The National Museum in Warsaw is one of the most important and finest museums in the city, which for over a century has been collecting, preserving, and presenting to visitors invaluable works of art from around the world. Located on Jerozolimskie Avenue, right next to de Gaulle Roundabout and Poniatowski Bridge, it is not only a showcase of Polish culture but also a must-visit destination when exploring the capital.
The museum’s monumental building, designed in the modernist style, houses more than 800,000 objects ranging from ancient to contemporary art. The richness of its collections makes it one of the most fascinating museums in Warsaw and an essential stop on the city’s cultural map.
Permanent Galleries at the National Museum
A visit to the National Museum is best begun with its most important permanent galleries, which showcase different eras, styles, and fields of art. Each of them offers a unique world in which visitors can immerse themselves for hours.
Faras Gallery
This is the only exhibition in Europe dedicated to Nubian art from the early Christian period. The reconstructed wall paintings and architectural elements transport visitors back in time, revealing the spirituality and art that flourished along the Nile. You can learn more about the history of this discovery and the remarkable UNESCO rescue campaign in the article devoted to the Faras Gallery. It is an absolute world-class treasure that makes the National Museum in Warsaw truly exceptional among the best museums in the city.
Gallery of Medieval Art
Filled with sculptures, altarpieces, and religious paintings, it offers a remarkable testimony to the spirituality and craftsmanship of medieval artists. The gallery’s interiors evoke the atmosphere of a sacred space, enhancing the experience and allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of that era.
Gallery of 19th-Century Art
This gallery houses the works of Poland’s greatest masters, including Jan Matejko, Aleksander Gierymski, and Józef Chełmoński. It is here that visitors can admire paintings that have become an integral part of Polish culture and the history of art.
Gallery of Polish Design
One of the museum’s newer yet particularly fascinating sections, this gallery showcases the development of Polish design from the 20th century to the present day. Furniture, ceramics, textiles, and everyday objects illustrate how aesthetics and functionality in Polish homes have evolved over the decades.
Exhibition of Ancient Art
Here, visitors can travel back to the times of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Sculptures, vessels, jewelry, and sarcophagi offer a tangible encounter with the civilizations that laid the foundations of European culture. It is one of the museum’s most fascinating sections, perfect for those passionate about the distant past.
Temporary Exhibitions – Example: Chełmoński
The National Museum is also renowned for hosting highly popular temporary exhibitions, which attract both Warsaw residents and visitors from across Poland. One of the most significant events in recent years was the exhibition dedicated to the work of Józef Chełmoński – an artist regarded as one of the greatest masters of Polish realism. The exhibition presented a broad overview of his oeuvre, ranging from his most famous paintings to lesser-known works that rarely leave the museum’s storage.
Visitors had the opportunity to admire such masterpieces as the celebrated Indian Summer (Babie lato) and the dynamic The Four-in-hand (Czwórka), which continue to captivate with their scale, precision, and Chełmoński’s extraordinary ability to capture nature and the Polish landscape. His paintings fascinate not only through their technique but also through their emotional depth – they depict life in harmony with nature, the beauty of the Polish countryside, and the richness of the native landscape. The exhibition was prepared with great care – alongside the paintings, one could explore archival materials, sketches, and contextual documents that offered deeper insight into the artist’s craft and sensitivity.
The event drew huge crowds, confirming that the National Museum is not only a treasury of permanent collections but also a dynamic institution that actively responds to public interest. Exhibitions like this demonstrate the museum’s ability to combine tradition with modern presentation, encouraging new generations to engage with art and proving that works created more than a century ago can still move and inspire contemporary audiences.
Branches of the National Museum – The Radziwiłł Palace in Nieborów
Not everyone knows that the National Museum in Warsaw also has several branches. One of the most fascinating of them is the Radziwiłł Palace in Nieborów, which once belonged to one of the most powerful aristocratic families in Poland. This Baroque residence, with its beautiful garden and richly furnished interiors, is a remarkable complement to the Warsaw collections. It is a destination well worth visiting outside the capital – especially for those interested in art, architecture, and the history of the Polish aristocracy.
Why Visit the National Museum?
The National Museum in Warsaw is a space where the past meets the present. It is a place where one can spend several hours, but also return time and again to discover new corners and exhibitions. The richness of its collections, the diversity of galleries, engaging temporary exhibitions, and the opportunity to visit its branches make it one of the best and most fascinating museums in Warsaw.
For the city’s residents, it is a space of education and inspiration, while for tourists it is a must-see destination that offers a deeper understanding of Polish culture and its place within the history of world art.

Summary – Opening Hours and Tickets
Opening Hours:
The National Museum in Warsaw, located at 3 Jerozolimskie Avenue, is open from Tuesday to Sunday:
Tuesday–Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Closed on Mondays
Ticket Prices for Permanent Exhibitions (Main Building):
Regular ticket: 30 PLN
Reduced ticket: 15 PLN
Children, pupils, and students up to 26 years old: 1 PLN (available only at the ticket office)
Children under 7: free admission
Group ticket (minimum 10 people): 15 PLN per person
Combined Tickets (also valid for museum branches):
Regular: 50 PLN
Reduced: 35 PLN
Discounts and Additional Benefits:
Tuesday – free admission to permanent exhibitions
Friday (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM) – 50% discount on all tickets (except the 1 PLN tickets)
Ticket offices close 45 minutes before the exhibitions: at 5:15 PM on days with closing at 6:00 PM, or at 7:15 PM on Fridays with closing at 8:00 PM
Official website: www.mnw.art.pl