Night of Museums Kraków 2025 – tickets, programme, map, public transport (MPK)

For 21 years—always on a May night—Kraków’s museums and galleries have flung their doors wider than usual, inviting residents and visitors to explore for free or for a token fee. Night of Museums Kraków 2025 (Friday 16 May) is organised by the City of Kraków’s Department of Culture together with the Standing Conference of Kraków Museum Directors, under the patronage of the Mayor.

More than 60 institutions will take part this year—from the royal Wawel to the Garden of Experiences and the niche Butterfly Museum. This guide covers everything you need to know: the timetable, reservations, how and where to buy tickets, suggested routes, MPK transport and must-see museums.

Night of Museums Kraków 2025 Schedule

Most venues open at 18:00 and remain open until 24:00; a few—such as Wawel Royal Castle—welcome visitors until 01:00.

What’s new for 2025

• Museum of the Home Army – brand-new exhibition on the Chrobry Battalion.
  
• Stained-Glass Museum – launch of the three-year Art-Nouveau stained-glass project Spring by Kazimierz Sichulski.
  
• Garden of Experiences – “Sulphur Crown” chemistry show and ZORBA human-hamster-ball rides.
  

How to Get Tickets & Entry Passes

Key point: several of the most popular museums require an online time-slot reservation, but the actual paper tickets (5 zł) are bought on site, not online.

1. Online reservation (mandatory where capacity is tight)

From 6 May the calendar at krakow.pl/nocmuzeow lets you book a slot (Wawel, Schindler Factory, Rynek Underground, VR Museum).
You’ll receive a confirmation e-mail with a booking number—this is not a ticket; the 5 zł ticket is purchased at the door.

2. Buying tickets in the branches (symbolic 5 zł)

• Cash or card—each venue decides.
  
• One ticket = one branch. If Kraków Museum has eight branches, you buy a separate ticket for each (or pick your favourites).
  
• Children under 7 enter free without any ticket.
  

3. Walk-in entry (no reservation)

Roughly 40 venues (e.g. Butterfly Museum, Museum of Illusions, Jagiellonian Botanic Garden) run on a first-come, first-served basis. Lines are admitted in 20-minute waves.

Highlight Museums & Their 2025 Programmes

1. Royal Classics

• Wawel Royal Castle – night-time tours of the former royal seat.
  
• National Museum, Main Building – interactive show Alchemy under the Patronage of Polish Kings (every 30 min).
  

2. History & Patriotism

• Museum of the Home Army – new exhibition on Battalions Chrobry I & II; VR stations drop you onto the 1944 barricades.
  
• Schindler’s Factory – permanent route Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945, sound installation Voices of the Survivors. Online reservation required.
  

3. Science & Experience

• Garden of Experiences (S. Lem) – “Sulphur Crown” open-air experiment, ZORBA rides and stargazing (weather permitting).
  
• Stained-Glass Museum – first stage of crafting the Spring window; live glass-cutting and oxide-colouring demos.
  

4. Family & Interactive Culture

• Archaeological Museum – three Kamishibai shows about Bolesław the Brave (40-seat limit; e-mail booking).
  
• Kraków Museum – Krzysztofory Palace – family tour 1000 Years of the Royal Crown with a replica Szczerbiec sword.
  

5. 2025 Newcomers – Opening Hours

Pro tip: Start with the Butterfly Museum before 18:00, then head to the Museum of Illusions and the VR Museum—both stay open the latest.

Route Planning & Map – Three Ready-Made Loops

Even veteran museum-goers can’t tick off sixty venues in one night, so here are three proven circuits—all visible on a free Google My Maps layer (download link below).

Classic Loop (≈ 3 km, 2 – 3 h)

Rynek Główny → Rynek Underground (reservation) → Sukiennice Gallery → Town Hall Tower → Grodzka Street → Wawel Royal Castle → finish on the Vistula Boulevards.
Ideal for first-time visitors, push-chair friendly, great night panoramas.

Family Loop (≈ 4 km, 3.5 h)

Butterfly Museum (last entry 20:00) → Museum of Illusions (open till 22:00) → Archaeological Museum (Kamishibai) → Krzysztofory Palace → stroll the Planty to Garden of Experiences (ZORBA, Sulphur Crown).
Lots of interaction and workshops for kids aged 6-12; family restrooms everywhere.

Alternative Loop (≈ 6 km, 3 – 4 h)

Zabłocie & Nowa Huta: Schindler’s Factory (reservation) → MOCAK → VR Museum (open till 22/23) → night tram 22N to Plac Centralny → Museum of Nowa Huta (ambient concert).
For fans of contemporary art, industrial settings and the city’s night-time soundscape.

MPK Transport, Parking & Extra Lines

MPK on Museum Night

90-minute night tickets cost 6 zł (regular) or 3 zł (concession) from machines or mobile apps. Kraków Card holders pay 1 zł.

Parking

• Park&Ride Czerwone Maki, Nowy Kleparz, Mały Płaszów – open until 02:00, 10 zł for the night (MPK ticket included).
  
• City centre Zones A & B are paid until 20:00, free afterwards—but expect spaces to vanish after 18:30.
  
• In Zabłocie use the free lot on ulica Lipska (10 min walk to MOCAK).
  

Where to Eat & Sleep on Museum Night

Late-Night Eats (open till 02:00)

• Andrus Food Truck (Kazimierz, pl. Wolnica) – maczanka pork rolls & goose-meat pierogi.
  
• Glonojad (pl. Matejki 2) – vegetarian buffet, 20 zł per plate.
  
• Streat Slow Food (Dajwór 20) – ramen & bao buns, 22:00-02:00.
  

Hotels within 500 m of the Planty

Tip: some hotels offer 10 % off when you show a Museum Night ticket—ask at reception.

Opinions & Past Years’ Highlights

Last year’s edition drew over 120 000 visitors; the biggest hits were the Rynek Underground, Schindler’s Factory and Wawel. Organisers expect even higher numbers in 2025 thanks to three new interactive museums.

FAQ – Most-Asked Questions

Does entry really cost only 5 zł?
Yes—unless the venue is completely free. Buy your ticket on site in each branch.

Is online booking always required?
No. Only a handful of venues with tight capacity (Wawel, Schindler, Rynek Underground, VR Museum) demand it.

What if I’m late for my booked slot?
You have a 15-minute grace period; after that the booking lapses and you join the regular queue.

Can I bring my dog?
Most museums admit only assistance dogs. The Garden of Experiences is an exception (dogs on a lead).

Are night trams covered by ordinary tickets?
Yes—the standard MPK fare applies (90-minute or monthly pass).

Summary

Night of Museums Kraków 2025 means more than sixty open institutions, three brand-new interactive museums, special MPK lines and one unforgettable evening. Plan your route, reserve slots at the busiest venues, buy your symbolic 5-zł ticket on the spot and enjoy—whether you choose majestic Wawel, experiments in the Garden of Experiences or glowing origami at Manggha. See you on 16 May!