Choose from 60 Fun Things to Do in Krakow
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Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art Museum
The very aptly named museum, which is located inside Krakow’s famous Cloth Hall, does indeed focus on 19th-century Polish art, with thousands of paintings and sculptures on display – thus making it the largest of its kind in the world. As it mainly consists of donations from local collectors and artists, the exhibit is rather small in size when compared to other national galleries in the world but is nonetheless quite significant in terms of Polish art. The various artworks are scattered across four different “19th-century salon”-themed halls, each named after a prominent Polish artist and defined by a specific historical period.
The Bacciarelli Room is all about Classicist, Rococo and even late Baroque painters such as Bacciarelli himself, Grassi and Krafft, with a strong emphasis on historical and battle scenes. The Michałowski Room is dedicated to Romanticism and Poland’s political scene at the time, with works from Artur Grottger, Piotr Michałowski, and Jan Nepomucen Głowacki, often regarded as the most outstanding landscape painter in Poland. The Siemiradzki Room revolves around nature, history, and mythology, and is dedicated to Henryk Hektor Siemiradzki, famous for his stunning portrayals of the Graeco-Roman world and the New Testament. Lastly, the Chełmoński Room is devoted to genre painting and Realism. It is notably more modern than the other rooms.
Practical Info
The Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art is housed on the upper floor of the Sukiennice Cloth Hall in Krakow’s old market square, Rynek Glowny. It is therefore easily reachable by foot and instantly recognizable. It is not advised to drive into Krakow’s old town center. The gallery is open every day except Monday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Entry is free for children under 7; it costs 1 złoty per child under 16 and students under 26, and 14 złoty per adult. Audioguides are available for hire for 7 złoty per person. A museum pass is available for 35 złoty and entitles its owner to enter all the branches and permanent exhibitions of the National Museum in Krakow.
Address: Rynek Główny 1-3, Krakow, Poland
Hours: Open every day except Monday from 10 AM to 6 PM.
Admission: 14 złoty per adult, 1 złoty per child under 16
From $ 29
Family Home of John Paul II
Built around 1870, the tenement house at No 7 Kościelna Street where the Holy Father John Paul II was raised has been operating as a papal museum since 1984. Visitors may take a trip through different stages of the Holy Father’s life by touring the multimedia exhibition that invites reflection and shows what the climate and life was like in pre-war Wadowice. The museum attracts 300,000- 400,000 visitors each year to tour the few rooms in which John Paul was born and raised. The tour begins on the ground level and ascends by ramps to the top of the museum. The two main rooms of the original home are the central focus of the museum, with the multimedia exhibit constructed lovingly around them. The museum includes personal items that were meaningful in John Paul’s life, including the Vatican clock (which was stopped at the moment of his death) and the Polish bible, which was read to him by the sisters in his final moments.
Insider’s Tip: Be sure to try John Paul’s favorite cream cake (Kremowka), which can be found in most of the town’s bakeries and cafes.
Practical Info
Self-touring the museum is not allowed, but guided tours in different languages are included in the price of admission. The guided tour takes a little over an hour. On Tuesdays, entrance to the museum is free. No photography is allowed in the museum.
Address: Kościelna 7, Wadowice 34-100, Poland
Hours: May-September, 9am-7pm daily (last admission at 5:40pm); November-March, 9am-4pm daily (last admission at 2:40pm); April and October, 9am-6pm daily (last admission at 4:40pm)
Admission: 30 PLN includes guided tour
From $ 49
Bonerowski Palace
The Bonerowski Palace is a luxury hotel in the heart of Krakow’s Old Town. Dating back to the 13th century, it was then significantly renovated in the 19th century, at which time the entire building was raised up to three floors and a new staircase was added.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the building has many remarkable features, including a 70-foot-long chandelier in the lobby (the longest in Europe), a Gothic pillar on the first floor and a 17th-century polychrome on the second floor. It was opened as a hotel in 2007 and has been named the best luxury hotel in Poland. The palace is perfectly situated to explore Krakow as it is within walking distance of a number of important attractions, including the Czartoryski Museum, the Collegium Maius building of Jagiellion University, the Dominican Church, the Franciscan Church and the Barbakan fortress. The palace windows also provide an exceptional view of St. Mary’s Basilica, Cloth Hall, St Wojciech Church and the Adam Mickiewicz monument.
