Olsztyn Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory

The Olsztyn Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory is one of the best family-friendly things to do in Olsztyn, the city where Nicolaus Copernicus once lived and worked. Opened in 1973, the planetarium's dome is a local landmark, but the building is currently being modernized. Visits now focus on the observatory in a striking red-brick water tower with a viewing terrace, the KosmoDome and the "Space Station" inside the Aura shopping mall. Here is what is actually open and how to plan your visit.

Is the Olsztyn Planetarium open?

Not the main building. The domed planetarium is undergoing a major renovation and expansion, estimated by the city in 2024 at about PLN 72 million. Plans include an interactive "lunar habitat" with a Moon rover simulator, announced for 2027. In 2026, according to the city, activities run mainly at:

• Astronomical Observatory and KosmoDome: ul. Żołnierska 13,
• Stacja Kosmos (Space Station): a mobile inflatable planetarium and lunar rover simulator in the Aura shopping mall (3rd level, by the Helios cinema), al. Piłsudskiego 16.

Full-dome shows in the large planetarium hall are not available in the 2026/27 season.

A bit of history

The planetarium opened on February 19, 1973, the 500th anniversary of Copernicus's birth. Architects Ludomir Gosławski and Janusz Miścicki designed a 15-meter (49-ft) dome over a 160-seat hall; the lobby features a colorful composition by London-based artist Stefan Knapp. A Carl Zeiss Jena star projector served until 2012, when a digital system replaced it.

The observatory occupies a water tower built in 1897 on St. Andrew's Hill, the highest point of old Olsztyn. It opened to the public in 1979 and, after a 2008 restoration, won a national award for well-kept heritage buildings.

What to see at the observatory

Guided tours last about 55 minutes and trace how humans have studied the sky, from Ptolemy and Copernicus to modern spectroscopy. Highlights include:

• a meteorite collection with fragments from Mars and Vesta and tiny samples of Moon rock from the Apollo 11 mission,
• looking at the Sun through a telescope in clear weather,
• a rooftop viewing terrace over the city,
• the Copernicus Lab, a 30-minute hands-on exhibit for up to 10 people,
• evening stargazing sessions with an astronomer when skies are clear.

The building has an elevator to every floor and the terrace, plus an accessible restroom. Tours are in Polish; check in advance whether English guiding is possible.

Tickets and opening times

As of October 2026 (official price list):

• Observatory tour: PLN 25 regular, PLN 20 reduced,
• Stargazing shows: PLN 30 / PLN 25; in October 2026 on Fridays at 6 pm and 7 pm and Saturdays at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, phone booking required (+48 89 650 04 40),
• Copernicus Lab: PLN 15 / PLN 10, weekends only, several entries between 10:15 am and 4:15 pm,
• KosmoDome, mobile planetarium, rover simulator: PLN 20 each,
• accompanying adult with a group: PLN 1.

The ticket office opens half an hour before the first tour or show. Exact tour times change by season, so check the calendar on planetarium.olsztyn.pl, especially in winter.

How to get there

Olsztyn is about 210 km (130 mi) north of Warsaw, roughly 2.5–3 hours by direct train; Olsztyn-Mazury Airport in Szymany is about an hour's drive away. For the observatory, take a tram (lines 1, 2, 3) or bus to the "Szpital Wojewódzki" stop, or use the "Planetarium" stop on al. Piłsudskiego. There is no parking at the tower; use the large lot on Plac Solidarności opposite the planetarium, under 10 minutes' walk away. Stacja Kosmos is inside the Aura mall, which has its own parking.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially with kids or on a rainy day, and the terrace view is a bonus. Combine it with a walk to the Old Town, the High Gate and the outside of Olsztyn Castle, which closed for restoration in September 2026.