Muzeum Archeologiczno-Historyczne w Elblągu
The oldest museum in Warmia and Masuria, housed in the buildings of the former Gymnasium and the Podzamcze, with exhibitions on the Viking-age Truso, the history of Elbląg and Żuławy.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Elbląg Museum was established on 24 March 1954 by a resolution of the committee for the city’s jubilee celebrations; its nucleus was the recovered collections of the former Municipal Museum, founded in 1864. The first premises were tenement houses on ul. Wigilijna, where the first exhibitions opened on 8 June 1954. In 1955 the institution was taken over by the Ministry of Culture and Art, and its first director was Henryk Cieśla, previously associated with the Mikołaj Kopernik Museum in Frombork.
In 1973 the museum moved to the building of the former Elbląg Gymnasium, which in the Middle Ages was part of the Podzamcze of the Teutonic castle. In 1987, on the 750th anniversary of the city, the Podzamcze building was opened. Both parts surround the courtyard of the former northern Podzamcze.
Today the Archaeological-Historical Museum (Muzeum Archeologiczno-Historyczne) is a local government cultural institution of the City of Elbląg and holds about 115,000 museum objects. The collections come, among others, from research on the Viking-age settlement of Truso, the Old Town of Elbląg and the Gothic burial ground at Weklice. The institution also conducts archaeological research and educational activities, runs multimedia attractions and operates the viewing terrace on the tower of St Nicholas Cathedral.
Highlights
- Exhibition “History Hidden Under the Ground” on the town’s past as seen by archaeologists
- Collections from the Viking-age Truso and the Gothic burial ground at Weklice
- Exhibition “Żuławy – Land Tamed”
- Holographic film “Stories Beyond Borders” and the attraction “History Here and Now”
- Viewing terrace on the tower of St Nicholas Cathedral (seasonal)
Permanent exhibitions
- Elbląg. Historia ukryta pod ziemią (Podzamcze) – The history of the town seen through the eyes of archaeologists, with a fragment of the excavations of the former Old Town.
- Żuławy – ziemia ujarzmiona. Między trzema gardzielami Wisły (Gimnazjum) – Exhibition on Żuławy, a region shaped over the centuries and also settled by colonists from the Netherlands.
- Miasto nowych ludzi. Elbląg w pierwszej powojennej dekadzie 1945–1955 (Podzamcze) – Exhibition on the difficult period in Elbląg’s history after 1945.
- Founded
- 1954
- Operated by
- Gmina Miasto Elbląg (samorządowa instytucja kultury)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 40 zł |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 30 złchildren and school pupils, students up to age 26, persons with disabilities and their assistants, pensioners and disability pensioners, tour leaders, honorary blood donors, meritorious transplant donors and veterans of operations abroad |
| Children & teens | 30 złfree up to age 4 · reduced ticket for children and school pupils upon presentation of a school ID; children up to age 4 enter free of charge |
| Visitors with disabilities | 30 złreduced ticket for a person with a disability; an assistant of a person with a significant degree of disability also receives the reduction |
| Students & apprentices | 30 złstudents up to age 26 upon presentation of a student card |
| Groups (7+ people) | 20 zł per personorganised groups of 7 to 20 people: standard ticket PLN 20, reduced ticket PLN 15 |
| Families | 100 złfamily ticket for 4–6 people |
| Holographic film “Stories Beyond Borders” | 15 złreduced ticket PLN 10 |
| “History Here and Now” | 15 złreduced ticket PLN 10 |
| Viewing terrace on the cathedral tower (seasonal) | 20 złreduced ticket PLN 10; children up to age 4 free of charge |
| Exhibitions with the Large Family Card | 16 złreduced ticket PLN 12 (60% discount) |
Free admission: every Wednesday 100 free exhibition tickets for individual visitors, available for collection at the ticket office
The price list has been valid since 1 February 2026. The exhibition ticket price applies to all exhibitions in a given building (the Gymnasium or the Podzamcze). Admission is free for children up to age 4, museum employees and holders of the “Zasłużony Kulturze Gloria Artis” medal. A 60% discount applies to holders of the Large Family Card. Guided tours: one building (about 1 hour) costs PLN 60 for individual visitors (up to 6 people) and PLN 130 for a group of 7–20 people in Polish; in English the prices are PLN 90 and PLN 150 respectively. Two buildings (about 2 hours) cost PLN 120 and PLN 260 in Polish, and PLN 180 and PLN 300 in English. Group supervisors do not pay for taking part in the activities.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: not available
- Sign language tours: not available
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The entrances to the Gymnasium and Podzamcze buildings have lifts for wheelchairs; the Gymnasium additionally has a stair-climbing device, and the circulation routes allow movement by wheelchair. Part of the South Wing is not accessible to wheelchair users who move independently. Designated parking spaces for people with disabilities are in the museum’s inner courtyard. The museum has no provisions for people with visual or hearing impairments and no sign language interpreters. Entry with an assistance dog or guide dog is possible.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | 100 zł · family ticket for 4–6 people |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
The museum runs workshops (PLN 18 per person), museum lessons (PLN 15 per person), birthday workshops and multimedia attractions: the hologram and “History Here and Now”. Children up to age 4 enter free of charge.
Getting there & parking
By car
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Coat check
The cloakroom is free of charge. The museum also has a small shop selling publications and souvenirs.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The museum rents out spaces, equipment and furnishings on the basis of its rental regulations.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Amateur photography and filming is free of charge, without tripods and flash. |
| Good to know | The condition for visiting is showing a receipt or other proof of ticket purchase. A guided tour takes about 1 hour in one building or about 2 hours in two buildings. The holographic film is intended for viewers from the 4th grade of primary school; younger children watch it with a guardian. The room has 20 seats, and groups book their slot a week in advance. Animals (other than guide and assistance dogs), food and drinks may not be brought in. The offer also includes the theMuseum app with virtual reality showing the Elbląg Old Town as it was before 1945. |