Practical Info
The Bonerowski Palace is located in the center of Krakow at the corner of Sw. Jana Street and the Old Market Square. It features 15 guest rooms and apartments, and nightly prices range from around $150 for a deluxe room to more than $300 for an apartment.
Address: świętego Jana 4, Kraków, Poland
Admission: Varies
From $ 17
Archdiocesan Museum
The Archdiocesan Museum of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was originally founded in 1905, although not opened to the public until 1994. It was created to commemorate and advise the public of the artistic legacy of the Krakow bishopric. The buildings at 19 and 21 Kanonicza street that house the museum date to the late 14th century and today contains more than 600 works of art displayed in 16 rooms. The late Pope John Paul II, formerly known as Karol Wojtyla, resided there once as a young priest and again when he was the Archbishop of Krakow. The museum was named after him in 2005 and visitors are able to see the room where he lived from 1958 to 1967, as well as many of his personal effects, including his skis.
Museum displays showcase a variety of sacral art from the 13th to 18th centuries, including religious artifacts, sculptures and paintings. There is also a treasury of gifts presented to Archbishop from foreign heads-of-state and a set of furniture from 1905. Temporary exhibitions occasionally feature the works of contemporary artists.
Practical Info
The museum is open is located at ulitsa Kanonicza 19-21 and admission for adults is $1.50. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Address: Kanonicza 19, Krakow, Poland
Hours: Tues-Fri 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat-Sun 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Admission: $1.50
From $ 2
Ghetto Heroes Square
In March 1941, thousands of Krakow’s Jews were forcibly moved and incarcerated within the Podgórze ghetto south of Kazimierz. Plac Zgody, a large square in the heart of the ghetto, was the departure point during World War II for Jews boarding trains to Paszów, Auschwitz and various other camps. It has since been renamed Ghetto Heroes Square in honor of the Jewish deportees.
Today the entire square serves as a memorial to the Krakow Jews. Designed by local architects Piotr Lewicki and Kazimierz Latak, the memorial comprises 70 empty chairs placed at regular intervals throughout the open space — a chilling reminder of the furniture, luggage and other personal belongings that littered the square after the final deportations and razing of the ghetto in 1942 and 1943.
Practical Info
Visit at night, and you might see candles placed by locals as a mark of respect for lives lost.
Address: Plac Bohaterow Getta, Krakow, Poland
From $ 10
Kazimierz (Jewish District)
Krakow’s Jewish Quarter—the Kazimierz—has been the heart of the city’s Jewish community since medieval times. Traces of its turbulent past remain, but today it’s reinvented itself as a thriving cultural hub, where historic synagogues and museums sit side by side with art galleries, cocktail bars, bold street art, and vintage boutiques.
The Basics
A sightseeing tour of Krakow isn’t complete without a visit to the former Jewish district, and the best way to explore Kazimierz is on foot. Learn more about Krakow’s Jewish history and visit filming locations from Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning Schindler's List on a guided walking tour, join a food tasting tour and sample the quarter’s famous street food, or explore by Segway, bike, or in a classic Trabant car.
For a more personalized experience, opt for a small-group or private tour, visit independently as part of a hop-on hop-off bus tour, or choose a tour that includes other attractions, such as Wawel Hill, Wieliczka Salt Mine, or Oskar Schindler’s Factory.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Tourist Information Center on Jozefa Street offers maps of Kazimierz and advice on exploring the area.
- Most of the main attractions of Kazimierz are wheelchair accessible, but some of the cobblestone lanes and squares might be tricky to navigate.
- If visiting during the cold winter months, dress appropriately with boots, hats, and gloves to help keep you warm.
How to Get There
Kazimierz is located within the Historic Centre of Krakow, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the north bank of the Vistula River, opposite the Podgórze neighborhood. It’s possible to walk from the Old Town (around a 15- to 20-minute walk), or else the closest tram stations are Miodowa and Stradom. The closest train station is Kraków Zabłocie on the south bank of the river.
When to Get There
Kazimierz is atmospheric both by day and night, and many visitors opt to return in the evening hours to experience the nightlife. The district is at its busiest during the peak summer season, but other popular times to visit are during the holidays, when it hosts one of Krakow’s most popular Christmas markets, or in June for the annual Jewish Culture Festival.
