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Located in the heart of Krakow – by the Vistula River, the Wawel Royal Castle sits on the beautiful Wawel hill. Though the origin of its early inhabitants is not clear, the kings of the medieval times played a crucial role in the castle’s development; they were Wladyslaw I and Kazimierz III the Great.
The Wawel Castle served as a royal residence and fortress of Polish kings while Krakow was the capital of the country. Since then the castle has been the pride of Poland and a symbol of authority.
The Wawel Castle is one of the most important, beautiful, and the biggest Polish castles. In fact no Krakow tour is complete without a visit to the castle. Over the centuries it was rebuilt and renovated several times due to thefts, fires, and wars, therefore it encompasses many different architectural styles. The castle’s incredible diversity gives you a chance to go back in time and admire its striking beauty.
In present times, the Wawel Castle is a museum and is one of the most important places to visit in Krakow. It’s home to stunning paintings, beautiful sculptures, sophisticated tapestries and many more historic items.
Visiting Hours and Seasons
As most tourists visit during summer, the castle is open to visitors every day. Monday – Friday from 9:30am – 5:00pm and Saturday – Sunday from 10:00am – 5:00pm.
The hours of operation vary by season and are more limited during the winter. In winter all seasonal exhibits are closed and all exhibits are closed on Mondays.
Wawel Castle Tickets
The Wawel has many different exhibits and you can pick and choose exactly which exhibit you want to see, therefore for each exhibit there is a separate ticket.
We at Rosotravel will help you choose the exhibits and purchase your tickets in advance. Each ticket is assigned a specific time during which you can visit the exhibit.
In between visiting exhibits you may have a bit of waiting time, you can relax at one of the two cafes; one offering views over the River Vistula, the other situated within the complex walls by the gardens.
Visiting Wawel Castle
If you have decided to visit Wawel Castle and are wondering how to do so ? There are two options:
- You can go to Wawel Hill and buy a ticket for sightseeing on the spot. But you can never be sure of getting a ticket, as there are only limited tickets that are sold during the day, also the queues at the ticket counter can be quite long and overwhelming. Many a time’s tourists have returned back without getting a ticket.
- You can book your ticket in advance with Rosotravel. In this option you have to pay in advance BUT your seat will be secured and you will avoid the awful queue to the ticket counter. This is indeed is the smartest decision and you can trust us on this.
What to See
Royal Private Apartments
In its heydays the Wawel Castle was transformed into a magnificent Renaissance residence. At that time, the chambers on the first floor were designed to serve as the private quarters of the King, his immediate family, and the royal court.
Today, a guided tour of the royal apartments takes you through the upper levels of the castles and gives you a detailed history of each room in which Kings and Queens slept, prayed, and ate. Exotic paintings continue to adorn the walls, along with furniture and everyday items used by the members of the royal family. This exhibit is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
The Cathedral
The royal cathedral was built for kings and queens to attend mass right at the castle. As you enter you’re expected to cover your shoulders. Due to its popularity, visitors have to walk in one direction and admire the ornately decorated cathedral.
As you explore, make sure you get a good look into each little prayer room. One was built for each King and you can really see how the style and architecture developed here in Krakow just by seeing each prayer room. Photography is not allowed inside, so you’ll only be able to take your memories with you.
Later, you can go down to the crypt below the church that has 4 graves of famous Polish poets and the famous pianist, Chopin. Your tour of this exhibit will be complete after exploring the Royal Tombs, Sigismund Bell, and the Cathedral Museum.
John Paul II Monument and Cathedral Museum
As you explore the castle complex you will come across a life-sized monument of the former local lad turned Pope turned Saint John Paul II. The Cathedral Museum was opened by the man himself (then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla) back in 1978 and houses numerous religious artefacts and valuable royal insignias.
Crown Treasury and Armoury
The Crown Treasury and Armoury exhibit provides a fascinating insight into another time. This exhibition houses dazzling jewellery, precious stones, beautiful pottery, medieval weaponry and armoury, cannons, and other significant historic objects.
However, the most impressive item you can see here is the coronation sword of Polish Kings that dates back to the 1500s and was owned by King Sigismund I the Old. This exhibit is open from Tuesday to Sunday. On Monday entry to this exhibit is free, hence it’s crowded. To gain entry you still have to buy a free ticket and standing in a long queue to buy free tickets may take upto 2 hours.
