Wawel Royal Castle (Royal Palace Krakow)

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The Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, Poland, is an important part of the Wawel complex and one of the most important royal residences in Europe. It served as the seat of the Polish kings for centuries (Krakow was the capital of Poland until around 1600) and is now a museum. Highlights include famous works of art, great furniture and old royal halls and rooms.

The Royal Castle of Krakow is also often referred to as the Wawel Royal Palace or simply the palace. The castle is on the Wawel Hill in the center of Krakow along with other famous buildings, such as the Wawel Cathedral, the most important church in Poland with the famous Sigismund Bell.

Wawel Castle Tours: We recommend booking one or more tours of Krakow’s large castle and cathedral. Guided tours are inexpensive if booked online in advance. You can book the tours using this link

Visitor information for the Wawel Royal Palace

Opening times: The Royal Castle in Krakow on Wawel Hill is usually open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only on Mondays are the opening times shorter – only until 1 p.m.

Admission prices: Many things in the Royal Palace in Krakow cost extra to enter. This has the advantage that you only have to look at and pay for what you want to see. The individual admission prices are not too high, but they add up if you want to see a lot. In the Royal Castle, for example, adults can enter the Royal Chambers for 30 zloty (around 7 euros), the Treasury for 30 zloty and the Armory for 20 zloty. If you also go to the cathedral next door, the Dragon’s Cave, etc., you can easily spend over 20 euros in admission fees per person.

Visitor highlights of Wawel Royal Castle

Royal Chambers: This is where Polish kings lived and ruled, especially in the Middle Ages. These rooms are now rich in tapestries, paintings and historical furniture – a great sight to see. Much of it is in the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.

Throne Room and Banquet Hall: These rooms were used for official receptions, audiences and celebrations.

Wawel Museum: The museum houses a collection of valuable artifacts, including paintings, furniture, jewelry and armor. Among the paintings: Leonardo da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine”, the most famous work of art in Wawel Royal Palace. Other attractions in Krakow’s Royal Castle include the Armory, the Treasury and exhibitions such as the “Art of the East”.

Other articles in this travel guide about the Wawel complex:

Wawel Hill (overview of buildings and sights)
Wawel Cathedral
Dragon’s Cave Krakow
Sigismund Bell Wawel