A Walking Tour of Kazimierz
The many historic landmarks, shops, and bars of Kazimierz are easily explored on foot, starting with a stroll down Szeroka Street, where you’ll find the Remuh Synagogue, the Remuh Jewish Cemetery, and the Old Synagogue. Nearby, pay a visit to the 19th-century Tempel Synagogue, the Galicia Museum, and New Square (Plac Nowy), which hosts a lively weekend market and is just a couple of blocks from the magnificent Corpus Christi Church.
Address: Krakow 31-055, Poland
Admission: Free
From $ 10
Old Synagogue (Stara Synagoga)
Built during the fifteenth century blending German and Bohemian Gothic architectural styles, the Old Synagogue (Stara Synagoga) is the oldest surviving synagogue in Poland. The structure was rebuilt in 1570 by Italian architect Mateo Gucci, who added a Renaissance aesthetic, and was subsequently renovated several times throughout the early twentieth century. During World War II, Germans took over the building and used it as a warehouse, during which time the furnishings and the ceiling were destroyed.
Today, the reconstructed synagogue houses a Jewish history and culture museum; the collection includes Jewish ceremonial items, Ark curtains, Torah adornments and holiday costumes and craft items, as well as a permanent exhibit on family and private life.
Practical Info
An English audio guide with descriptions of some of the collection’s most fascinating objects is available at the ticket desk for an additional fee.
Address: 24 Szeroka Street, Krakow, Poland
Hours: Monday - 10am to 2pm; Tuesday to Sunday - 9am to 5pm
Admission: zł 10
From $ 3
Remuh Synagogue (Synagoga Remuh)
Remuh Synagogue (Synagoga Remuh), the smallest of the historic synagogues in Krakow’s historic Kazimierz district, was founded by Israel ben Josef in honor of his son, Rabbi Moses Isserles. The Jewish community began worshipping in the synagogue in 1558, and it’s one of only two active synagogues in the city, as well as the site of the last well-preserved Renaissance Jewish cemetery in all of Europe (Rabbi Moses Isserles is buried there).
Like many of Krakow’s religious buildings, Remuh Synagogue was used as a storehouse by Germans during World War II and looted of its ceremonial objects and furnishings, though the building itself was spared. The cemetery houses some of Poland’s oldest surviving tombstones.
Practical Info
Men are required to cover their heads with a skull cap or other head gear, and women should have their shoulders covered when visiting the synagogue.
Address: Szeroka 40, Krakow, Poland
Hours: Sun-Fri 9am to 6pm
Admission: zl 5
From $ 17
Oskar Schindler's Factory
A wealthy German and member of the Nazi Party, Oskar Schindler bought an enamel factory in Krakow following the German invasion of Poland during World War II. By insisting that his Jewish employees were vital to the workforce and often advocating for them, he saved more than 1,000 people from death. Today, Schindler's Factory, part of the City of Krakow Historical Museum, houses a highly emotive, interactive, and visually stunning permanent exhibition on the Nazi occupation of Krakow.
The Basics
Within the Schindler Factory, a series of exhibits tell the story of the Nazi occupation of Krakow from 1938 to 1944. Plan to spend up to two hours going through the exhibits. You can visit the Schindler Factory independently or stop by as part of a Krakow walking tour, a film sites walking tour, or a Jewish heritage tour. To see more, book a combo package that includes a guided tour to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum and a two-day museum pass that offers admission to the Schindler Factory.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Admission is free on Mondays, but entry and hours are limited.
- It's best to book tickets in advance online, as same-day tickets may not be available.
- Note that the Schindler Factory closes early on the first Monday of the month.
- The last tickets are sold an hour and a half before closing time.
- English explanations are available throughout the museum.
How to Get to Oskar Schindler's Factory
The Schindler Factory is located on Lipowa Street, several miles southeast of Krakow's Old Town. If you are not visiting on a tour, public transport is available by bus or tram. Take the bus to the Krakowska Akademia stop on Herlinga Grudzinskiego street, or take tram 7, 13, or 24 to Ghetto Heroes Square (Plac Bohaterow Getta).
When to Get There
The Schindler Factory is open throughout the year, with extended hours from April 1 to Oct. 31. It is busiest on weekends and holidays.
