National Museum in Kraków 🇵🇱

As the largest museum in Poland, the National Museum in Kraków (MNK) offers an unforgettable journey through art history. Established in 1879, this institution spans 21 departments with galleries, libraries, and conservation workshops holding around 780,000 art objects. While its roots began on the upper floor of the Renaissance Sukiennice building in the Main Square, the main administrative hub and contemporary New Main Building sits on 3 Maja Street.

You will discover incredible Polish painting, classical archaeology, and modern art here. At the New Main Building, explore the upper Gallery of the Twentieth Century Polish Art, showcasing famous works by Jacek Malczewski, Leon Wyczółkowski, and an extensive collection by Stanisław Wyspiański alongside interwar, postwar, and avant-garde masterpieces. You can also explore vast historic militaria in the "Arms and Colours" exhibition, featuring 12th to 20th-century armor, sabers, and firearms.

Additionally, the Decorative Arts and Crafts Gallery features precious gold items, antique carpets, and stained glass. With nine divisions scattered around the city—including the Czartoryski Museum, which houses Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting Lady with an Ermine—you will find an enriching artistic destination waiting across Kraków.

What to see at National Museum in Kraków

• Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, Lady with an Ermine, displayed at the Czartoryski Museum division
• Gallery of Twentieth Century Polish Art featuring works by Jacek Malczewski and Stanisław Wyspiański
• Arms and Colours exhibition displaying armor, sabers, and weapons from the 12th to 20th century
• Decorative Arts and Crafts Gallery featuring antique carpets, stained glass, and gold artifacts
• Historic branches across Kraków, including the Sukiennice gallery on the Old Town Main Square

Visiting tips

Be sure to explore the museum's multiple branch locations across Kraków, such as the Czartoryski Museum and the Sukiennice in the Main Square, to experience its full collection.

How long: 2-4 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

National Museum in Kraków is easy to reach on Kraków’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Wawel Cathedral and St. Mary's Basilica in Kraków. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Kraków travel guide.