Recommended Tour : Krakow Wawel Cathedral Private Tour with Tickets
Oriental Art
During medieval times the members of the royal family of Poland were fascinated by works of pottery and art from China, Turkey, Iran, and many more countries.
Today, this beautiful exhibit houses these unique collections along with some military items such as weapons and trophies during a King’s victory while defeating a Turkish invasion. This exhibit is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
Lost Wawel
Located in the castle’s basement, this exhibit shows how the Wawel castle and its buildings evolved over the past one thousand years.
As you enter there is an elevated platform, from here you will see the ruins of the original castle walls. There are also some archaeological findings like ceramics and everyday items used by those who lived in the castle in the past.
It’s a wonderful journey through the excavations, sculptures, carvings and stonework dating back to the end of the 10th century. This exhibit is open from Tuesday to Sunday. On Monday entry to this exhibit is free, hence it’s crowded. To gain entry you still have to buy a free ticket and standing in a long queue to buy free tickets may take upto 2 hours.
State Rooms
Looking as pretty as they used to be in olden times, the State Rooms have retained much of their original features and Gothic feel. There are several rooms that feature royal furniture, paintings, everyday items and most importantly – a beautiful tapestry collection. Make sure you look up as well, the ceilings are absolutely beautiful.
These are the rooms where the royals once held court, entertained and hosted their guests. The highlights include Senator’s Hall – the largest room in the castle, the Envoys’ Room – complete with 30 wooden heads on the coffered ceiling, and the original throne which brings the majesty of Poland’s past to life. This exhibit is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
Quick Tip: It is recommended to read about the State Rooms before visiting them OR we can provide you with an audio guide in your language.
Recommended Tour: Wawel Castle & Cathedral Skip the Line Small Group Tour
The Dragon and its Cave
Did you know a 12 million year old cave lies underneath the castle grounds?? Legend has it that a dragon lived and guarded the hilltop until it was conquered and the city of Krakow was born.
When here, learn about the story of the 16th century dragon slayer as you explore the depths of Thieves Tower, through the cave 270 metres long.
This exhibit is on its way to the exit, down by the river. As you leave, you’ll be greeted by the fire breathing dragon statue. This exhibit is open from Monday to Sunday.
Sandomierska Tower
This is one of the three artillery towers within Wawel complex and the only one you can walk up to the top. The tower was built in 1460 and the views from the top are simply amazing. You get a 360 degree view of the river and the castle complex.
For this, you will have to climb 137 steps to reach the top and at each level you will get information about the history and renovation of the tower over the centuries. These artillery towers were used to defend the city against any attack. And during peaceful times, the tower functioned as a prison. This exhibit is open from Monday to Sunday.
Suggested Tour : Wawel Castle Treasury & Armoury Skip the Line Private Tour
Slodki Wawel
The Slodki Wawel is a well-known and loved local chocolatier and confectionery shop. It features a full cafe and splendid terrace used in spring and summer.
You can enjoy this historic brand which has been satisfying sweet tooths since 1898. Here you can buy some edible souvenirs and try the popular local specialties like Kasztanki, Krówka, Mieszanka Krakowska Malaga and more.
Once you have visited all the exhibits, there is still plenty to see. You will head towards the beautifully manicured lawns and gardens. You will visit the royal gardens, upper and lower terraces, orchards and small vineyards. It’s the perfect place to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the castle.
Visiting Wawel
The Wawel Royal Castle is very popular with locals and tourists, hence the number of visitors is restricted and tickets for tours and exhibits are timed in order to avoid overcrowding.
It’s not very easy to get a ticket. To ensure yourself an entry and avoid long queues, it’s best to reserve your tickets with Rosotravel in advance and if you require a foreign language guide, we can arrange that too, but with prior booking.
Finally, once you’re done exploring the Wawel complex, the best way to end the evening is by watching the sunset along the river just by the dragon statue.
We hope this blog post has made you interested in visiting Wawel Castle. It’s a place with a long history and picturesque sights. It will surely impress you and become a memorable part of your trip to Krakow.
The best way to visit Wawel Castle is on a tour with Rosotravel. This will allow you to immerse yourself more in the stories and secrets of the castle, its former rulers and it’s rocky past.
For those who have visited the Wawel Castle, hope you had an amazing time. Let us know in the comments below which part of the castle was the most interesting for you.