National Museum in Warsaw

The National Museum in Warsaw is truly massive and packed with incredible exhibits! Getting here was easy, as it's super conveniently located right near the Old Town. Just a heads-up, you'll definitely need to set aside plenty of time for your visit, and be prepared for a long queue to get in, especially during holidays. Inside, the collection is incredibly diverse and well-presented. We started with fascinating sections on various country histories, then moved into a dedicated area exploring Christianity. The entire art floor was a real highlight, filled with absolutely stunning paintings that could keep you busy for hours. Another large section covered European and Polish history, featuring stunning porcelain, historical artifacts, and even clothing. My favorite unexpected find was a smaller, yet incredibly cool, section featuring intriguing inventions.

The National Museum in Warsaw is a must-visit destination not only for its remarkable collection, which expands each year, but also for its affordable ticket price—around £4 / $5 for an adult. The museum’s exhibitions span three levels. On the ground floor, visitors can explore ancient art; the first floor is dedicated to Polish painting, while the second floor houses works by Old Masters. It is an excellent place to discover true gems of both Polish and Western European art. However, there are a couple of drawbacks worth mentioning. Firstly, the lighting is poorly arranged, causing reflections on the varnish covering the paintings. This makes it difficult to properly view the artworks, regardless of where one stands. Secondly, I was genuinely shocked by the lack of protective measures for the exhibits. With only a few exceptions—some paintings framed behind glass—most artworks hang within arm’s reach, without barriers or marked minimum viewing distances. Given the increasing number of vandalism incidents worldwide, this seems like a serious oversight that could put valuable pieces at risk. The museum building itself is architecturally interesting. Unlike much of Warsaw, it was not destroyed during World War II, preserving its original character. The interiors evoke a sense of past grandeur, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in history. Overall, the National Museum in Warsaw is a fantastic place to appreciate art and spend a pleasant time surrounded by cultural treasures. Highly recommended!

I visited the Polish National Museum with high hopes, especially to explore its medieval and religious art collection. While the artwork itself was often beautiful and thought-provoking—particularly a stunning painting of Noah gathering the animals—my overall experience was mixed. The galleries contain a rich range of works, from Romanesque religious pieces to elaborate Baroque scenes. If you're a fan of medieval or early modern art, there's a lot to appreciate here. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was less welcoming than I expected. Museum attendants followed me from room to room, which felt uncomfortable and distracting. It gave the impression that I wasn’t trusted, even though I wasn’t alone in the museum. This shadowing noticeably impacted my ability to enjoy and absorb the artwork. This museum has incredible art, but the visitor experience could benefit from a more relaxed and respectful approach from staff. I hope it improves, because the collection deserves it.

Went here on free Tuesday. Truly a great national art museum. Will take around two hours to see everything. Definitely recommended. Do not skip this museum if you love art!

Absolutely underrated. The National Museum is packed with Polish masterpieces, medieval treasures and one-of-a-kind collections like the Faras Gallery. It’s peaceful, well-organised and perfect for anyone curious about Polish culture. Don’t miss the Battle of Grunwald — it’s massive and unforgettable. Great value for money!

Absolutely recommend it, the museum has many beautiful pieces of art of both polish and foreign artists. There are not only paintings but tableware, furniture, clothes and other objects. Definitely worth seeing.

Very interesting experience, 100% worth visiting. I loved the freedom of movement, when you could start from the bottom up in every direction. I believe there is no right or wrong where to go and what to see first. There is a big variety of things you will see. Mostly paintings which are amazing, but you can also find sculptures along the halls. Furthermore, there is a clothing&fabrics section, ceramics&cutlery and even a section with furniture and modernity stuff. You can see all of it, it is worth it. Me personally, I'd go there again!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Must-Visit for Art and History Enthusiasts The National Museum in Warsaw is a true cultural gem that offers a deep dive into Poland’s rich artistic heritage. From ancient artifacts to modern masterpieces, the museum's extensive collection is both impressive and thoughtfully curated. Highlights include the iconic Battle of Grunwald by Jan Matejko, the evocative Jewess with Oranges by Aleksander Gierymski, and the mesmerizing Strange Garden by Józef Mehoffer. The Faras Gallery, showcasing rare Nubian frescoes from the 8th–9th centuries, is particularly unique and not to be missed. The museum is well-organized, with thematic galleries that make navigation intuitive. However, some signage could benefit from clearer English translations. Guided tours are available in English, Ukrainian, and German, which enhance the experience significantly. Admission is affordable, with free entry to permanent exhibitions on Tuesdays. The museum is wheelchair accessible and offers amenities like lockers and a café for a comfortable visit. Located centrally on Aleje Jerozolimskie, it's easily accessible by public transport.

I don't love art, but I do like it. And wow! This place is HUGE and packed with hundreds of beautiful paintings by Polish artists whom you've never heard of it. I usually go through art museums fairly quickly, but I unexpectedly spent close to 2 hours admiring all these amazing masterpieces. There is some really old Christian art and sculptures, but I found those rather creepy. 20PLN or less than $5 to get in, and worth every penny.

