rotating shows explore AI, virtual reality, and digital culture. The converted industrial space adds atmosphere, and the exhibits are consistently surprising.

A hidden gem housing one of Europe's finest collections of coins, medals, and banknotes in a beautiful 19th-century palace with a modern extension. The numismatic collection spans from ancient Greece to modern Poland, and the library of rare books is exceptional.

A branch of the National Museum in a renovated 17th-century granary, housing a fine collection of European paintings from the 15th to 19th centuries. Works by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, Lorenzo Lotto, and other Old Masters in an intimate, uncrowded setting. A peaceful alternative to busier museums.

The preserved home and studio of Jozef Mehoffer, a leading Art Nouveau artist and stained glass designer. The house itself is a work of art - original furnishings, gardens, and studios remain as they were. His stained glass designs for Fribourg Cathedral in Switzerland are displayed alongside paintings and decorative arts.

An interactive museum near the Main Square with optical illusions, holograms, and perception-bending installations. The infinity room, the tilted room, and the clone table are popular for photos. Not a traditional museum, but genuinely fun for families and anyone curious about how the brain processes visual information.

Housed in a former tram depot in Kazimierz, this surprisingly engaging museum covers the history of Krakow's infrastructure - trams, cars, printing presses, and technology. The vintage vehicle collection includes trams you can board and a hands-on area for children. A hit with kids and engineering enthusiasts.

The garden alone is worth the visit - a peaceful oasis with ancient stone sculptures. Inside, collections span from prehistoric Poland through Egyptian mummies to medieval Krakow. The famous Swiatowid stone idol is the star exhibit.

A brutalist gallery on the Planty park ring, controversial when built in the 1960s but now beloved for its cutting-edge contemporary art exhibitions. The rooftop terrace cafe offers excellent Main Square views.

A striking modern building on the Vistula riverbank housing one of Europe's finest collections of Japanese art. Designed by Arata Isozaki, the museum also hosts tea ceremonies, film screenings, and cultural exchanges.

Rotating exhibitions of Polish and international photography in a beautifully restored townhouse. The collection spans from 19th-century daguerreotypes to contemporary digital art.

One of the largest pharmacy museums in Europe, housed in a medieval townhouse. Centuries of pharmaceutical history through original equipment, rare medicines, and alchemical instruments. The reconstructed 18th-century pharmacy is a highlight.

Housed on a former airfield, this vast museum displays over 200 aircraft spanning from WWI biplanes to Cold War MiGs. Interactive exhibitions cover the history of Polish aviation, including the legendary 303 Squadron.

A working stained glass workshop since 1902 where you can watch artisans create using the same techniques as Stanislaw Wyspianski. The museum traces the history of stained glass art and offers workshops for visitors.

Dedicated to the Polish Art Nouveau movement (Mloda Polska), featuring works by Wyspianski, Mehoffer, and Malczewski. The building itself is a beautiful Renaissance palace.

Dedicated to Poland's legendary underground resistance army during World War II - the Armia Krajowa. The museum documents coded messages, secret weapons, sabotage operations, and the incredible bravery of ordinary Poles who resisted Nazi occupation. A deeply patriotic and moving exhibition.

A museum documenting daily life in communist Poland through the lens of Nowa Huta - the "ideal socialist city" built from scratch in the 1950s. Original furniture, propaganda posters, consumer goods, and film footage recreate an era that shaped modern Poland. Essential for understanding post-war Polish history.

Dedicated to Stanislaw Wyspianski - Krakow's most celebrated artist, playwright, and poet - in a restored Renaissance palace. His stained glass designs, paintings, theatrical works, and the famous pastel portraits of children are all displayed with excellent context. A must for understanding Krakow's artistic soul.

The upper floor of the medieval Cloth Hall houses Poland's most important collection of 19th-century painting, including Matejko's colossal historical canvases and Chelmonski's landscapes. The gallery was recently renovated with excellent lighting. Don't miss the balcony views of the Main Square.