About the Museum
We established POLIN Museum to tell you in an interesting and engaging way about an important part of Polish culture and history—the one connected to the Jewish community. At the Core Exhibition titled 1000-Year History of Polish Jews, you will learn about everyday customs, traditions, and people. Our temporary exhibitions and events will allow you to discover the great importance of cultural diversity and the challenges it brings. We share with you a universal message of mutual respect and understanding.
The agreement, which brought to life the jointly financed cultural institution, was signed by Mayor Lech Kaczyński, Waldemar Dąbrowski, then Minister of Culture, and Professor Jerzy Tomaszewski, Deputy Chairman of the Association. With time, thanks to the funds raised mainly from private individuals and foundations from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland, work on the project of a future museum became possible. Unique documentation on Polish Judaica both in the country and abroad was collected and a wide international support network requisite to raise funds needed to design and produce the core exhibition was established.
| Our building |
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The impressive POLIN Museum building, designed by the Lahdelma & Mahlamäki Finnish architectural studio, will stun you both from the outside and inside. It has been widely recognized at international architectural competitions, winning the International Architecture Award, the Eurobuild Award, and a nomination to the Mies Van Der Rohe Award. |
A Tale about Jewish Neighbors
Visit us in the center of Warsaw, in the district of Muranów. Our Core Exhibition will take you on a journey across 1000 years of the history of Polish Jews—from the Middle Ages to the present day. You will get acquainted with Jewish culture and heritage—a source of inspiration for both Poland and the world. You will learn where from Jews arrived in Poland, how they lived, what they have left behind, and what kind of community they form today. In the exhibition, you will admire historic artifacts, keepsakes, architectural models and works of art. The exhibits are accompanied by texts, photos, recordings and films.
A place for everyone
Each day, we make sure that everybody feels at home at our Museum. Within its space, you will find a place to rest, and the entire building is accessible for people with disabilities.
We have also provided many conveniences for seniors, foreigners, and visitors with children—we recommend using our audio guides as well as joining guided tours and walks.
You can wrap up your visit at the Warsze bistro, where we offer a wide selection of Jewish cuisine-inspired dishes, or at the Museum shop, where you can purchase books, souvenirs, and gifts.
| We are being recognized—awards granted to the Museum |
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The European Museum Forum granted us the award previously granted to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao or the Victoria and Albert Museum in London [—the European Museum of the Year 2016]. In 2024, we were placed third on the list of the Tripadvisor’s favorite tourist destinations in Warsaw. We were also granted other prestigious awards, such as EMYA in 2016 or Europa Nostra in 2017 and 2022. |
Inspiring events
There’s always something happening at the Museum—we encourage you to come visit our temporary exhibitions, and to attend our concerts and meetings. Our events offer an opportunity to get acquainted with a unique culture, cuisine, music and many other achievements of Polish Jews. Here, you will meet people who are open, tolerant and willing to raise difficult issues, such as prejudice or exclusion.
Our beginnings
POLIN Museum was established thanks to the dedication and support of many people, institutions, and companies from around the world. They were all driven by the idea of presenting the rich and multi-layered Polish-Jewish past. The idea to build the Museum was born at the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute and, in 1995, works on the project for the institution began. We officially opened the Museum building to visitors on 19 April 2013, and our Core Exhibition has been opened for viewing since 28 October 2014.
People—prime movers behind POLIN Museum
Grażyna Pawlak was the initiator and first coordinator of the POLIN Museum project. Jerzy Halbersztadt, the Museum director from 2005 to 2011, oversaw the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute’s efforts to establish the new institution. From 2011, Piotr Wiślicki was responsible for designing and constructing the Museum’s Core Exhibition. From the very beginning, the establishment of POLIN Museum was supported by Marian Turski.
Our mission
We are a modern institution of culture—a historical museum which presents 1000 years of the history of Polish Jews. We are also a place of meetings and discussions for all those who want to better understand the past and contemporary Jewish culture, draw lessons for the future, confront stereotypes, and face today’s threats such as xenophobia and prejudice. Our values are openness, tolerance, and truth. In our activities, we strive for a mutual understanding and respect between Poles and Jews. We aim to serve as a guide on the path to building a multicultural community.