You can walk up Wawel Hill and into the castle courtyard without a ticket. You pay for the exhibitions inside the castle, the chambers, the Crown Treasury, the Armoury and the underground, and for the cathedral, which has its own separate ticket. Castle exhibitions are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Mondays some of them are free, within a daily limit. Allow half a day for a full visit and buy tickets online, especially in high season and on long weekends.
In short
- The hill and the courtyard: free.
- Castle, both floors: 95 PLN, reduced 71 PLN. One floor: 57 PLN, reduced 43 PLN.
- Crown Treasury or Armoury: 47 PLN each, reduced 35 PLN.
- Exhibition hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Mondays some exhibitions are free, with a daily limit.
- Cathedral, Sigismund Bell and royal tombs: separate ticket, Monday to Saturday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday 12:30 to 4:30 pm.
- Dragon’s Den: April to October only, 15 PLN, reduced 10 PLN.
- Children under 7: free.
Wawel Castle ticket prices
| Exhibition | Standard | Reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Castle, 1st and 2nd floor (Private Royal Apartments and State Rooms) | 95 PLN | 71 PLN |
| Castle, one floor | 57 PLN | 43 PLN |
| Crown Treasury | 47 PLN | 35 PLN |
| Armoury | 47 PLN | 35 PLN |
| Castle underground (Lost Wawel, Lapidarium) | 47 PLN | 35 PLN |
| Dragon’s Den (April to October) | 15 PLN | 10 PLN |
| Viewing tower (April to October) | 19 PLN | 14 PLN |
Reduced tickets are available, among others, to adults visiting with children under 18, and children under 7 go in free. Tickets are sold online up to 4 weeks ahead at bilety.wawel.krakow.pl, and on the day also at the ticket office. A ticket is valid only for the day and time you book.
Free Mondays and Free November
On Mondays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm selected castle exhibitions are free. Free passes are only handed out at the ticket office on the day and cannot be booked in advance. One person can collect passes for up to 5 visitors, and numbers are limited, so come early. In November the castle takes part in the Free November campaign, and the list of free exhibitions is different from the rest of the year.
Our tip: “If you really want to see specific rooms, buy your ticket online. Free Monday passes can run out before noon, and in high season tickets to the State Rooms and the Treasury sell out for the day.”
What to see at Wawel
State Rooms. The second floor of the castle: the halls where kings received guests, with tapestries and a famous collection of Turkish tents.
Private Royal Apartments. The first floor, where the kings actually lived, with a porcelain cabinet and the “Wawel Recovered” exhibition.
Crown Treasury and Armoury. The Treasury holds, among other things, Szczerbiec, the coronation sword of Polish kings. Children usually love the Armoury, with its collection of armour and weapons.
Castle underground. The “Lost Wawel” exhibition shows the remains of the oldest buildings on the hill. An audio guide is included in the ticket.
Wawel Cathedral. The coronation and burial place of Polish kings. The ticket covers the cathedral, the climb to the Sigismund Bell and the royal tombs in the crypts. Buy it on the cathedral website or at the ticket office opposite the entrance. The cathedral is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and on Sundays from 12:30 to 4:30 pm.
Dragon’s Den. A cave beneath the hill, open from April to October. It takes you down to the river, right to the dragon statue that breathes fire.
How much time do you need for Wawel?
- Short, 1 hour: the courtyard, the hill, the river view and the dragon statue. Free.
- Classic, 3 to 4 hours: one or two castle floors, the Treasury and the cathedral.
- In depth, a full day: all exhibitions, the cathedral, the Sigismund Bell and the underground.
Getting to Wawel
From the Main Square, walk down Grodzka Street, the Royal Route, in about 15 minutes. From Kazimierz it is a 10 to 15 minute walk. The nearest tram stops are Wawel and Stradom. You cannot drive up to the castle, and parking nearby is paid and hard to find.
Our tip: where to stay near Wawel
- A seven minute walk from Wawel: Bagel Residence Old Town on Dietla Street. Ten apartments look out on Wawel and the Vistula, and you can leave your luggage in the luggage room after check out.
- Across the river, with the castle view from the boulevards: Ice Apartments in Dębniki, in a new building with a lift. Wawel is a 15 minute walk along the river.
- In Kazimierz, about 10 minutes from Wawel: Liv Apartments on Świętej Katarzyny Street, on a side street.
- On the Main Square, 15 minutes along the Royal Route: Apartments in Pałac Pod Baranami.
Planning your whole stay? See our weekend in Krakow itinerary and the guide where to stay in Krakow.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Wawel Castle?
The hill and the courtyard are free. Both castle floors cost 95 PLN (reduced 71 PLN), and the Crown Treasury or the Armoury 47 PLN each (reduced 35 PLN).
When is Wawel free?
On Mondays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm selected exhibitions are free. Passes are handed out at the ticket office on the day, within a daily limit. In November there is also the Free November campaign.
What are Wawel’s opening hours?
Castle exhibitions Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The cathedral Monday to Saturday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday 12:30 to 4:30 pm.
Do I need to book Wawel tickets in advance?
In high season and on long weekends, yes, because tickets for the chambers and the Treasury sell out. You can buy them online up to 4 weeks ahead.
Does the castle ticket include the cathedral?
No. Wawel Cathedral with the Sigismund Bell and the royal tombs has its own ticket.
Is the Dragon’s Den open in winter?
No, only from April to October.
Wawel with Cracow Travel. Book an apartment a few minutes from the castle direct. With the code CT231974 you pay 50 PLN less for stays of 2 nights or more. See Bagel Residence →
Sources: Wawel Royal Castle (exhibitions, prices, hours), Wawel Royal Castle – FAQ (free Mondays, discounts, online sales), Wawel Cathedral (hours). Photo: Chris Olszewski, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Updated: December 2026. The Cracow Travel team, hosting guests in Kraków for 15 years.