Wawel Royal Castle-State Art Collection

Wawel Royal Castle is one of the most important historical landmarks in Kraków, rising above the Vistula River and shaping the city’s skyline. The complex immediately stands out for its fortified walls, towers and layered architectural styles, reflecting centuries of political and cultural history. Walking around the exterior offers a rewarding experience on its own. The paths along the walls provide changing viewpoints, from imposing brick structures to quieter green areas that soften the monumental feel of the site. The layout allows visitors to explore at a relaxed pace, with a clear sense of connection between the castle, the river and the surrounding city. The area is well maintained and easy to navigate, making it suitable both for a short visit and for a longer walk combined with the nearby riverbanks. Even without entering the interiors, the castle conveys a strong sense of Kraków’s historical identity. A key landmark that combines architecture, history and urban landscape, and an essential stop when visiting the city.

So, positives first: this is an incredible museum experience, up there with Windsor Castle, the Uffizi or Versailles. As such it is worth prioritising, booking ahead, getting there early etc. there is a lot to see so allow for a good half day, especially if you plan to see the underground museum and the chapel. But, the whole place needs someone to go in and bring the museum infrastructure up to modern standards. The signage is poor, there are hardly any toilets and all have massive queues and we waited 45 mins to buy a ticket, waiting in -3 ⁰C cold - not fun. The cafe and restaurant both seat about 12 people and the gift shop offering was quite weak. Mostly, the place is so disorganised. You can buy about a dozen different ticket combinations and it's not clear what each ticket gets you. This means the ticket sellers (at one of only 3 windows) spend a lot of time explaining everything. Even then there was no map and we only found the entrance by accident. I'm pretty sure we missed one the exhibitions because we didn't know where to go. I'm sure that out of season it's a more pleasant experience, but if they want to take their place on the world stage, they need to learn how to process bigger numbers.

A lovely castle but I wasn't expecting so much art. We chose to do Castle 1 and Castle 2 only. In hindsight we should have visited the armoury which is more in keeping of what I'd expect when visiting a castle. The queue to get in despite having tickets took 25mins. Top tip: Highly recommend the free audio guide headset. It knows where you are and gives the info as you go through.

Visiting the Wawel Royal Castle–State Art Collection is an unforgettable experience that beautifully blends art, architecture, and history. Perched above the Vistula River, the castle offers breathtaking views of Kraków and an atmosphere that feels almost timeless. Every corner of the complex tells a story — from the grand royal chambers to the intricate tapestries and stunning Renaissance courtyards. The State Art Collection is incredibly well curated, showcasing exquisite works that highlight Poland’s royal heritage and artistic legacy. The Crown Treasury and Armoury, in particular, are a must-see for anyone interested in medieval craftsmanship and regal splendor. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, eager to share insights and answer questions, making the experience even more enriching. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and there’s plenty of space to wander, reflect, and take in the history that surrounds you. Whether you’re an art lover, a history enthusiast, or simply a traveler in search of beauty and culture, Wawel Castle is an absolute gem — a true symbol of Poland’s enduring spirit and elegance.

Wawel Royal Castle is one of the must-see attractions in Kraków. There are several different sightseeing routes available, and it can be a bit confusing at first to figure out which one is the right choice. The tickets also don’t indicate where exactly you should go to begin the tour, but the staff on site is very helpful. Depending on the number of visitors, it’s sometimes possible to add extra routes once you’re already inside. It is definitely best to book tickets in advance. Within the grounds, you’ll find souvenir shops, a free baggage storage area (with a valid ticket), free toilets (with a valid ticket), a restaurant, and designated smoking areas. Audio guides are available in multiple languages, but they need to be reserved when purchasing tickets. The castle itself is an impressive cultural treasure that transports you back to the time of powerful dynasties and royal intrigue. The Wawel Cathedral along with the royal tombs is especially worth visiting, as well as the route dedicated to the Wawel Dragon and the Dragon’s Den (not available during the winter season).

Wawel Royal Castle is a beautiful trip that is definitely worth the visit! The architecture is impressive and full of history, offering an enriching cultural experience. Furthermore, its location provides a beautiful view of the river Vistula, perfect for photos and relaxation. To complete the visit, make sure to see the famous Wawel Dragon statue, which, to everyone's delight, breathes fire every 10 minutes! It's a fun detail that appeals to all ages. The attraction is very well maintained, and the whole complex is a must-see tourist spot in Poland.

