Let me say this right off the bat – Krakow is a city full of wonders waiting to be discovered, and one such gem is the Polish Aviation Museum. If you are an aviation enthusiast or even just a curious visitor, this place will be right up your alley. I can tell you, the extensive exhibits, and the chance to see them up close, is something kids will love too.
Haven’t been there yet? Well, it’s high time to uncover the marvels this exceptional spot has to offer. So, let’s dive into the story.
- I suggest you also read this article: Discover Cool Places in Krakow You Didn’t Know About – A Secret Spots
The Muzeum Lotnictwa (this is how we call aviation museum) in Krakow can essentially be split into four main sections – the permanent exhibition and storage, temporary exhibits, and a library. The permanent exhibition includes outdoor displays and hangars where you can see helicopters, planes, and gliders.
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You’ll also find a fascinating collection closely related to aviation – documents, medals, patches, uniforms, and vintage hats. And of course, let’s not forget the old engines and rocket launchers – in short, the museum encapsulates the entire history of flying units.
Aviation Museum – For Kids and Adults
The temporary exhibits change from time to time. In the past, we’ve seen exhibits showcasing the wings of American air forces, high-flying photographs, and displays dedicated to forgotten heroes. I think it’s worth checking what temporary exhibition is currently on display before visiting the museum.
Another notable feature of the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow is its extensive library. Here, you’ll find everything related to aviation – from reports of the first flight trials to histories of aviation disasters. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in aviation.
Apart from all this, the main museum building also houses a small café and a children’s corner with a flight simulator, which I am convinced will be a hit with the youngest visitors. Given that a substantial part of the exhibits are outdoors, it’s worth planning your visit to the Polish Aviation Museum for a sunny day.
Must-See Things to See at Krakow Aviation Museum
As I said, the museum showcases exhibits that trace the history of aviation. With over 200 airborne vehicles on display, most interesting in my opinion are:
- Planes
- Gliders and Motor Gliders
- Helicopters
- Anti-aircraft Rocket Systems
- Engines
You need to know that the museum is comprised of several exhibitions, including:
- A small hangar – displaying planes from 1909-1920
- A large hangar – housing planes, helicopters, and gliders
- Engine room – home to one of Europe’s largest collection of aircraft engines
- „Unfamiliar to you” – an exhibition of aircraft from the pioneering era of aviation
- Outdoor exhibit – showcasing large-scale civilian and military aircraft
The Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow also houses a library with over 30,000 items. Thanks to its rich exhibits and vast knowledge base, it ranked eighth on the list of best aviation museums in the world. The Krakow Aviation Museum also publishes its own works and organizes educational events.
If you want to get up close to so many airborne machines, this museum provides a unique opportunity.
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One of Three in the World With Such Huge Collection
This place is one of only three aviation museums worldwide with such a rich and valuable collection. The museum is home to 163 planes, 16 helicopters, 44 gliders, 238 engines, and an array of radar and missile launchers, among other air travel memorabilia.
If you’re curious about the origin of this remarkable institution, it dates back to 1964. The Aeroklub Krakowski organized a grand Air Exhibition on the grounds of the former Rakowice-Czyżyny airfield. Aviation exhibits started to pour in from 1963, previously collected after the end of war actions with the future aviation museum in mind.
The building, having a net volume of 23,250 m3 and a usable area of 3,378 m2, stands over 11 meters tall. The structure spans three above-ground floors and one underground.
If you ever get the chance to see it from the sky, the Main Building resembles a spinning propeller. It’s certainly one of the most modern and expressively designed museum facilities in Poland.
History of the Museum
Rakowice-Czyżyny was one of the oldest permanent airfields in Europe. Established in 1912 for the needs of Austro-Hungarian aviation, it later transformed into one of the stepping stones of the first regular postal airline in Europe in 1917, connecting Vienna with Kiev and Odessa.
By the mid-1920s, Polish military authorities decided to expand the airfield, leading to the creation of the second-largest airfield in Poland. But here’s an important point to remember – the airfield shared the fate of other Polish air bases and was repeatedly bombed by German bombers in September 1939.
During WWII, the Krakow airport was utilized by the German Luftwaffe. It became one of the air bases involved in the preparations for the German attack on the Soviet Union in 1941. The airport was occupied by the Russians in January 1945 and handed back to Polish military authorities in mid-1945. However, in 1963, the Rakowice-Czyżyny airfield was shut down due to the expansion of the metallurgical plant and accompanying housing estates.
The Museum’s Holdings and Exhibits
Now, if you’re there, you need to know that parts of the former airfeild are currently in use by the Museum.
It occupies surviving Polish airfield facilities, including a large aircraft hangar, a garage-warehouse back, and two small buildings built by the Germans during the last war.
The museum possesses 25 aircraft from Herman Göring’s collection, which was pre-war located in Berlin’s Deutsche Luftfahrt Sammlung (German Air Collections) and after the war ended up in Krakow as property abandoned by the Germans in Kuźnica Czarnkowska (located before the war in Germany). These are, along with the so-called Berliner, the subject of German claims against Poland.
In the museum’s collection, you’ll find the only surviving P.11c in the world, which took part in the September campaign. Lt. Wacław Król piloted it. On Septenmber 1st, he shot down a reconnaissance Hs 126 together with Corporal Paweł Kowala, and on September 5th, he and Corporal Piotr Zaniewski shot down a He 111. This was not included by the Bajan commission but was confirmed in Luftwaffe data.
Polish Aviation Museum – Ticket Prices
- Regular ticket – 15 zł (With Kraków City Pass Entrance is FREE)
- Discounted ticket – 7 zł
- Children up to 7 years – free
- Ticket with Large Family Card – 4 zł (price for each family member)
- Family ticket 2+2 or 1+3: 34 zł
- Ticket with Krakow Airport Loyalty card – 10 zł
- Ticket with Euro26 card – 5 zł
- Birthday ticket – 18 zł
Additional paid services:
- Museum lesson – 50 zł
- Guide – 40 zł
Opening Hours of the Aviation Museum Krakow
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 9:00 – 17:00 – Free entry (to the Museum’s permanent exhibitions)
- Wednesday: 9:00 – 17:00
- Thursday – Friday: 10:00 – 18:00
- Saturday – Sunday: 9:00 – 17:00
References:
- https://muzeumlotnictwa.pl/muzeum/pl/
- https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzeum_Lotnictwa_Polskiego_w_Krakowie
