Muzeum Archeologiczne w Krakowie
The oldest archaeological museum in Poland, with an exhibition on the prehistory and the Middle Ages of Lesser Poland in a former monastery on ul. Senacka.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum was founded in 1850 as the Museum of Antiquities (Muzeum Starożytności) and is considered the oldest institution of its kind in Poland. Its first director was Gotfryd Ossowski. The collections were housed in turn in the building of the Jagiellonian Library and on ul. Sławkowska, and since 1967 they have occupied a complex at ul. Senacka 3.
The building stands on the site of a former church and Carmelite monastery, which later served as a court and a prison. Currently the exhibition part and the entrance zone from the side of ul. Poselska are being modernised, which is why only one permanent exhibition is available.
The collection includes, among other things, the Światowid from Zbruch. The museum also runs a branch in Nowa Huta-Branice, housed in a former manor-house granary, and a seasonal exhibition in the crypt of the St Adalbert Church (Kościół św. Wojciecha) on the Main Market Square.
Highlights
- Exhibition “Prehistory and the Middle Ages of Lesser Poland” – from the Neanderthals to medieval Kraków
- Tactile copies of artefacts and a guiding path through the exhibition
- Światowid from Zbruch in the museum’s collection
- Seasonal exhibition in the crypt of the St Adalbert Church on the Main Market Square
- Branch in Nowa Huta-Branice with a park open free of charge
Permanent exhibitions
- Pradzieje i średniowiecze Małopolski – The exhibition in its new form (since April 2024) tells the story of the region from the Neanderthals to medieval Kraków; there are tactile copies next to the exhibits.
- Tuż obok biło serce miasta. Historia kościoła św. Wojciecha – Seasonal exhibition in the crypt of the church on the Main Market Square, open from May to 17 October.
- Founded
- 1850
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 15 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 10 zł |
| Groups | –Organised groups must book their visit in advance. |
| Families | 45 złFamily ticket for a maximum of four people, including at least one child up to 18 years of age. |
| Holders of the Large Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny) | 10 zł |
| Opposition activists (promotional ticket) | 5 złOn presentation of a personal identity card. |
| Guided tour in Polish (on booking) | 85 złGroup price, in addition to tickets. |
| Guided tour in a foreign language (on booking) | 120 złGroup price, in addition to tickets. |
| Nowa Huta – Branice branch: permanent exhibition (standard) | 7 złReduced PLN 5; free admission on Mondays. |
| Crypt of the St Adalbert Church (standard) | 10 złLarge Family Card and reduced ticket PLN 6; free admission on Tuesdays. |
Free admission: Tuesday – free admission to the permanent exhibitions in the main building (entry passes can be collected at the ticket office).
The price list applies from 1 June 2026. Tickets are bought at the ticket office or online.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
The historic building is partly accessible to wheelchair users. The ticket office in the gate building has no access for a wheelchair – a wheelchair user can buy a ticket through staff by ringing the bell at the door. A lift leads to the second floor, where the cloakroom and the exhibition are; a guiding path runs along the whole length of the exhibition, and tactile copies of artefacts are placed next to each part. The toilet for people with disabilities is on the second floor. Assistance dogs may enter the exhibitions. The crypt of the St Adalbert Church and the Branice branch are not accessible to people with mobility disabilities.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | 45 zł · Family ticket for a maximum of four people, including at least one child up to 18 years of age. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Workshops and activities are prepared for children, for example “Poszukiwacze skarbów – pokój zagadek” (Treasure Hunters – Riddle Room), as well as “Urodziny w muzeum” (Birthdays in the Museum).
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Plac Wszystkich Świętych
The nearest tram stop is “Plac Wszystkich Świętych”; from there along ul. Grodzka towards Wawel to ul. Senacka.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Paid car parks are nearby (on the grounds of the Franciscan monastery and by the Radisson hotel); the museum lies in the paid parking zone, and cars cannot drive onto the museum grounds.
The museum is in the centre, near the Kraków Philharmonic.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Coat check
Cloakroom on the second floor, free of charge; coats, backpacks and large bags may be left there.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The museum offers the hire of rooms and the garden.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography is allowed for private use only, without tripod and flash; filming is prohibited. |
| Good to know | Food, drinks and animals (other than assistance dogs) are not allowed in the exhibition. Guided tours must be booked in advance. |
