Guided Tours in English

Guided tours

 

Want to make the most of your time in Warsaw? Step into a place where art, history and culture come to life! Explore breathtaking collections of art from around the globe, spanning centuries of human creativity – join us on a guided tour of the National Museum in Warsaw!

 

How to book a tour?

 

• Book by phone: +48 22 621 10 31 ext. 246 or 227 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-4:00 pm) or by email: edukacja@mnw.art.pl; 
• Please select one of the available topics (descriptions below) – we will be happy to advise;
• Please make reservations at least two weeks in advance;
• Tours must be confirmed or cancelled no later than 72 hours before the scheduled date; confirmations and cancellations are only accepted by email (edukacja@mnw.art.pl)

 

Key information:

• The cost of the guide is 350 PLN per group;
• In addition, each participant must purchase a ticket: 10 PLN (permanent galleries) or 25 PLN (temporary exhibitions);
• Tour groups can be made up of up to twenty-five people plus our educator;
• Please arrive on time for your tour – groups that are more than 30 minutes late may not be admitted but will still be charged;
• Guided tours are 80 minutes long;
• In the case of cancellation less than 72 hours in advance or the absence from a booked and confirmed  guided tour, the ordering party is obliged to reimburse the total cost of the tour of 350 PLN;
• Payment can be made on the day of the visit at the museum’s ticket office or online through the PayU system (only PL);
• Information about the processing of personal data for the booking of educational activities;
• Tour terms & regulations

Guided tours of the permanent galleries:

A Story on a Vase: Dive into Ancient History

We’ve carefully selected pieces from the 1,800 on display in the Gallery of Ancient Art to show you the most exciting aspects of ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Roman and Greek art. Together, we’ll learn why the Egyptians mummified animals and why the Greeks reversed the colour scheme when painting their famous vases. These and more ancient facts, stories and tidbits (some of which may not be suitable for our youngest visitors!) will ensure your visit will be far from boring.

The Dawn of Civilization: A Journey to Egypt and Mesopotamia

The dawn of the great civilisations built along the Nile, Euphrates and Tigris began over 3,000 years BCE. Let’s journey through time to learn about the powerful deities and dangerous rulers of Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia. We’ll learn what Mesopotamian cylinder seals were used for, why the appearance of vessels and dishes was an innovation that rivalled the invention of the wheel, and discover why it was so important to ancient Egyptians to preserve the bodies of their dead and why until recently, the mummy of a woman was believed to be the mummy of the male priest Hor-Jehuti!

Gods, Heroes, Mortals: A Journey to Greece and Rome

Everybody’s heard of Heracles, Odysseus and Achilles! Discover a world where these mythical heroes were believed to be real, and people’s fates were in the hands of the divine inhabitants of Olympus. 2,000-year-old relics will serve as our guide to the rise of European art and as a window into the lives of ancient Romans and Athenians. We’ll explore why wine was to be mixed with water, how the game kottabos was played, and why an inconspicuous brick is more indicative of the power of the Roman army than a legionnaire’s sword.

Faras: Treasures of the Sunken Desert

The discovery of the Faras Cathedral changed the face of modern archaeology. In 1961, a Polish archaeological mission led by Professor Kazimierz Michałowski began excavations in Sudan, just across the border from Egypt, in the small village of Faras. There, they discovered a cathedral from the 8th century, its walls covered with more than 120 paintings of angels, saints and bishops, among others. They discovered so much more than just a cathedral - they found traces of a forgotten Nubian civilisation that thrived at the intersection of many cultures. Today, you can admire the paintings and other relics from the cathedral in the museum’s Faras Gallery – the largest exhibition of Nubian art in Europe. Discover Faras and its explorers!

Full of Radiance: Mediaeval Art

Discover Poland’s most opulent collection of mediaeval art, with works dating from the 12th to the early 16th centuries. The monumental altarpieces that once adorned Gothic churches still inspire awe today. Polychrome sculptures created by old guild masters delight with their expressive form and subtle, elegant styling. Exploring the rich symbolism, theological truths and legends conveyed in art, we will see the world through the eyes of those who lived in the Middle Ages.

The Splendor of the Renaissance and Baroque: The Gallery of Old Masters

Paintings, sculptures, royal crowns, Meissen porcelain, embroidered gowns, and tapestries are just some of the riches awaiting us in the gallery dedicated to the art of the 15th to 18th centuries. Wandering through the gallery, not only will we have the opportunity to appreciate the craftsmanship and skills of the artists and craftsmen of the time, but we’ll also look for answers to how art satisfied the ambitions of princes, aristocrats, clergy and wealthy city dwellers. We’ll discover the political intrigue behind the regalia of King of Poland August III Sas and which painting the King of England lost in a bet with his courtier. We’ll also learn that it doesn’t always pay to be a great inventor.

The Museum’s Crown Jewel: The Gallery of 19th Century Art

A walk through the museum’s most visited gallery is like browsing through an album of Poland’s most important paintings. Together, we follow the changes in Polish art that took place from the end of the 18th century to the early 20th century. We’ll see iconic historically-themed artwork by Józef Simmler and Jan Matejko and the tremendous academic canvases of Henryk Siemiradzki. We’ll find out why Józef Chelmonski’s painting “The Indian Summer” caused a scandal in the Warsaw art world and discover who’s who in Jacek Malczewski’s paintings. The Gallery of 19th Century Art is a treasure trove of unusual stories and aesthetic delights.

Beautiful and Practical: The Gallery of Polish Design

This is likely the only gallery in the museum where you will see everyday objects and furnishings that may look familiar! During this tour, we’ll explore lesser-known pieces in the Zakopane Style from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, discover 20th-century icons of Polish design, and discover pieces by contemporary young and up-and-coming Polish designers. The museum’s newest gallery presents beautifully designed mass-produced objects, such as televisions, radios, household appliances, textiles and furniture, and designs, models and prototypes that never made it to production.

 

Masterpieces or the NMW in a Nutshell
Nearly 5,000 works of art in six galleries and only 80 minutes to see it all? Don’t worry; we’ve got it covered! During our museum tour, we’ll show you the greatest hits: the most famous, valuable, beloved, and surprising pieces in our collection! Together, we’ll search for the oldest object in the Gallery of Ancient Art, try to figure out how much an Egyptian tomb’s false door weighs, and look deep into the eyes of the Nubian Mona Lisa! There’ll be plenty of big names, like Botticelli, and delightful Polish design icons. And, of course, the opportunity to take a group photo in front of the museum’s largest painting, Battle of Grunwald, by Polish painter Jan Matejko.