Muzeum Ewolucji Instytutu Paleobiologii PAN
Museum in the Palace of Culture and Science with dinosaur skeletons from the Gobi Desert, finds from Krasiejów and an exhibition on human evolution.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Muzeum Ewolucji is run by the Institute of Palaeobiology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and its mission is to popularise knowledge about the evolution of life on Earth in an accessible way. The museum is housed in the historic halls of the Palace of Culture and Science, and the entrance leads through the foyer of the Palace of Youth from ul. Świętokrzyska.
The core of the palaeontological display consists of dinosaur skeletons found in the Gobi Desert in the 1960s and 1970s by Polish-Mongolian expeditions led by Prof. Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska. The largest hall is filled with the skeleton of Opisthocoelicaudia, a sauropod dinosaur, while a separate hall shows Tarbosaurus, an Asian relative of Tyrannosaurus, and Deinocheirus, known for its enormous forelimbs. The second thematic block consists of finds from the Triassic reptile and amphibian cemetery at Krasiejów near Opole, including Silesaurus.
The museum also displays the oldest known frog from the Kraków area, casts of flying reptiles and proto-birds, an artistic reconstruction of the australopithecine “Lucy”, and a collection of fossil hominin skulls. A new exhibition on evolution in the sea is under construction, replacing an earlier display prepared together with the Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS; some exhibits, such as reconstructions of Dunkleosteus and an ichthyosaur, can already be seen. The museum runs lessons and workshops, and in 2025 it was visited by more than 60,000 people.
Highlights
- Skeleton of Opisthocoelicaudia and dinosaur specimens from the Gobi Desert
- Tarbosaurus in two versions: a replica and a skeleton made of original bones
- Finds from Krasiejów, including Silesaurus
- Reconstruction of the australopithecine “Lucy” and a collection of fossil hominin skulls
- The oldest known frog from the Triassic of the Kraków area and original bones of the Wawel Dragon
- Reconstructions of marine predators: Dunkleosteus, ichthyosaur and Pinocetus
Permanent exhibitions
- Dinozaury z pustyni Gobi i znaleziska z Krasiejowa – Skeletons and specimens of dinosaurs from the Polish-Mongolian expeditions to the Gobi Desert and a collection from the Triassic reptile cemetery at Krasiejów.
- Ewolucja ssaków i człowieka – The reconstruction of the australopithecine “Lucy” and the collection of fossil hominin skulls show the main trends in human evolution.
- Kto mi dał nogi? Podbój lądów przez kręgowce – Explanatory panels on the move of vertebrates onto land and a reconstruction of Tiktaalik, a Devonian fish-amphibian.
- Founded
- 1968
- Operated by
- Instytut Paleobiologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 20 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 10 złChildren and young people under 18, students studying in Poland, foreign students with an ISIC card, pensioners and disability pensioners receiving benefits in Poland, adults with disabilities who hold a certificate, and carers of people with disabilities. |
| Children & teens | 10 złfree up to age 3 · Children under 4 enter free of charge. |
| Groups (10+ people) | 10 zł per personA group ticket without educational activities for groups of 10 or more costs PLN 10 per person; group supervisors do not pay. |
| Families | 50 złThe family ticket for parents with children (up to five children) costs PLN 50; families with a Large Family Card pay PLN 45 when all family members present their cards. |
| Educational activities for groups (min. 10 people), price per person | 20 złGroup supervisors do not pay. |
| One-day pass for guided tours with an external guide | 50 zł |
Honorary blood donors (grades III–I) enter free of charge upon presenting their membership card. The museum accepts the Warsaw Pass and ISIC cards. Individual tickets are sold only at the ticket office; there are no reservations or online sales. Payment is by cash or card.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is housed in the historic halls of the Palace of Culture and Science. According to the museum, it is not adapted for people with disabilities and has no induction loops or guidance for blind and partially sighted visitors. The entrance leads through the architecturally accessible foyer of the Palace of Youth. Guide dogs and assistance dogs may enter the museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | 50 zł · The family ticket for parents with children (up to five children) costs PLN 50; families with a Large Family Card pay PLN 45 when all family members present their cards. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
The museum organises museum lessons, educational and artistic workshops and “Birthdays among Dinosaurs” for the youngest children, and runs the Young Palaeontologist Club. A family ticket is available.
Getting there & parking
The entrance to the museum is from ul. Świętokrzyska, through the foyer of the Palace of Youth in the Palace of Culture and Science.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum kiosk sells dinosaur soft toys as well as books on palaeontology and the natural sciences. Eating is not allowed in the halls or on the grounds of the Palace of Youth.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Educational activities are offered only for organised groups of at least 10 people. Registration is by phone only, on weekdays (Tuesday–Friday, 8:00–16:00), tel. +48 22 656 66 37. Groups visiting without a guide must also register. A small dog may be carried in arms, or a small animal in a carrier. |
