A rainy or freezing day in Krakow is a good excuse for museums, and the city has dozens of them. The most famous are the Czartoryski Museum with Leonardo da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine”, the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art in the Cloth Hall, the chambers and Treasury at Wawel, the Rynek Underground and Schindler’s Factory. Many museums have one free entry day a week for their permanent exhibitions. All branches of the National Museum in Krakow are free on Tuesdays.
In short
- Lady with an Ermine: Czartoryski Museum, Pijarska Street, 65 PLN, reduced 50 PLN, permanent exhibitions free on Tuesdays.
- Cloth Hall: Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art, 35 PLN, reduced 25 PLN.
- National Museum: permanent exhibitions free in all branches on Tuesdays.
- Wawel: castle, both floors 95 PLN, reduced 71 PLN. On Mondays selected exhibitions are free, within a daily limit.
- Underground: the Rynek Underground and the Wieliczka Salt Mine.
- Tickets: for the most popular museums, buy online for a set time.
Czartoryski Museum: Lady with an Ermine
The Czartoryski Museum on Pijarska Street, a few minutes from the Main Square, is home to Leonardo da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine”, one of only a handful of surviving portraits by him. You will also see a collection of European paintings and decorative arts. A standard ticket costs 65 PLN, reduced 50 PLN, and children under 7 go in free. Tickets are sold for a set day and time, at the ticket office and online on the National Museum website. On Tuesdays the permanent exhibitions are free.
The Cloth Hall and the National Museum Main Building
Upstairs in the Cloth Hall, right on the Main Square, is the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art, with paintings by Jan Matejko and Józef Chełmoński, among others. A ticket costs 35 PLN, reduced 25 PLN. The gallery terrace has a nice view of the square.
The National Museum Main Building on 3 Maja Avenue is Krakow’s largest museum, with a gallery of 20th and 21st century Polish art and big temporary exhibitions. A ticket to the permanent exhibitions costs 45 PLN, reduced 35 PLN.
Our tip: “If you are in Krakow on a Tuesday, plan the National Museum for that day. The permanent exhibitions in all branches, including the Lady with an Ermine, are free. Free timed passes may run out, though, so come early.”
Wawel: chambers, Treasury and Armoury
At Wawel you can easily spend half a day indoors. Both castle floors cost 95 PLN (reduced 71 PLN), and the Crown Treasury or the Armoury 47 PLN each (reduced 35 PLN). Exhibitions are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Mondays selected exhibitions are free within a daily limit. Everything about tickets is in our guide to Wawel Castle tickets and hours.
Museum of Krakow: the Rynek Underground and Schindler’s Factory
The Rynek Underground. A few metres below the Main Square there is a multimedia exhibition about medieval Krakow, with excavated foundations of old market stalls and streets. Perfect for rain, as you go in straight from the square.
Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory. In Podgórze, in Schindler’s former factory, an exhibition tells the story of Krakow under German occupation. It is one of the most visited museums in the city, so buy your ticket online in advance.
Both branches have one free entry day a week, with a limited number of passes. Check current prices, hours and free days on the Museum of Krakow website.
More museums for a rainy day
- Polish Aviation Museum in Czyżyny: dozens of aircraft, many in hangars. Great for families.
- Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Dębniki, by the river, opposite Wawel.
- MOCAK, the Museum of Contemporary Art, right next to Schindler’s Factory.
- Wieliczka Salt Mine: it is 17 to 18°C underground all year, and the train from Krakow takes about 20 minutes. See our Wieliczka Salt Mine guide.
A rainy day plan in the centre
- Morning: the Rynek Underground, entered straight from the Main Square.
- The Cloth Hall gallery, one floor up.
- Lunch at a restaurant on the square.
- Afternoon: the Czartoryski Museum and the Lady with an Ermine, a few minutes’ walk away.
- Evening: dinner in Kazimierz. See our Kazimierz guide.
Our tip: where to stay
On a rainy day you will appreciate a place just a few minutes from the museums:
- On the Main Square: Apartments in Pałac Pod Baranami. The Rynek Underground and the Cloth Hall are a few dozen steps away.
- Near the Czartoryski Museum and St Florian’s Gate: Art of Serenity, where each apartment is decorated in the style of a different painter, and Barbakan Residence, both on Zacisze Street.
- By the Planty park, towards the National Museum Main Building: Agnes Apartments on Studencka Street and The Old Town View on Podwale.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Lady with an Ermine in Krakow?
At the Czartoryski Museum, Pijarska 15, a branch of the National Museum in Krakow.
How much does it cost to see the Lady with an Ermine?
A ticket to the Czartoryski Museum costs 65 PLN, reduced 50 PLN. On Tuesdays the permanent exhibitions are free.
Which museums in Krakow are free on Tuesdays?
All branches of the National Museum in Krakow, including the Czartoryski Museum, the Cloth Hall and the Main Building, for permanent exhibitions.
What can you do in Krakow when it rains?
Visit museums: the Rynek Underground, the Cloth Hall, the Czartoryski Museum, Wawel and Schindler’s Factory, or go to the Wieliczka Salt Mine.
Do I need to book museum tickets in advance?
For the most popular ones, yes: for Wawel, the Czartoryski Museum and Schindler’s Factory it is best to buy online for a set time.
Krakow in any weather with Cracow Travel. Book an apartment in the centre, minutes from the museums, direct. With the code CT231974 you pay 50 PLN less for stays of 2 nights or more. See available apartments →
Sources: National Museum in Krakow (prices, free Tuesdays), Wawel Royal Castle, Museum of Krakow. Photo: Kgbo, Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Updated: February 2027. The Cracow Travel team, hosting guests in Kraków for 15 years.