With Warsaw being Poland's capital, and biggest city overall, it's fair to assume there's a lot to see and do - and you'd be right. Warsaw is a city of business, entertainment and leisure , but also a city with a 1000 year history, so it's no surprise it's also home to some of the country's best cultural institutes. The museums especially are the crown jewels of not only the country's cultural heritage, but a symbol of Poland's progress in the form of some of the most modern, interactive learning experiences on offer in Europe (some have won awards!).
 

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We've created for you a list of the ' top 10 museums to visit in Warsaw ' should you need a quick lowdown on how to spend your potentially limited time in the city.
 

1. The Royal Castle

More a palace than a castle, this building is the pride of Warsaw , reconstructed from a pile of rubble at incredible cost between 1971 and 1984. Much of the furniture was donated by now deceased commie buddies such as the GDR and USSR, and much of the money for rebuilding came from generous donations from exiled Poles. Dating back to the 14th century, the castle has been the residence of Polish kings, then of the president and then the seat of parliament. A visit will take you through the Kings' apartments and chambers, heavily adorned with paintings of famous Polish moments. You can also visit the opulent Great Assembly Hall, the Royal Gardens , and see temporary exhibitions including one on the history of art in Lviv, another with postcards that show the castle, and a third on Renaissance artist Titan (all three exhibitons last until January 2024 ).  
 

2. Łazienki Park

The park and palace complex where half of Warsaw descends on a Sunday to take the traditional family stroll, the name Łazienki means baths and is derived from the park’s centrepiece and best-known attraction, the Palace on the Island . The palace was originally built in the 17th century as a private bathhouse for Stanisław Herakliusz Lubomirski, owner of the adjacent Ujazdowski Castle and much of the surrounding land (and much of Poland, come to mention it). The bathhouse was bought by the last king of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski , in 1772 and converted into a private residence (thus taking the name Palace on the Island ). It was at this time that the grounds were formally laid out as a private garden, most of the landscaping being carried out to the designs of Karol Ludwig Agricola and Karol Schultz. Today dotted with many palaces (big and small), summer houses, pavilions, mansions, cafes, restaurants, lakes and theatres, the most notable features include the Art Nouveau Chopin monument (1926), the Palace on the Island (remodelled in 1792), an Old Orangery and a classicist amphitheatre loosely inspired by Herculaneum. As such, Łazienki offers much to see and to make the best of it you should plan to spend a full day here.
   

3. Copernicus Science Centre

4. POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews

A millennium of Polish Jewish history is explained in this excellent museum which opened in 2014 following many years of planning. The grand opening ceremony was headed by the President of Israel, Reuwen Riwlin and the then-Polish President Bronisław Komorowski. In less then a year and a half POLIN won the prestigious award for European Museum of the Year in April 2016! The museum stands in the middle of a large, attractive square overlooking the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes which commemorates the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. It was designed by Leon Suzin and sculpted by Nathan Rapaport in 1948. Interestingly, stone used in the monument had been brought to Warsaw by the Nazis and was to be used in architectural projects planned for a new Warsaw by Hitler's architect, Albert Speer. Close by stands an earlier memorial tablet to the Ghetto Heroes, also by Suzin, which was unveiled in 1946. In the square, you'll also find a statue of Jan Karski, a Polish resistance fighter famed for informing the allies about the existence of Nazi death camps and the systematic destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto. Don't miss out on having a wander around the square before heading into the museum. The building itself is a stunning new copper and glass structure designed by Finnish architect Rainer Mahlamäki. It functions as both a centre for Jewish culture and as a means to educate with its centrepiece being the very impressive permanent exhibition which you will find spread over eight galleries (more than 120 international scholars were consulted to create the various historical features).
 

5. Museum of Warsaw

After a long and exhaustive renovation, one of our favourite museums in Warsaw finally reopened in grand fashion at the end of May 2017. The revamped museum's stored permanent collection (300,000 items total) now consists of three new curated sections: The Things of Warsaw, Warsaw Data and The History of Tenement Houses. Only 7,352 objects were initially selected to be displayed over 8 thematic rooms, however, now all remaining rooms are open (21 in total). Every item has been carefully chosen and many played starring roles in the city's storied history. There is plenty to see in this fascinating museum. The very buildings the museum is located in are a sight to behold. Interestingly, despite severe damage during the war, many of the original aspects of the architecture remained intact and can be viewed during your visit. The museum is a truly amazing and kinaesthetic way of experiencing the events and understanding the processes that formed Warsaw as we know it today.
 

6. The Warsaw Rising Museum

Opened in 2004, this remains one of Poland’s best museums. Packed with interactive displays, photographs, video footage and miscellaneous exhibits it’s a museum that’s guaranteed to leave a mark on all visitors. Occupying a former tram power station the 2,000m2 space is split over several levels, leading visitors through the chronological story of the Uprising. Start off by learning about life under Nazi rule, your tour accompanied by the background rattle of machine guns, dive bombers and a thumping heartbeat. Different halls focus on the many aspects of the Uprising; walk through a replica radio station, or a covert printing press. The mezzanine level features film detailing the first month of battle, before which visitors get to clamber through a mock sewer. The final sections are devoted to the creation of a Soviet puppet state, a hall of remembrance, and a particularly poignant display about the destruction of the city; take time to watch the black and white ‘before and after’ shots of important Warsaw landmarks being systematically obliterated by the Nazis as punishment.

 

 

7. The Fryderyk Chopin Museum

Touted as one of the most high tech in Europe, this museum officially opened in the spring of 2010 to mark the 200th anniversary of one of Poland’s most famous sons. Taking up three floors, the museum features an interactive style and shares the life of Chopin from start to finish leaving absolutely no detail out. Among the 5,000 exhibits are his school exercise books, a sweet box, a gold watch presented to the ten year old Frederic by an admiring Italian singer and the passport he used to enter England. So comprehensive is the collection it even features the last letter he wrote to his family and dried flowers from his deathbed. Also, of course, are several paintings and sculptures (including his death mask), a recreation of his Paris drawing room, and even an intriguing section on his social circle. However, what really revolutionises this museum is the way your route is conducted. Aside from an avalanche of e-books, audio-visuals, music games and touchscreen options, the museum allows visitors to ‘adapt their trip to their particular circumstances.'