Europeum Center for European Culture Tours

A branch of the National Museum in Krakow that opened in 2013, the Europeum Center for European Culture displays Continental art in a renovated, 17th-century granary. The compact collection of more than 100 paintings and sculptures spans seven centuries and includes important works by Italian, Dutch, and Flemish masters (Polish art is housed elsewhere).

The Basics
Most travelers visit the Europeum Center for European Culture independently to view such collection highlights as The Sermon of St. John the Baptist by Flemish painter Pieter Breughel the Younger, late-Renaissance painter Lorenzo Lotto’s Adoration of the Child, and The Crucifixion by 14th-century Venetian painter Paolo Veneziano. In addition to the permanent exhibit, the center shows temporary exhibitions and hosts cultural talks and events. To save time and enjoy maximum flexibility, many visitors purchase a 2- or 3-day Krakow Card museums and transport pass ahead of time online. The pass includes access to more than 40 city museums and attractions, including the Europeum, Oskar Schindler’s Factory, and the Rynek Underground.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Europeum Center for European Culture allows photography without tripods.
• The center has elevators and ramps for wheelchair users and braille commentary and magnifying sheets for the visually impaired.
• There’s an on-site café with a terrace and gift shop at the center.

How to Get There
Located just west of the historic Main Square in Krakow’s Old Town, the Europeum is an easy spot to include on any Krakow sightseeing itinerary. Many buses and trams stop within walking distance of the museum.

When to Get There
The Europeum is open daily except Mondays from morning until late afternoon, with extended hours on Saturdays. Admission to the permanent exhibits is free on Sundays, so though the museum may be more crowded then, it’s a good time for budget-minded travelers to visit.

Other Branches of the National Museum in Krakow
The Europeum is just one of 12 branches of the National Museum in Krakow. Art and culture lovers will want to allow plenty of time to tour the various branches, taking in masterpieces of Polish painting and Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine at the Main Building (the latter set to return to the renovated Princes Czartoryski Museum in 2020), 19th-century Polish art at the Sukiennice Gallery (Cloth Hall), and collector- and artist-specific branches such as the Hutten-Czapski Museum and the Matejko House.