Hevelianum
Science centre in a revitalised 19th-century fort on Góra Gradowa, with interactive exhibitions, a park and viewpoints.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The idea of creating a modern science centre in Gdańsk emerged in 1997, during the celebrations of the town’s millennium. It envisaged combining the historical heritage of Góra Gradowa with an educational offer. The centre, later named Hevelianum after the Gdańsk astronomer Jan Heweliusz, was the first in Europe to adapt historic military engineering structures into a centre for discovering knowledge.
The seat is in the revitalised buildings of the 19th-century fort: the South Caponier (Kaponiera Południowa), the Schronów Barracks (Koszary Schronowe), the Artillery Wagon House (Wozownia Artyleryjska) and underground powder magazines. The hill, roughly 50 m above sea level, covers more than 20 hectares and is surrounded by a park with viewpoints over the Old Town and the Main Town, including at the Millennium Monument (Pomnik Tysiąclecia).
Visitors learn about science under the principle “touch and check for yourself”. The interactive exhibitions deal with renewable energy, geography and nature, and logic puzzles. The institution also runs activities at the Spa House (Dom Zdrojowy) in Brzeźno, which serves as an ecological education centre, and is adapting the former hospital complex of Boże Ciało for exhibition purposes.
Highlights
- exhibition “Around the World” – an expedition across continents and climate zones
- exhibition “With Energy!” on renewable energy sources in the South Caponier
- exhibition “Puzzle” with logic puzzles and optical illusions
- 19th-century fortifications on Góra Gradowa
- viewpoints over the panorama of Gdańsk
- Creative Playground
Permanent exhibitions
- Dookoła Świata – Interactive geographical and natural-history expedition across continents and climate zones.
- Z Energią! – Interactive journey through the world of renewable energy sources in the South Caponier.
- Łamigłówka – Space full of logic puzzles, mathematical challenges and optical illusions.
- Founded
- 2008
- Operated by
- Hevelianum
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 20 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 15 zł |
| Groups | –A separate price list for school and institutional groups is available on the Hevelianum website. |
| Families | 80 złFamily ticket for a package of three exhibitions for three people; each additional person +PLN 20. |
| Package of three exhibitions: “Around the World”, “Puzzle”, “With Energy!” (regular) | 30 złReduced ticket PLN 25; tickets are valid from Tuesday to Sunday. |
| Single exhibition “Around the World” or “With Energy!” (regular) | 20 złReduced ticket PLN 15. |
| Escape room “Space Station. Enter the Game!” (2 people) | 180 złTicket for 3 people PLN 210, for 4 people PLN 240, for 5 people PLN 270; each additional person +PLN 20; Saturdays and Sundays only. |
| Workshop “Adventure on the Silver Globe” (child) | 25 złSupervisor PLN 10; Saturdays and Sundays only. |
The prices given (PLN 20 and PLN 15) apply to one interactive exhibition. Hevelianum honours, among others, the Nationwide and Gdańsk Large Family Card (Ogólnopolska i Gdańska Karta Dużej Rodziny), the Culture Card (Karta do Kultury; PLN 23 for three exhibitions), the Pomeranian Tourist Card (Pomorska Karta Turysty) and the Gdańsk Resident Card (Karta Mieszkańca Gdańska; one free entry per year, subject to availability). Detailed conditions for reductions are given on the museum’s website.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
The exhibitions “Hevelianum without Barriers”, “Around the World”, “With Energy!” (levels 0 and +1) and the Creative Playground are accessible to wheelchair users. Toilets for wheelchair users are in the Schronów Barracks, the Artillery Wagon House and the South Caponier. There are lifts and a hoist on site, and on the lower car park at ul. Gradowej 3 three spaces are marked for people with disabilities, with one wider space on the upper car park. The exhibition “Hevelianum without Barriers” is adapted to the needs of people with visual and hearing impairments; an easy-to-read text and a pre-visit guide for people on the autism spectrum are available.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | 80 zł · Family ticket for a package of three exhibitions for three people; each additional person +PLN 20. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Playground / play area
- Kids’ birthday parties
The exhibitions are based on the principle “touch and check for yourself”. The offer includes workshops for children, birthday parties at Hevelianum, escape rooms, outdoor games, the Creative Playground and a programme for the winter and summer holidays.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Hevelianum 01
Stops Dworzec PKP, Dworzec PKS, Hevelianum 01, Hevelianum 02 and Brama Oliwska (bus and tram); SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska) to the station Dworzec PKP (Gdańsk Główny).
By car
Paid parking
Lower car park at ul. Gradowej 3 (PLN 5.40 per hour, daily 7:00–20:00), upper car park at the parade ground (PLN 5.40 per hour, around the clock) and at ul. 3 Maja 9 (PLN 6.60 per hour, 7:00–20:00); for coaches PLN 20 per hour.
- Accessible parking
The hill can be reached by the steps next to the bus station, from the petrol station side at ul. Gradowa, or from the car park at ul. 3 Maja. On Góra Gradowa there is a MEVO bike station and bicycle racks.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
The Gradova restaurant (ul. Gradowa 8) offers 10% off dishes from the menu and soft drinks when a Hevelianum ticket is presented.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Hire of conference rooms and spaces on Góra Gradowa and at the Spa House in Brzeźno; rooms with multimedia equipment are available.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tickets can be bought online; they often sell out on rainy days. For visitors there are an outdoor game, a green walk (zielony spacernik) and a nature trail up the hill. |
