Museum of Warsaw

The Museum of Warsaw (Muzeum Warszawy, pronounced "MOO-zeh-oom var-SHAH-vih") is the Polish capital's main city history museum, housed in eleven connected townhouses on the Old Town Market Square. Instead of a classic timeline, its main exhibition, "Warsaw Things," tells the story of the city through thousands of objects arranged in themed rooms, from archaeological finds to 20th-century souvenirs. It is one of the best places to understand how Warsaw changed over the centuries, and a rare chance to see inside the Old Town houses rebuilt after 1944.

Where it is

The museum occupies the north side of the Old Town Market Square in central Warsaw, about 10 km from Warsaw Chopin Airport. The Old Town around it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1980 as an exceptional example of a historic center almost completely reconstructed after its destruction in World War II.

History of the museum

The institution was founded in 1936 as the Museum of Old Warsaw. During the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 its building and much of its collection burned; looting and damp destroyed more. It was revived in 1948 as the Historical Museum of the City of Warsaw, the townhouses were rebuilt in 1948–1954, and the exhibition opened on January 17, 1955. It has used its current name since 2014.

The museum fills 11 townhouses: eight on the north side of the square (known locally as the Dekert side) and three on Nowomiejska Street. During renovation of the cellars in 2010–2012, workers found a hoard of 1,211 coins. After a full modernization, the main exhibition opened in May 2017 and was completed in June 2018.

What to see: "Warsaw Things"

The main exhibition has 21 themed rooms displaying more than 7,000 objects from a collection of about 300,000. Each room explores the city through a single type of object, such as silverware and tableware, portraits of Varsovians, views of the city, souvenirs, clothing, toys or shop signs. Your ticket also covers "Warsaw Data" and "The History of the Townhouses," which explains what the buildings on the square looked like before the war, how they were destroyed and how they were recreated.

Highlights include:

• The room of city views, with paintings and prints of Warsaw across the centuries.
• The silver room, with long cases of locally made silver and plated tableware.
• The cellars, with archaeological finds from the Old Town.
• The interiors themselves: ceilings, staircases and courtyards of the rebuilt houses.

The museum also mentions a viewpoint on levels 5–6, reachable only by stairs.

How long to spend here

The museum says a visit can take anything from under an hour to several hours. For the main exhibition, plan on 1.5–2 hours. An audio guide to "Warsaw Things" is included in the ticket, and there is a one-hour guided tour of the main exhibition every Sunday at 12:00 (check the language when booking). Older teens and adults (16+) can play the puzzle game "The Clockmakers' Cipher."

Families: there is a family room with toys and a rest area on level -1, plus a feeding and changing corner. Baby carriers are welcome, and so are dogs on a leash.

Accessibility: the wheelchair entrance is at Nowomiejska 8. The elevator goes up to the second floor, so levels -1 to +2 are accessible; higher floors are stairs only. Visitors with disabilities and one companion get in free.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

Permanent exhibition hours:

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 am–5 pm
• Thursday: 9 am–7 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 11 am–6 pm
• Monday: closed

Last entry is one hour before closing. The museum is closed on November 1 and 11, and December 24–26 and 31, worth noting for a winter trip.

Tickets (permanent exhibition): PLN 25 regular, PLN 18 reduced, PLN 50 family (up to 2 adults and 1–6 children). Temporary exhibitions cost PLN 20/15 and a combined ticket PLN 35/25. Admission to the permanent exhibition is free on Thursdays (temporary shows PLN 1). The Warsaw Pass gives a 30% discount. Buy tickets at the desk or at bilety.muzeumwarszawy.pl.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you want more than a stroll around the square. The object-based approach is unusual and works well even if you know little about Polish history, and Thursday's free entry makes it an easy add-on to an Old Town walk.

How to get there

The address is Rynek Starego Miasta 28–42 (main entrance at No. 42). The nearest metro station is Ratusz Arsenał on line M1, about 10–15 minutes on foot. From Castle Square it is a few minutes' walk. Traffic in the Old Town is restricted and central Warsaw is a paid parking zone, so use public transport. In winter, watch out for slippery cobblestones.

Branches and nearby

The museum has several branches, including the Museum of Warsaw's Praga District, the Museum of Pharmacy, the Museum of Wola, the Museum of Printing and a summer-only exhibition in the Barbican. Close by:

• Old Town Market Square with the Mermaid statue, right outside.
• The Barbican and city walls, about 150 m away.
• The New Town, a few minutes along Freta Street.
• The Royal Castle, about 300 m away.