Copernicus Science Centre

The Copernicus Science Centre is a fun, hands-on museum, designed principally to give kids a practical engagement with scientific principles. The Centre also has a Planetarium and free rooftop garden with impressive views.

Inside the Experimental Zone at the Copernicus Science Centre © Copernicus Science Centre.

Though principally aimed at kids, there’s plenty of interest for everyone at Warsaw’s Copernicus Science Centre, not least the free roof garden that has impressive 360° views of the city’s skyscrapers, the river, and the National Stadium. Places can sell out in advance, so check availability via the official website.

The Centre originally opened in 2010 with most of the permanent exhibition and the Planetarium the following year. It gradually added more exhibits and features over the years. The two-storey building covers 15,000 square metres, with an adjacent Discovery Park and Planetarium in a separate building.

In addition to temporary exhibitions, the core material is the Experimental Zone with its 200 exhibits and the Buzzz! gallery for children under 7. There is also The Future is Today exhibition, which takes a closer look at the challenges of the modern world.

The Buzzz! gallery is for children under 7 © Copernicus Science Centre.

What To See In The Copernicus Science Centre

With over 400 exhibits, the Copernicus Centre takes roughly 4 hours to see everything — more, if you also visit the Planetarium, roof garden, and Discovery Park. In other words, you can easily set aside a whole morning or afternoon to visit.

Spread over two floors, there are sections such as Man and Nature and Physical Phenomena, as well as the Robotic Theatre and High Voltage Theatre. The latter dramatises principles of electricity, whilst the former has RoboThespians performing dramatic works. The Thinkatorium is a space to tackle engineering and scientific challenges, and workshop practical solutions. You’ll also find a robotic Copernicus who can respond to any question with AI-generated answers. See the official website for the temporary exhibitions.

The main exhibition space is called The Experimental Zone, which is open-plan. There are no visiting pathways or traditional guides. Instead, Explainers (clad in red t-shirts) are on hand to answer questions and help you get the best out of the Centre.

The Planetarium is in a separate building, with a number of films and shows. There are two entrances: one inside the main exhibition area on the ground floor, and a second from the outside facing the river. All films are available in English, via a set of rented headphones. You can pick these up at the ticket office before the screening. You’ll need to show photographic ID. However, the live shows are only available in Polish. See the official website for details.

The free rooftop garden can be accessed on both sides from the street. Geometric beds are densely packed with perennials, shrubs, and grasses that are especially equipped to deal with adverse conditions. They are also friendly to birds and bugs.

Finally, there is also a Discovery Park next door to the Centre, which features more experiential structures, such as acoustic mirrors, designed by engineers and artists. Entry to the park is free.

Read more reviews on TripAdvisor.

Inside the Copernicus Science Centre Planetarium © Copernicus Science Centre.

How To Visit The Copernicus Science Centre

Tickets often sell out, so buy your tickets online in advance via the official site, rather than chance it on the day.

Your ticket reserves a time slot for entry, although there is roughly 30 minutes’ flexibility before and after if you arrive early or late. There are no restrictions on how long you can stay, except for closing time. The average visiting time is 3 hours.

Once you have shown your ticket, there is no re-entry to the museum. So you cannot leave and come back in again.

The ticket offices close one hour before the exhibitions close.

Copernicus Science Centre address: Wybrzeze Kosciuszkowskie 20, Warsaw 00-390 Poland

Opening hours — opening times change seasonally and are subject to change; always check the official site before travelling.

Summer hours (29 June–31 August):

• Mon–Thu 9am–7pm
• Fri 9am–8pm
• Sat–Sun 9am–7pm

The Planetarium is open:

• Mon 10am–3.30pm
• Tue and Wed 10am–7.30pm
• Thu 10am–8pm
• Fri and Sat 10am–9pm
• Sun 10am–8pm

Please note: due to planned renovation work, the Planetarium will be closed from 1 September to 11 October.

The Rooftop Garden is open:

• May 1–September 1: daily 10am–8pm
• September 2–October: daily 10am–5pm
• November–April: closed

If you plan to visit on a public holiday, check ahead, as the attraction may be closed on certain dates.

Ticket prices — prices are correct at time of writing but are subject to change; always check the official site before travelling. Other ticket types are available, and specific eligibility rules apply to reduced tickets.