Krakow's Jewish Heritage and Schindler's List
To learn more about Krakow's Jewish heritage and the significance of Oskar Schindler's actions during World War II, visit the Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz) and view the 33 memorial chairs in Ghetto Heroes Square, which symbolize the tragedy of the Holocaust. Also check out the Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery, the oldest in the city, and stroll along Szeroka Street, the heart of the Kazimierz, to see remnants of the old ghetto wall. Finally, follow in the Schindler's footsteps and visit several real-life filming locations used for Schindler's List, the 1993 Steven Spielberg film that immortalized him.
Address: 4 Lipowa Street, Krakow 30-702, Poland
Admission: Varies
From $ 9
Pieskowa Skala Castle
One of only three castles in Poland that remain completely intact, the Renaissance Pieskowa Skała is on the Eagles’ Nest Trail, a scenic route that wends past medieval castles and watchtowers built as defense strongholds between Częstochowa and Krakow in Malopolska.
Located in Ojców National Park and surrounded by beautiful formal knot gardens, the castle is one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Poland. Although it was a defensive fortification of Casimir the Great in the 14th century, the castle acquired its present beautiful façade two hundred years later, when the two-story, balconied loggia, the onion-topped clock tower, a chapel and an arcaded courtyard were added. Nevertheless, from the rear, the castle still resembles the medieval fortress of its beginnings, standing proudly on its rocky outcrop with austere walls overlooking the Prądnik River Valley.
The castle now houses three small museums, one of Polish history and two of art, all of which allow visitors to gain a glimpse of the lavishly decorated interiors, including artwork on loan from Wawel Castle in Krakow. The Maczuga Herkulesa (Hercules’s Club) limestone pinnacle stands nearby in Ojców National Park.
Practical Info
The Pieskowa Skala Castle is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., on Fridays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and on the weekends from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Admission to all three museums costs18PLN, while concessions cost 11PLN and parking at the castle costs 6.50PLN.
Address: Ojcow National Park, Krakow 32-045, Poland
Admission: 18PLN
From $ 60
CRICOTEKA Museum of Tadeusz Kantor
Krakow's CRICOTEKA Museum is a theater, exhibition space and bookshop dedicated to a bizarre brand of experimental theater and the local man who created it in 1955: avant-garde and controversial playwright, designer, director and artist Tadeusz Kantor. Visitors to the museum will walk through bizarre theater set designs with spooky mannequins, marionettes and costumes on display. There is also a gallery showing Kantor’s work in Ulica Sienna, which housed his theater company Cricot 2, as well as frequent temporary exhibitions of art inspired by his ideas.
A visit to the museum provides a change from the historical monuments and buildings of Krakow, showing a more contemporary side of the city. Visitors will enjoy the modern architecture of the museum—a former power station turned riverfront exhibition space with a rusted metal and black glass exterior—and great views of the city and Vistula River.
Having moved its headquarters to the Podgórze district in 2014, the museum offers a modern piece of Polish cultural history in a clean, new and rarely crowded facility worth at least an hour's visit. Enjoy free admission to the museum and 40 other city attractions with a Krakow Museum and Transport Official Pass, including free, unlimited public transportation.
The CRICOTEKA Museum of Tadeusz Kantor is located at Ulica Nadwiślańska 2–4, in the Podgórze district of Krakowa on the banks of the Vistula River. It is accessible by trams 3, 9, 19, 24 and 50, alighting at Podgórze.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 7pm, and is closed on Monday. Admission is 10 PLN for adults; 5 PLN for seniors & students; and 15 PLN for family tickets. There is free entry on Tuesday. Visitors holding a Krakow Museum and Transport Official Pass are guaranteed free entry.
Address: Ulica Nadwiślańska 2–4, Podgórze, Krakow 30-527, Poland
Hours: Tue–Sun: 11am–7pm
Admission: Varies
From $ 29
Great Barbican
In 1499 Krakow was a wealthy city under constant threat of attack, especially from the rampaging Ottomans. So they made themselves into a fortress. The Great Barbican is both the principal entry point to the city and a massive seven turreted point of defense. These days it looks like a fairytale city gate, back then it was either a massive relief to reach it with your wagons intact, or a deterrent to your planned attack on the city.
