Warsaw Museums You Need to See on Your Next Visit to Poland's Capital

The best Warsaw museums, mapped

POLIN

Located in downtown Warsaw’s Muranów neighborhood, The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews commemorates the rich and longstanding cultural heritage of Polish Jews. The museum’s core exhibition encompasses a wide range of exhibits, interactive installations, and multimedia presentations that capture more than a thousand years of Jewish history in Poland, from medieval times to the present day. One highlight of the museum is a recreation of the wooden ceiling of the lost 17th-century Gwoździec synagogue that was damaged during World War I and completely destroyed during World War II. Overall, the displays that delve into the Holocaust and postwar Jewish life in Poland are among the most thought-provoking and dialogue-starting exhibitions on offer at the museum.

Address: Mordechaja Anielewicza 6, 00-157 Warszawa, Poland

Hours: Mon 10 AM-6 PM, closed Tues, Wed-Fri 10 AM-6 PM, Sat 10 AM-8 PM, Sun 10 AM-6 PM

Tickets: General admission 45 PLN ($10), reduced ticket 35 PLN ($8.50), groups of 10 or more 30 PLN ($7) per person, students with student cards 1 PLN ($0.25)

Warsaw Rising Museum

Located in Warsaw’s modern, commercial Wola district, the Warsaw Rising Museum honors Poland’s resilience and determination during World War II with a focus on the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 — one of the war’s largest underground combat operations. As you navigate through some 30,000 square feet of exhibition space, you’ll encounter an impressive array of multimedia presentations, personal testimonies, and historical artifacts, including photographs, films, and sound recordings that narrate the tales of resistance fighters’ struggle for independence. Best of all, the Warsaw Rising Museum takes a participatory approach to its displays, which generally encourage visitors to engage and interact with the museum’s content.

Address: Grzybowska 79, 00-844 Warszawa, Poland

Hours: Mon 8 AM-6 PM, closed Tues, Weds-Fri 8 AM-6 PM, Sat-Sun 10 AM-6 PM

Tickets: General admission 25 PLN ($6), reduced ticket 20 PLN ($5), guided groups 15 PLN ($3.50) per person

National Museum in Warsaw

Warsaw’s National Museum is one of the city’s largest and most significant cultural landmarks, housing over 830,000 exhibits and a world-class collection that spans from antiquity to the present day. The museum’s diverse offerings include ancient Egyptian and Greek artifacts, including a treasure trove of Greek inscriptions that were unearthed during Polish excavations in Old Dongola, as well as a remarkable collection of Coptic textiles that testifies to the intricate craftsmanship of ancient civilizations. Visual artworks, of course, are another focus, notably the pieces on display by famous 19th-century Polish painter Jan Matejko. Beyond its permanent collections, the museum also hosts rotating exhibitions covering topics such as Nordic paintings, Polish female sculptors, and photography retrospectives, as well as educational programs.

Address: Al. Jerozolimskie 3, 00-495 Warszawa, Poland

Hours: Closed Mon, Tues-Thurs 10 AM-6 PM, Fri 10 AM-8 PM, Sat-Sun 10 AM-6 PM

Tickets: General admission 25 PLN ($6), reduced ticket 10 PLN ($2.50), groups of 10 or more 10 PLN ($2.50), youth and students 25 and under 1 PLN ($0.25), free admission for children up to age seven

Copernicus Science Centre

Warsaw’s Copernicus Science Centre is positioned on the banks of the Vistula River under the Świętokrzyski Bridge. As one of the largest science centers in Europe, it offers visitors an immersive and interactive journey into the realm of science across six interdisciplinary sections, with over 400 exhibits that are designed to engage visitors in hands-on experiments and explorations. Topics that the exhibits explore range from robotics, to the sensory experiences of animals, to electronics. The science center also hosts a variety of films, shows, and concerts in its planetarium, as well as summer classes that are educational for visitors of all ages.

Address: Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie 20, 00-390 Warszawa, Poland

Hours: Closed Mon, Tues-Thurs 9 AM-6 PM, Fri 9 AM-8 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM-7 PM

Tickets: General admission 40 PLN ($9.65) on weekdays and 42 PLN ($10.15) on weekends and holidays, reduced ticket 28 PLN ($6.75) on weekdays and 29 PLN ($7) on weekends and holidays

Fryderyk Chopin Museum

Situated within Warsaw’s elegant Ostrogski Palace, the Fryderyk Chopin Museum is a sanctuary dedicated to the life and works of the renowned Polish-born composer Chopin. The museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts, such as original manuscripts of Chopin’s compositions, personal letters, and belongings — including facsimile editions of Chopin’s “Etude in F minor” and “Impromptu in C sharp minor” that offer an invaluable insight into the creative process of the 19th-century musical genius. The museum also exhibits the archive of Professor Jan Hoffman, a significant collection that encapsulates the history of several music organizations, including the Society of Fryderyk Chopin.

Address: Pałac Gnińskich, Okólnik 1, 00-368 Warszawa, Poland

Hours: Tues-Sun 10 AM-6 PM

Tickets: General admission 25 PLN ($6), reduced ticket 15 PLN ($3.50), groups 20 PLN ($5), reduced group ticket 10 PLN ($2.50)

Museum World of Illusion

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Located in the heart of Warsaw’s Old Town, right on the Market Square, the Museum World of Illusion is an interactive space with educational and entertaining exhibits that challenge perceptions and engage the mind. Visitors are invited to explore over 60 attractions, including mirrors, holograms, and other illusions, each designed to demonstrate how easily our senses can be deceived. The museum encourages hands-on engagement, with visitors able to touch the displays, experiment with the exhibits, and capture memorable photos. The museum is relatively small but well worth an hour of your time as you explore Warsaw’s Old Town, whether you’re traveling with kids or simply have a curiosity about the workings of the human mind.

Address: Rynek Starego Miasta 21, 00-272 Warszawa, Poland

Hours: Mon-Fri 10 AM-8 PM, Sat-Sun 10 AM-9 PM

Tickets: General admission 40 PLN ($10), reduced ticket for youth and students 30 PLN ($7.25), seniors ages 65 and over 32 PLN ($7.75), children ages 3-6 10 PLN ($2.50), free admission for children under three

Where to stay near Warsaw’s museums

Most of Warsaw’s most compelling, can’t-miss museums are concentrated around downtown Warsaw and the city center, from the Old Town to the Śródmieście, Muranów, and Wola areas. Below is a sneak peak at the hotel landscape in central Warsaw — all of which make museum-going and sightseeing in the city easy.

We hope you love the hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.