Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków and the last day of our adventure
We spent our last day in Kraków at the Polish Aviation Museum, where entry happened to be free on Tuesday. And then we finally got to pick up our repaired car.
Our stay in Kraków ended up dragging on much longer than we’d originally planned. When we found out our car still wasn’t ready, it was clear we’d need to find accommodation for another night. Our original hotel had no more vacancies, so another move was in store for us. This time, though, we chose a hotel closer to the historic centre and Wawel Castle. Luckily, they let us check in earlier than the official time, so we didn’t have to wait around for hours with our luggage.
Polish Aviation Museum
It was Tuesday, and we found out that on this exact day the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków had free admission. So why not take advantage of that?
The museum sits in an interesting spot, right on the grounds of the former Rakowice-Czyżyny airport. This airport was established even before the First World War and is one of the oldest permanent airports in Europe. It was closed in 1963, but some of the original parts of the site and historic hangars still remain there today.
The whole site today covers around 34 hectares, of which about 11 hectares are exhibition space. The collection includes more than 250 aircraft, helicopters and gliders, over 140 aircraft engines, and thousands of other objects connected to the history of aviation.
More aircraft, helicopters and concrete aircraft shelters around the museum grounds
The museum is located further away from Kraków’s historic centre. It’s about 6.5 kilometres from the main square, Rynek Główny, and from our hotel near Wawel it was even a bit further. So this time we didn’t bother working out any complicated routes and simply booked a Bolt again. Right after arriving at the museum, though, it was clear this wasn’t a museum we’d get through in half an hour. It’s really huge. And the entry really was free.
Honestly, I’m no expert on planes. I don’t know much about engines, technical specs, or exactly what each machine can do. But aircraft have somehow fascinated me since childhood, which is actually pretty funny considering I’ve never flown in my life. And there was really a lot to look at here. 🛩️
The museum has hundreds of exhibits, and besides the aircraft themselves there are also helicopters, gliders, aircraft engines and other objects related to the history of aviation. And it’s definitely not just one big hall. The individual exhibitions are spread across several buildings and hangars, and a lot of planes stand outside too. So you move gradually from one section to another, discovering something different in each one.
We even spotted a plane with a Czech flag, and we also saw aircraft connected to the police air service and many others that I obviously couldn’t even name. But I think that’s exactly what makes this museum interesting even for someone who doesn’t understand planes at all. You don’t need to know the names of the individual types or what engine they have. You just look and wonder how something like that can even fly. 🙂
The museum entrance and the first aircraft and helicopters outside in front of the building, including a plane with a Czech flag
A hangar full of engines
One part of the museum is devoted to aircraft engines. And there were really a lot of them there. I’ll admit this was probably the section that interested me the least. Not because it wasn’t interesting, but because I was looking at one engine after another and had no idea what exactly I was looking at. I think someone who understands technology and engines could spend a really long time there. I much preferred going back to the aircraft themselves.
Display cases with aircraft models and an exhibition of historic aircraft engines
From the history of aviation to the MiGs
What I liked most about the museum was how varied it is. It’s not just modern machines. The individual exhibitions also recall the periods of the First and Second World Wars, the development of aviation during the 20th century, or the Cold War era. So as you walk between the individual aircraft, you actually travel a bit through history, without needing to know all their names and technical specs.
And then came the MiGs. Those, of course, caught my attention. I guess my childhood fondness for the movie Top Gun showed a little here, since I loved it. Although I admit that back then it was mainly because of Tom Cruise. 🙂
The museum even has an outdoor section devoted to MiGs, where you can see several different types of these military aircraft. And this was probably the part I enjoyed the most.
The hangar with aircraft from aviation history and the outdoor exhibition of MiG fighter jets
The big hangars
In one of the large hangars there were so many aircraft that I almost didn’t know where to look first. With some machines, you could also look inside, or at least peek into the cockpit. The museum staff kept an eye on the exhibits while also trying to be helpful to visitors. And I have to say that being able to see some aircraft really up close gave the whole experience a completely different dimension. Suddenly you become much more aware of their size.
A war diorama and the modern exhibition hall with gliders and biplanes
In the end, we spent several more hours in the museum. And it doesn’t surprise me at all. There are so many sections and aircraft that if you want to go through the museum at a relaxed pace, definitely leave yourself enough time for it. For me, it was definitely an interesting visit, even though I know almost nothing about planes. ✈️
Bolt again
When we decided to head back to the hotel, we pulled out the Bolt app, as usual by now. This time, though, it wasn’t quite that simple. Several drivers turned down the ride, until somehow it ended up that one of the nicer, premium cars came for us, still at the price of a regular Bolt. So at least once during our Kraków adventure we got to travel in style. The driver took us back to the hotel, then we went for an early-evening walk around the city, had dinner and spent the rest of the day just resting. After all those previous days, we really needed it.
Our car, at last
The next day we called a Bolt again, but this time with a much more pleasant destination. We were heading to the garage for our car. It was finally ready. Unfortunately, there are really a lot of cars in Kraków and there are often traffic jams, so the ride took about an hour. After all those emails, the waiting, the tow, the moves around Kraków and several different places to stay, we finally had our car back. And the garage had even washed it, so it was waiting for us nice and shiny. 🙂
The only thing that wasn’t so pleasant was the cost of the repair. It was pretty high. But there was nothing to be done about it. The main thing was that the car was drivable and we could finally head home. There was still one more problem, though. The crack in the windscreen had grown quite a bit during our stay, and it was clear that after getting home the whole windscreen would need replacing. And honestly, we knew that driving several hundred kilometres home with a windscreen like that wasn’t exactly ideal. But we needed to somehow get home. Luckily, the motorway drive was calm and we managed it without any further problems. My husband then declared he’s never going to Kraków again, because we simply had bad luck there. 🙂
How much does a person actually need?
Looking back at our whole Kraków adventure, besides all the experiences, it actually showed me something else too — how little a person really needs. At that point, each of us basically had just one backpack of things. Some clothes to change into, which I had to wash after a few days anyway, a few basic items, and that was almost everything.
We needed somewhere to sleep, something to eat, and something to wear. And really nothing more. When you travel, you suddenly realise how few things you truly need. And maybe that’s not just true while travelling, but at home too. How many things do we actually have around us, and how many of them do we really need? Probably a lot fewer than we think. 🙂
After we got home, we of course had the windscreen replaced too, and that finally ended our unplanned, extended Kraków adventure. And even though quite a lot went wrong during those few days, the main thing was that we all got home safely. And in the end, that’s the most important thing anyway.
Has something unexpected ever happened to you on a trip, and what was it? 🙂
Good to know
Is the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków free on Tuesdays?
Yes, according to the museum's current rules, Tuesday is a free-admission day for the permanent exhibitions. It's always a good idea to check the current conditions before your visit.
What can you see at the Polish Aviation Museum?
You'll find hundreds of exhibits there, such as aircraft, helicopters, gliders, aircraft engines and military machines from various periods of aviation history.
Are there also MiGs in the museum?
Yes. The outdoor exhibition also includes a section devoted to various types of MiG aircraft.
How much time should you set aside for a visit?
The museum is really extensive, and the exhibitions are spread across several buildings, hangars and outdoor areas. If you want to go through it at a relaxed pace, I'd allow at least a few hours.
