Schindler Factory Exhibition: Kraków Under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945

Housed inside the former administrative building of Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, this permanent exhibition is one of the most moving museum experiences in Kraków. While the story of Oskar Schindler and the people he saved runs through the exhibition as its emotional core, the museum itself is not a film set or a reconstruction of the factory from Schindler’s List. Instead, it presents a deeply immersive, city-wide story about how Kraków and its residents – Jewish and non-Jewish alike – lived, suffered, and resisted under Nazi occupation.

Oskar Schindler & His Factory
Fragment exhibition scene “Kraków Street” at the Schindler Factory Museum – reconstruction of everyday life in occupied Kraków. Schindler factory exhibition

The exhibition unfolds across dozens of interconnected rooms, recreating the transformation of pre-war Kraków into a city ruled by fear and propaganda. Multimedia installations, reconstructed interiors, archival photographs, newsreels, and sound effects draw visitors into the rhythm of everyday life between 1939 and 1945. You walk through cobbled streets, cramped apartments, and offices marked with Nazi insignia; you hear German announcements echoing from loudspeakers and whispers of the underground resistance.

Kraków During World War II: Life Under German Occupation


One of the most haunting sections recreates the Kraków Ghetto, showing the isolation, loss, and despair experienced by thousands of Jewish residents. Further on, the exhibition highlights the fate of factory workers saved by Oskar Schindler – their names, faces, and testimonies forming the human centre of the story.

Rather than offering a simple narrative of heroism, the museum focuses on the broader experience of occupation: oppression, moral choices, and survival. It invites reflection on how an ordinary European city became a stage for both cruelty and courage.

Schindler factory exhibition : Exhibit depicting the Kraków Ghetto at the Schindler Factory Museum – walls, deportations, and life under Nazi occupation.
Display of portraits of survivors from Oskar Schindler’s Factory – part of the “Kraków Under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945” exhibition.

Visitors should note that the Schindler Factory Exhibition is not a preserved factory floor, but a modern historical installation – designed to help you feel and understand wartime Kraków through emotion, sound, and atmosphere. It is a journey through history rather than a static display.

History of the Kraków Ghetto

Frequently Asked Questions abut Schindler Factory Exhibition

Yes, the museum is located inside the original administrative building of Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory (Deutsche Emailwarenfabrik). However, the production halls no longer exist, and the museum does not recreate them. Instead, it presents a modern historical exhibition focused on the wartime experiences of Kraków’s inhabitants.

Partly, yes. Several scenes from Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List were filmed in the original administrative building of the factory at Lipowa Street – the same one that now houses the museum. However, most of the film’s factory interiors and ghetto scenes were recreated elsewhere in Kraków, including the Podgórze district and the Liban Quarry. Today, the museum functions as a historical and educational exhibition, not a film set.

Most visitors spend between 1.5 and 2 hours inside. The exhibition is immersive and extensive, so it’s worth taking your time to explore each section.

Yes, you can explore the Schindler Factory Exhibition independently. However, joining a guided tour offers deeper insight into the historical context, including the stories of Schindler’s workers and daily life in occupied Kraków.

Yes – advance booking is highly recommended. Since 2026, all tickets are issued personally (in the visitor’s name) and must be purchased with valid identification.

The museum deals with sensitive and difficult historical topics, including wartime violence and persecution. It is recommended for visitors aged 14 and older.

Photography without flash is allowed for personal use. Tripods and filming for commercial purposes require prior permission.

Yes. The building is fully accessible to visitors with limited mobility. There are elevators connecting all exhibition levels, accessible restrooms, and staff available to assist upon request.

Practical Information

Tickets & Guided Tours 
Plan Your Visit
Memory Trail in Kraków

Practical Information

Address: Lipowa 4, Kraków
Branch of: Museum of Krakow (Muzeum Krakowa)
Exhibition title: Kraków Under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945

Opening hours: The museum is open daily except Mondays. Opening times may vary seasonally – check the current schedule on the official website of the Museum of Krakow.

Admission: Paid entry. From January 2026, all tickets to the Schindler Factory Museum are personalised (issued in the visitor’s name). Visitors must present a valid ID matching the name on the ticket upon entry. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the museum ticket office, subject to availability.

Recommended visit time: 90–120 minutes
Accessibility: The museum is fully accessible to visitors with limited mobility.
Languages: The permanent exhibition is presented in Polish and English; guided tours in other languages are available with advance booking.

Note: Due to high visitor numbers, advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly during weekends and holidays.