Warsaw Uprising Museum: Is it Worth Visiting (2023)?

Are you in Warsaw and wondering about visiting the city’s Uprising Museum?

✅ Book your Private Tour at the Warsaw Uprising Museum here!

You’ll find the Uprising Museum in the center of Warsaw, which is Poland’s capital city. This museum is all about the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, which was a major event in Poland’s history and in World War II.

It has been a big draw for both locals and tourists because it has so many great exhibits, engaging displays, and lots of emotional stories. This post will help you decide if it’s worth going to this museum.

Let’s dive in and find out!

Is Warsaw Uprising Museum worth it?

Yes, for sure! The Warsaw Uprising Museum tells you in detail and in a very moving way what happened during the uprising. It gives you a thorough account of how brave and strong the Polish people were.

There are more than 1,000 artifacts, 1,500 photos, and 400 films in the museum that show what life was like at the time. It also uses soundscapes, interactive displays, and re-created scenes as part of its multimedia shows to bring history to life.

Since its establishment, visitors usually experience the museum’s informative and moving content, as well as its modern and interesting design in a positive way.

You could say that it’s not just a quick history lesson. It’s also an engaging experience that touches you heart and educates you as well. Besides the museum, Warsaw is a great city to explore with a lot to offer you!

When was the Warsaw Uprising museum built?

On July 31, 2004, the Warsaw Uprising Museum opened. This was on the 60th anniversary of the uprising. Lech Kaczyński, who was Mayor of Warsaw at the time and later became the President of Poland, played a key role setting up the museum.

The building, on the other hand, was already built in 1906. Before it became a museum, it was used as a tram power station and a printing house, among other things.

Jan Ołdakowski also played a key role of making the Warsaw Uprising Museum happen. Since the museum opened in 2004, he has been in charge of it as the Director.

Since it opened to the public, he has been a big part of daily operations and growth. Piotr Bujnowski, who works for the architecture company FS&P Arcus, was in charge of designing the transformation of the building.

How long does it take to get through the Warsaw Uprising Museum?

This kind of depends on your walking pace and your intention when visiting the museum. But I can tell you that most people spend about two to three hours at the museum.

It is suggested that you give yourself at least this much time to see all the exhibits and take in all the information. The museum is on three floors and has both fixed and changing displays.

There is also a 6D theatre where people can watch a short film about the loss of the city, which is a highlight for many.

How to get to the Warsaw Uprising Museum?

The Warsaw Uprising Museum is located on Grzybowska 79 street in the Wola district of Warsaw. Here are some options for you to get there:

• By Tram: The closest tram stops are Plac Zawiszy and Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego, which are served by the 1, 22, and 24 lines.

• By Metro: It takes you about 10–15 minutes to walk to the museum from the Rondo Daszyńskiego metro stop.

• By Bus: Stops for lines 155, 171, and 109 are close by.

• By Car: If you drive, you can park your car in the museum’s parking lot or in one of the public spots nearby. From Grzybowska street, you can get into the parking lot of the museum.

• By Bike: There are places in the city where you can rent bikes, and you can ride a bike to the museum. There are bicycle lanes along most of the way.

• By Foot: If you are staying in the city center and you’re fond of walking, it will take you about 30 minutes to walk from the Palace of Culture and Science to the museum.

Before you start your trip, make sure you know when public transport is running and if there are any road closures or traffic reports.

If you’re looking for a car to rent in Warsaw, I would recommend doing so at Discover Cars for the best possible service and a great experience. You can pick up your car all over the city:

✅ Book your rental car to explore Warsaw here!

Uprising Museum parking

If you drive to the museum, there is a parking lot right next to it. The street Grzybowska is where you can get into the parking lot. You have to pay to park, and these are the prices:

• The first hour will cost you 5 PLN, which is about 1.10 EUR.
  
• The second hour will cost you 4 PLN, which is about 0.90 EUR.
  
• Every hour after the third is 3 PLN, which is about 0.70 EUR.
  
• The daily fee to park is 30 PLN, which is about 6.60 EUR.

In the area around the museum, there are also a number of public parking lots. Please keep in mind that the exchange rates can change, so it’s best to check what they are before you go.

Uprising Museum Tours

There are organised tours of the museum in English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Italian, among many other languages. You have to book these tours ahead of time, and they normally last between 1,5 and 2 hours.

If you want to look around at your own pace, you can rent audio guides from the museum. The audio guides come in 11 languages and give thorough information about the exhibits.

But if you want a special experience and do a Private Tour (transport included), I would really recommend booking the following tour:

✅ Book your Uprising Museum Private Tour here!

Opening hours of the Museum

The Warsaw Uprising Museum is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 6 pm. The museum is open from 10 am to 8 pm on Thursdays, and from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Every Tuesday, the museum is closed!

It’s also closed on January 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, December 25, and December 26 as these are bank holidays. Before you go, it’s always good to check the museum’s website to see if the hours or special events have changed.

The Uprising Museum: FAQs

The information below is related to the museum and will give you some more great insights about Warsaw and the uprising!

What happened to Warsaw during WW2?

During World War II, Warsaw suffered a lot of damage. When the Germans took over in 1939, it was the start of a horrible time for the city. The Nazis created the Warsaw Ghetto, where more than 400,000 Jews were forced to live in horrible conditions.

In 1943, the Jews in the ghetto rose up, and the Nazis put a stop to it in a terrible way. The Warsaw Uprising happened just a year later, in 1944.

It was a 63-day fight between the Polish resistance, also called the Home Army, and the German forces that were occupying Poland. Even though the uprising started out well, it was finally put down by the Nazis, who then destroyed the city in a systematic way.

Why was the Warsaw Uprising so significant?

During World War II, the Warsaw Uprising was an important part of Poland’s fight for freedom. During the war, it was the biggest military action taken by any European resistance movement.

The uprising showed how brave and determined the Polish people were to fight for their freedom, even though they were heavily surrounded and had less powerful weapons.

Even though it failed in the end, the uprising is a source of pride for Poles because it showed the spirit of defiance against totalitarianism. It also brought the suffering of the Polish people and the evils done by the Nazis to the attention of the rest of the world.

What happened after the Warsaw Uprising?

After the Warsaw Uprising was put down, the Nazis killed a lot of people and destroyed over 85% of the city in a planned way. When the war ended, the city was in ashes, and it took a long time and was really hard to fix up.

Politically, the failure of the uprising led to the Soviet Union taking control of Poland, putting in place a communist government, and starting over 40 years of communist rule.

Even though a lot of people died, Poland didn’t get its independence back until the communist government fell in 1989. The Warsaw Uprising became a symbol of resistance, but it also ended Poland’s last big attempt to regain its independence during World War II.

The Wrap-Up: Visiting The Uprising Museum

The Warsaw Uprising Museum is more than just a fascinating collection of artifacts. It is a tribute to the Polish people’s bravery and power during one of the worst times in their history.

With a lot of exhibits, interactive displays, and personal stories, the museum tells you a full and very moving story of the Warsaw Uprising.

The Warsaw Uprising Museum is really a must-see in Warsaw, whether you are interested in history or just want to see something interesting.

If you want to know more about Warsaw (which I can imagine), you can check out my post about the cost of living in Warsaw!

Your restless voyager,

Dustin