Cosmos Muzeum Warszawa — Attraction in Warsaw

New and quite small place with a mix of interactive physical exhibits and optical effects and/or illusions, many of which I've seen in one or more science centres elsewhere. There were also a few interactive visual exhibits.

The latter ones are the best and were most popular with both our kids and myself. In my opinion, they're worth a visit. Then I hope they will innovate and either expand or replace the exhibits so I can return.

Since there is only one Science Centre (very large, the Copernicus) in Warsaw, there is definitely a market for this type of offer. Cosmos is almost as large as the smallest science centre I've visited (in a smaller city). There was a long line when we arrived, so we had to wait almost an hour to get in, the first 20-30 minutes outside the door since they have a small lobby area.

So I recommend bringing warm clothes, but such that they can be compressed into one of the small lockers they have, or acceptable to hang on the racks for coat hangers. I assume they will improve the wardrobe area, as they opened quite recently - we could still smell the paint in some of the rooms.

The exhibits I've seen before are definitely interesting if you haven't been to science centres many times before, and some of them are oldies goldies that I also enjoyed even I've tried them several times already. Showing, explaining and experiencing with your own kids adds more than one dimension to an otherwise mundane exhibit (one piece of the entire exhibition of many separate exhibits in the centre, just to clarify).

However, the interactive visual exhibits I mentioned at the beginning were really fascinating and especially one of them I had never seen the like of before, and the few minutes I spent with that one exhibit was definitely worth the entire hour of waiting, even if I hadn't had another hour inside with my family and kids.

Before I reveal the winning exhibit, let me mention the four runners-up:

1. An animated field of dots on the floor and swirling colour on the wall that you could interact with via sensors. Popular with kids and adults alike.

2. The classic "Maze of mirrors". At funfairs you get to go through once at a hefty ticket price. Here we could go as many times as we wanted to, we even went both directions. The size was suitable, and the layout and construction quality were good. There were not that many others since they limit the number of people inside (hence the long queue), and this was the absolute favourite of my 9yo son.

3. A distorted room where your kid can look larger and taller than you.

4. A room similar to a sci-fi movie set with furniture on one wall, so you can pretend to walk from the floor and up the wall, defying gravity.

Now, for my own favourite exhibit - a fully interactive 3D model that shows how contour lines on a topographical map corresponds to actual terrain.

A sandbox of about 50 cm by 80 cm was equipped with a scanner and projector above that would update the topographical map projected onto the sand in almost real time (a few seconds delay) as you manipulated the fine sand with your hands.

See my photo and video. Absolutely mesmerising, complete with animated water at elevation at or below sea level.

There was one exhibit that was not open yet, a so-called vortex tunnel where you walk inside and through a large tube that will give you a sense of vertigo and/or simply mess with your senses to get you off balance. If that one was available, I think I'd be very tempted to give this place 5 stars, even if it is much much smaller than the gigantic (by comparison) Copernicus Science Centre.

One comment from a family member was that they get sensory overload after a couple of hours at the science centre, so they can't really enjoy a full day visit to get full value for the ticket.

This smaller place is more bite-sized and can easily be "done" in an evening after work, not having to spend an entire day of the weekend.

TL;DR - recommended! Bring your kids and camera!!

I hope it will expand and/or renew the exhibition regularly, so I can come...

On a Fr., 2020-01-03. evening a visit took around 2,5 hours, including: waiting in lines - to buy the tickets (outside, 0,5 hr) and to access select exhibits (inside); and interacting with all the pieces as well as taking photos and videos of all of them, both by themselves and as a backdrop for the people I came with.

I wouldn't classify this space as a museum per se, as the exhibits don't carry any historical significance and they seem to have been made purely for commercial merit in use at the exhibition. Neither is it an art museum, as there're no credits, title nor date whatsoever provided for any one piece.

I've had a great time with my mother and adult sister. Most of the exhibits are pretty and look great on pictures. Some pieces are rather trivial, while the rest were interesting enough for me. The mixed-media installations employing digital technologies in physical space were intriguing, but hardly pushing the envelope and the two analog pieces were refreshing in that they engaged senses of touch and space for a change.

The place is the first Insta-museum. I've read about them popping up on in the West, but that's the first one I've come across in Poland. All exhibits have been made to be photographed, and the venue was arranged in a way ensuring ample space for a clean shot of a single object. They cater to the the aesthetic prevalent on Instagram. It's a one that employs striking shapes, flashing lights, light projections, color-blocked spaces and objects etc. Some signs explicitly mention the ways of getting the best pic of an exhibit.

The museum has an agreeable amount of pieces and sufficient space, except for waiting lines in some areas obstructing the visitors' flow of movement - some line management tape posts would be of help in mitigating the issue. The temperature management may also be improved - the crowd itself generates enough heat for a venue of this size in the wintertime and some confined exhibit sub-spaces appeared rather stuffy. Also, the heaters may have been turned on with no guest-accessible mode of adjustment.

If you browse the pictures tagged at this venue on both Instagram and Google business page (Google maps / Search) you'll quickly get an idea of the crowds and the vibe to expect inside. Sure enough, half of the visitors seemed to be high- and junior high- school students; there were also many young people on dates. Most of the time we've had to wait for an opening to either use an exhibit, take a picture of it- or with it. I'm glad to report the other visitors seemed to be well accustomed to the whole content creation game, meaning they were completely unfazed by having to wait for their turn to take a pic and did their best not to get in the frame of a photo.

Most all visitors were busy taking hundreds of pictures, trying different angles and poses. The experience is like using a shared staged photo-shoot set with a bunch of strangers in a confined space. I took nearly 300 media, so I'd highly recommend either bringing a separate point-and-shoot or, not only charging your phone before the visit - but also of taking a power bank with you, as the phone's battery may well be dead by the time you...

The Cosmos Museum in Warsaw is an absolutely stunning place for a photoshoot. It combines modern interactive exhibits with a beautifully designed space that feels both futuristic and immersive. Every corner of the museum is filled with creative installations, dazzling lights, and unique displays that make it a dream destination for photography lovers.

With a large number of themed rooms and fascinating exhibits, the museum offers endless opportunities to capture vibrant, artistic, and truly mesmerizing photos. Whether you're exploring the dazzling mirror rooms, neon-lit tunnels, or interactive optical illusions, each space is designed to spark creativity and provide a one-of-a-kind visual experience.

Three years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting this museum with my son, and we were both absolutely thrilled! We had so much fun exploring the exhibits, taking creative photos, and enjoying the unique atmosphere. The photos taken here are nothing short of spectacular—bright, colorful, and full of energy. The combination of stunning lighting effects and well-thought-out installations makes every shot look professional and Instagram-worthy.

Whether you’re visiting with friends, family, or on your own, the Cosmos Museum is an unforgettable experience that blends art, technology, and creativity. I am so happy we visited, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a magical,...