The Copernicus Science Center is a place not only for children. We were here while we were still childless, and this year we showed them to our toddlers. Which visit was more interesting and educational? Is there a point in coming here without children?
We remember the frenzy when the Copernicus Science Center opened in Warsaw. The tours, the queues, the wow effect! Intrigue, curiosity, and even amazement, well, because how can so much be learned through play and experience? Nowadays there are many science centers in Poland, opening another such place would no longer be as impressive as it once was. However, we have to admit that the CN Copernicus is still the most famous science center in the country, and while in Warsaw it is worth a look here. We recently took a second look.
We were at the Copernicus Science Center not long after it opened, and this year we decided to return here with our children, hoping to find exhibits and experiments that would interest even the little ones. Richer in experience from many other similar places (including abroad), we were a little worried that we would be disappointed this time. It’s different when it’s the first learning center, and different when it’s one in a row. It is impossible to avoid comparisons and evaluations. So what was our visit like years later? Was there delight or rather disappointment? Will young children find something to enjoy here?
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Copernicus Science Center after years
It must be admitted that there have been quite a few changes here. There are new exhibits, the arrangements have been changed, but on the other hand there are still those exhibits that we remember and are quite worn out.
It is apparent that the place has opened up to young children – there is a special exhibition for toddlers (about this a little below) and also the adult-only section has been abandoned…. Here our memory fails us a bit, but there used to be a separate section for older visitors – now it is gone (now, gradually launched, the Future section is now for children and teenagers from 13 years old).
There are also no queues to enter. Admittedly, this is probably the result of a pandemic, but there are a limited number of tickets for particular hours. Tickets are best purchased online – they can also be purchased traditionally, at the box office, but you may find that for a given hour all tickets are already sold out.
What are the attractions at the Copernicus Science Center?
Bzzz! for young children
The first exhibition that caught our attention (right next to the mesmerizing foucault pendulum) was the Bzzz! exhibition for toddlers. Entrance to this part is included in the ticket price. However, you need to be patient, as entries are at full hours and there is a limited number of seats. However, it’s worth the wait, as it is by far the coolest attraction at the Copernicus Science Center for young children.
Bzzz! is a rather large space where children can run around, go wild, experiment, learn about animals, build, create…. well, miracles on a stick. They include: river current, bridges, slides, hollows, nooks, blocks, puzzles…. Children can search for animals by walking in their footsteps, listen to the sounds of nature, explore different textures, touch, and activate all their senses. It is a fantastic space full of stimulation and provides a ton of opportunities for both play and education.
The site is dedicated to children under 6 years old.
In this part there is a toilet for toddlers and a changing table.
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Permanent exhibitions at the Copernicus Science Center
The part with the permanent exhibition is located on the second floor, but from the first floor, just behind the cash registers, you only have to look up to see objects floating in the air (such as an inflated balloon) and have a glimpse of what awaits you a floor above.
There are many booths and exhibits for experiments and experiments in the large open space (there are about 200 in total!). They are scattered a bit haphazardly in our opinion, or simply their division was not clear to us ;) On the first floor we have a full cross-section of equipment for learning about physics, the world and the human body: there are games of light and sound, optical illusions, a fakir bed, you can talk to a robot, create a dance from sashes, look inside a person, peek at the smallest organisms, learn about the strength of the magnetic field, and even…. find out how much effort it takes to ride in a wheelchair!
Each post is something completely new. Most of them are tailored rather for older children (let’s say so from the age of 7), but with the help and involvement of caregivers, smaller ones will also be able to experiment and practice new skills.
You can move freely between exhibits, there is no imposed walking path.
Temporary exhibitions at the Copernicus Museum in Warsaw
On the first floor, next to the Bzzz! exhibition, there is space for temporary exhibitions, currently an exhibition about bicycles is taking place here. Here you can learn about the history and development of unicycles, look at how the various parts function, and see various interesting solutions (such as cargo bikes). There is no shortage of reference to the boom in bicycles in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Downstairs, it’s also worth stopping by the music, sound and air science booths.
Garden on the roof of the Copernicus Science Center and Discovery Park
Unfortunately, we didn’t get a peek at the rooftop garden due to inclement weather conditions, read. rain :(
However, if the weather is more in your favor than ours, be sure to take a look at the rooftop, where walking along the designated paths you can not only observe the plants growing here, but also look at the Warsaw skyline.
We had also planned to walk through the Discovery Park (a free space with interesting, educational stations outside), but it is inaccessible due to ongoing construction here.
Planetarium at the Copernicus Science Center
What would the KOPERNIK Science Center be without a planetarium? ;) So right next door there is a planetarium, where tickets are purchased separately for specific screenings. Not only astronomical shows are held here, but also meetings, movies and even concerts.
Some of the shows are adapted even for children from 3. year of age. You will, of course, find details about the current screenings directly on the Copernicus Science Center website.
Practical information about the Copernicus Science Center
Finally, some practical information.
What can you eat at the Copernicus Science Center?
As for dining facilities, there are two options: you can eat at the restaurant on the first floor, in front of the cash registers, or eat at the cafe on the second floor.
The latter offers mainly snacks, while for something bigger it is better to go downstairs. The food is not any outstanding, but after all, you don’t come here to fill your belly, just your brain ;)
How much does a tour cost? Price list of the Copernicus Science Center
Ticket prices At the Copernicus Science Center depend on the day of the week, holidays and the holiday season. The ticket includes admission to the permanent exhibition, the temporary exhibition and the children’s section.
Monday through Friday:
Normal ticket – 31 zł
Discounted ticket – 21 PLN.
Weekends, holidays and vacations:
Normal ticket – 33 PLN
Discounted ticket – 22 PLN.
Children under 2 years of age enter for free, while Large Family Card holders pay PLN 15.
To the Planetarium, which is located in the same complex, we go with a separate entrance ticket.
Copernicus Science Center opening hours
The Copernicus Science Center is open during the following hours:
Tuesday through Thursday: 9.00-18.00
Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 9.00-19.00
As always, we recommend checking opening hours in advance on the facility’s website. You can expect sizable crowds on weekends and many organized groups during the week, also it will be rather difficult to find quieter hours to visit the Copernicus Science Center.
How to get to the Copernicus Science Center?
The Copernicus Science Center can be reached by subway, bus or car.
Metro: Copernicus Science Center station (second metro line). From the station to the entrance is about 300 meters.
Buses: 127, 162, 185, 302 (stop: Metro Centrum Nauki Kopernik), or 106, 118, 127 (stop: University Library).
Getting there by car is of course possible, but you may encounter a parking problem, as the parking lot under the CN Copernicus is currently unavailable.
As we left the Copernicus Science Center, we were grateful that an exhibition for younger children had been created here. While a 5-year-old already has fun, a lot he can understand from the main exhibition, a 2-3-year-old will look for toys, buttons, puzzles, and will not be interested in the science itself (of course, as parents we should encourage and show as much as possible, but the truth is that at the end of the day the playground will win anyway ;) ).
So the Bzzz! exhibition is great and it’s definitely worth going to with toddlers. With older children you can boldly jump a floor higher and there will be a lot of learning through play and experiments. Adults, on the other hand, even without children, are also sure to have a pleasant time here and learn a lot of new things.
However, looking from the perspective of many other such places, the main exhibition at the Copernicus Science Center does not stand out so much against their background. Nevertheless, the feedback from most visitors is positive :)
We have high hopes for the new exhibition(The Future is Today) and temporary exhibitions.
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