Emigration Museum in Gdynia

The Emigration Museum in Gdynia is the only museum in Poland devoted entirely to Polish emigration, set in the historic Maritime Station on the port's French Quay. Before World War II, transatlantic liners left from here for New York and South America. Today a modern exhibition traces two centuries of Poles leaving home for work, safety or freedom – a story that will resonate with many visitors from the US, Canada and the UK whose families have Polish roots.

The Maritime Station

The modernist Maritime Station opened on December 8, 1933, at the entrance to Gdynia's port. It was the home base of the Gdynia-America Line, whose ships sailed to New York and South America; famous liners such as MS Piłsudski and MS Batory docked alongside. An Allied air raid in 1943 destroyed part of the passenger hall, and the damage was never fully repaired for decades. Restoration was completed in 2014, bringing back the original shape and the eagle reliefs on the facade. The museum opened on May 16, 2015, and by April 2024 about 640,000 people had seen its permanent exhibition.

What to see

The permanent exhibition covers more than 2,500 m² (27,000 sq ft) and follows emigration from Polish lands from the 19th century to today. Its storyline follows a family setting off for the United States around 1900 – leaving home, crossing the ocean and starting over. A section on Polish transatlantic shipping features a model of MS Batory. Fall 2026 temporary exhibitions include "Carboland," about Poles who worked in French and Belgian coal mines between the wars.

If you are tracing family history, ask about the museum's Emigrant Archive project, which collects personal stories, letters and photos.

Visiting tips

Allow 1.5–2 hours. A paid audio guide app (18 PLN per code; bring headphones) is available in English, Polish, German, French, Spanish and Swedish. The museum works well with teenagers and adults; younger kids may enjoy selected parts. There is a café on site, and the glass-walled building looks straight onto the port – cruise ships dock at the adjacent quay.

Is it worth visiting? Absolutely, especially if you have Polish ancestry or an interest in migration history; it is one of the best modern museums on the Polish coast.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• Closed Mondays; Tuesday noon–8 pm; Wednesday–Sunday 10 am–6 pm. Last admission and ticket sales one hour before closing.
• Tickets: 28 PLN regular, 20 PLN reduced, 74 PLN family (2 adults + up to 4 children aged 7–18).
• Free entry to the permanent exhibition every Wednesday (pick up tickets at the desk).
• Address: ul. Polska 1, Gdynia; phone +48 58 670 41 50.

How to get there

The museum sits in the port at ul. Polska 1, about 2 km from Gdynia Główna station and Kościuszko Square – a pleasant walk or a short city bus ride. Gdynia is about 30 minutes from central Gdańsk on the SKM commuter train, and Gdańsk airport (around 23 km) has PKM trains to Gdynia Główna. There is parking by the building.