The actual gate to the city was St Florian's gate, linked to the Barbican by a covered passageway. But the Barbican and the series of moats and walls which lead away from it, ringing the city, were the first point of entry to Krakow in the Middle Ages. Today, you still enter the Old Town of the city through the impressive Barbican.
The actual gate to the city was St Florian's gate, linked to the Barbican by a covered passageway. But the Barbican and the series of moats and walls which lead away from it, ringing the city, were the first point of entry to Krakow in the Middle Ages. Today, you still enter the Old Town of the city through the impressive Barbican.
Practical Info
Entry to the Barbican is included in the ticket for Brama Floriana gate tower and the other medieval fortifications. You can walk the remaining city walls.
Address: Floriańska 55, Krakow 31-041, Poland
From $ 10
Home Army Museum (Muzeum Armii Krajowej)
Opened in 2000 in a handsome, red-brick former Austrian barrack dating from 1911, the Home Army Museum is a vital stop for anyone interested in Poland's role in World War II. The museum chronicles the story of the Polish Underground Movement and its armed resistance through to its official disbanding in 1945. While it operated, the Home Army was the most effective underground organization in occupied Europe and contributed significantly to the Allied war effort.
Among nearly 20,000 artifacts on display—mostly donated from veteran resistance fighters or their families and including propaganda posters, weapons, uniforms, memorabilia and documents—the museum displays an enormous collection of personal testaments, graphic images, documentaries and live war footage shot during WWII, all exhibited with the aid of innovative multimedia and interactive displays.
Entrance to the Home Army Museum is free with a Krakow museum and transport pass, which includes unlimited public transportation and admission to the city's top museums.
Practical Info
The Home Army Museum is located a 10-minute walk northeast from Krakow's Old Town at Wita Stwosza 12. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am to 6pm, and is closed Monday.
Admission costs 11 PLN for adults; 6 PLN for students and seniors; and is free on Sunday. Visitors holding a Krakow Museum and Transport Official Pass are guaranteed free entry.
Address: Wita Stwosza 12, Krakow, Poland
Hours: Tue–Sun: 11am–6pm; Closed Mon
From $ 29
Hipolit House
The Hipolit House is a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, containing recreations of townhouse interiors from the 17th to early 19th century. The house represents a typical home in Krakow from this time period. The outside of the building has a grand facade with a central entrance hall. A narrow staircase takes visitors to the upper floors of the three story house. Visitors can still see carefully preserved stucco decoration by Baldassare Fontana from the late 17th century on the first floor.
The permanent exhibition, Bourgeois House, shows how the interiors of the homes changed over the centuries. Visitors can see from this exhibition how the former wealthy citizens of Krakow lived. Furniture, paintings, fabrics, decorations, antique clocks and watches, and a variety of other objects show how the inhabitants arranged their homes. Through these details, visitors can get a glimpse of what life was like for the upper class during the 17th to early 19th century.
Practical Info
The Hipolit House is located at Plac Mariacki 3 (St. Mary's Square 3). Opening hours are 10am to 5:30pm Wednesday to Sunday, April to October; 9am to 4pm Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, and 12pm to 7pm Thursday, November to March. Admission is 9 PLN.
Address: Plac Mariacki 3, Krakow, Poland
Hours: Vary
Admission: 9 PLN
From $ 29
Chocholów
Chocolow is a tiny village sitting on the border with Slovakia in southern Poland with a great view of the surrounding Tatras Mountains. Dating back to the 16th century, the village has long been home to the indigenous Goral people and today represents the most complete survival of a traditional Goral village. As such, it has the feeling of an open air museum, with one main street lined with traditional wooden houses. The houses are protected by the Tatra Museum in nearby Zakopane and cannot be altered. They are also kept in pristine condition, with annual cleaning and polishes. The home at #24 is said to have been made entirely from a single tree, and the home at #75 features a small museum about the 1846 uprising in Chocholow against Austrian rule.
The only non-wooden building in town is St. Hyacinth’s Church, a stone Gothic church that was built to replace a wooden one in the 19th century. Next to the church is a monument to the Chocholow insurgents from the 1846 uprising, from where a hiking trail begins leading up to Mount Gubalowka.
Practical Info
Chocholow is a main border crossing point with Slovakia. It can be visited as part of a day tour from Zakopane or Krakow and can be reached by regular bus connections from Krakow.
