Kraków is a city that can boast an incredibly rich offer of museums from various fields of history, art, and science.
The most popular ones are visited every year by dozens of tourists from Poland and abroad, and Kraków's museum night is one of the most anticipated cultural events.
This year, Kraków’s museums and galleries will open their doors to visitors already on May 16, attracting them with exceptional exhibitions, attractions, and concerts. The guiding theme of this year's edition is "1000th anniversary of the Polish crown", which was celebrated in April this year.
What is worth seeing?
National Museum in Kraków (Main Building)
One of the largest museums in Kraków invites you to the presentation “Alchemy under the patronage of Polish kings”. It will be a unique opportunity to learn about old methods of producing medicines, pharmacy delicacies, and healing aromas, as well as to find out how the history of pharmacy was connected with the history of Polish kings.
Museum of Kraków – Krzysztofory Palace
At Krzysztofory Palace, there will be a special guided tour prepared with families with children in mind. The main theme obliges – on the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of the first Polish king, visitors will be able to learn what royal insignia were, try on their replicas, and get to know the history of the most important Polish rulers.
Stained Glass Museum
Visitors will not only have the chance to see the unique Gallery of Young Polish Masters but also, accompanied by a guide, learn the very process of making stained glass. This year's attraction will be “Spring in Construction” – a never-before-realized project by the Young Polish artist Kazimierz Sichulski. Guests will see the first stages of its creation.
Polish Aviation Museum
Education and fun – during the museum night at the Aviation Museum, the youngest visitors will be able to take part in art workshops where they will paint aircraft using fluorescent paints that glow in the dark. Additionally, lectures and presentations are planned, along with a unique opportunity to tour the interiors of airplanes and helicopters, which are usually closed to visitors.
For a special visit on May 16, the Agricultural University Museum with the exhibition "The most interesting exhibits in the URK Museum collections" and the Home Army Museum with an exhibition dedicated to the soldiers of the Chrobry I Battalion and the Chrobry II Home Army Group also invite you.
Workshops and Concerts
Stanisław Lem Experience Garden
Straight from the alchemist's workshop to a real experiment show – participants of the workshop will make a crown from sulfur – a raw material called "chemists' gold." The shows will take place in a specially prepared tent.
Manggha Museum
"Night Origami" is a proposal of extraordinary workshops at the Manggha Museum, during which fluorescent origami shows will be presented, and participants will have the opportunity to make their own samurai helmets glowing in the dark.
Galicia Jewish Museum
This year’s Museum Night at the Galicia Jewish Gallery is a proposal for the youngest: artistic workshops “Crown – a symbol in culture”. Children will create their own royal crowns and learn about the meaning of this symbol in Jewish tradition and Polish history.
Nowa Huta Museum, os. Centrum E 1
The Nowa Huta Museum invites you to an electronic music / soundscape concert accompanied by a photo exhibition of the district. This event with a unique atmosphere will take place in the former Światowid cinema hall and will feature performers such as: Witek Ryć, Kateryna Ziabliuk, Stanisław Słowiński, Nikodem Dybinski, Maja Wlazły, Alex Roth, Maciej Trifonidis, and Maciej Hałoń.
Practical information
- Date: museum night will take place on the night of May 16 to 17, 2025
- Hours: most events start at 6:00 PM and end at 1:00 AM (depending on the institution).
- Admission: visiting museums is free or available for a symbolic fee of 5 zlotys. Children under the age of 7 enter free of charge
- Reservations: it is worth booking entry to the most popular museums and workshops with limited places in advance due to high demand.
- Museum night is a unique opportunity to discover the city from a new perspective – at night, in the glow of history, art, and extraordinary events.
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