Muzeum Lotnictwa Polskiego w Krakowie

About the museum

The museum occupies the site of the former Rakowice-Czyżyny airfield, which was established before the First World War and after 1918 was the base of the 2nd Aviation Regiment. The airfield was closed in 1963 in connection with the expansion of Nowa Huta, but thanks to the museum the site has kept its aviation character.

The nucleus of the institution was the Aircraft Exhibition Centre at the Kraków Aero Club, which in 1964 organised the Great Aviation Exhibition. In 1967 the centre was turned into the Museum of Aviation, and after the local government reform of 1998 it became a cultural institution of the Małopolska Voivodeship.

Today the museum occupies 33 hectares entered in the register of monuments. Its collections include more than 250 aircraft, gliders and helicopters and more than 140 aircraft engines, as well as thousands of smaller exhibits such as weapons, instruments, uniforms and decorations. The exhibitions are housed in renovated pre-war airfield buildings, in newer buildings and in the open air.

Highlights

• More than 250 aircraft, gliders and helicopters and more than 140 aircraft engines
• Exhibitions in the historic hangars of the former Rakowice-Czyżyny airfield
• Open-air display with the MiG Avenue
• Interiors of selected aircraft open to visitors
• 33-hectare site entered in the register of monuments

Permanent exhibitions

• Z wiatrem i pod wiatr – lotnictwo cywilne – Permanent exhibition devoted to civil aviation, with viewing galleries accessible by a vertical platform.
• Skrzydła Wielkiej Wojny – Exhibition in a hangar, part of the museum’s permanent offer alongside the displays “Skrzydła i Ludzie XX wieku” (Wings and People of the 20th Century) and “Skrzydła Zimnej Wojny” (Wings of the Cold War).
• Ekspozycja plenerowa i Aleja MIGów – Aircraft displayed in the open air on the grounds of the former airfield.

Founded

1964

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Tuesday – free admission (the date is sometimes moved, which the museum announces on its website).

Exemption from the fee applies, among others, to children under 7, holders of the Karta Polaka (Polish Card), members of ICOM and ICOMOS, staff of museums in the State Register of Museums and veterans – on presentation of a document.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Two wheelchairs, magnifiers and noise-cancelling headphones can be borrowed at the ticket office; the paths are wide and paved, and the buildings have lifts and vertical platforms with Braille markings, and the toilets are adapted. A tactile board with a map of the museum stands at the ticket office. Access by wheelchair to the “Skrzydła Wielkiej Wojny” hangar currently leads from the side of the MiG Avenue. For blind visitors there is the “Dotknij nieba” (Touch the Sky) route with 3D models of aircraft, and for hard-of-hearing visitors tours with an induction loop (registration by e-mail at least 3 days in advance). A sign language interpreter is not available. Two disabled parking spaces are next to the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum organises “Odlotowe urodziny” (Take-off Birthdays), museum lessons, art and model-making workshops and meetings by the aircraft, and gives visitors access to the interiors of selected aircraft.

Getting there & parking

The entrance to the museum is from al. Jana Pawła II (on foot via ul. Markowskiego, past ul. Gnysia).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Aviation shop at the ticket office in the Main Building. Meals may not be eaten in the exhibition buildings outside the designated zones.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Available for hire: an exhibition hall with exhibits, a conference room with lobby on the first floor, a cinema hall and the open-air exhibition grounds. Contact: wynajem@muzeumlotnictwa.pl.

Plan your visit