Wawel Castle in Kraków

The Wawel Hill picturesquely located in a bend of the Vistula River in Krakow is the most valuable monument of national history and culture in Poland. It is a treasure trove of knowledge about Polish history, and at the same time a symbol of their continuity. This hill has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, and from the early Middle Ages it became the center of secular and ecclesiastical power. Since 1978, the Wawel has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the pearl of Małopolska!

Wawel Cathedral

The Gothic Cathedral with Romanesque relics - the center of the cult of St. Stanislaus - is very valuable at Wawel. In the basement of the Cathedral, there are the Royal Tombs open to the public - the resting place of kings, princes and national heroes. The Presidential Couple, who died in the Smolensk catastrophe, is also buried here. Here, too, is the Sigismund Bell - the most famous Polish bell and, by the way, the largest, funded by Sigismund the Old, speaking at the most important church and national ceremonies.

Royal Castle in Krakow

When visiting Wawel, you cannot forget about the Wawel Royal Castle with its wonderful cloisters visible in the courtyard. Polish rulers resided here, and today we can visit their Private Royal Chambers and Representative Royal Chambers with the famous tapestries of Sigismund Augustus. Inside the Castle there is also the Crown Treasury and the Armoury. The exhibition Lost Wawel is very interesting.

Dragon Pit

Another attraction at Krakow's Wawel Castle is the Dragon's Pit - a Jurassic cave once inhabited by a dangerous dragon... and today open to tourists. Right next to it stands the dragon itself, albeit artificial, breathing fire like a real one.

Visiting the Wawel Castle

The Wawel Hill is open to visitors every day from 6.00 am to dusk. Admission to the hill is free, exhibitions in the castle and the Dragon's Pit are paid. The arcade courtyard of the Royal Castle is closed half an hour before the gates of the hill are closed. The facility is located on the Romanesque Route.

Practical information

Wawel Hill and arcade courtyard daily 6.00-17.30 Promotion
and Information Center daily 9.00-17.00
Tickets for exhibitions can be purchased at the Promotion and Information Center 
or online at https://ebilet.wawel.krakow.pl
Current visiting hours and ticket prices can be found at this website: www.wawel.krakow.pl

Wawel Castle
ul. Wawel 5, Kraków
tel. 12/ 422-51-55, 422-61-21