National Museum in Kraków

The museum's main edifice, known as the 'New Gmach', is located at Aleja 3 Maja 1. Construction on this modern building began in 1934 under the direction of architects Bolesław Schmidt, Czesław Boratyński, and Edward Kreisler. The project was designed to symbolize cultural progress and accommodate the expanding collections but was constructed intermittently, facing interruptions due to World War II and subsequent political changes, with completion extending to 1989. The building houses the newly renovated upper Gallery of the Twentieth Century Polish Art, one of the largest galleries of painting and sculpture from the late 19th century onwards in Poland. The museum also utilizes the historic Sukiennice and the Arsenal building for specific collections.

The museum's holdings include over 780,000 objects, with a significant portion (over 300,000 items) originating from the incorporated Princes Czartoryski collection. Among its most famous treasures is Leonardo da Vinci's 'Lady with an Ermine' (c. 1489–1490), alongside works by Rembrandt and Raphael. The collection of Polish art features masterpieces by Jan Matejko and Stanisław Wyspiański. The Arsenal building contains a vast display of militaria ranging from the 12th to the 20th century, including Polish armor from the 16th and 17th centuries. The Decorative Arts and Crafts Gallery exhibits gold, silver, and precious stone artifacts, as well as one of Poland's largest collections of Polish and Oriental antique rugs and carpets.

As the first national museum in Polish territories, the National Museum in Kraków played a critical role in preserving Polish cultural heritage during the partitions and through the turbulent 20th century. It functioned as the only large-scale public museum in Polish lands until the restoration of independence in 1918. The institution has survived Nazi looting and systematic destruction during World War II, with significant recovery efforts undertaken post-war. Today, it stands as a premier repository of cultural heritage, maintaining 11 permanent galleries, two libraries, and 12 conservation workshops, while continuing to expand through modernization projects such as the renovation of the Czartoryski Library branch.