MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków

MOCAK, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków (say "MO-tsak"), is the city's leading venue for art of recent decades. It stands in Zabłocie, a former industrial area across the Vistula, on the grounds of Oskar Schindler's wartime enamel factory – the factory made famous by Schindler's List. A raw concrete-and-glass building joined to old factory halls houses the museum's own collection and changing exhibitions, making it an easy add-on to a visit to the Schindler Factory museum next door.

History and architecture

The museum was founded on February 1, 2010, and opened to the public on May 19, 2011. The building was designed by Italian architect Claudio Nardi, who won a 2007 competition. Its new wing was built onto the surviving factory sheds on Lipowa Street; the blank concrete wall with the MOCAK lettering has become a landmark of the district. The complex covers about 10,000 m², with nearly 4,000 m² of exhibition space, and cost more than 70 million PLN, much of it EU-funded.

What you'll see

MOCAK focuses on art of the last two decades, shown against the background of postwar avant-garde and conceptual art. The MOCAK Collection includes works by more than 200 artists, among them Marina Abramović, Paweł Althamer, Zofia Kulik and Krzysztof Wodiczko. Alongside it, several temporary exhibitions run each year – check mocak.pl for the current program. The building also has a library, an art bookshop and a café. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

Is it worth visiting?

If you enjoy contemporary art, yes – it is one of Poland's key museums in the field, and a welcome counterpoint to Kraków's medieval and World War II sites. It is all indoors, so it works well on a rainy or cold day. According to the museum, the building is fully accessible, with a wheelchair available at reception and baby-changing facilities. Children under 7 enter free with an adult.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026 (mocak.pl):

• Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11 am–7 pm, ticket sales until 6:30 pm; closed Mondays. No separate winter schedule is published – check the website around the holidays.
• Tickets: regular 30 PLN, reduced 20 PLN (15 PLN while exhibitions are being changed), family 65 PLN (up to five people); 15 PLN combined rate with a Schindler Factory ticket.
• Thursdays: free admission to the MOCAK Collection exhibition (collect a free pass); reduced tickets for other shows.
• Contact: +48 12 263 40 00, recepcja@mocak.pl.

Cards are accepted; prices are in Polish złoty (PLN).

How to get there

MOCAK is at Lipowa 4, about 3 km from the Main Market Square and roughly 10 minutes on foot from Ghetto Heroes Square. The most convenient tram stop is "Plac Bohaterów Getta", a short walk away. From Kraków Airport (Balice), about 15 km west of the center, take the train to Kraków Główny and continue by tram or taxi. There is no museum car park; the area is a paid parking zone and coaches cannot enter Lipowa Street.

Nearby

Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory (Museum of Kraków) is right next door. A few minutes away are the Under the Eagle Pharmacy and Ghetto Heroes Square, and the Bernatek Footbridge leads across the Vistula to Kazimierz.