Address: Chocholów, Poland
From $ 44
Historical Museum of Krakow
With 14 outposts scattered across the city, Krakow’s Historical Museum (Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa) is headquartered at Krzysztofory Palace in the Old Town’s central square of Rynek Główny. This glorious 17th-century Baroque townhouse and its ornate stucco decor has been refurbished, and now houses a permanent exhibition on the urban development of the city. Look out for the portraits of civic leaders and a famous collection of traditional Krakovian Christmas cribs (called szopki in Polish). Another recent addition is the museum store full of beautiful coffee-table books and textiles.
Branches of the museum include the interactive displays of the Rynek Underground (Podziemia Rynku), also in the Rynek Główny; the Oskar Schindler Factory; the Barbican; the Old Synagogue in Ulica Szeroka and the Communist-built suburban town of Nowa Huta. There are several themed cycling trails— bikes can be borrowed from the museums—and walking routes uniting the venues across the city; the most popular of these is the Memory Trail, which incorporates the Schindler Factory, Eagle Pharmacy and the former Gestapo headquarters in Pomorska Street. Together these three permanent exhibitions unfold the story of Krakow during World War II and the subsequent Soviet Occupation.
Explore the museum on a two-hour guided tour of Oskar Schindler's Factory Museum or visit multiple branches at your leisure with a two-day hop on, hop off bus tour including museum admission.
Practical Info
The Historical Museum of Krakow includes 14 outposts around the city. Its main location is in Krzysztofory Palace in Old Town's central square, Rynek Główny. Since Old Town is pedestrianized, the museum is best accessed on foot.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5:30pm. Admission is 12 PLN for adults; 8 PLN for students and seniors; and 24 PLN for families. Admission and opening hours to other museum branches vary according to venue.
Entry to all is free with the Krakow Museums and Transport Official Pass.
Address: Krzysztofory Palace: Rynek Główny 35, Krakow, Poland
Hours: Tue–Sun: 10am–5.30pm
Admission: Varies
From $ 12
Ghetto Eagle Pharmacy Museum
Tadeusz Pankiewicz’s pharmacy in the heart of Podgórze ran quite smoothly until 1941 when the Nazis closed off the surrounding area and created a ghetto for the Jewish community. And although Pankiewicz was offered to move the Aryan side of the city at the time, he chose to stay in the ghetto, where he was able to supply the residents with medication and various pharmaceutical products that were not only used for health reasons but also to help them mislead the Gestapo; for example, many residents used hair dyes to disguise their identity, or even tranquilizers to keep children quiet during raids. The pharmacy itself was often used as a shelter to Jews who escaped deportation to the camps.
The pharmacy is now part of the Krakow Historical Museum and has been restored to its wartime appearance. Multimedia exhibits and various artifacts, as well as numerous testimonials from Holocaust survivors and Poles, inform visitors about the reality of life in the ghetto and the pharmacy’s role in a very intimate, hands-on way.
Practical Info
The Ghetto Eagle Pharmacy Museum is located at Bohaterów Getta 18, just south of Krakow’s historical center. It is open from 10 AM to 2 PM on Mondays, and from 9 AM to 5 PM on every other day of the week. Last entrance is 30 minutes before closing. The museum is closed every second Tuesday of the month. Admission is 10 złoty per adult, 8 złoty per child or 20 złoty per family. Entry is free of charge on Mondays.
Address: plac Bohaterów Getta 18, Kraków 30-001, Poland
Hours: Mon 10am-2pm, Tue-Sun 9am-5pm
Admission: Adult 10 złoty, Child 8 złoty
From $ 3
Galicia Jewish Museum
Entirely dedicated to honoring Holocaust victims and celebrating Jewish culture of the former Austro-Hungarian region of Galicia through photographs, this museum features poignant and contemporary exhibits that will leave no one indifferent. It highlights a time in Poland when the Jewish community flourished, choosing to focus on what was and what remains, rather than on what was annihilated. The main exhibition, called Traces of Memory, presents the work of photojournalist Chris Schwarz and depicts what is left of the Austro-Hungarian’s heritage through photographs of cemeteries, houses, synagogues and other structures that are still visible today, and that once were at the heart of the Galician Jewish community; it also features video testimony of survivors. Additionally, the Museum also hosts two to three temporary exhibitions as well as concerts and other commemorative events. Through its various exhibits, cultural center, and impressive Jewish library, the museum has been aspiring to transform the misconceptions about the Jewish heritage in Poland ever since it’s opening in 2004.