A must do if you're visiting Kraków. The exterior grounds themselves are free to roam as you please, you will only need to pay to access the exhibitions inside the interior rooms of the castle. I will advise you that the tickets for the cathedral and rest of the castle attractions are sold in separate ticket booths. These tickets booths are clearly signposted however so you should have no issue in getting around. Also you must buy individual tickets for each of the attractions that you wish to visit during your time at the castle. All in all, it's a great day out for all the family and you can spend several hours here getting to see all of the great exhibits that are on display. There are also ample facilities for food, storing bags and toilets (which you can use your entrance ticket to access for free).

The Wawel Royal Castle Gardens in Kraków are a beautifully restored part of Poland’s most iconic historic site. Nestled on Wawel Hill, the gardens offer a serene escape from the city, with meticulously arranged flower beds, manicured lawns, and stunning views over the Vistula River. They blend Renaissance design with natural charm, evoking the elegance of royal life while maintaining a peaceful, contemplative atmosphere. The State Art Collection housed within Wawel Castle is equally impressive. It features masterpieces of European art, exquisite tapestries from the 16th century, royal portraits, and priceless artifacts from Poland’s regal past. Highlights include the famous Flemish tapestries commissioned by King Sigismund II Augustus and an exceptional collection of Renaissance and Baroque art. Together, the gardens and the art collection make Wawel not only a symbol of Polish heritage but also a living museum of art, architecture, and nature — a must-see for any visitor to Kraków!

There's no way that you can stay in Kraków and not see Wawel Castle. It's the heart and soul of the city. A national treasure! The castle grounds, cathedral, and royal residences are all very impressive. You can spend as much time as you want up there taking in the views of the city and the castle complex. There's no admission fee to walk around the castle grounds. It's a small fee to enter the cathedral to see the exhibits, royal tombs, and the bell tower. There are separate fees to enter the residences and the museum. I didn't see any combo tickets offered to see everything. However, I believe you can purchase them online if you know exactly what you want to see on the day of your visit. We just bought our tickets at the cathedral ticketing office. There wasn't much of a wait in the afternoon on a weekday. We actually visited twice during our stay since our hotel was nearby. The first time was during a walking tour of Old Town. We decided to go back a 2nd time on our own to see the cathedral & gardens. It was a beautiful sunny day.

Always great place to go! Most see in Krakow. Glorious gorgeous magnificent! After 37 years still magical! So happy to be back

Krakow's signature castle is a must visit. It's free to wander around the main castle grounds where you'll find plenty of pretty photo opportunities, especially you aspiring Instagram addicts. It is a bit confusing for the paid stuff as everything is a la carte for what you want to see and do here: Sandomierska Tower 5PLN/$1.19...the views at the top aren't that great, and the windows have lots of reflection so your pictures won't be very good. You can skip this for the time savings. Dragon's Den 9PLN/$2.14...this silly downhill walk takes your into the underground caves where some dragons used to live? Like from Game of Thrones? Puff the Magic Dragon? I found this entertaining, and it leads your right to the dragon monument outside that breathes fire. Worth it! Wawel Cathedral 22PLN/$5.24...the biggest and richest Cathedral in Poland. Just as awesome as any other big European church I've seen. I'm an atheist, but still enjoy visiting churches. There was still a lot more to see, but I ran out of time...next time! :)

I had a view of the castle from my hotel room and I knew I had to go there. It's a stunning and well worth a visit. Check out the flame throwing dragon outside. No seriously...there is a flame throwing dragon.

Great castle to visit if you come to Krakow. Definitely an important piece of history in this place. Loved visiting the grounds, seeing the relics and tombs in the Cathedral, visiting all the art inside the States room and doing the Oriental Ottoman Turk tour. All fascinating history. Definitely worth the ticket price which is not expensive at all. Some days it's free. Came on a Sunday and omg too many kids and tourists so I left. Came back on Thursday and it was less busy. I'm not much of a fine art guy but wow I really appreciated some of the incredible and almost impossible to achieve art work. I especially enjoyed the tapestries made of silk, wool, and silver threading. These rugs are gigantic. Some great paintings in there as well. The Oriental and Ottoman Turk tents, weapons and pieces is short but definitely cool to look at and see. But the best part is the Cathedral and seeing the tombs and chapels inside. A magnificent church with so much to see.

