Wawel is the main symbol of Kraków and of Poland as a whole. Perched on the hill are the Royal Castle, the cathedral, fortifications, gardens and several separate exhibitions, from which you’ll be spoilt for choice.

The good news is that you don’t have to pay anything just to walk around Wawel, or to enter the outer courtyards or the beautiful Renaissance arcaded courtyard. So even without visiting the interiors, you’ll see a large part of the complex and enjoy the views of the Vistula.

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How much time should you set aside for Wawel?

• 45 to 60 minutes for a free walk around the grounds and a trip to the dragon statue
• 2 to 3 hours if you’re visiting one of the castle tours and the cathedral
• 4 to 5 hours if you want to explore most of the interiors and museums

What to see at Wawel

The courtyards and outdoor grounds are free

If you’re not interested in the museums or only have one day in Kraków, you don’t need to buy a ticket.

You can walk through the outdoor part of the complex for free, view the cathedral from the outside and also enter the Renaissance arcaded courtyard of the Royal Palace.

Choose paid tours depending on whether you’re more interested in the royal interiors, archaeology, weapons or the Polish crown jewels.

Royal Chambers and State Rooms

The palace’s interiors are spread across the first and second floors. You have the following options:

• Castle, 1st and 2nd floors: a complete main tour through the private royal chambers, state rooms, the porcelain cabinet and the collection of Ottoman tents. The tour takes approximately 2 hours, costs 95 pln and includes an audio guide.
• Castle, 1st floor: the private royal chambers, the porcelain cabinet and the ‘Wawel Recovered’ exhibition. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes and costs 57 pln.
• Castle, 2nd floor: state rooms and the collection of Ottoman tents. The tour lasts approximately 50 minutes and costs 57 pln.

If you want to see both floors, buy a combined ticket straight away for 95 pln. It’s cheaper than two separate tickets and includes an audio guide.

If you only have time for one floor, we’d recommend the second floor with the state rooms for your first visit.

The character of the former royal residence is better showcased here, including the famous coffered ceiling decorated with carved heads.

The Royal Treasury

The most significant exhibit in the Treasury is the original coronation sword of the Polish kings, known as Szczerbiec.

The original coronation jewels were taken to Prussia following the Third Partition of Poland, and most of them were later melted down.

The current exhibition therefore mainly features surviving royal artefacts, jewellery, banners and valuable vessels.

A visit takes about 40 minutes and a ticket costs 47 pln. You should visit the Treasury particularly if you are interested in Polish history and royal regalia.

The Royal Armoury

The separate Armoury exhibits weapons and armour ranging from medieval swords and suits of armour to ornate pistols, rifles and cannons.

The tour lasts approximately 40 minutes and costs 47 pln. Unless you have a particular interest in historical weapons, on your first visit we’d recommend prioritising the palace interiors or the Treasury.

Personally, I’d happily skip this next time.

The castle’s underground passages

The underground tour connects the ‘Lost Wawel’ archaeological exhibition, the remains of St Gereon’s Church and the lapidarium.

Rather than the lavishly furnished palace rooms, here you’ll see the foundations of older structures and learn how Wawel has changed over the centuries.

The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes, costs 47 pln and includes an audio guide.

The Dragon’s Lair

Smocza Jama, or the Dragon’s Lair, is a short cave in the limestone bedrock of Wawel Hill. According to the best-known version of the Kraków legend, a dragon once lived there, which was defeated by the shoemaker Skuba through a ruse.

The visitor route is 81 metres long, but be prepared for a descent of 135 steps. The tour is one-way, and you’ll emerge from the cave directly onto the Vistula embankment by a bronze statue of a dragon that actually breathes fire.

We recommend saving the Dragon’s Lair for the end of your visit to Wawel. After leaving the cave, you can continue with a stroll along the river.

• Usually open from late April to late October
• Admission 15 pln
• The visit takes about 10 minutes
• Not suitable for pushchairs or people with reduced mobility
• Up-to-date information about the Dragon’s Lair

You can access the dragon statue itself free of charge, even without going through the caves.

