Porthos Millinery and Thimble Museum

What to expect

The Porthos Millinery and Thimble Museum is one of the most niche museums in Warsaw - and that is precisely its strength. A collection of over 500 thimbles from around the world, gathered over the years by the owners of the Porthos hat manufactory. Add antique hat-making tools, unique headwear from different eras, and a bit of art.

Porthos is one of the last artisan millinery workshops in Poland. They have been making hats to order for decades - from elegant felt to extravagant racing day creations. The museum is an integral part of the working workshop.

A visit here is more of a meeting than a museum tour. The owners guide you personally, explain the craft, and show the hat-making process from raw felt to finished product. You can try on dozens of hats from different periods and corners of the world. Children love it.

Tips

• Phone ahead. The museum has no fixed opening hours - it operates exclusively by appointment. Look for the current phone number via the Porthos website or PIK Warsaw listings.
• Museum Night is the one occasion when the museum may be open without reservation. Check the programme at nocmuzeow.um.warszawa.pl.
• Trying on hats is part of the visit - this is a hands-on experience, not display cases behind glass.
• The museum has changed location over the years. Confirm the current address by phone before you go.
• Admission is likely free or for a small donation - details at time of booking.
• Accessibility: the museum operates inside a working hat-making workshop, and the operator has not confirmed step-free access - which is why wheelchair, stroller and elevator are all marked unavailable.

Getting there

Public transport: Depends on the current location. The area around al. Chruściela is served by buses 115 and 145 - stop Chruściela.

By car: Free parking in the area. Rembertów has no parking problems.

Important: Due to the museum’s history of changing locations, confirm the address before setting out.

In the neighbourhood

Rembertów is not a museum district. The nearest museums are on Praga Południe - about 20 minutes by public transport.