This is a wonderful museum with lots of cool exhibits and artworks to see from around the world, and is definitely worth checking out, ranging from ancient to new. Don't forget - free admission on Tuesdays! The museum is also very easy to navigate, so even if you do not have a good sense of direction, do not worry. The only reason I take one star off is simply because I feel like I've been to so many museums like this one to the point where all museums feel the same - I can't really think of anything that would make this museum stand out from the rest. Regardless of how I feel about museums, I still think this is a place definitely worth checking out.

This is an incredible museum that holds so many interesting pieces/exhibits. It's not as extensive as the Louvre or the MET, but will still occupy the better part of your afternoon. There's also a great Michelin Sustainable Star restaurant on the bottom floor!

We visited the museum because we had some time in Warsaw. There are paintings by Polish masters. They are not well-known outside Poland, but you get a history lesson through these painting and their backgrounds.

So much to see in this museum! I spent about 90 minutes in this museum and it was all very interesting to me. They have some massive paintings that are just incredible!!! The flow of the museum was also great. It's 3 stories but walking through and seeing everything was a breeze.

Loved our visit! The museum is laid out well so everything is clear and easy to navigate. The exhibits are extensive and I was surprised by how much they had. We loved the exhibit of Polish art in particular. Tuesday is free entry if you're looking for a deal!

Very worthwhile & easy to tour -- start on the 4th level & work your way down. Admission was free on a weekday

Large museum, heavy on Polish art, decent curation, great for a rainy day This is a very large art museum. Budget at least 2 hours. Exhibits include everything from medieval art (mainly religious art) to modern, contemporary art. All exhibits are dominated by Polish artists. There was also one archeological exhibit on the ground floor, but it appeared to relate to a rather obscure, not exciting dig. Pricing is available for special exhibits, but we paid for the main exhibits which was reasonable at 20 Zl per person. The exterior of the museum has a bunch of airplane, tanks, and other Polish war equipment. It is almost like junkyard of Polish war equipment. Bathrooms: clean Wifi: free Getting there: We took a public bus, and it dropped us off within a block of the museum

Centrally located, the National Museum is easy to get to. Comparing with some of the other museums I've been too, this one has a rather small collection on display. I also seem to remember that the National museum in Wrocław had a much more extensive collection that included a lot more furniture and other artifacts. Here the primary pieces on display are paintings and some sculptures. Even so, there was a nice assortment. I mostly appreciate seeing the work of Polish artists through the various periods of history. It wasn't all Italian and French! I only had a couple of hours to spend, so I paid for a permanent gallery ticket. It was 2ish in the afternoon on a Wednesday, and the museum was relatively quiet - only a few patrons. Later on the traffic seemed to pick up. The gift shop upstairs is nice. They have many books and some "made in Poland" artsy souvenirs. I managed to get out with only a cool Warsaw magnet and a few postcards I've been meaning to buy and send before my trip here comes to an end.

I loved the museum. I has a very impressive collection of Polish art, which I wasn't familiar with. It was nice to learn about it and enjoy the fine pieces of the art. The museum was located close to the hotel we stayed, the central location. It shares a wing with the Army museum. As someone mentioned in a previous review that there is a random military objects behind museum. It is not random collection it is a part of Army museum collection. It was nice to walk around the building to see some old planes and tanks as well as other military equipment, the outside exposition is free. I am not an art historian or an expert by any means but if you like art you will enjoy this museum and some of the famous work such as Motherhood by Waclaw Szymanowski, a portrait of Jewish woman selling oranges, portrait of systers Straus. My absolutely favorite:) It was also interesting to read how some of the pieces were obtained by the museum. You need to read a fine print.

This was a pretty large museum here in Warsaw. Don't forget to look around back at the military museum also on the grounds. There is a large selection of aircraft and ground vehicles to check out. Inside, the art collection meets all tastes, from older to newer genres. The museums is worth a stop and very inexpensive to see.

Well, it's about time I visited. With countless previous trips to Warsaw, how I've not gone to the Muzeum Narodowy until now seriously escapes me. Since I was on a time constraint, I only spent less than 2 hours here. But I arrived with a mission: to see Matejko. Colorful. Detailed. Imaginative. Historical. Patriotic. Impressive. A few words that come to mind when I see his works. Jan Matejko's paintings were intended to incite patriotism within his fellow countrymen during a time when Poles had lost national sovereignty with themes of historic significance exemplifying the unwavering love of country in success and defeat. He is most famous for his painting of the Battle of Grunwald. And wait til you see how enormous it is! In addition to the Gallery of 19th Century Art where Matejko is housed, I find the Gallery of Medieval Art to be a unique permanent exhibition. Most of the articles found here were designed with an ecclesiastical purpose in mind. The remaining majority of the museum appears sparse and leaves much to be desired. The overall flow and lack of focus in the galleries, I believe, can be improved by reorganizing the exhibits. It's known that there are many interesting articles stored in the museum's vaults that are not presented due to lack of space and vision. Closed Mondays. Admission Tuesdays for permanent galleries is FREE! Regular admission price is 15zł, students are 10zł. Guided tours in English are 150zł.

very nice