Experience Cracow's Vodka Factory Museum and Grzegórzki quarter with KrakOff the Map

Poland and vodka have been unseparable concepts for centuries even though this drink's popularity in the country has dropped over the last decades in favour of beer and wine.

In any case, you should know that while in Cracow it is a must to experience Polish vodka beyond just drinking it or tasting its many available flavours.

KrakOff the Map is giving you the opportunity to learn about the history of Polish vodka, its production process and its consumption, as well as the history of the (no longer functioning since 2010' Polmos Vodka Factory (previously Vodka Distillery No. 11) in which the museum venue is located today.

The historical buildings of the former Polmos Vodka Factory currently host not only the Vodka Factory Museum, but a few restaurants, a cafe, a hotel, a fitness club, a swimming pool and a conference centre, forming the modern and trendy Fabryczna 13 complex (architectonically resembling London's Covent Garden, although much smaller) within the Fabryczna City area in the Dąbie area of the Grzegórzki post-industrial quarter in central-eastern Cracow.

For hour and a half you will be guided through the seven themed areas of the museum, filled with exhibits and numerous multimedia elements. You won't have to read a lot, unless you want to, as there are many text panels available in each section of the museum.

This museum, opened only few years ago, has one of Cracow's most interactive, state of the art exhibitions, and at the same time, is still relatively little know among Cracovians and visitors as well. However, this unique tourist attraction is about a lot more than just a vodka factory.

As the museum management claims, during this tour you will delve into the history of vodka production technology over the centuries, production methods based on ancient recipes, and above all, the significance and nature of spirits in history, economy, and culture". In fact, the museum exhibits place a lof of attention to the social contexts in which during the 20th century drinking vodka was common in Poland and the social norms around the consumption of this drink in the Central European country.

The exhibition comprises seven thematic galleries, each serving as a leading narrative. These include medieval distillation apparatus, a feast in a noble court, the distillery revolution alongside industrial facilities for vodka production, a bar from the interwar period, the square in front of Vodka Distillery No. 11 along with the railway siding, an agricultural distillery, bottling and loading facilities for finished products, a wall of memories of vodkas from the times of the People's Republic of Poland, the Factory Director's office, and a cozy cinema hall, which opens this sentimental journey into the past. On it you will be played an interesting documentary about the history of the factory just before touring around the museum!

The Polmos President's Office is a place where time seems to have stopped. Memorable wall units with well-known labels or unfiltered cigarettes in their showcases. In the background, an old television set, grandmother's armchairs, and the sound of the telephone ringing... which we recommend picking up! You will have the chance to feel like the Factory's Director!

After the guided tour around the museum, at the adjacent Utopia Vodka Bar you will be offered a vodka tasting consisting of the so-called "retro set", meaning:

two base vodkas: (wormwood and lemon vodka in

homage to the Polmos Distillery) along with two signature mini cocktails

We strongly recommend you to stay at Utopia Vodka Bar after our tour to try additional vodkas

You can find more information about Cracow's Vodka Factory Museum on their website.

Book this tour by contacting us at krakoffthemap@gmail.com

Tour details

Price: 250 zl per person, including transport, 1.5 hour guided tour around the museum, the above detailed vodka tasting and an one-hour-and-fifteen minut walking tour around Grzegórzki quarter before going to the Vodka Factory Museum. 3.5 hours in total (including time for the vodka tasting)

Available Tuesday to Sunday, possible starting times 12.30, 13.00, 13.30, 14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 15.30, 16.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.30

Available languages: English, Spanish, German, Polish

Tour Starting point: Your hotel or Cracow Market Square

Drop-off point after the tour: Plac Matejki

Underaged (younger than 18) not allowed to participate in this tour

Self-service cloakroom available in the Vodka Factory Museum