One of the most significant cultural sites in Europe (if not the planet). This was the royal Palace for many Polish kings and queens. Entrance to the grounds is free. The various sites on the grounds have nominal entry fees. They even have discounted tickets available.

When visiting Krakow, Wawel Royal Castle is a must visit landmark. Admission to the hill and the arcaded courtyard is free, and ticket is required to explore the exhibits and buildings. Permanent exhibitions include Royal Chambers, Royal Apartments, Crown Treasury and Armory, Oriental Art, and Wawel Lost. It's a little climb up to the castle from the market square, but everyone can do it with comfortable shoes. The courtyard and the exterior of castle is quite picturesque; the exhibits are hit and miss, depends if you're into the historical stuff. Nonetheless, good to spend half day here and enjoyed taking pictures here in the garden and roaming on the castle ground. TIP: 1. Free Entry Days: a. 4/1-10/31 Crown Treasury, Armory, and Wawel Lost 9:30am-1pm; free ticket issued until 11:45am b.11/2-3/31 Representative Royal Chambers and Wawel Lost 10am-4pm; free tickets issued until 2:45pm 2. If you have a large backpack or bag, you may be asked to check it in the luggage storage room before allowed to enter the exhibit.

Built at the behest of King Casimir III the Great, the site consists of a number of structures situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard. The castle, being one of the largest in Poland, represents nearly all European architectural styles of medieval, renaissance and baroque periods. The Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Hill constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. The castle is located on the edge of Old Town overlooking the river. If you are staying in Old Town you can easily walk there from anywhere in Old Town. I recommend you spend at least a half day visiting, touring and walking the expansive grounds. I recommend you wear comfortable footwear such as sneakers, because there are lots of cobble stones and rocky walkways. There are some nice restaurants near the site also. One of my favorites is a rooftop restaurant overlooking Wawel and the river. Make sure to stop into the old cathedral located on the property. I was there in October. Enjoy!

This place is a waste of time! I've traveled extensively and was so excited to see the castle as it is gorgeous from the outside! But that's all there is to it, the outside. The inside is a big mess! There is not an option to tour the entire castle or a general tour as most places offer. Instead you have to buy a ticket for each room you want to see, stupid!! The cathedral is free admission but they sell tickets to that too. The people working here are NOT nice to tourists. It is very confusing! The interior is undergoing renovation. We chose to walk into the cathedral and we did the armory/jewels tour. The cathedral was pretty (seen one church in Europe, seen them all). The armory/ jewel tour was a bust! There were like 5 broaches to see for the jewelry and all sorts of armory. No pictures allowed. Just not very royal at all. Highly disappointed!

Wawel Castle is pretty fabulous - you can easily spend most of a day here, depending on how much you want to see. The castle grounds are huge and open to the public for free - you only pay if you want to visit the varied museums. The ticket system is confusing - again, depending on what your interests are you might be buying tickets in different places. There isn't a combination ticket available. We chose to see the State Apartments, the Treasury and the Lady with an Ermine (temporarily housed here). We had wanted to see the Royal Apartments but there weren't any tickets left - since we were there at a "slower" tourist time, it probably makes sense to order tickets ahead during high season. The cathedral is a must see - you can see most of the nave for free, or pay a small fee to see the crypts of the kings & behind the high altar. I think the extra cost was worth it - the crypts were interesting but there are some pretty fabulous winged altars that those who don't pay can't see. I thought the State Apartments and the Treasury museums were "good" - I've seen better elsewhere but the cost was reasonable and I did enjoy them. FYI, seeing the Lady with an Ermine was great - there were maybe 5 other people in there, so it's a chance to see one of the greatest Leonardo's on earth, close up and personal. Signage to this one is pretty poor - we ended up backtracking up and down stairs, just FYI. If you're in Krakow, you're probably going here. It's definitely worth a visit!

