Wawel Hill is made up of two independent institutions: the Royal Castle (Museum – State Art Collections at Wawel) and the Cathedral (archcathedral basilica). They have separate ticket offices and different admission rules. This means that when planning your visit it’s worth checking prices and opening hours for both sites – buying a ticket for the Castle does not always grant access to the Cathedral and vice versa. This guide will help you plan your visit without surprises and save time.
In the sections below you’ll find a detailed, up-to-date (2025) price list for the Castle and practical tips about Cathedral tickets, information about combined tickets, seasonal opening hours and advice on how to avoid queues and disappointment. Specific numbers come from official museum information and institutions associated with Wawel.
Below are the main prices and ticket types valid for the 2025 season for the Wawel Royal Castle. The offer is varied: there are permanent routes, underground tours, seasonal terraces, combined tickets and special passes. Note that some tickets include an audio guide in the price.
Most popular Castle tickets (approximate 2025 prices): Castle I (1st floor) – regular 49 PLN, reduced 37 PLN; Castle II (2nd floor) – regular 53 PLN, reduced 40 PLN; Combined Castle I + Castle II ticket – regular 89 PLN, reduced 67 PLN (audio guide included).
Other attractions and their prices: Castle Undergrounds (including Wawel Lost, Lapidarium) – regular 43 PLN, reduced 32 PLN (audio guide included); Crown Treasury – regular 43 PLN, reduced 32 PLN; Armory – regular 35 PLN, reduced 26 PLN; Between-the-Walls. Wawel Underground – regular 29 PLN, reduced 22 PLN.
Seasonal/minor attractions: Dragon’s Den – regular 9 PLN, reduced 7 PLN; Sandomierska Tower – regular 9 PLN, reduced 7 PLN; Royal Gardens – regular 9 PLN, reduced 7 PLN; temporary exhibitions may have separate prices or be included in Castle/Castle II tickets.
Annual pass: regular 230 PLN, reduced 173 PLN – gives year-round access to Castle exhibitions and selected branches. From December there are also "Wawel for Enthusiasts" tickets (combined ticket: regular 180 PLN, reduced 135 PLN) covering all available Castle exhibitions and selected branches.
Guided and family routes: educational and family routes have been prepared (e.g. "The Essentials at Wawel" — a family route with an educator, ticket about 39 PLN/person), as well as special guided routes for enthusiasts (e.g. "Wawel – The Most Precious" with a guide) which have separate, higher prices — check current dates and fees with the reservation office.
The Cathedral on Wawel Hill is a separate institution and charges separate fees for designated routes: these usually include entry to the interior, the Royal Tombs, Sigismund’s Bell and the Cathedral Museum and Archdiocesan Museum (a combined Cathedral + Archdiocesan Museum ticket is sometimes available).
In practice visitors should expect to buy a separate ticket for the Cathedral (check current prices before your visit on the Cathedral’s or city websites). At certain times combined tickets or special offers are available — if you want to visit both sites on the same day, consider a combined ticket or plan to buy two admissions (Castle + Cathedral).
Buy tickets best through the Castle’s official ticketing system (bilety.wawel.krakow.pl) or directly at the museum ticket offices. Online sales are often opened in advance (individual visitors can usually buy online up to 4 weeks before the visit) — this is the best way to guarantee a spot for a specific time.
A few important notes: tickets are usually valid only on the day and time printed (check the entry time on your ticket), the Castle ticket offices have set opening hours (for example, ticket offices open in the morning; check details before your visit), and the daily number of entries is limited — on very busy days tickets may sell out.
The opening hours of the hill and individual routes change seasonally. In the autumn–winter season hours are often shorter; generally the hill is accessible until around 17:30 (with shorter hours in off-season), and last entries to routes are counted 30–130 minutes before closing depending on the route. Some exhibitions are closed on particular holidays (e.g. Dec 24–26, Jan 1), and in November Wawel often offers free entry to selected exhibitions as part of the "Free November" campaign (tickets must be collected at the ticket office or online, but the allocation is limited).
Before coming check current hours for the routes you’re interested in on the Castle’s official site or at the Reservations Office — in some months rules and times may change (for example due to temporary exhibitions or conservation work).
Group bookings are mandatory and handled by the Castle Reservations Office (contact and reservation rules are available on the museum’s website). Groups above a certain size may be split and, when visiting with a guide, required to use headsets.
Visits with a certified (museum) guide are available for an additional fee — official guides working with Wawel offer tours, and the Castle schedule sometimes includes special curator-led tours. If you would like to book a guide, notify the Reservations Office in advance (rezerwacja@wawelzamek.pl).
Best times to visit: come early just after opening or in the afternoon for the last entries to avoid the tourist peak. Weekends and holidays are busiest; if possible choose a weekday.
Free tickets and promotions: in November and during selected museum initiatives some exhibitions are available free of charge, but allocations are limited and tickets usually need to be collected at the ticket office or online in advance. Audio guides: some tickets (for example, combined Castle I+II, Undergrounds, Between-the-Walls) include an audio guide — use it if you prefer to explore on your own.
Luggage and security: due to conservation rules large backpacks are not allowed; baggage checks may take place. For families: children up to a certain age usually have free entry — check the official site for reduced ticket rules and qualifying ages.
Buying tickets from intermediaries with questionable reputations — avoid sites with high markups; use the official online sales or the Castle ticket offices. Confusing Castle and Cathedral tickets — remember these are two institutions; if you want to visit both buy two tickets or check for combined offers.
Not checking opening hours and closed days — certain routes are closed on holidays or for conservation work; always check current information before you go. Arriving without reservations in season — during peak season ticket allocations can run out; plan to buy online in advance (online sales open ahead of time, so book early).
If you want to eat after visiting, near Wawel you’ll find highly rated restaurants and cafés. A few tried-and-true suggestions: Wierzynek (historic restaurant with traditional Polish cuisine), Pod Wawelem (popular, hearty regional dishes), Café Camelot (intimate spot for coffee and cake). It’s always worth checking current reviews and booking a table for weekends.
If you plan to stay close to Wawel Hill, I recommend choosing hotels in the Old Town or right by Wawel — well-rated options include Hotel Copernicus (a boutique hotel next to Wawel) and several modern hotels around the Main Market Square. When booking, check whether the hotel offers early check-in or luggage storage — that’s useful if you want to make the most of your sightseeing day.
Sigismund’s Bell - although its massive silhouette is visible to all, the bell rings only on very solemn occasions and cannot be rung by tourists. Visiting near the bell is still a symbolic and moving experience.
The Dragon’s Den may be closed depending on weather and season — it’s an outdoor element, so check availability before planning the route. Sometimes seasonal entries (terrace, gardens, dens) are open only from spring to autumn.
Audio guides and curator-led tours – look out for themed curator-led tours (for example runs tied to temporary exhibitions). For those eager to dive deeper into history, consider a guided route led by a museum staff member.
A visit to Wawel is a must during your stay in Kraków, but for it to be successful plan ahead: check current opening hours and prices, buy tickets online (especially in season), remember that the Castle and the Cathedral have separate tickets and consider a combined ticket if you want to see as much as possible.
If you find this guide useful, please share it on social media or send it to friends planning a trip to Kraków. If you’d like to explore Wawel with a local, experienced guide, I invite you to use the services of Małgorzata Kasprowicz — tour guide at zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. Wishing you a wonderful visit and many inspiring discoveries at Wawel!
Thank you for reading — if you wish, I can prepare a shortened itinerary for 2, 4 or 6 hours including coffee breaks and the best viewpoints.
