Wawel is a place every Pole knows, but even people who visit the hill several times in their lives often pass by things mentioned below. I put together 25 short, sometimes surprising facts — some are hard history, some local legends, and some practical tips to help you plan your visit better. You can treat this text as a small, unofficial guide to what’s worth seeing beyond the most obvious spots.
I collected the information from public materials, official museum announcements, archaeological reports and local articles about discoveries. Remember that Wawel is alive — archaeology and conservation work regularly add new curiosities, so it’s worth checking for updates before your trip.
1) Underground open to visitors: since May 2025 there is a permanent route “Międzymurze. Wawel Underground” — it opens parts of previously closed archaeological reserves and leads among defensive layers from the 11th to the 19th century. The route shows multi-century walls, fragments of fortifications and presents finds uncovered during research.
2) Wawel under your feet has a much older history than the castle itself — traces of settlements dating back thousands and even tens of thousands of years have been found; some exhibits in the underground displays reach into very early prehistoric periods.
3) The Sigismund Bell is more than a symbol — it is a colossus from 1521. Hung in the Sigismund Tower, the bell weighs over 12 tonnes and is sounded only at the most important national and church ceremonies. Hearing it ring is an event many visitors to Kraków try to experience.
4) The "dragon bones" by the cathedral’s western entrance are among the best-known Wawel props from the legend — in reality they are remains of three Ice Age animals: a mammoth, a woolly rhinoceros and a cetacean. Many stories and superstitions surround them, but science points to a natural origin.
5) The Dragon’s Den and Chromy’s dragon: the legendary place is real — Smocza Jama beneath the hill is visitable, and the sculpture of the dragon by Bronisław Chromy at the entrance breathes fire (a special gas/pyrotechnic effect). For safety or weather reasons the effect does not always operate on a fixed schedule.
6) The Wawel arrases have a turbulent history — the core of the tapestries ordered in the 16th century was huge; part of the collection was evacuated and stored abroad during World War II, and after the war most textiles returned to Poland. Today the arrases remain one of Wawel’s most precious holdings.
7) The Szczerbiec, the coronation sword of Polish kings, is one of the most important relics in the Crown Treasury. Its origin legend (the claimed notch from striking the Golden Gate in Kyiv) is colourful — remember that legend mixes with history here.
8) Wawel was once a "small town within a city" — in the Middle Ages and Renaissance the hill housed hundreds, and by some accounts up to around two thousand people: courtiers, craftsmen, cooks, servants and guards — all serving the royal court.
9) The Sigismund Chapel is a Renaissance gem and one of the most beautiful royal chapels in Europe. Its gilded dome and rich decoration make it a must-see for art lovers.
10) Sometimes what looks like a superstition has roots in old protective practices — bones hung and other objects placed at church entrances were meant to ward off evil or act as ex-votos; many local beliefs about Wawel grew into stories passed down through generations.
11) National necropolis: Wawel Cathedral is not only the burial place of kings (a dozen or more monarchs) — in the crypts rest national heroes and major cultural figures (e.g., the poet Adam Mickiewicz, Juliusz Słowacki, General Tadeusz Kościuszko, Józef Piłsudski and others). Since the 19th century Wawel has functioned as a sanctuary of national memory.
12) The tomb of Casimir Jagiellon and the “curses” — this is an example of how legends grow quickly: after opening some tombs in the past, people talked about misfortunes and deaths among researchers. In most cases these were coincidences and media sensations, but the stories survived and became part of Wawel lore.
13) The Crypt of the National Bards is a symbolic place of memory for poets, artists and cultural figures. Some graves are symbolic (an urn or epitaph), others contain actual remains brought from abroad in later decades.
14) Archaeological discoveries at Wawel are continuous — in the 21st century fragments of buildings, everyday objects and even rings or small ornaments regularly come to light, revealing stories of ordinary people who lived on the hill.
15) Wawel also tells the story of the king’s role beyond the throne — many elements of decor, craft and introduced customs (for example court cuisine and ceremonial) bring the everyday life of the former court closer, which you won’t see if you only stand on the courtyard.
16) In entrances and nooks around the hill you’ll find inscriptions, heraldic details and traces of old portraits — pay attention to small features on portals, balustrades and tiles.
17) Some castle rooms are reconstructions (furnishings and furniture come from different periods) — that means the chambers you see today are a story composed of original elements and later additions, so the exhibition has the character of a museum arrangement interpreting history.
18) The Dragon’s Den has 135 steps on the descent (counting an alternative route) — if you plan to go down, bear in mind it can be strenuous for visitors with limited fitness.
19) Not everything at Wawel can be visited independently: some outdoor routes or special spaces are accessible only with an official guide or at specific times — plan your route and check access rules for chosen exhibitions.
20) During World War II many museum collections were evacuated or hidden; many objects (for example the arrases) had a long journey home — this is one reason some collections are fragmentary today.
21) Modernity meets history: multimedia, mapping and audio paths appear on routes to help understand Wawel’s successive historical layers — this is especially visible on the “Międzymurze” route.
22) Wawel is an institution with museum staff and conservation workers — some areas and exhibits are run by official guides employed by the Royal Castle on Wawel; for certain routes entry requires accompaniment by such a guide.
23) Tickets and visit planning: buying online helps you avoid the longest queues; it’s also worth coming early (first entry) or outside high season to view the exhibitions and the cathedral more calmly. Check which places have numeric limits and require prior reservation.
24) Where to eat after sightseeing: around Wawel you’ll find venues of very different character — from the historic Wierzynek restaurant (experienced but pricier) to friendly cafés on Kanonicza and Grodzka streets. I recommend choosing places with good reviews and booking a table on weekends.
25) The most common tourist mistakes and how to avoid them: a) trying to see “everything in one day” — better to split Wawel and the Old Town into half-day visits each; b) not wearing comfortable shoes — the hill has stone pavements and many stairs; c) not checking mass and ceremony times in the cathedral — access to the interior may be limited during services.
Is it worth climbing the Sigismund Tower? - If you want to hear the Sigismund Bell and enjoy city views, yes — but remember there are limited places and set visiting hours.
How much time to reserve for a relaxed visit? - To calmly see the cathedral, treasury and several castle rooms, allow at least 3–4 hours; if you add the Międzymurze underground route and the Dragon’s Den, plan a full day or split the visit into two parts.
Are all exhibitions accessible to people with disabilities? - Many Wawel areas are adapted (ramps, lifts), but not all historic fragments can be modified — check accessibility information before your visit.
If you liked these curiosities, share the article with friends or post it on social media — it will help others prepare better for their visit.
If you’d like to tour Wawel with a guide who knows the stories, details and practical tricks that make visiting easier (and can tailor the route to your time and interests), I encourage you to consider the private guiding services of Małgorzata Kasprowicz — contact details and more can be found on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
I wish you a great visit to Wawel — it’s a place that always has one more story to discover.
