MICET is the Interactive Museum / Centre for Theatre Education located inside the National Stary Theatre in central Kraków. It’s not a typical museum — the visit feels like moving through a series of studios and zones where students can touch, experiment, record short sketches and interact with theatre as a living art form. With workshops and educational apps the visit becomes an active experience instead of passive viewing, which makes it perfect for humanities classes, school theatre groups and any young people who enjoy hands-on activities and multimedia.
A big advantage for teachers is the ability to tailor the educational path — the exhibition is organised by themes and includes both informational content and practical exercises, which makes it easy to prepare lessons tied to the school curriculum.
MICET links the history of the Stary Theatre with new technologies and contemporary stage practice — students will see fragments of stage designs, costumes, archival photographs and audio/video materials presenting directors and actors.
The exhibition is organised around several themes that explore different aspects of theatrical work — for example freedom, emotions, the body or the relationship of "us/them." Each zone invites participation: recording short improvisations, creating scenographic moodboards, experimenting with costumes or editing sound for a scene.
MICET features multimedia stations, a media library with hundreds of theatre photos, an audio library with music recordings from productions and tablet-based “director’s copies” with creators’ commentaries. There are also practical workshops — actor improvisation, costume analysis and scenography exercises. Temporary exhibitions dedicated to particular creators or theatrical topics are held regularly.
Visits are interactive and workshop-based — the typical time is about 1.5 hours, but for school groups it’s worth allowing more time if you plan to include workshops.
Address and entrance: MICET is housed in the National Stary Theatre building, entrance from Jagiellońska Street. It’s only a few minutes’ walk from the Main Market Square, so it’s easy to combine the visit with other central attractions.
Opening hours: the museum is usually open Tuesday through Sunday in the late morning and afternoon; last admission is earlier than closing time, so plan a specific entry time for groups and check current hours before you travel.
Tickets: regular and reduced tickets apply; children under a certain age can enter free. School groups can usually get preferential rates and can book workshops — reservations are made by email or phone. Promotions sometimes pair museum entry with Stary Theatre performance tickets.
Getting there: the Stary Theatre is easily reached by tram and bus lines serving central Kraków; the nearest stop is near the theatre and the walk from the Market Square takes a few minutes. If you arrive with a large group, remember the paid parking zones in the city centre.
Book your date in advance, especially if you want workshops or are coming with a larger group — the number of people allowed in each zone is limited. The organisers offer programmes adapted to different age groups, so include students’ ages and your educational goals when booking.
Prepare students with a short pre-visit talk to increase the visit’s effectiveness — explain the roles of director, set designer, costume designer and composer in a production. A useful pre-visit task is to ask students what story they would like to "tell" on stage and which emotions they’d like to explore during exercises.
After the visit plan follow-up work: review recorded sketches, write short reviews or design scenography projects. That helps the museum visit become part of a wider educational process.
Thanks to its central location you can easily include a walk around the Main Market Square, a visit to the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), a quick look inside St. Mary’s Basilica or a stroll up to Wawel Castle. For school groups it’s good to schedule a lunch break at a nearby restaurant or café.
If time is limited, after MICET take a short walk toward the Market to see historic townhouses and the atmosphere of the Old Town. Students interested in literature may enjoy a visit to a local antiquarian bookshop or a literary café where you can set a short reading task.
There are many well-regarded cafés and restaurants around the Market. For a cosy, bookish coffee spot try Massolit Books & Cafe or the atmospheric Cafe Camelot; for a warm meal choose restaurants serving Polish and regional cuisine with good reviews.
For school groups it’s best to reserve a table in advance or pick places that offer quick group service. For international groups, choose places with English menus and positive reviews from visitors.
MICET strives to be welcoming and accessible — some educational activities are designed with different needs in mind. The theatre and museum are also developing solutions such as audio description and captions for selected projects, but if someone in your group has specific needs, mention this when booking.
Group safety: activities are interactive, so remind students about appropriate behaviour and respecting props. Museum staff usually brief groups before they enter workshop zones.
Trying to arrive without a reservation during the tourist season — many teachers learn about capacity limits only upon arrival. Solution: reserve your date and workshops in advance.
No plan for the rest of the day — after an interactive visit students may be excited or hungry, which can make boarding the coach difficult. Solution: schedule a lunch break or a short walk and allow time to summarise the activities.
Booking workshops unsuited to the students’ age — sometimes a programme is too demanding or too basic. Solution: communicate your group’s age and expectations when making the reservation.
How long does a visit last? - Roughly 1.5 hours; with workshops allow 2–3 hours.
Do we have to pay for tickets? - Yes, there are regular and reduced tickets; children under a set age may enter free. School groups often receive preferential prices.
Can we record materials? - In many zones visitors create short sketches and recordings; staff will explain the rules for using equipment.
Are discounts available when buying theatre tickets? - Promotions sometimes bundle museum entry with Stary Theatre performance tickets; ask when you book.
MICET presents itself as a unique museum in Europe that combines a permanent exhibition with interactive studios and original educational paths. It’s not only a historical display but a laboratory of theatrical imagination.
Projects combining theatre with music, dance and visual arts regularly appear — temporary exhibitions can range from sound installations to costume reconstructions.
If you found this guide useful — share the article with colleagues or on social media. This helps other teachers and organisers find valuable educational places in Kraków.
If you’d like professional guidance through the Stary Theatre and MICET, you can use the services of tour guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz — her contact details are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. With a guided visit you can better tailor the programme to your class’s needs and expectations. We wish you an inspiring visit!
