Where should you buy Wawel tickets to avoid long queues? Are there public toilets along the Planty? Are there toilets on Wawel Hill and do you need to pay for them? In this article I’ll answer clearly and practically — so you can calmly plan a walk around the hill and a visit inside the castle. I won’t write about other tour operators or competing offers — I want to help you as a visitor, step by step.
If you prefer a quick cheat sheet: book tickets in advance, carry small change for public toilets, use toilets along the Planty or at the Wawel Visitor Centre, and plan your visit outside peak hours (early morning or late afternoon). The details below will make planning easier.
Remember: opening hours and prices may change depending on season and special exhibitions — treat the tips below as a practical guide and check current information before you go.
Now let’s go step by step.
Why buy tickets in advance: Wawel limits visitor numbers each day and in high season, especially at weekends and during daytime, popular routes fill up quickly. Booking online saves time and gives you more choice of entry times.
Types of tickets and approximate prices: Depending on the route you can buy shorter entries for selected exhibitions, or combined tickets covering the private apartments, the Crown Treasury, the Armoury or the underground routes. Prices vary — cheaper entries start at a few dozen złoty, while extended routes typically cost from several dozen up to around one hundred złoty for a full-price ticket. If you want the complete experience, check combined tickets; if you’re short on time, pick a single route.
Free entries and promotions: There are occasional days or hours with free admission to selected exhibitions — these offers are limited in number and time. If you’re on a budget, ask at the ticket office on the day about any free-entry options.
Group tickets and special reservations: If you come with a larger group or want to visit with a guide, reserve in advance. Some group offers have different sales and cancellation rules.
Practical tips for buying tickets: - buy tickets online if you can - check the exact entry time (tickets are usually valid on the specified date and time) - allow time for security checks and for walking from the Planty to the entrance.
Krakow operates a system of public toilets in the city centre, including the Planty and other main tourist points. A few locations to remember during a walk around Wawel and the Planty: Planty (Sienna Street) - a public toilet often open in morning and evening hours; Planty (Straszewskiego Street) - another point along the Planty with similar opening hours; Planty (Św. Tomasza Street) / Plac Szczepański - a convenient location on the route coming from the Market Square; Main Market Square (Sukiennice) - the toilet near the Cloth Hall usually operates late into the evening; Bulwar Czerwieński (riverbank) - another spot by the Vistula; Smocza Street - near the entrance to Wawel (handy as a landmark).
Opening hours and rules: Opening hours for municipal toilets can be seasonal — longer in summer and shorter off-season. Carry small change, because some public toilets may be attended or charge a fee. Some city toilets are adapted for people with disabilities.
If you have small children or need a changing table: note that not all public toilets have convenient changing tables; for those needs it’s better to plan stops in larger facilities (shops, visitor centres, restaurants with customer toilets).
In short: the Planty and the Market area offer several public toilets — useful when you plan a longer walk before entering the hill.
There are sanitary facilities available to visitors on Wawel itself. Their number is limited, so during high season there can be queues or charges for use. It sometimes happens that toilets on the castle grounds are payable — keep some small change just in case.
Facilities and accessibility: On the hill there are toilets adapted for visitors with disabilities. Some entrances and displays can be challenging for wheelchair users — some exhibitions are accessible, others less so (for example the Dragon’s Den and some underground spaces can be hard to adapt).
If you plan to visit the interiors: take a short toilet break before your entry if possible — visiting times can be restricted to an entry slot, and leaving and re-entering some routes may be difficult.
In practice: for comfort, use a municipal toilet by the Planty or in the Market area before you go up to Wawel — those are often easier to access than facilities at the busiest exhibitions.
Accessibility: some routes and exhibitions at Wawel are adapted, others are not. If you use a wheelchair, check in advance which places are accessible and whether staff assistance is required for lifts or ramps.
Accessible toilets: on the hill and in some municipal toilets there are facilities with accessibility features.
Children and strollers: remember that in some museum interiors strollers aren’t allowed and you may need to leave a stroller in a cloakroom. When visiting with little ones, allow extra time for this logistics.
If you need detailed information about accessibility for particular routes, check with the Visitor Centre or the ticket office on arrival — staff will advise the most convenient options.
A simple suggested plan that combines useful stops with pleasant walking: start your walk at the Planty — strolling the tree-lined alleys is pleasant and leads gently to the hill; stop at a municipal toilet, for example near Sienna or Straszewskiego Streets; approach Wawel from Smocza Street or from the Planty; if you have internal tickets, check your entry time; visit Wawel — choose the route that fits your preferences (a shorter exhibition or a combined ticket); after leaving the hill, take a short walk down to the Vistula or head toward the Market Square; at the Market you’ll find more municipal toilets, cafés and places to rest.
Where to use a toilet after visiting: the most convenient places are the Market (Cloth Hall area) or the Planty near Św. Tomasza/Plac Szczepański, especially if you plan to continue exploring the city centre.
This route helps you avoid unnecessary backtracking and gives flexibility to choose where to go to the toilet before or after visiting Wawel.
Carry small change – some municipal or castle toilets may be paid or attended; coins make things easier.
Book tickets in advance – especially in season and at weekends; it saves time and stress.
Allow buffer time – walking from the Planty to the Wawel entrance takes several to a dozen minutes on foot, plus time for security checks and possible queues at the ticket office.
Check baggage and personal item restrictions – some routes apply limits and bags may need to be left in the cloakroom.
If you have special needs (accessibility, childcare, stroller) - inform staff on site in advance; employees usually try to help.
- Tickets: buy online, check route types, remember daily limits. - Toilets: Planty (Sienna, Straszewskiego, Św. Tomasza/Plac Szczepański), Market (Cloth Hall area) and Smocza Street are useful central points; carry small change. - On Wawel: there are sanitary points, they can be paid, and there are solutions for visitors with disabilities. - Plan: take care of toilet stops at the Planty first, then visit Wawel, and after touring walk to the Market or the riverbank.
If you like, I can prepare a short descriptive map of toilets and the ticket office, or make a visiting plan for Wawel depending on how much time you have — tell me how much time you want to spend and whether you’re coming with children or someone with reduced mobility.
Thank you for reading — enjoy discovering Krakow and have a great walk along the Planty!
