Wawel Royal Castle
About the Museum
Wawel Royal Castle sits on a limestone hill above the Vistula River at the southern edge of the Krak贸w Old Town. For five centuries it was the seat of Polish kings, and today it is a state museum that occupies the castle, its courtyards, towers and gardens. The hill also carries Wawel Cathedral, which belongs to the Church and is visited separately, so plan for two institutions on one rock.
The castle is not a single museum route but a set of separate exhibitions, each with its own ticket and timed entry. The State Rooms show the great Renaissance halls with their coffered ceilings and the famous tapestries of King Sigismund Augustus. The Royal Private Apartments, the Crown Treasury and Armoury, the Oriental Art collection with its Ottoman tents, and the archaeological display called Lost Wawel each occupy a different wing. Outside, the arcaded courtyard, the defensive walls, the Sandomierska Tower and the Dragon's Den can be enjoyed on their own.
A first-time visitor should allow half a day, choose two or three exhibitions in advance, and leave time simply to walk the hill. The views over the river bend and the Old Town from the walls are among the best in the city, and the courtyard at dusk, when the day visitors have thinned out, is one of the quiet pleasures of Krak贸w.
Before You Go
- Tickets are sold per exhibition with timed entry, and the most popular routes such as the State Rooms sell out in high season, so book online in advance.
- Entry to the hill and the courtyards is free; only the exhibitions, the tower climbs and the Dragon's Den are ticketed.
- Arrive early or after four in the afternoon in summer to avoid the tour groups that fill the arcaded courtyard around midday.
- The Cathedral is a separate institution with its own ticket office, so combine the two but do not expect one ticket to cover both.
- Large bags must be left in the cloakroom, and photography without flash is generally allowed in most exhibitions.
- The Dragon's Den is a one-way route that exits at the foot of the hill by the river, so visit it last.
Collection Areas
Highlights
12 works. Each work has a full written and audio guide.
