Much like Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory, the Eagle Pharmacy was an important source of defiance and opposition to the Nazis who controlled Krakow during World War II. Jewish families came to the site for supplies like medicine, vaccines, and hair dye to change their looks. It also served as a hiding place for members of the Jewish community, as well as a safe spot for Jewish leaders to meet and share information.
The pharmacy was restored to look just as it did during wartime to give the feeling of walking back into time, and to give a glimpse of life in the Krakow Ghetto. Like Schindler, Pankiewicz helped save thousands of Jews and later received the Righteous Among the Nations award. Many guided tours of Kazimierz, the city’s Jewish quarter, and Podgórze, a historic district that became the Krakow Ghetto in 1941, will pass by the pharmacy.
Krakow's historic Eagle Pharmacy is located in Podgórze. From most points in the city, you can reach the site by using a ride-hailing service or by taking the city tram. Many people pair their visit with a tour of Kazimierz and Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory, all located in the southern area of the city near the Vistula River.
The Eagle Pharmacy is open year-round from Wednesday to Sunday from mid-morning until late afternoon. Morning is often the best time to visit, as it will be the least busy. Wednesdays are the museum's free day, but check the website for any closures or changes to the schedule.
Pomorska Street (Gestapo Headquarters), Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory, and Eagle Pharmacy are all a part of the Historical Museum of Krakow's Memory Trail. Each site is a historic building turned branch of the museum that gives visitors an intimate, hands-on look at the city before, during, and after WWII (in 1939, 1945, and 1956 specifically).
