Cipher Centre

Getting here by public transport

The Centre can be reached by tram: route 8 and 13. The nearest bus stop: “CK Zamek”.
Distance from the bus stop to the Centre: 80 m.
The surface around the building is made of smooth paving slabs.

Getting here by car

The nearest car park with parking spaces for the people with disabilities can be found at Św Marcin street.

The Centre can be entered from either ul. Św. Marcin or ul. Kościuszki.

The main entrance on ul. Św. Marcin has 4 steps, a wide landing and 8 steps. On the left hand side of the stairs there is a lift for max. 3 people (the lifting capacity is 385 kg). Automatic double doors open outwards. They are 1,80 m wide.

The entrance on ul. Kościuszki is located in the yard behind the gate. The door on the right leads to the cloakroom and then to the entrance area. It is 90 cm wide. In front of the door there is a 20-cm-high threshold and behind it – a corridor and stairs going up (13 steps).

Further down the yard there are 160-cm-wide doors. Behind them, on the right, there is a lift to the entrance area and to all of the floors of the building. This area is step-free. Next to the lift are toilets, including accessible toilets.

Entrance area

It is a large hall with the main staircase, lifts, toilets and entrance to the Visitor Centre where the exhibition begins.

The stairs in the entrance area lead to all floors. The middle stairs are 5,90 m wide (13 steps), the side stairs are 2,60 m wide (12 steps). You are welcome to use the lift located on the left, next to the stairs, which will help you get to particular floors in the building.

Toilets

There are 4 accessible toilets at the Centre. The size of the turning space is about 170 cm x 170 cm.

The toilets can be found:

• on level 0: on the right, behind the entrance door when entering from ul. Kościuszki,
• on level 1: next to the ticket office,
• on level +1: in the entrance area next to the Visitor Centre,
• on level +1: at the exhibition near the Łowmiański Hall, next to the calming room.

Cloakroom

The cloakroom is located on level -1. The stairs leading to the cloakroom are 160 cm wide (13 steps). If you prefer not to go downstairs to the cloakroom, you are welcome to use the lockers located next to the ticket office.

The counter is 80 cm high and offers an in-built induction loop. We can communicate with you using the Polish Sign Language thanks to an online call with an interpreter. At the ticket office you can familiarise yourself with an easy-to-read step-by-step guide to your visit at the Centre which presents the exhibition, shows you the most interesting places and draws your attention to the places where you should exercise extra care.

>> download the guide here

You can rent a wheelchair and a baby carrier for the time of your visit free of charge (2 wheelchairs and 2 baby carriers in various sizes are available for you).We also offer free rental of noise-cancelling headphones (6 headphones for children and 4 headphones for adults are available).

Audio guides can be collected at the Visitor Centre.

Audio guides

The audio guide collection point is located next to the gates leading to the exhibition. The counter in the Visitor Centre is 80 cm high. On the left there are two 90-cm-wide gates leading to the exhibition. Apart from the main audio tour, you can also choose from the following:

• an easy-to-understand simple Polish tour, which lasts 60 minutes
• a tour in the Polish Sign Language, which lasts 90 minutes
• an audio-described tour with navigation aids, which lasts 90 minutes (available only in Polish). The audio guide for this tour can be collected also at the ticket office located opposite the main entrance. It will direct you from the ticket office through the entrance area, the Visitor Centre and the exhibition. The audio guide comes with headphones which can be worn on either one or both ears.

For the time of your visit you can rent an induction loop for the audio guide.
The audio guide is also available in English, German and Russian.
The audio guide is used for both individual and group visits.

Although audio guides, headphones and induction loops are made of materials used in electronic devices designed for skin contact, some persons may still experience skin irritation due to allergy or skin sensitivity.

More information on the audio guide can be found here.

A tactile map presenting the layout of the exhibition rooms is available at the Visitor Centre. The second map presents the biggest exhibition room – the Łowmiański Hall. It is available next to the entrance to the Hall, on the left. There is no tactile path in the building.

The exhibition is free from any architectural barriers. Some of the spaces are located on lower levels. To reach the U-boat room, you have to go down 8 steps. There is a lift for max. 3 people (the lifting capacity is 385 kg). To reach the Łowmiański Hall, you have to go down 4 steps. An 8-m-long and 1-m-wide ramp with a handrail is available. There are tactile indicators at the bottom and at the top of the stairs and of the ramp.

You are welcome to touch everything at the exhibition apart from the exhibits in showcases. 

The exhibition rooms differ in terms of colour and surface. In the U-boat room we play sounds which resemble the ones heard on board a submarine.

There is no daylight in this room, only cool white LED lighting.

The bottom edge of the touch-sensitive screens and tabletops is at the height of 80 cm.

There is high colour contrast between background and texts appearing on the screens. Additionally, you can increase the font size.

Some films at the exhibition are audio-described and translated into the Polish Sign Language.

Rest places are available at the exhibition. Additionally, some of the rooms are equipped with light folding chairs which you can use during your visit.

Persons aged 16 or younger may visit the exhibition only accompanied by an adult.

Flashing lights

The exhibition features flashing lights and rapid colour changes which may trigger epileptic episodes or lead to the loss of consciousness in photosensitive persons. Similar symptoms may also appear in non-epileptic persons and individuals with no history of photogenic seizures. If you or your family member exhibit sensitivity to flashing lights, please contact your doctor before visiting the Centre.

Allergens

The exhibition offers visitors opportunities to perform chemistry experiments. The chemical agents involved may trigger allergic reactions. Please exercise caution if you are prone to allergic reactions. Use the protective gloves and eye protection available at each station or refrain from performing the experiments on your own and ask the staff for help.

Radio waves and magnetic fields

Electronic devices at the exhibition may emit radio waves and magnetic fields. These may interfere with the operation of other electronic devices, such as pacemakers.

Burns

One area at the exhibition allows visitors to perform an experiment involving a heating plate. Please exercise caution to avoid the risk of injury. Should any alarming symptoms arise, ask the staff for help.

The staff will help you find the nearest exit or direct you to an area where you can safely wait for medical help to arrive.

Calming room

The exhibition offers a small calming room where you can calm or feed your child. Baby-changing facilities are also available there. The room is equipped with an armchair, a sink, a changing table, blankets, pillows and noise-cancelling headphones. There are soft colours, soft surfaces and natural light in the room.

There is an accessible toilet next to the room, equipped with a pull-cord alarm system.

Multimedia library

The multimedia library is located on the second floor, on a balcony above the Łowmiański Hall. You can use the stairs or the lift to get there. The library offers 3 computers with a collection of digital materials and books which you can access on site. Some of the films are translated into the Polish Sign Language.

More information on the multimedia library can be found here.

Cipher Zone

The Cipher Zone is located next to the Visitor Centre and equipped with games for children. The Zone can be visited by children aged 6 and older who have to be accompanied by an adult. The Cipher Zone may contain small elements that pose a choking hazard.

More information on the Cipher Zone can be found here.