9 of the Best Museums in Krakow and How To Visit

While the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum may not be technically within Krakow itself—it’s an hour’s drive away from the city—it’s still an important part of Polish history and a must-see on any Krakow museum itinerary. Best visited as part of a guided tour with transport from Krakow, the museum (which includes Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II–Birkenau) offers a harrowing and important insight into concentration camps in Nazi-occupied Poland during the Holocaust.

Don’t miss: The nearby UNESCO World Heritage–listed Wieliczka Salt Mine (Kopalnia Soli). Many combined day tours include entry, transportation, and tours of both sites.

During WWII, Oskar Schindler, a wealthy German businessman, was responsible for saving the lives of more than 1,000 Jewish workers who were employed in his enamel factory. One of the must-see museums in Krakow, Oskar Schindler’s Factory (Fabryka Schindlera) is located inside the original factory and was the principal filming location for the Stephen Spielberg movie Schindler’s List. Tickets to this museum, part of the Historical Museum of Krakow, are released on a time-slot basis and usually sell out several days in advance. Opt for a skip-the-line ticket to avoid any disappointment.

Don’t miss: The Krakow Under Nazi Occupation 1939-1945 exhibition.

One of the most popular things to do in Krakow, Rynek Underground (Podziemia Rynku) is a subterranean marvel. Located directly underneath Krakow’s Main Market Square (Rynek Główny), the museum, which opened in 2010, uses holograms, projectors, screens, and even fog machines to take visitors on a journey back to what the square would have looked like 700 years ago. Learn more on a guided tour of the museum, which also includes fast-track entry and prebooked timed tickets.

Don’t miss: The medieval tracts exhibition in the Sukiennice Building, where visitors can walk over glass walkways that overlay original stretches of cobbled streets.

Housed in another part of Schindler’s old enamel factory, MOCAK seamlessly merges art, culture, and history, putting forward a rather convincing argument for the importance of art, especially in the post-war era. Dedicated to post-war avant-garde and conceptual art against the backdrop of world events, MOCAK features work from the 1970s onward, including several prominent Polish artists. Admission to the museum, which is closed on Mondays, is included in the Krakow City Pass.

Don’t miss: The Outdoor Exhibits from the MOCAK Collection, a series of permanent sculptures that bridge the gap between the world outside and the art inside the museum.

Founded in 1364, Krakow’s Jagiellonian University is one of the oldest universities in Central Europe, with notable alumni including Pope John Paul II and 15th-century astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus. Located in the oldest part of the university, the Collegium Maius, this revamped Gothic library-turned-museum is a real treat for lovers of history, science, and/or architecture. While the university’s exterior, which encompasses much of Krakow Old Town, is open to all, the University Museum can only be visited on Saturdays or as part of a private tour on weekdays.

Don’t miss: The Jagiellonian Globe, an early 16th-century mechanical gilded copper globe that was one of the first to feature the New World.

Despite being located in a rather unremarkable late-medieval period home, this small but quirky museum is listed at the top of many Krakow museum guides—and for good reason. As the only pharmacy in the Jewish ghetto during WWII, Eagle Pharmacy saved countless lives thanks to its Polish pharmacist, Tadeusz Pankiewicz, and his accomplices. A must-see spot on tours of Krakow’s Jewish district, the museum (also featured in Schindler's List) stands as both a symbol of resistance to Nazi occupation and a dedication to the development of pharmaceuticals over the ages.

Don’t miss: The “storage room,” which was used as an illicit meeting place and a secret shelter for hiding Jewish people during WWII.

Home to a plethora of Soviet-era Cold War jets and several pre–WWI planes (which were evacuated from Germany during WWII), the Polish Aviation Museum is not only one of the top museums in Krakow—it's also one of the top aviation museums in the world. While the aircraft is the main draw, its location at the now-decommissioned Kraków-Rakowice-Czyżyny Airport is also interesting; it started life as an Austro-Hungarian military airstrip in 1912. The museum, which is closed on Mondays, can be pretty popular. Make the most of your time with a skip-the-line ticket, which also includes entry to some of the city’s other museums.

Don’t miss: Along with planes, aircraft, gliders, and engines, the museum also features a jam-packed library and some incredible photographic archives.

The Archaeological Museum of Krakow has been a staple among Krakow cultural attractions since 1857, when its first exhibition—made up entirely of private donations from notable Polish families—was opened to much fanfare. Now the collection, which has expanded massively in the years since, covers everything from significant local archaeological finds to Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi and antique Peruvian tableware. Admission to the museum is included as part of the Krakow Museums and Transport Pass.

Don’t miss: The chance to learn about the region’s fascinating Neanderthal history in the recently revamped Prehistory and Middle Ages of Lesser Poland permanent collection.

There aren’t many museums in the world where you can play arcade games and relax with a beer, but that’s what makes the Krakow Pinball Museum extra special. Well, that and the fact that unlimited play—including on some games dating back to the 1930s—is included in your ticket price. Fancy your chances playing an opponent? Opt for a private guided tour of the museum, which also includes all your transportation and entry fees.

Don’t miss: Pinball not your jam? There are plenty of other options, including vintage favorites such as Space Invaders, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Frogger.