Once again, we prove that “play” and “museum” are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary! Do you want to see how your grandparents or parents spent their childhood? Join us in visiting a place where you will embark on an extraordinary journey to the past.
Are you looking for an idea to spend your free time? Check out our section​: Best things to do in Kielce.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – photos
The Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce was opened in 1979. At that time, it was called the Toymaking Museum. There is a good reason why it was established in this city. After World War II, the Kielce region became Poland’s “Toy Valley” (Americans would probably call it the “Toys Valley”). Although the museum has changed its location over the years, one thing remains unchanged – regardless of where it’s located, its exhibits evoke emotions in the hearts and faces of many visitors.
During your visit to this sentimental place, you will have the opportunity to see several permanent exhibitions:
- “Toy City” – about 1,200 exhibits from 25 different countries, including collections of dolls, plush toys, and soldiers.
- “ZatkaÅ‚o kakao?” – over 400 toys, 50 books and magazines, and more than 100 photographs that serve as a treasure trove of knowledge about life in the Polish People’s Republic (PRL).
- “The World of Models” – a paradise for those interested in models of ships, boats, airplanes, helicopters, and tanks.
- “Heroes of Animated Films” – a unique opportunity to recall the images of characters from old cartoons.
- “Folk Toys – Traditional Toys” – perfect exhibits for lovers of “colorful fairs” and broadly understood folklore.
The museum also organizes temporary exhibitions – follow its website and social media to stay up to date.
Our TOP 10 Exhibits at the Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce
Do you want to know which toys we liked the most? Here is our private list from Travel-Mates. Look, admire, and reminisce about the good old times.
First Place: MiÅ› Uszatek and his signature floppy ear. Interestingly, this feature was intended to add authenticity and bring him closer to the audience. The creators seem to have succeeded, as we still fondly remember the charming bear to this day.
Coral Bear, who, just like the authors of this blog, would love to learn how to sing. Unfortunately, despite numerous attempts, he could only sing off-key. Did this take away even a little bit of his charm? Not at all.
Third place: little penguin Pik-Pok, who set off into the world to find his place on Earth. As a result, he became close not only to children, but also to adults—especially those adventurers and seekers of happiness, like us. And on top of that, he became an international star!
Fourth place: porcelain dolls. Some of them look quite pleasant. Others, with their sharp facial features, could easily star in horror movies. But I don’t think any little girl was discouraged from collecting them, right?
Fifth place: the most famous toy of the Polish music scene, the “horse, made of wood, on rocking horse runners.” At the sight of it, you immediately feel spring in your soul, and a smile appears on your face. I guess we don’t need to convince anyone that “everyone should have one,” right?
Sixth place: a rather simple train, which, for Wiolczi, evokes memories of a certain magical Christmas. Because this type of simple locomotive with a few carriages was what she asked for in her letter to Santa Claus when she was a child. And just like that, one was waiting for her under the Christmas tree shortly afterward.
Seventh place: a wooden house, the must-have souvenir from every vacation. In the “premium version,” they had coin slots in the roof, making them functional piggy banks. We don’t know about you, but we had so many of these little houses that we could have created an entire open-air museum.
Eighth place: table football. Patryk still has a football table at his family home, but in a more modern version. On the toy in the picture, the players are attached to the field with springs. During the game, you couldn’t use too much force, or the ball would land out of bounds every few seconds.
Ninth place: Little Post Office. Games and toys that allowed you to pretend to be an adult for even just a moment have always been extremely popular. Especially the Post Office. Because who, standing in line with their mom to pay bills or send a letter, hasn’t dreamed of stamping with the same magic power as the lady at the counter?
Tenth place: hopscotch. As many courtyards as there were, there were also rules. Although it was mainly a pastime for girls, there were plenty of boys who eagerly joined in the game. We remember it with a tear in our eye, even though we no longer see chalk-drawn game boards decorating the city sidewalks as they once did.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – tickets
Ticket prices to the Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce are as follows:
- normal ticket – PLN 25.
- reduced ticket (pupils, students, PhD students, teachers, retirees, pensioners) – PLN 15.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – opening hours
- The Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- On Saturdays, you can visit the exhibitions for free until 1 p.m.
- The museum is closed on Mondays.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – visiting time
- An hour will be enough for you to get acquainted with the collections of the Museum of Toys and Play.
- If you want to read the descriptions of all the exhibits carefully, allow about two hours for the visit.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – how to get?
The Museum of Toys and Play is located at Plac Wolności 2 in Kielce.
- On foot/bike. The attraction is approximately 600 meters from the market square (less than 10 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by bike).
- Bus. The nearest bus stops are: Basilica Cathedral, Jana Pawła II / Ogrodowa, Seminaryjska / Jana Pawła II, Seminaryjska / Tarnowska.
- Train. The Kielce Główny railway station is located 1.3 kilometers from the museum.
- Car. There is a private paid parking lot at Plac Wolności.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – interesting facts and tips
- The museum is currently located in a building from 1872. In the 19th century, it housed market halls.
- The oldest exhibit of the Kielce Museum of Toys and Play is a German wax doll from the 18th century.
- We didn’t see it with our own eyes, so you have to verify this information yourself, but apparently every day at noon the Baba Yaga (or rather her sculpture) “flies out” from the museum’s clock tower.
- The museum publishes an industry magazine titled “Plays and Toys. Anthropological Studies”, devoted to research on the title issues.
- The museum regularly organizes temporary exhibitions, educational classes and family workshops. All these activities are aimed at connecting generations – and, of course, having fun.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – opinions / reviews
- Patrix – 8/10. This museum made me feel like a child again. Teddy Bear Colargol, Penguin Pik-Pok, Reksio the dog, and table football brought back childhood memories from years ago! There’s quite a variety of exhibits. However, it lacks the opportunity to play with or touch the toys.
- Wiolczix – 6/10. The Museum of Toys and Fun in Kielce is a nice place, but don’t count on any unique experiences or fireworks. The facility is relatively small in terms of space, but don’t let that discourage you – you will find quite a lot of exhibits there. I saw a lot of toys here that my parents, older sister or cousins ​​told me about. After visiting this place, you feel like going back to your carefree childhood, hugging a teddy bear, playing with dolls or playing hopscotch again. This museum will definitely appeal to sentimental people. I think that parents, especially, should take their small children here to show them what fun was like before the times of widespread electronics.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – frequently asked questions
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – what are the opening hours?
You can visit the Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce from Tuesday to Sunday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. On Saturdays, you can enjoy free entry until 1 p.m. The facility is closed on Mondays.
What exhibits can you see in the Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce?
The Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce has a rich collection of exhibits from various countries and eras. Among them you will find: dolls, doll houses, mascots, tin soldiers, wooden figurines, mechanical toys (cars, trains, planes), educational toys, instruments, experiment kits, blocks, carousels, music boxes, board games, puzzles, puzzles, models of vehicles and machines, traditional folk handicrafts, movie posters, figurines of fairy-tale characters and many other souvenirs from ancient times.
Does the Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce offer educational activities for children?
Yes, the Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce organizes interesting educational activities for children. Their aim is to popularize the culture and history of toy making. They include guided tours, workshops and integration games.
Does the Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce have an offer for organized groups?
Yes, the Kielce Museum of Toys and Play has an offer for organized groups. To make a reservation, please contact the facility directly by phone: 690 559 979 or 48 41 343 37 06.
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – map
The Museum of Toys and Play can be found at Plac Wolności in Kielce.
