Historical Museum of Krakow (Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa) Tours

Once the city headquarters of the Gestapo—Nazi Germany’s secret police—today this branch of the Historical Museum of Krakow (Muzeum Historyczne Miasta Krakowa) displays exhibits that cover local World War II history. Travelers can visit former Gestapo prison cells and learn about the chilling events that took place here—and throughout Krakow and Poland—throughout the war.

The Basics
A small but sobering museum, the former Gestapo headquarters are a worthwhile stop for a deeper understanding of the Polish experience during and after World War II. The former Gestapo cells in the building’s cellar have been preserved, complete with messages scrawled on the walls by prisoners who were held there. Upstairs, the museum’s main exhibit, “People of Krakow in Times of Terror 1939–1945–1956,” displays artifacts and personal items from the Nazi period through Soviet occupation. The museum can be visited independently or as part of a private tour of Krakow, and it’s featured on some small-group tours that focus on the city’s World War II or Jewish history.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Entrance to the former Gestapo holding cells is free, but the main exhibit requires an admission fee.
• Reserve one to two hours to take in the Gestapo prison cells and historical exhibit.
• Due to its content matter, the museum may be upsetting for children.

How to Get There
About a 20-minute walk northwest of Krakow’s Old Town on Pomorska Street (Ulica Pomorska), the Historical Museum of Krakow is also easily reached by public transportation. Many trams and buses travel along Ulica Pomorska; the nearest stop to the museum is Plac Inwalidów.

When to Get There
The museum is open every day except Monday, and hours vary by day and by season. Museum admission is free on Tuesdays, so this is a good time for budget-minded travelers to visit, though it may be more crowded then.

Paying Respects at Auschwitz
A natural site to visit in conjunction with the former Gestapo headquarters, Auschwitz (locally known as Oświęcim) is about a 90-minute train ride from Krakow. Many travelers come to pay their respects to the more than 1 million people, mainly Jews, who were murdered at the Nazi’s most notorious concentration camp during World War II.