Great spot to take a a break at the castle. Coffee and deserts were so just what we needed. Lots to see here and plenty of space to sit

Visiting the castle and sites is confusing. 8 different types of tickets for the attractions. You walk up the big hill and the ticket booth (SINGLE) is on your right. When I was in line, the number of tickets went from 410 to 350 even though there were only 8 people in front of me. It took 25 minutes to get my tickets. Some tickets were timed and others were not which added to the confusion. Interior signage was lacking a bit. But there are plenty of restaurants and souvenir places. You had a cathedral which had a separate ticket that wasn't sold with the ticket booth. On the right, there was the museum including Pope John Paul the II relics and that was a different ticket booth with a different entrance. So many different tickets! In the castle, there is a really large Courtyard and again no real clear entrance. They had security and they tried to kick me out and make me bag check my very very small purse. There were no security regulations posted anywhere. Not at the ticket booth or base of the hill. I had a camera and a tour book in my purse and that's all that fit. So they tried to turn me away but they let in Polish people with huge purses as big as a duffel bag. I pointed this out and only after some protesting and embarrassing other tourists, I was let in. The castle itself has a dozen or so rooms. No photos allowed! Tiny explanation for all of the art in a gigantic castle size room pinned to the middle of the wall. All of the sudden, a security guard accosted me for my ticket. It was no special exhibition, just lame bureaucrats. The Leonardo da Vinci is in the Krakow Museum of Art not in the castle any more as advertised by Lonely Planet. Stupid. Why move it out of the main and central tourist attraction? While the castle and tower were interesting, the people working there were a headache. View from outside the castle and wall are pretty. Take photos of the city and river from there.

Me i found another face of our royal castle. Check this out. Lovely gardens on our royal hill in full blossom and even more nicer touch than usual to the place. We have our vines too :)

Beautiful and cool grounds. The ticket office near the entrance has an impressive line around lunch time. It's not the only ticket office. There's one in the red brick building near Sandomierska Tower which sells all tickets for everything you can see on the grounds and had a much shorter line plus you wait inside with AC versus outdoor ticket office. The Dragon's Den can be quite dark and wet with large puddles. I recommend the architecture and Gardens ticket because it includes the tour which takes you away from all the crowds of other tourists for an hour into blocked off areas you can't access without the tour.

If you desire to do any of the major tourist attractions within Krakow you'll need cash and have to get on line early. They don't accept credit cards from what I can see in the first office and second that's further in. They also sell a limited amount of tickets per day per attraction. So, for example if you're on the line to buy tickets at 11:30 AM and you get through to buy tickets. Your tickets for those attraction might not be until 1:30 - 2:00 PM. I wouldn't want to wait that long. And I'm not sure if you can purchase a day ahead. That I what I'd recommend if you could or get them early enough to have a choice. One of the things that no one likes is each event is separate and priced differently. There are no combo tickets. Definitely a first for me in Europe.

Pretty cool place, but not super interesting as far as a castle goes. It's one of the main tourist places in Krakow for sure, and most of it is free and there's some really nice views going on too. There's also a cathedral, but I didn't go inside; it looked pretty cool from the outside though! Definitely a place to check out but don't have expectations that are too high; Edinburgh and Prague's castles are a lot cooler than this one!

Unparalleled historical architecture. It is a beautiful place that will walk you through the long and winding story of one of Europe's most important cities. The views of the river are beautiful. For those of you who are into New Age or Eastern practices, this is one of seven spots around the world where you can recharge your chakras!

Not only is the castle itself beautiful, but the view from the outside is too. Also, there is a small cafe outside the doors in the garden area with lovely cakes and coffee!

The castle is a great place to visit just got the views of the city. It's a beautiful place and I can spend an hour or so looking around. I will always take guests to the castle for a walk around the old walls and let's not forget the fire breathing dragon. The church is also great, a very amazing place and if you read all the plaques you will take a while walking around. I advise anyone visit Kraków to pop into the castle it is free to walk around and you only need to pay for the crypts which is around 7zl I believe.

You can walk around the grounds free. The courtyard garden is a great spot to enjoy a coffee or wine at the cafe. I also like that the various parts of the paid sections can be purchased separate. So if you only have a short time, you can pay for one or two pieces. And if you have longer, you can do more.

This is the landmark that you just have to visit Krakow. This is Krakow's medieval royal castle and 2 museums, a cafe and a restaurant got added within the walls. This is a great place if you are looking for beautiful views of the city and the river and I would recommend that you visit it both in the winter and summer months. Most of the place is free or cheap so you will definitely not hurt your budget too much, particularly since it is very much worth it. This castle managed to survive for centuries and particularly managed to survive WW2 and it is a priceless piece of history. Overall, my experience with the Wavel Castle was very positive and I would recommend it with if you are in town. Feel free to message me for any additional details that you may need!

