It’s important to realize that the factory is not really about Oskar Schindler or the Enamel Factory. It’s a full look through what living in Krakow was like when the Nazis were occupying the city during World War II.
The permanent exhibit at Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory is titled, Krakow Under the Nazi Occupation 1939-1945 and is an immersive experience into one of the darkest time periods in Krakow’s history when havoc was wrecked on local residents and the main market square was renamed “Adolf Hitler Platz”.
Visiting Oskar Schindler’s Factory
You have a few options for visiting- so give us a moment to explain them, so you can best choose how you would like to go to the museum. By the way this is the official website of the museum and we always recommend starting there before you head out to a third-party site to book tours or tickets.
First though, you need to decide whether to go with a guide or not. While we do not offer tours of the museum, there are many guides that do, and you can find them on the many, many booking platforms out there for many different prices- or you can go with the museum’s guides for an extra 30pln every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 4 pm (in English only).
If you are someone who wants to really take your time though, we recommend going without a guide. We recently went on the free day- which is every Monday.
[Side note: many Krakow museums with free days, no longer offer pre-booking of tickets- you are required on the free days to show up and wait in line for entry. This actually has worked quite well in our opinion, as before many people were scooping up the free tickets to museums online, but not actually using them. This new method ensures that the museum is used to its full potential on free days.]
Back to the point, on our most recent visit we were there for 3.5 hours without a guide, and still didn’t finish reading everything we wanted to in the museum. Most guides go for only an hour and a half. So our suggestion would be to come with us on a free walking tour of the Jewish Quarter and Ghetto- and then with that background information, visit Schindler’s Factory on your own, so you have plenty of time to actually read each exhibit. Did we mention there are 45 rooms to explore?
That’s right- the museum itself is 45 separate rooms, each invoking a different setting during this riveting time period. From a tram stop, to a book store, to the former ghetto walls, the museum immerses you into the time period using both written record, and modern day documentary style interviews with survivors, and those who consider themselves “Schindler’s Jews”.
While many think the factory will focus on Oskar Schindler and the movie Schindler’s List- it really only touches on those subjects. The vast majority of the museum is about the experience of life under the Nazi Occupation in Krakow- covering the subject from many different angles and sharing the personal stories from many of Krakow’s inhabitants during that time.
Below we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Schindler’s Factory Museum.
When can you visit Schindler’s Factory and how long should you plan to be there?
Schindler’s Factory is open 7 days a week; only closing on the first Tuesday of every month. You can visit from 9:00am-7:00pm Tuesday thru Sunday; and 10:00am-2:00pm on Mondays (but always double check the hours on the official website).
The last entry is 1.5 hours before closing each day. And on Mondays the entry is free- which means, you cannot book tickets in advance. [Free days at Krakow museums are now operating on a first-come-first-serve basis; so get there before opening and plan for at least a half hour of waiting outside.]
We would recommend giving yourself at least 90 minutes to explore the 45 separate rooms within the factory, so that you have time to actually stop and read through the exhibits. While you can go with a guide, they will walk you through rather quickly, so keep that in mind when deciding how to visit. Guides from the museum are only offered on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 4pm in English. All other guided tours are booked through third-parties. To book a ticket directly from the museum, and not a third-party go to mhk.pl and choose Schindler’s Factory from the list.
How do I get to the Schindler’s Factory Museum?
The museum itself is located in part of Oskar Schindler’s original Enamel Factory at Lipowa 4. The closest tram stop is Plac Bohaterów Getta – which is about an 8 minute walk to the factory. Walking from the Old Town is an option, but it will take about 30 minutes. Walking from Kazimierz will only take you about 15 minutes.
Is there more to do there than just the Schindler’s Factory Museum?
Yes! Next door you will find the MOCAK the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow. You will also find that there are many cafes and restaurants in this now residential area of the city called Zabłocie- and you are of course right next door to Podgórze- where you can visit the remaining pieces of the ghetto wall; Ghetto Hero’s Square Memorial; or the Pharmacy Under the Eagle Museum.
Do you visit Schindler’s Factory as part of your free walking tours?
No. The Jewish Quarter and Ghetto free walking tour we offer does not visit the factory itself. But, from where our guides end, you are only an 8-minute walk away. If you wish to do our tour and the Factory Museum in the same day- we recommend doing the morning tour, and having a place reserved for yourself at the museum, in the afternoon, after approximately 2:00pm- but remember the museum is not open late enough on Mondays for this to work; and they are also closed the first Tuesday of every month.
Is Schindler’s Factory Museum appropriate for children?
While the museum focuses on the time period of Krakow under Nazi Occupation- it does not go into the monstrous and gruesome details of daily life during this time. The museum officially suggests only persons aged 14 and older should visit- however, you know your child best. Most importantly is knowing whether your child will enjoy learning about this part of history and if they can occupy themselves appropriately during the visit so as to not bother other tourists.
Don’t forget- if you have any questions about Krakow- get in touch! You can find us on all social media @KrakowExplorers or contact us here.
@krakowexplorers 500+ Things to Do in Krakow: 1/500: Oscar Schindler’s Enamel Factory (Fabryka Emalia Oskara Schindlera) While many assume that Oskar Schindler’s Factory is all about the heroic character from Stephen Spielberg’s movie Schindler’s List, or even the movie itself, it is actually much more than that. The museum’s permanent exhibition is titled “Krakow During the Nazi Occupation 1939-1945” and covers the entire history of this time period in Krakow, not just the ongoings of the factory itself. However, you are given the opportunity to watch a film that interviewed many of the workers at Schindler’s Factory to hear firsthand what life was like for them during this dark period of history in Krakow. From artifacts of the time period, to hand written notes of children living in the ghetto, each room of the museum takes you to a different time and place in Krakow during the occupation, and is not only interesting, but amazingly arranged. We recommend buying tickets directly from the museum. And take some time to decide if you would like to go with a guide or not. The Museum is open Mondays from 10:00-14:00 offering free tickets for the permanent exhibit on a first-come-first-serve basis (not available for reservation online). Tuesdays thru Sundays the entire museum is open from 9:00-19:00 (closed the first Tuesday of every month) and tickets can be purchased online or in person. Our newest project is compiling a list of literally everything you can see, do, eat, drink, and more on your visit to Krakow. Of course, we always recommend coming on one of our Free Walking Tours of the Old Town and Castle or The Jewish Quarter to begin your trip! They are a great introduction to what Krakow has to offer and will give you everything you need to know to continue on your explorations of the city! Just visit KrakowExplorers.com to see all the tours we currently offer! And as always, please comment below with any questions! #krakow #thingstodoinkrakow #travel @Muzeum Krakowa
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