The Jewish Museum of Galicia, Krakow

The Jewish Museum of Galicia is not a traditional historical museum full of old artefacts and reconstructed rooms.

It is more like a large-scale photographic essay. Through contemporary photographs, it showcases synagogues, cemeteries, memorials and the subtle traces of Jewish life that remain scattered across what is now Poland and Ukraine.

This is precisely where its strength lies, but for some, it is also its weakness. If you merely skim through the photographs and accompanying texts, the museum will not offer you much. But if you take your time, you’ll gain a sensitive insight into Jewish culture, the Holocaust and the way the past is remembered today.

Finding accommodation in the Kazimierz district

Is the museum worth a visit?

In my view, yes, but ideally only after a stroll through the Kazimierz district.

The museum is no substitute for visiting the synagogues, cemeteries and streets of the former Jewish quarter. Rather, it helps to place the sites you’ve seen into a broader context.

If you’re expecting a chronologically organised history or a wealth of original exhibits, you may be disappointed by the exhibition. Most of the space is taken up by photographs and texts, so a visit requires a certain amount of concentration.

Allow around 60 to 90 minutes for the museum. If you have a very busy schedule, we’d recommend prioritising a stroll through Kazimierz itself and leaving a visit to the museum for another day.

What you’ll see in the main exhibition

The centrepiece of the museum is the exhibition *Traces of Memory*, created by photographer Chris Schwarz and Professor Jonathan Webber.

The exhibition traces more than 800 years of Jewish presence in historic Galicia. It does not, however, rely primarily on archive photographs. Instead, it shows how former synagogues, cemeteries, sites of mass murders and the remains of Jewish houses appear in the contemporary landscape.

The exhibition is not focused solely on the Holocaust. It also explores everyday life in the past, the gradual disappearance of monuments, their restoration, and the people who are striving today to preserve Jewish heritage.

The main exhibition is followed by *Unfinished Memory*, which similarly traces Jewish heritage sites in the eastern part of historic Galicia – primarily in what is now western Ukraine.

The museum is also preparing further permanent and temporary exhibitions:

10 Polish Cities and 10 Jewish Stories
Exhibitions of contemporary art linked to Jewish culture and memory
Lectures, concerts, film screenings and discussions
Meetings with survivors and witnesses to historical events

You can find the current programme in the overview of exhibitions and cultural events.

Guided tours of Kazimierz and Podgórze

The museum also organises private guided walking tours of Kraków focusing on Jewish history. These are not regular tours that you can simply join on the spot. A date must be arranged in advance.

Itineraries may include:

Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in Kazimierz
The site of the former ghetto in Podgórze
Schindler’s factory
The former Płaszów concentration camp
The Old Town and other sites linked to Kraków’s Jewish history

A basic tour of the synagogues and cemeteries in Kazimierz lasts approximately 3 hours. The museum also organises half-day or full-day programmes for individuals and groups. Prices are determined by the itinerary, the number of participants and the guide’s language.

You can find details in the range of private tours of Kraków or by emailing visit@galiciajewishmuseum.org.

Trips to Auschwitz

The museum also organises private half-day and full-day visits to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. These may include transport from Kraków, an officially accredited guide and, if desired, a visit to the synagogue and the Jewish museum in the town of Auschwitz.

Again, this is not a regular group coach service. The programme must be booked in advance and the price is calculated on a case-by-case basis.

If you wish to organise the trip yourself, you can find practical information in our separate guide to Oświęcim.

Bookshop and café

Even if you don’t visit the museum, it’s worth popping into the local bookshop. It offers a wide selection of publications on Jewish history, culture, the Holocaust and contemporary Jewish life.

The museum also houses the Lauder-Szancer Café, which serves coffee, tea, sandwiches and light refreshments. It is the only café in Kraków that also offers kosher products.

Admission

Current ticket prices are:

Adults 35 pln
Students and senior citizens 25 pln
Family ticket 55 pln
Children under 6 free

You can buy a ticket at reception or via the official booking website. Online tickets are not tied to a specific date or time and can be used for a single entry until the end of the year stated on the ticket.

Group tickets and guided museum tours in various languages must be booked individually.

Opening hours

The museum is open every day from 10.00 to 18.00.

Opening hours may vary during public and religious holidays. The museum publishes any current exceptions on its official website.

The entire venue is wheelchair accessible. You may also bring your dog into the museum, and there is a children’s play area for young children.

How to get to the museum

The Galicia Jewish Museum is situated at 18 Dajwór Street in the south-eastern part of Kazimierz.

It takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes to walk here from the main square, Rynek Główny; about 15 minutes from Wawel; and just under 10 minutes from Plac Nowy.

When exploring Kazimierz, it is therefore easiest to walk.

The nearest tram stops are:

Św. Wawrzyńca, about 250 metres and a 3-minute walk
Miodowa, about 500 metres and a 6-minute walk

Information on tickets and transport throughout the city can be found in the section ‘Transport in Kraków’.

Accommodation near the museum

Kazimierz is a good choice for anyone who wants to stay in a livelier part of the city, full of cafés, restaurants and bars. From here, you can walk to the Old Town and across the Vistula to Podgórze.

Just make sure to check the surrounding area when choosing a specific hotel. Some streets in the centre of Kazimierz can get a bit noisy in the evenings and at weekends.

PURO Kraków Kazimierz – a modern design hotel practically just round the corner from the museum, with a café, restaurant and spa
Search for all accommodation in Kazimierz

You can find a comparison of Kazimierz with other parts of the city in the ‘Accommodation in Kraków’ section.