Castle & cathedral closes at 4pm and we arrived at 4 so therefore we could not go in those areas. We did get to go into a tower and the dragons den. Both were interesting & educational. However, staff were very rude!! They didn't want to help at all and the place is very unorganized and confusing. They didn't want to talk to us if we were speaking English, however, when my boyfriend started speaking his first language aka polish they changed their tune. Regardless, you're gonna deal w tourists working at this type of museum so they should have more respect. If you want to go to castle go before 4!!!!

The castle is, of course, one of the main attractions in Krakow. It's huge and dominates the city from its perch on the top of a little hill that overlooks the river. There is a lot of explore within the Castle, lots of galleries, a few stores and the beautiful cathedral. There are also pretty good views out over the city. The dragon is worth a look of you manage to find it. It's a strange building, almost like it couldn't decide which era it wanted to be part of. It is very old, of course, but it doesn't look it. It was redeveloped over and over depending on who occupied the castle. There's a wealth of information within those walls. I'd certainly recommend getting in there and checking it out. There is also a wonderful cathedral situated inside Wawel Castle. It's intricately decorated on the inside, draped in gold and extravagance. There's a lot to see, the alter area, the cathedral walk, the tombs. You can take guided tours through to learn about all the ins and outs of its construction and many stories. There's a lot of history within the cathedral and it's well worth a look while you're visiting the Castle. We also had heard rumours of the fire breathing dragon that stood guarding the castle in Krakow so thought we'd try and find this dragon. We searched all over the castle looking for this thing and finally found it by looking over the edge of the castle wall. It stands on the river bank outside the castle, so you actually have to leave the castle grounds and walk around side to see it from the ground level. It is essentially a tin dragon, not as big as I thought it would be. Every 10 minutes or so it breaths fire for about 15 seconds. Worth a look if you're in the area.

A nice old castle that is easy to get to. You will not be walking up endless stairs and ramps to get to this place, so it is good if you have kids with you. The place was easy to get around and there was a nice bronze model of the castle that really helped to understand the overall layout better than looking at a map. It was a bit too crowded when we got there and most tickets were sold out. You should get there early if you want to get into any of the exhibits. They have limited numbers if tickets.

The landmark of Krakow - the royal castle. It has a museum (2 in fact), cafe and restaurant within the walls. It is supposed to be a very romantic place, where you can get in touch with Krakows medieval history. The whole castle is located on a hill, so there is a magnificent view from the castes towers and walls. This is the place were the king of Poland had his residence. There is also the Wawel Cathedral located in the centre of castle. The Wawel Castle is like the Eiffel Tower - if you are in the city you just have to visit it.

This is a must see if you are fotunate enough to travel to Krakow. About a 5 minute walk from the main square it really does has some breathtaking views and you are free to roam around. There are organised tours and you will see groups wandering around including ganags of school children. It is incredibly clean and gives you a great insight into the history of Krakow. Adjacent to the hotel is the Wawel restaurany whih we dined in one evening where the food was superb and great value for money. Local music was being played and a good night was had. The castle overlooks the river below which offers some really good walks including the five minute walk to the Jewish district of Krakow.

Definitely a place to visit , unfortunately many arts and pieces of great value were stolen by Nazi germans , then by Soviets , then by communists , so there are many mostly empty rooms and most of castle is not available to public o well

Yes it's historic and beautiful but really it's just "all that" and a tourist trap to boot. Why do I need a half dozen stores on a sacred site to sell me some coinage with the replication of some smiling long dead Hapsburg or Hohenzollern whore, I came for the sepulchres and saints - but I didn't get to see any because the lines were too damn long without much help. In all my visits to many tourist sites in Krakow I was amazed that this one which is so seminal, seemed to be populated with staff that were rather unhelpful.

This was a great stop while I was in Krakow. I thought it was very diverse in offerings (tombs, belltower, royal court, dragon's cave) and well organized in terms of a do-it-yourself kind of tour. They had options to be guided through and I really liked that we had an option of doing it ourself. The prices were reasonable and the view from the tower was amazing. I recommend this for any visit to Krakow.