Exhibitions

• Normal ticket: 48zł (weekdays) / 50zł (weekends and holidays)
• Reduced ticket: 34zł (weekdays) / 36zł (weekends and holidays)

Combined ticket — Exhibitions and Planetarium

• Normal ticket: 68zł (weekdays) / 70zł (weekends and holidays)
• Reduced ticket: 54zł (weekdays) / 56zł (weekends and holidays)

Evenings for adults

• 55zł

Planetarium

• 2D movies and Straight from the Sky: Normal 34zł / Reduced 24zł
• Special shows: 49zł
• Concerts: 55zł

Entry to the rooftop garden and Discovery Park is free.

The Copernicus Science Centre is a 5-minute walk from the Centrum Nauki Kopernik M2 metro line station.

Powiśle and Northern Śródmieście Districts: Sometimes referred to as ‘downtown Warsaw’, Śródmieście contains the Royal Route of Nowy Świat and Krakowskie Przedmiescie – two historic streets crammed with things to see and do. The area is also home to the iconic Palace Of Science And Culture and the stunning InterContinental Warszawa hotel. These districts are peppered with amazing restaurants, including the Michelin listed Szóstka.

The rooftop garden, with Warsaw’s Palace of Culture beyond © Copernicus Science Centre.

Tips For Visiting The Copernicus Science Centre

• Your ticket will be in the form of a QR code that opens the entry gates. You can display this on your phone or print it out in advance.
• Although tickets have a time slot for entry, you can enter up to 30 minutes before or 60 minutes after the stated time.
• Expect to spend 3 hours in the museum.
• Because the museum is designed for interaction, there are no tour or audioguides. Instead, Explainers (in red t-shirts) are on hand to answer questions and give context. Some of the material is in Polish, so having English-speakers on hand to translate is very helpful.
• The museum is open plan and many of the exhibits have built-in seating, so there are lots of places to sit down.
• You are required to put backpacks and coats into the free lockers or cloakroom — you’ll need a 2zł coin (which you’ll get back). However, you are allowed to take pushchairs into the exhibition space with you.
• Photography is allowed in the museum.
• The museum is designed principally for children. The Buzzz! gallery is open only to children aged under 7, and only under the supervision of an adult. Although some galleries will not suit very young people, there is plenty here to keep everyone engaged and entertained.
• Once a month, usually on the second Wednesday, Quiet Hours are observed from 1pm to 6pm. During this time, loud exhibits and the High Voltage Theatre are turned off, as well as devices emitting intense or strobe lighting. Check the Copernicus Without Barriers website for dates and further details.
• The Copernicus Centre operates a Without Barriers policy, with an action plan for ever-improving accessibility. Wheelchair users should find the space very easy to navigate, and there are accessible toilets. The official site has information for people with physical disabilities, the visually and hearing impaired, and those on the autism spectrum. There are also contact details to help prepare your visit.
• There is a bistro before you enter the exhibition space and a cafe on the first floor. You can also bring your own food to eat in this space.
• There is — of course — a gift shop with lots of science-related gadgets and innovative toys.
• You can pay for everything in the museum with a card.
• If you’re going to a show at the Planetarium, turn up about 10 minutes before the start time, as you will not be let in once it starts. There are two entrances: one inside the main exhibition area on the ground floor, and a second from the outside facing the river. Some shows are only in Polish, but you can borrow headphones with an English translation.

Where Is This Place Located?

Find this location on the Warsaw Visit Google map:

• Open the Warsaw Visit map
• Click on a marker and it will give you the name of the landmark, with a brief description and links for more information and directions. You can pan, scroll, and zoom around the map, or use the + or – buttons in the bottom left of the map to zoom in and out
• You will see the list of places on the left hand side, sorted by category. Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want
• Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
• Each category is on a different layer, which can be switched on and off. So you can just see the Hotel or Restaurant pins, for example
• If you are using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location

Map pins are color coded:

• YELLOW: Warsaw Sightseeing
• BLUE: Warsaw Hotels
• RED: Warsaw Places To Eat – Michelin restaurants are DARK RED
• ORANGE: Warsaw Nightlife
• PURPLE: Shopping In Warsaw
• GREEN: Warsaw Transportation