Yes — in 2023 Wawel took part in several initiatives that allowed visitors to enter selected exhibitions free of charge. The best-known action was the “Free November in the Royal Residences” supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. In practice this meant that on certain days and at certain hours chosen exhibitions were available without a fee, but free tickets and capacity limits still applied.
An important distinction to remember: free entry did not always mean no ticket was required. In most cases you had to obtain a free ticket either online or from the ticket office on the day, and the pool of such tickets was limited. Key lesson: “free” doesn’t mean “no reservation” or “no queues” — to use these offers you needed to plan your visit carefully.
If you read this after 2023, remember that free-access programs change from year to year — always check current announcements on the Royal Castle on Wawel’s official site before you come.
Under “Free November” some permanent exhibitions and selected temporary exhibitions were opened free of charge during defined hours. Frequently included exhibitions were: Wawel Lost (Wawel Zaginiony), the Armoury (Zbrojownia), the Crown Treasury (Skarbiec Koronny) and parts of the Golden Castle of the Jagiellonians, on specified days. Exact days and time windows differed by exhibition and date, so checking the schedule was necessary.
Free tickets were issued for selected time slots; distribution often started online at a set hour (for example 9:00), and a limited allocation was also available at ticket offices on the day. The strongest demand was during the first minutes of ticket release, so logging into the ticket system immediately at the start gave the best chance.
Remember that Wawel Cathedral is organized separately: some parts are open to worshippers and visitors without a museum ticket (liturgical access), but special routes such as the Royal Tombs, the Sigismund Bell and the Cathedral Museum are often ticketed and have their own opening hours.
Free-day tickets were always limited in number and used timed-entry slots. That meant even a free ticket allowed entry only during the designated time window. Pay attention to the last-entry time, because some exhibitions closed earlier than the entire complex.
In 2023 there were two main ways to get a free ticket: reserve it online through the official ticketing system or pick up a free ticket at the ticket office on the day (if any remained). Important: one person could collect a limited number of free tickets (e.g. up to five) for members of their group.
Organizational note — if you wanted to reserve a guided visit for a group, booking procedures could differ: the reservations office usually handled paid guide services and museum lessons, while standard free tickets were available via the ticketing system. This sometimes caused confusion: an online booking for a guide did not always automatically secure free-entry tickets for the group.
1) Assuming you could just show up and get in — this was probably the most common mistake. Free allocations were limited and disappeared quickly. Instead of risking it, secure tickets in advance or have a plan B.
2) Mixing up the Cathedral with museum exhibitions — many expected the whole complex to be free. Some religious functions in the cathedral were accessible without charge, but specific routes (crypts, the bell, the Cathedral Museum) often required a ticket.
3) Not checking the last-entry times — the free allocation frequently had shorter entry hours than normal paid tickets. When planning, allow time for arrival and possible security checks.
4) Confusing a reservation with the reservations office with a guide booking — group reservations and guide services follow different rules and are usually paid; people who assumed the reservations office would secure free tickets were sometimes disappointed.
How to avoid these mistakes? Plan: check the official schedule, log in early to the ticket system, have an alternative activity (explore the hill, visit the Cathedral, stroll the surroundings) and consider hiring an official guide if needed.
1) Follow official announcements — before your trip monitor the Royal Castle on Wawel’s website and culture institution profiles in Krakow. That’s where dates, hours and ticket collection methods were published.
2) Register and be ready at the exact time ticket distribution starts — systems usually released ticket pools at a set time; whoever was first had the best chance.
3) If you miss the online release — try the ticket office early in the morning, when a small allocation for the day was sometimes made available at the box office.
4) Have realistic expectations about visiting time — free entries had time limits and did not always include the whole complex. Plan 1–2 hours for specific exhibitions plus extra time for a hill walk.
5) Consider a guided option — if you prefer guaranteed entry without the risk of no space, booking a tour with an official guide (for example a guide working with the museum or a licensed city guide) usually offers logistical advantages and saves time.
There are official guides who cooperate with the Royal Castle on Wawel — they have permissions and knowledge to lead tours of interiors and museum exhibitions. Organized groups (school groups, tourist groups) often follow separate reservation rules and may require earlier notification.
If you plan a larger group, contact the Reservations Office and the Tourist Traffic Service well in advance. That office mainly handles inquiries about paid guide services and museum lessons, so if your group wants a guaranteed time slot and guide supervision, use these formal channels.
