Krakow Castle Tickets and Tours

If you’re passionate about history and intrigued to find out what lies behind these classic, regal buildings, Kraków Castle is an unmissable highlight during your visit to Kraków. Discover the history of its construction, from its beginnings under the reign of Casimir the Great to its most recent restoration by Bartolomeo Berrecci.

If this place is on your list of things to see and do in Kraków, and you want to know how to visit it, read on because I’ll tell you everything about how to get there, what guided tours are available and how to easily get your tickets to make this one of the best experiences of your visit to Kraków.

The most comprehensive option

Krakow Wawel Castle Guided Tour

Discover Kraków Castle and Cathedral

On this guided tour, you’ll discover Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral, Kraków’s Old Town and Market Square in great detail, accompanied by a professional guide.

From CAD 66 at Hellotickets

With this guided tour of Kraków Castle, you’ll explore Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral in depth, as well as the surrounding area. What’s more, you’ll enjoy priority access, so you’ll avoid the queues at the entrance.

On this tour, you’ll be accompanied by an expert professional guide who will tell you all about the history and architecture of these two iconic monuments, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You’ll also stroll through the Old Town and Kraków’s Market Square, connected to Wawel Castle by the so-called Royal Route.

Recommended if... You’re only in Kraków for a short time but don’t want to miss a thing.

There are several ways to buy your tickets for Kraków Castle, as well as the option to purchase them online and plan your visit in advance. My recommendation is always to buy your tickets for a guided tour online, as this will ensure you don’t waste time and guarantees your entry for the day and time you’ve planned. These official venues sell a limited number of tickets at the box office each day, so it’s best not to take any chances.

• At the Visitor Centre, which is open on Mondays from 9am to 12pm and from Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 4.20pm.
• At the Herbowa Gate, the most popular entrance to Wawel Hill. It is open from April to October from 9 am to 12 pm (Mondays) and from 9 am to 4 pm (Tuesday to Sunday).
• You can purchase tickets online via the Castle’s official website, with the option to buy up to a week in advance or even on the day of your visit.

Important information:

• Tickets are issued with a specific time slot, and you will see the time printed on your ticket.
• The number of tickets available per day is limited, and tickets are valid only for the day of your visit.
• The Castle does not accept payments in foreign currencies (euros or others). Payment must be made in zloty (PLN).

Yes, there are guided tours and I highly recommend taking one, as otherwise you’ll miss out on many fascinating details. My top pick is this guided tour of Kraków Castle, as it covers both Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral, and you’ll also stroll through the Old Town and Kraków’s Main Square. Without a doubt, it’s the most comprehensive option.

In addition, Kraków Castle also offers the option of purchasing an audio guide at the Visitor Centre (at an additional cost) or booking your own expert guide service. The maximum group size is 15 people.

Cost of the guide service for groups of up to 15 people:

• 1 tour: 90 zloty (PLN) or approx. 19 euros
• 2 tours: 140 zloty (PLN) or approx. €30
• 3 exhibitions: 190 zloty (PLN) or approx. €40
• 4 exhibitions: 240 zloty (PLN) or approx. €50
• 5 shows: 290 zloty (PLN) or approx. €62
• 6 screenings: 340 zloty (PLN) or approx. €73
• 7 exhibitions: 390 zloty (PLN) or approx. €83

Kraków Castle is open every day:

• Monday: 9.30 am to 1 pm.
• Tuesday to Sunday: 9.30 am to 5 pm.

Please note, however, that entry to certain areas closes between 30 minutes and one hour earlier.

Krakow Castle does not offer a single ticket to see everything. Tickets are sold separately for each individual exhibition. Depending on which exhibition you choose to visit, tickets range from €2.50 to €6.50. You can include several exhibitions in your visit if you have the interest and time.

The ticket categories available at Wawel Royal Castle are: standard, concessions and free admission. On the official Wawel Royal Castle website, you’ll find full details of who is eligible for concessions and free admission.

During your visit, you’ll be able to see permanent exhibitions, which I’ll tell you more about later. In addition, the Castle also hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Please note that both ticket prices and opening hours may vary depending on the season.

There is a tourist card in Kraków, the Kraków Tourist Card, which includes free entry to a variety of museums and tourist attractions in the city. Unfortunately, Kraków Castle is not included on this list. Some of the places you can visit with this tourist card are:

• St Mary’s Basilica.
• Oskar Schindler’s Factory.
• Old Synagogue (Stara).
• Krakow Museum of Contemporary Art.

Some of these places are located in Kraków’s fascinating Jewish quarter. A place where there is plenty to see and do.

Wawel Royal Castle is situated on the hill of the same name. It is just a 10-minute walk from the Market Square and a 20-minute walk from Kraków’s train and bus station.

• Public transport: Wawel and Stradom tram stops and Jubilat and Stradom bus stops.
• Bicycle: You’ll find places to park your bike at the castle entrance, as bicycles aren’t allowed on Wawel Hill.

