Museum of Pharmacy

The Antonina Leśniewska Museum of Pharmacy is a small museum on Piwna Street in Warsaw’s Old Town, devoted to the history of pharmacy in Warsaw and Poland. Its period pharmacy interiors set the scene for displays of old medical books, medicinal plants and pharmacy equipment. You can also see objects connected with traditional medicine in China and Japan, including an exhibition on Japanese pharmaceuticals. English translations help you follow the displays, and the museum tells the story of Antonina Leśniewska, a pioneering pharmacist who graduated in 1884.

A pharmacy in Warsaw’s Old Town

The Antonina Leśniewska Museum of Pharmacy is at Piwna 31/33. It focuses on the history of pharmacy in Warsaw and Poland, with a historic apothecary interior that gives the collection its setting. The rooms are arranged to recall a pharmacy from the 1930s.

The museum is named for Antonina Leśniewska, a Polish pharmacist who graduated in 1884. She was among the first women in the country to complete higher education in pharmacy. Her story connects the history of the collection with the struggle for women’s access to the profession.

Books, plants and traditional medicine

The displays include old books on medicine, medicinal plants and historic pharmacy objects. An exhibition on Japanese traditional pharmaceuticals adds a focus on medicine beyond Poland; the collection also includes objects related to Far Eastern medicine.

English translations accompany the displays, so you can follow the exhibits without relying only on the objects. The museum is compact, and a visit typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes. In hot weather, plan for the lack of air-conditioning, or choose a cooler time of year.