Wawel Royal Castle
Wawel Royal Castle
4.5
Historic Sites • Historic Walking Areas • Castles
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Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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About
Serving as a royal residence and the site where the country's rulers governed Poland for five centuries (1038-1596), this castle is a symbol of the independent Polish state and today contains a priceless collection of 16th-century Flemish tapestries, considered to be one of the largest in the world.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Stare Miasto
See what other travelers are saying
  • Jane2806
    Livingston, United Kingdom226 contributions
    Fairytale castle
    The castle is just how I imagine a fairytale castle should look like, so pretty. We walked around the castle on our first day, then visited again the next during our walking tour. I would recommend visiting with a guide as we saw and learnt much more about the castle on our second visit, rather than just using a guide book. The reason I haven’t given the castle a 5star review was that you need to buy individual tickets to enter different parts of the castle interiors, which mean queuing for tickets, then waiting for your allocated time slot. Not ideal if your time is limited. Even though we didn’t get to see any of the interiors, just taking a walk around the castle was worth the visit
    Visited July 2022
    Written July 25, 2022
  • pawel_hbg
    Sopot, Poland9,993 contributions
    Poland's national and cultural symbol
    Wawel is a limestone hill in the centre of Krakow upon the Vistula River with a complex of impressive historical monuments of unique historical, artistic values and is Poland's national and cultural symbol. It is huge castle with many things to visit inside. You can visit Royal Private Apartments for 25 PLN adult ticket, Crown Treasury and Armoury for also 25 PLN. Moreover Royal Gardens for 5 PLN, Sandomierska Tower for 5 PLN, Dragon's Den for 7 PLN. Furthermore separately for 12 PLN The Royal Sigismund Bell with Royal Crypts, Cathedral Museum and Wawel Cathedral. Complicated? Even more if you cannot buy tickets online, on the place you need to stand in 2 different queues. It is complete lack of organisation. All complex is a must in Krakow, it is amazing but it can make you tired because of that.
    Visited June 2020
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 16, 2020
  • Lisonholmes
    3 contributions
    Must-see in Krakow
    The Wawel royal castle is a must-see if you are in Krakow. Not only it is a piece of art architecturally speaking. It is also a great witness of the time. Indeed, built between the 13th and 14th century, the castle has known many inhabitants through the centuries. When wondering around the castle one can learn the many legends regarding the building itself or its foundation. Hence the presence of the statue of a dragon spitting fire down Wawel hill. Nowadays one can visit the splendid rooms of the castle which has pretty much become an art museum. The castle overlooking the Vistula river, offers a great sunset at dusk.
    Visited December 2019
    Written November 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Jane2806
Livingston, UK226 contributions
Jul 2022
The castle is just how I imagine a fairytale castle should look like, so pretty. We walked around the castle on our first day, then visited again the next during our walking tour. I would recommend visiting with a guide as we saw and learnt much more about the castle on our second visit, rather than just using a guide book. The reason I haven’t given the castle a 5star review was that you need to buy individual tickets to enter different parts of the castle interiors, which mean queuing for tickets, then waiting for your allocated time slot. Not ideal if your time is limited. Even though we didn’t get to see any of the interiors, just taking a walk around the castle was worth the visit
Written July 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pawel_hbg
Sopot, Poland9,993 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
Wawel is a limestone hill in the centre of Krakow upon the Vistula River with a complex of impressive historical monuments of unique historical, artistic values and is Poland's national and cultural symbol. It is huge castle with many things to visit inside. You can visit Royal Private Apartments for 25 PLN adult ticket, Crown Treasury and Armoury for also 25 PLN. Moreover Royal Gardens for 5 PLN, Sandomierska Tower for 5 PLN, Dragon's Den for 7 PLN. Furthermore separately for 12 PLN The Royal Sigismund Bell with Royal Crypts, Cathedral Museum and Wawel Cathedral.
Complicated? Even more if you cannot buy tickets online, on the place you need to stand in 2 different queues. It is complete lack of organisation. All complex is a must in Krakow, it is amazing but it can make you tired because of that.
Written June 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisonholmes
3 contributions
Dec 2019
The Wawel royal castle is a must-see if you are in Krakow. Not only it is a piece of art architecturally speaking. It is also a great witness of the time. Indeed, built between the 13th and 14th century, the castle has known many inhabitants through the centuries. When wondering around the castle one can learn the many legends regarding the building itself or its foundation. Hence the presence of the statue of a dragon spitting fire down Wawel hill. Nowadays one can visit the splendid rooms of the castle which has pretty much become an art museum. The castle overlooking the Vistula river, offers a great sunset at dusk.
Written November 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LadyKJohn
Exeter, UK7 contributions
Feb 2020
As the castle looms over the city of Krakow it's essential that you pay it a visit if you're staying in Krakow. You can walk in and around the exterior of the buildings for free but if you want to go inside there are two separate ticket offices for the castle and cathedral. When buying castle tickets you have to choose which areas you want to go to which is annoying as you don't know if you've never been there before! We chose the Armoury and the State Rooms which worked out to be about £4 each and were worth a visit. When we tried to get in one of the exhibitions at the end of the State Rooms, we were told we needed yet a further ticket, which a helpful couple told us they'd been given while in the Cathedral.
While the buildings and architecture are stunning, we found buying tickets all too confusing!
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jamiebeckford
Jersey, UK9 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
We visited the magnificent looking Royal Castle which we viewed from our sumptuous hotel room. It was a warm day and upon our arrival we saw that a que had formed. We realised that there was only one ticket office which at a processing time of approximately 1 customer every 5 minutes meant that those who had formed behind us would have a wait of approximately 2 hours. What beggars belief is that there are members of staff handing out leaflets who could if the management had any sense be issuing tickets via portable ticket machines. When you do finally arrive at the ticket desk you are told that you have to purchase tickets for individual exhibits done of which have a limit on the number of visitors who can be admitted per day. Upon receiving our tickets and walking into the castle itself we discovers that there were lengthy ques to enter the exhibits we had booked. This is a diabolical shambles. An organizational disaster zone in which the loser is the customer who has essentially paid heavily to be stood in ques. I would suggest that the management of this historic venue look to appoint an independent expert to look over the customer experience and to develop a strategy going forward to customer access and ticket sales a more streamlined process. This will avoid customer frustration, reviews like this and make the magnificent building accessible and enjoyed by all those whom frequent its wallsu.
Written August 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marcus_Fatticus
London, UK139 contributions
Mar 2020
On an admittedly windy and cold day it was hard to find much worth seeing other than the far views towards the river (ie not towards the Old Town alas) which can only really be found on one side of the castle. We didn't pay to go inside, perhaps that's the problem, but there very little visible information anywhere about what was actually inside to see and we didnt see a single member of staff outside anywhere to ask either. The castle itself has been built and added to over time so has an oddly disjointed aesthetic, and is surprisingly plain and boring to look at. The cafe was tucked in a corner with no signs to find it but once located was a welcome but expensive retreat from the cold. Good coffee & lovely waitresses who were very friendly. Good for a 30 min bit of exercise to walk up to and whizz round...
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rachel G
Leicester, UK33 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
The view from the castle wall was gorgeous to look at along the river. The castle grounds, Court yard and church are all free to enter and some charming polish music was playing when we went. Despite the grey day the views were gorgeous of the entire city and the staff were all helpful. Make sure you get there before 1pm if you want to look inside the castle rooms as there's limited tickets available
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ryan W
Nottinghamshire, UK105 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We were very interested in visiting the castle and it’s grounds but found the booking in system very confusing, no real queuing system or guide as to what you’re actually paying for.

