Tatra Museum in Zakopane

The Dr Tytus Chałubiński Tatra Museum (Muzeum Tatrzańskie) is one of the oldest museums in Poland and the best place to understand Zakopane, the Tatras and the Podhale region in a few hours. It was founded in 1889 by the Tatra Museum Society; its founders included the physician Tytus Chałubiński, Adolf Scholtze and Ignacy Baranowski. The museum grew out of a grassroots initiative: the first collections — rocks, a herbarium of Tatra mosses, animal specimens and ethnographic objects — were donated by enthusiasts who had fallen in love with the mountains and highlander culture. Since 2021 it has had the status of a national museum, and today it runs eleven branches in Zakopane and nearby villages.

The main building stands at Krupówki 10. The façade sketches were drawn in 1913 by Stanisław Witkiewicz, creator of the Zakopane style, while the technical design was prepared by Franciszek Mączyński. Construction continued with interruptions into the early 1920s; the building opened to visitors in 1922. It is one of the few masonry buildings in the Zakopane style and is itself a listed monument. After restoration work completed in 2022, a new permanent exhibition opened here in January 2023.

What to see

The permanent exhibition "Spotkanie" ("Encounter") combines history, ethnography and nature. The ground floor tells how a poor mountain village became a resort and the capital of the Polish Tatras, and shows a highlander cottage interior, folk costume from Podhale, Orava and Spiš, embroidered "parzenica" motifs, leather "kierpce" shoes, shepherds' tools and musical instruments. A separate section is devoted to the Zakopane style: furniture, tableware and objects designed by Witkiewicz.

• Glass painting — one of the finest collections of this folk art in the region, with colourful images of saints and outlaws.
• Natural history section — minerals, Tatra vegetation by altitude zones, birds and mammals, including a bear.
• Temporary exhibitions — in 2026 these include "Underground — a world torn from the darkness" (until 28 February 2027).

The museum is a good choice for a rainy day and for families with children: the exhibition is compact but rich, and an hour to an hour and a half is usually enough for the permanent display.

Practical information

The building is right in the centre of Zakopane, at the start of pedestrian Krupówki near the junction with Kościeliska Street, so the easiest way to get here is on foot from the stations or any hotel in the centre. There is no dedicated car park — leave the car in one of the town's paid car parks. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:15) and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. A ticket for the permanent and temporary exhibitions costs 34 zł (reduced 17 zł), the permanent exhibition only 26 zł; there is also a weekly ticket for 69 zł covering all open branches. On Thursdays admission to the permanent exhibitions is free. Tickets are sold only at the desk, with no online booking; guided tours must be arranged in advance by email. Prices and hours are as of October 2026 — check the museum website before your visit.

Nearby

The museum is a convenient starting point for a walk around the centre: pedestrian Krupówki Street runs uphill, the old wooden church and the Pęksowy Brzyzek cemetery are a few minutes away, and Kościeliska Street leads to Villa Koliba, the first building in the Zakopane style. From there it is not far to the lower station of the funicular to Gubałówka.

Official website: muzeumtatrzanskie.pl

Photos: Piotrekwas, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl, Wikimedia Commons; Staszek99, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Zalasem1, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Scotch Mist, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.