The building stands directly facing the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, erected in 1948.
The core exhibition is divided into eight thematic galleries representing different historical periods.
The museum's glass facade includes Hebrew and Latin letters spelling out the word 'Polin', which translates to 'here you shall rest' in Hebrew.
The core exhibition floor space covers 4,000 square meters.
The museum incorporates a hand-painted wooden ceiling recreation of the 17th-century Gwoździec Synagogue.
The site served as the administrative center for the Warsaw Ghetto during the German occupation.
POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is located on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto in the Muranów district. The building's deconstructivist architecture, designed by Finnish architect Rainer Mahlamäki, features a massive glass canyon hall symbolizing the parting of the Red Sea. Its core exhibition provides an immersive narrative spanning 1,000 years of Jewish presence in Poland. The museum utilizes multimedia installations, reconstructed architecture, and oral history to chronicle cultural and religious life before, during, and after the Holocaust. The project is a unique partnership between the Polish government, the City of Warsaw, and the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland.
The dramatic, undulating glass walls of the main entrance hall.
Book tickets online in advance to guarantee entry to the core exhibition, as capacity is limited.
Rent the provided audio guide to fully engage with the extensive historical narratives in each gallery.
Allocate time for the temporary exhibitions which often explore contemporary social themes related to Jewish culture.
Attempting to rush through the 1,000-year core exhibition in under two hours, which results in missing the nuance of the historical presentation.
Closed on Tuesdays.
Maintain a respectful tone throughout the galleries; flash photography is generally permitted, but tripods are restricted.