Ended up in all parts of the ground and up the tower to the big bell.

A good experience to pass a couple of hours, wouldn’t bother going back if ever in the city again though...
Written October 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MarcusHurley
Calne, UK9,426 contributions
Sep 2021
We climbed the ramp and went to the ticket office to find that most of the castle was closed on a Monday. Oh joy! I booked the armoury, Royal Gardens and Lost Wawel exhibitions, a total cost of 20PLZ, about £4.

The Lost Wawel exhibition showed ongoing excavations and discoveries and it was quite impressive how far down the original buildings were, considering they were only 900 years old. There were lots of glazed clay tiles and stonework as well as models on what the castle looked like through its various incarnations. A lot of the displays were unlit and the general low lighting made it difficult to read some of the info. The medieval footwear they had on display was amazing though, very intricate.

We left the exhibition and walked around outside, trying to workout where to go. There were maps of the site but helpfully, none of the places we had tickets for were actually marked. Eventually we gave in and (Deb) asked a guide! Second stop was the Treasury and Armoury - this was quite amazing. The stupid glass (a specially inbred museum variety) made it very difficult to take pictures but the weapons were quite incredible works of art. Crossbows, muskets and assorted melee weapons all demonstrated superb carving and inlay work. The Polish weapons and armour were surprisingly eastern and it was good to see the gear of a winged hussar at last.

After all this excitement (!) we needed sustenance so we visited the cafe in the grounds. This was actually excellent and we both had salmon with salad for about the same as a Happy Meal back home! Our next visit was to the Royal Gardens, which were quite small but nicely laid out with roses, an orchard and various other bits that Deb could identify. There were also good views over the city. That was the castle done so next was the cathedral.
Written September 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lancethebass
Dudley, UK91 contributions
Feb 2020
The grounds are free and lovely to walk around and there are some beautiful views of the city to be had from the ramparts. Some of the places inside have a fee but the grounds alone are well worth a visit. It's quite a walk-up with lots of steps so pace yourself. Some good facilities were on-site to grab a coffee or a meal. Good gift shop with very reasonably priced souveniers.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Wawel Royal Castle, Krakow

Frequently Asked Questions about Wawel Royal Castle

Wawel Royal Castle is open:
  • Sun - Sun 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Tue - Sat 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
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