Narodowe Muzeum Morskie w Gdańsku

About the museum

The origins of the museum go back to 1958, when the Society of Friends of the Museum was formed and the exhibition “Od wiosła do napędu atomowego” (From the Oar to Nuclear Propulsion) was shown in the Artus Court. In 1960 a Maritime Department was set up at the Pomeranian Museum, which in 1962 became an independent institution based in the rebuilt Crane (Żuraw). In 1972 the institution received national status as the Central Maritime Museum.

Over time the museum acquired further objects: the Fisheries Museum in Hel, the Vistula Museum in Tczew, the ship “Dar Pomorza” in Gdynia and, from 1989, the museum ship SS “Sołdek”. In 1989 rooms were opened in the granaries “Panna”, “Miedź” and “Oliwski” on Ołowianka Island, and from 2000, after the addition of the granaries “Mała” and “Duża Dąbrowa”, the main seat of the museum has been located there. In 2012 the Centre of Maritime Culture was opened.

The present exhibition runs through the three historic granaries and shows the history of seafaring, boat-building, shipbuilding and naval battles in Polish waters. There are finds from shipwrecks, models of shipyards and ports, ship models including the “Vasa”, MS “Batory” and ORP “Orzeł”, and the Maritime Gallery with marine painting.

Highlights

• Exhibition in three historic granaries on Ołowianka
• Models of ships and vessels, including the “Vasa”, MS “Batory” and ORP “Orzeł”
• Maritime Gallery – a rich collection of marine painting, including works by Aivazovsky (Ajwazowski), Weiss and Ruszczyc
• Archaeological finds from shipwrecks, and models of shipyards and ports
• Combined passes with Sołdek, Żuraw and the Centre of Maritime Culture

Permanent exhibition

• Ekspozycja główna Narodowego Muzeum Morskiego – The route runs through three historic granaries and shows the history of seafaring, boat-building and shipbuilding; it ends with the Maritime Gallery with marine painting.

Founded

1960

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Wednesday – free admission to the permanent exhibition (excluding the 3rd floor); tickets for the Maritime Gallery and the temporary exhibitions cost PLN 12 (standard) and PLN 10 (reduced) on that day.

Prices apply to the permanent and temporary exhibitions in the main seat. The list of reductions and free admission applies until 31 December 2026.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Wheelchair users can enter the main building through the entrance from ul. Ołowianka (no thresholds) and reach all floors. The lift to floors +1 to +3 is at the end of the corridor on the left of the entrance; access to it and to the stair platform leading to the rooms on the ground floor (Arsenal, temporary exhibitions) requires help from a museum employee. The entrance from the quay leads up stairs and is not adapted for wheelchairs. The buttons in the lift have Braille, but there are no voice announcements. There is a toilet for people with disabilities in the foyer, and two parking spaces 15 m in front of the building. The building has no tactile maps. Assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

On offer are weekend workshops, museum lessons and “Urodziny w muzeum” (Birthdays in the Museum).

Getting there & parking

The main seat is on Ołowianka Island in Gdańsk; the ticket offices are at the entrance from ul. Ołowianka.

Amenities & dining

The museum runs an online shop (nmm.pl/sklep).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

A conference room in the main seat is available for hire.

Plan your visit