Yes — in November 2024 Wawel took part in the nationwide “Free November in the royal residences” initiative, which made selected exhibitions of the Royal Castle on Wawel available for free throughout the month. It was a great chance, especially for people planning a short autumn trip to Krakow, to visit the castle’s most interesting parts without paying for entrance tickets.
The initiative did not mean you could just walk in without a ticket — free admission required a (free) pass, capacity limits applied, and specific reservation rules were in force. In practice, free visits were available only after obtaining such a pass, either online or at the ticket office, and they covered specific parts of the museum program.
Below I explain step by step which exhibitions and routes were covered by free access, how and when to collect passes, what’s worth seeing and practical tricks to get the most from the opportunity.
As part of the initiative the museum opened selected exhibitions and castle routes free of charge. In 2024 this included, among others: the representative Royal Chambers (Castle II), the famous Turkish Tents, designated temporary exhibitions, the castle undergrounds (Wawel Lost, Wawel Underground - Lapidarium), the “Wawel Recovered” display, as well as the Interwall area and the Castle’s cellars.
The offer varied slightly depending on the day of the week and which part of the castle was included in the program at a given time. Some temporary exhibitions were available only on particular days, while other routes were open daily during the campaign hours.
Keep in mind that some parts of the collection could be excluded from the free program (for example for conservation work, special events or organisational reasons), so it was always a good idea to check the current list of available routes on the castle’s official site before you went.
One of the distinctive elements of the offer were free Mondays: during set hours (for example 10:00–16:00 with last admission on some routes around 15:00–15:30) selected parts of Wawel were free to visit. That meant if you were in Krakow on a Monday in November, you had a real chance to see the chambers and the undergrounds without paying, provided you had a free pass for a specific time.
In practice free Mondays were attractive but also drew many visitors — especially locals and tourists who planned a weekend stay. As a result competition for online tickets was often strongest for those days. If you plan a similar visit in the future, be ready to book quickly when the passes become available.
Note: on some holidays or special dates the museum might be closed or have altered hours — for example November 1 often follows special rules.
The most reliable way was online reservation on the Castle’s ticketing system (free passes for the routes included in the campaign usually appeared about a week in advance). If you wanted to enter on a specific day, watch the ticketing site and the online ticket shop for releases seven days before the visit date.
If you failed to get a pass online, the second option was queuing at the ticket office on the day of your visit. Ticket offices often released part of the daily allocation there (it’s worth checking ticket office opening hours in advance). Keep in mind that queues may be long at weekends and tickets can run out quickly.
A few practical rules: one person could collect up to five free passes for themselves (excluding museum lessons), passes were assigned to specific entry times, and daily admissions were limited for conservation and safety reasons. Group reservations and guided visits had separate rules and usually required contacting the Castle Reservation Office by phone or e-mail.
The Wawel undergrounds (Interwall) are among the most atmospheric places — short but full of history and interesting exhibits. It’s a great choice if your time is limited.
The representative Royal Chambers and the Turkish Tents on the second floor will delight lovers of sacred art and court decoration. There you can feel the former richness of the royal residence.
“Wawel Recovered” is an exhibition that tells the story of the castle collections after World War II and about conservation work — I recommend it as a valuable context for the whole visit.
Create an account on the ticketing site in advance and have your details ready (email address, phone number) — this speeds up the reservation process when passes are released.
Plan ahead but don’t overload one day with too many routes — some exhibitions take an hour and moving between routes plus queues takes time. It’s better to focus on 1–2 routes and enjoy them calmly.
Arrive earlier than your booked time — sometimes there are queues at entry checkpoints and it’s good to have a buffer, especially in bad weather.
If you couldn’t secure a pass online — check the ticket office in the morning. Sometimes part of the daily allocation is available only at the box office on the day.
If you want to visit with a guide, remember that a free pass usually covers individual visits; guided services are paid and booked separately via the Castle Reservation Office.
Does a free pass guarantee entry to every exhibition? Not always — passes applied to specific routes and exhibitions listed in the “Free November” program. Some temporary exhibitions could be excluded or available only on selected days.
Can I collect passes for friends? Yes, one person could collect passes for up to 5 people, except for museum lessons which had separate reservation rules.
Does free admission mean no audio guide? In many cases audio guides were available as part of the free visit, although sometimes temporary exhibitions were excluded. When in doubt, check the communication for the specific edition of the campaign.
Did school groups get free lessons? The museum prepared a pool of free museum lessons dedicated to school groups — these required prior registration and were subject to space limits.
After a visit to Wawel it’s worth having lunch around the Old Town — choose well-rated places that combine local flavors with solid service. A few centre classics: Wierzynek (a historic restaurant with a long tradition and an elegant character), Pod Wawelem (known for generous portions of traditional Polish cuisine), and Szara on the Market Square (elegant and popular with visitors).
For coffee and dessert, cafes around the Market Square are a great choice — a good way to rest after sightseeing and soak up Krakow’s atmosphere. If you’re looking for accommodation, the Old Town and Kazimierz offer a wide range — from small boutique hotels to well-rated apartments. Pick a place with easy access to Wawel if you want a relaxed evening walk back.
If you prefer a quieter atmosphere, consider staying outside the very centre, for example in Zwierzyniec or Dębniki — from there a walk along the Vistula back to Wawel is a pleasure.
The Wawel undergrounds can be cooler than the rest of the castle — bring a light jacket or scarf even in autumn weather.
Wawel is not only chambers and jewels — pay attention to architectural details and small artifacts that tell the castle’s story through everyday objects and collection pieces.
During the free campaign there were sometimes free museum lessons for schools and selected curator-led tours. If you travel with family, check the educational program — workshops can be a true added value.
Arriving without checking the current program or opening hours — museums often change rules during large initiatives and on holidays. Refresh the Castle’s official information before you leave.
Trying to see too many routes in one day — fatigue and queues can spoil the experience. It’s better to choose fewer routes and explore them in depth.
Relying only on box office tickets at weekends — the box office allocation can sell out quickly. If you need a specific day and time, try to reserve online when the allocation is released.
Check current announcements from the Royal Castle on Wawel and official statements from the Ministry of Culture — programs like “Free November” often return in subsequent years, but details and the scope of available exhibitions can change.
Subscribe to the newsletter or follow the Castle’s social media profiles to receive information about ticket release dates and special themed weekends.
Remember that if demand is high it’s good to have a plan B — nearby museums and attractions in Krakow often offer excellent programs and can fill your day if you can’t get into Wawel.
If you love history and want to get the most from your Wawel visit, consider combining self-guided visits (using free passes) with a short paid guided service on one route. Many people do this — they save on the main ticket but hire an expert for a single curated story that adds context and color.
If you’d like help planning a visit to Wawel and the surrounding area, I’m happy to help — contact me via the zwiedzaniekrakowa.com site. If this article was useful, I’d be grateful if you share it with friends or on social media. Warm welcome to exploring Krakow with passion!
If you prefer a private guide — services provided by Małgorzata Kasprowicz are available and contact information can be found on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