The Royal Gardens and the Viewpoint

The Small Royal Gardens are situated on the east side of the palace and are only open during the warmer months.

A separate ticket costs 11 pln, but during the season a visit to the gardens is also included in the price of other paid tours.

Another seasonal attraction is the observation tower. After climbing 101 steps, you’ll reach a terrace with views of Wawel, the Vistula and part of Kraków. Admission is 19 pln.

We regard the gardens and the viewing tower more as a pleasant bonus. They are not, in themselves, the main reason for visiting Wawel.

Tickets and opening hours: is it necessary to book online?

Tickets are sold for a specific tour route and time slot. Daily capacity is limited, so it’s worth booking the main castle tour in advance at weekends and during peak season.

Online sales open one month before your visit. I recommend buying your tickets at least 7 days before your visit. 

If online tickets are sold out, you can still try the ticket office on site, which may have its own stock of tickets.

• Buy tickets on the official websitebilety.wawel.krakow.pl

Most of the indoor exhibitions are open from Tuesday to Sunday. Normal opening hours are from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm; during July and August, some tours remain open until 6.00 pm or 7.00 pm.

On Mondays, selected exhibitions are usually free of charge. The offer varies throughout the year and you must collect your free ticket at the ticket office. The number of tickets is limited, so you cannot rely on free entry if you arrive in the afternoon.

You can find the current schedule of all tours, prices and opening hours on the official Wawel website.

You are not permitted to bring large luggage or pushchairs into the castle interiors. A left-luggage facility is available by the arcaded courtyard.

Wawel Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas stands right next to the Royal Palace, but is run separately.

A ticket to the castle is therefore not valid for entry to the cathedral, and vice versa.

A ticket 26 pln includes the cathedral, the royal tombs, Sigismund’s Bell and the Cathedral Museum. Further details are provided on the separate page Wawel Cathedral.

How to get to Wawel

From Rynek Główny, it takes about 10 minutes to walk to Wawel via Grodzka and Kanonicza streets. From the main railway station, allow about 20 minutes’ walk.

The hill is short and not very steep, but the surface is cobbled in places.

The nearest public transport stops are:

• Wawel, right at the foot of the hill, trams 8, 13, 18 and 76
• Stradom, about a 5-minute walk away, trams 8, 10, 13, 18, 22, 52 and 76

Parking at Wawel

The nearest car park is the Interparking Wawel underground car park at Plac na Groblach 24. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the car park to the entrance to Wawel.

The car park is open 24 hours a day.

The standard rate is 11 pln per hour or 120 pln for 24 hours. When booking online, 5 hours 44 pln and all-day parking 95 pln.

• Car park location on Google Maps
• Official website and current price list
• Book a parking space online

Further parking options, motorway tolls and travelling by car are described in the section ‘How to get to Kraków’.

Accommodation near Wawel

The area around Wawel is one of the best places to stay during your first visit to Kraków. You can walk to Rynek Główny and Kazimierz, and you won’t need public transport most of the time.

• The Leonardo Boutique Hotel Krakow Old Town *** offers good value for money, quality and a prime location between Wawel, the Old Town and Kazimierz
• The Hotel Wawel Queen **** is situated next to Planty Park, about 400 metres from the castle, and is ideal for those seeking a higher standard
• The Hotel Poleski *** is situated on the opposite bank of the Vistula and offers one of the best views of the entire Wawel Hill. When booking, be sure to specify a room with a view of the castle.

A brief history of Wawel

The first residence of the Polish monarchs was established on Wawel Hill as early as the 11th century. In the 14th century, the complex was transformed into a Gothic castle, and during the first half of the 16th century it took on the form of a magnificent Renaissance palace with an arcaded courtyard.

After the royal court moved to Warsaw, Wawel’s importance gradually declined. The complex was damaged during the Swedish Wars, and under Austrian rule the palace was converted into military barracks. Extensive restoration work took place for much of the 20th century.

Wawel Hill forms part of the historic centre of Kraków, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.

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