Tip: using an official guide also gives richer historical context and usually avoids queues, because group coordination is often smoother than individual entries.
Wawel is a historic site and therefore has natural accessibility limits — some routes run via narrow stairs and are difficult for people with reduced mobility. In 2023 accessibility information was provided by the museum and it was advisable to contact staff before visiting to find out which parts of the exhibition were accessible and what accommodations were available.
For wheelchair users and people with mobility restrictions it was recommended to check routes in advance and consult with staff, because not all rooms and corridors were adapted. The museum provided details and encouraged contacting personnel if in doubt.
Security and entry controls (for example bans on large backpacks and luggage checks) could also affect how quickly you entered — it was good to come with minimal baggage.
1) Arrive at opening or just after — morning ticket pools were the easiest to secure and there were fewer visitors.
2) Use Monday morning promotional hours when available — in some seasons Monday mornings offered selected exhibitions in cheaper or free formats.
3) Visit outside the weekend — weekdays have less tourist traffic, shorter queues and a more comfortable visit.
4) Combine your Wawel visit with nearby attractions — if free tickets are exhausted, a walk around Wawel Hill, views of the Vistula, visiting the Cathedral or stopping at nearby cafés and museums makes a great alternative plan.
After an intense visit it’s nice to take a break and enjoy a good meal. Within a short walk of Wawel you’ll find Polish restaurants, cafés and places for a quick bite. Well-known and popular options to consider are: Starka (traditional Polish cuisine), Wierzynek (historic restaurant with a rich offering), Pod Aniołami (classic menu in an atmospheric interior). For coffee and cake try spots around the Main Market and Kazimierz — Massolit Books & Cafe is a favorite for many visitors.
Keep in mind that popular places can be busy, especially in high season — if you have your heart set on a particular restaurant, booking a table or arriving outside peak hours is a good idea.
Use current user reviews and recent opinions when choosing where to eat — menus, hours and standards change, so check the latest feedback before you go.
Do free days mean no queues? No. Free ticket pools were limited and often ran out fast; there could still be queues at entry and security checks.
Were all Wawel exhibitions free? No. Usually only selected exhibitions or parts of them were open free during set hours. Other displays required a regular ticket.
Does booking with the reservations office guarantee a free ticket? Not always. The reservations office mainly handled paid guide services and museum lessons; free tickets were available through the ticketing system or at the box office on certain dates.
Is Wawel Cathedral always free? The cathedral as a place of worship is often accessible to worshippers and visitors, but specific routes (tombs, the bell, the Cathedral Museum) can require tickets. Always check current hours and rules.
Wawel is more than royal chambers and the armoury — it’s full of hidden historical details: architectural fragments, memorabilia from the Jagiellonian dynasty and stories connected to lesser-known exhibits that delight first-time visitors.
Many people don’t realize that Wawel Hill itself is an experience: a walk there offers panoramic views of the Vistula and historical routes of Krakow. It’s a great “free” way to enjoy Wawel when ticket allocations are exhausted.
From a practical point of view — free days show how valuable flexibility is. Visitors often say that an alternate plan and a good coffee nearby can save the day when tickets are gone.
Free initiatives like “Free November” are a great opportunity to see selected Wawel exhibitions without spending money, but they require good organization and understanding of the rules. Key takeaways: 1) check official announcements, 2) secure tickets online or arrive early at the box office, 3) have a plan B, 4) consider hiring an official guide to avoid the risk of no space.
If you plan a trip to Krakow in the future, keep these rules in mind — many cultural institutions use similar patterns for free-access actions. That way you can make the most of opportunities instead of losing time in queues.
If you want a comfortable visit with historical context and no logistical stress, consider arranging a tour with private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz — contact details and full offer information are available on the guide’s website. This solution is ideal for visitors who prefer a planned visit led by an experienced person.
If you found this article helpful, share it with friends or on social media so others can also plan free days at Wawel wisely.
If you’d like someone to lead you around Wawel so you don’t miss anything and avoid organizational pitfalls — feel free to contact Małgorzata Kasprowicz. Full details of the offer and contact information are available on the guide’s website.
Good luck planning your visit and enjoy exploring—Wawel has a hundred stories to tell, and it’s worth discovering the most fascinating ones.