Practical Info
The Galicia Jewish Museum is located at Dajwór 18 in Kazimierz, Krakow’s Jewish quarter. It can be reached by taxi in 20 minutes, or by tramway from the city center via lines 3, 9, 19, 24 or 50. It is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, closed only on Yom Kippur and Christmas Day. Entry costs 15 złoty per adult, 10 złoty per student and 12 złoty per senior.
Address: Dajwór 18, Krakow, Poland
Hours: Daily from 10 AM to 6 PM, closed only on Yom Kippur and Christmas Day.
Admission: 15 złoty per adult, 10 złoty per student and 12 złoty per senior.
From $ 5
Ethnographic Museum of Krakow
Found in buzzing Kazimierz’s former town hall—itself a creamy-hued Renaissance masterpiece—Krakow’s superb Ethnographic Museum (Muzeum Etnograficzne) should be on everyone’s itinerary. The museum covers the history and culture of rustic Poland through the ages, with detailed reconstructions of 19th-century peasant rooms, schoolrooms and rural kitchens. The museum also has a fine collection of traditional musical instruments, colorful folk costumes and day-to-day utensils used in leather making, wood carving and farming. The highlight of a visit, however, is the display of ornately decorated Nativity cribs called szopki, which are traditionally painted red, green and gold and resemble multi-tiered Orthodox churches.
New permanent exhibitions are being curated, including displays on traditional Polish rituals such as the painting of Easter eggs and the delicate folding of paper flowers; another recent addition on the second floor of the museum contain more than 300 pieces of art spanning the last five centuries. A separate gallery for temporary exhibitions is found at Ulica Krakowska 46, which recently hosted an in-depth exploration of the customs and traditions of Polish weddings.
Practical Info
The Ethnographic Museum of Krakow is located a 20-minute walk from the city's Old Town, at Plac Wolnica 1. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 7pm, and is closed Monday.
Admission is 13 PLN for adults; 7 PLN for students and seniors; and 23 PLN for families. Visit the Ethnographic Museum for free with a Krakow museum and transport pass, which includes unlimited public transportation and admission to the city's top museums, like Rynek Underground and Oskar Schindler's Factory.
The museum is accessible by public transport, taking tram 6, 8, 10 or 13 to Ulica Wawrzyńca.
Address: Plac Wolnica 1, Poland
Hours: Tue–Sun: 10am–7pm
Admission: Varies
From $ 29
Cloth Hall
The focal building of Krakow’s fanciful Main Square (Rynek Główny), the Cloth Hall has stood in the same spot in various forms for about 800 years but was originally built to house the local textile traders. From its humble beginnings as a small open-air market, the Renaissance-style hall is now 354 feet (108 meters) long and hosts Krakow’s biggest and best souvenir market, with stalls on the ground floor selling painted eggs, amber jewelry, wooden puppets and organic goods. The hall is gloriously floodlit by night.
On the first floor of the Cloth Hall is the charming, revamped Gallery of 19-Century Polish Art (Galeria Sztuki Polskiej XIX wieku w Sukiennicach). It reopened in 2010 after an extensive facelift, and its artwork hangs in elegant Renaissance salons. The highlights are the two massive satirical works by Polish nationalist artist Jan Matejko.
Well below ground and actually constructed underneath the Cloth Hall, a fairly new addition to Krakow’s museum scene is the Podziemia Rynku (Rynek Underground). Romping through Krakow’s turbulent backstory from prehistory to modern day, the high-tech museum uses interactive displays, special effects, informative touchscreens and holograms to engage the public. After some five years of construction, during which time the Main Square was partially under cover, the museum finally opened in 2010.
Practical Info
Cloth Hall is located in Krakow’s Main Square. It is open daily from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., while the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Admission to the gallery costs 12PLN. Rynek Underground opens at 10 a.m. daily but is closed every first Tuesday of each month. Admission costs 19PLN.
Address: Rynek Główny 1-3, Krakow, Poland
Admission: 19PLN
From $ 6