Check for available car parks near the Castle

Many travellers, particularly Europeans, travel by car. If this applies to you, you’ll find car parks available very close by. The nearest is at Plac na Groblach, just a 5-minute walk from the Castle. You can also find one next to the National Museum, which is a 20-minute walk from the Castle or accessible via the Muzeum-Narowowe bus route.

Children are always welcome in places like this. There’s nothing better than instilling a love of history, culture and art from a young age. Although Kraków Castle does not offer discounted family tickets, children under 7 enter free of charge regardless of the time of year.

The Castle also usually organises special activities for children throughout the year. I recommend checking the venue’s calendar at the time of your trip to see what options are available. And if you’re looking for more activities for the little ones, here are 10 things to do in Krakow with children.

The length of your visit to Kraków Castle, or Wawel Castle, will depend on how many exhibitions you decide to see. Remember that you must buy a separate ticket for each exhibition, which will be valid only for the date and time stated on the ticket.

The longest exhibitions are the State Rooms, which take up to 1 hour, and the tour of the outer gardens, courtyards and St. Geron’s Church, which lasts 70 minutes. There are also others lasting between 20 and 40 minutes, the shortest being the visit to the Dragon’s Cave or Lair, which will only take you about 10 minutes.

It will obviously depend on your availability. As it is an enclosed site, the weather doesn’t really matter, in my opinion. But the season does affect the number of people you might encounter. If you decide to visit the Castle in summer, it’s likely to feel a bit stifling or you may find it harder to get tickets.

My recommendation is to visit between April and June when the weather is pleasant and you haven’t yet experienced the chaos typical of summer.

There’s a wide range of things to see when visiting Kraków Castle. This confirms that this is one of the best tours and excursions from Kraków. Let me tell you a bit more about the permanent exhibitions you shouldn’t miss:

State Rooms

The State Rooms at Wawel Castle are my favourites. This tour is ideal for those who want to connect with history, appreciate architectural details and art, and learn a little more about the history of the Polish monarchy.

Furthermore, I find this one of the most comprehensive and ideal ticket options, as it allows you to access several of the rooms and apartments used by the monarchy to receive their guests. Here you can admire a comprehensive collection of Gothic art, portraits of the monarchy, exquisite Italian Renaissance furniture and much more.

Useful information

• This ticket includes direct access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions in each royal salon. These comprise 4 salons on the first floor and 14 rooms on the second floor of the Palace.
• Last admission for this exhibition is at 4 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
• The tour of the Royal Halls takes approximately 1 hour.
• The standard admission price for this exhibition is 30 zloty (PLN), approximately €6.50.

Oriental Art: Ottoman Turkish Shops

This exhibition on Oriental Art is located on the second floor of the Castle, where you can admire carpets, silks, tapestries, weapons and armour, and much more. Highlights include a collection of trophies taken during the Battle of Vienna, and a collection of East Asian porcelain, which reflects 18th-century Europe’s fascination with Chinese and Japanese cultures.

Useful information

• Last admission to this exhibition is at 4.20 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
• The tour takes approximately 40 minutes.
• The standard admission price for this exhibition is 20 zloty (PLN), approximately €4.30.

The Lost Wawel

This exhibition officially opened in 1975 and aims to take visitors on a journey through the complete history of Kraków Castle. It includes a multimedia video area to make the visit more interactive. I would certainly recommend it to those with an interest in architecture and engineering. There is a section of the tour dedicated exclusively to the castle’s extensive collection of Renaissance tiles.

Useful information

• This exhibition is open on Mondays from 9.30 am to 1 pm. From Tuesday to Sunday, it is open until 5 pm, with last admission at 4.30 pm.
• The tour takes approximately 30 minutes.
• The standard admission price for this exhibition is 15 zloty (PLN), approximately €3.20.

Wawel Recovered

I highly recommend this one too, as it is an interactive exhibition that uses cutting-edge technology to showcase traditional works, architectural models and large-scale illuminated reproductions from the historical archive of Wawel Hill, spanning from the late 18th century to the 20th century.

Useful information

• This exhibition is also open on Mondays from 9.30 am to 1 pm. From Tuesday to Sunday, it is open until 5 pm, with last admission at 4.30 pm.
• The tour takes approximately 30 minutes.
• The standard admission price for this exhibition is 10 zloty (PLN), approximately €2.15.

Firstly, try to plan your visit in advance. Above all, because you can make the most of the day and visit other places of interest very close to Kraków Castle, such as:

• Wawel Cathedral.
• Archdiocesan Museum.
• St Andrew’s Church.
• The Kraków Archaeological Museum.

If you plan your visit and know which exhibitions you want to see at the Castle, I recommend buying your tickets online to avoid queues and make your tour as comfortable as possible.

I hope you enjoy this charming and historic place, which you simply must include in your visit. Kraków is a city to be savoured slowly, and it’s always a good idea to return. If you have at least a week to spend in Kraków, you’ll be able to explore this and many other places, such as the Kraków Salt Mines, or enjoy the best food tours in Kraków.