Wawel Cathedral

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Wawel Cathedral (Katedra Wawelska), officially known as the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas, is one of the most famous religious and historical sites in Poland. The cathedral on Wawel Hill in Krakow was the coronation site of many Polish kings and is the final resting place for several monarchs, national heroes and saints. The church is considered the most important church in Catholic Poland and is a top attraction in Krakow. It is one of the main buildings in the large, central Wawel Castle, and next to the large main square, Wawel Castle is the most important attraction in Krakow.

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

Information for visitors to Wawel Cathedral

Entry prices:
Cathedral and chapels: included
Royal tombs, Sigismund Bell and Cathedral Museum: entrance ticket
Adults: 21 PLN (5-6 euros) in 2024. That’s not much, but you pay admission for several things in Wawel Castle, not just the church.
Reduced price (students, seniors, etc.): about 16 zloty

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: usually 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sundays and public holidays: 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., as there is a church service on Sunday mornings, in winter the castle cathedral is usually only open until 4 p.m.

Important: Visiting the cathedral on Wawel Hill is extremely popular among Poles and foreign tourists. It’s better to come when it’s not so busy. This is especially the case during weekday mornings.

Guided tours:
Guided tours are offered in several languages ​​for groups and individuals.
Audio guides can be rented.
Clothing: No bare shoulders or shorts.
Taking photographs in Wawel Cathedral: Photography is prohibited inside the cathedral, especially in the chapels and the royal tombs.

Important sights in Wawel Cathedral

Main altar and surroundings

The main altar, a beautiful Gothic structure, is the central focus of the cathedral. Behind it is the presbytery, where the cathedral’s most sacred relics are kept.

Royal tombs

While walking through the cathedral’s crypts, visitors can see the tombs of Polish kings and queens. One of the highlights of a visit to Wawel Castle, especially for Polish visitors.

Among others, you can see the sarcophagi of:
King Władysław II Jagiełło and Queen Jadwiga of Poland
King Casimir III the Great
King Sigismund I the Old and Sigismund II Augustus
National heroes such as Józef Piłsudski and the poet Adam Mickiewicz.

Sigismund Bell (Dzwon Zygmunt)

The massive 16th century bell, weighing almost 13 tons, is one of the most significant treasures of the Basikika. It rings only on a few holidays and can be viewed up close by climbing the church tower. The most famous bell in all of Poland.

Chapel of Saint Stanislaus (Kaplica Sw. Stanisława)

Dedicated to Saint Stanislaus, the patron saint of the country of Poland, the chapel houses his 11th century silver sarcophagus.

Sigismund Chapel (Kaplica Zygmuntowska)

The second very important chapel in Wawel Church is Sigismund Chapel, one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Poland. It is a royal chapel built for King Sigismund I the Old (1467-1548). It is notable for its golden dome and Italianate design.

Wawel Crypts

The cellars (crypts) of the Wawel Basilica are also very famous in Poland. The cathedral is home to several crypts where important Polish figures are buried. The most important tombs include monarchs, national leaders, artists and national heroes such as Pilsudski and Mickiewicz.

Wawel Cathedral Museum

The museum is located on the grounds of the cathedral and displays religious and royal artifacts, manuscripts and textiles from the cathedral’s history. The museum’s treasures also include items from other parts of Wawel Castle, including the Smocza Jama (Dragon’s Cave), a cave beneath Wawel Hill.

Tomb of President Lech Kaczynski

The Polish president, who died in the 2010 Smolensk air disaster in Russia, is buried in the cathedral’s crypt along with his wife.

Chapel of the Silver Cross (Kaplica Srebrnych Krzyzy)

This chapel has an altar with a silver cross and contains relics of various saints.

Tombs of Polish Kings

The cathedral contains monumental sarcophagi of several monarchs, whose artistic design reflects the various art periods from Gothic to Baroque. A highlight of a visit to Wawel Cathedral. Around 16 kings of Poland have their graves in the cathedral, along with other important figures in Polish history such as poets, presidents and national heroes.

Coronation of kings in the cathedral

From 1320 onwards, almost all Polish kings were crowned here in this church in Krakow. The impressive coronation chair, an old Gothic relic, still stands in the Wawel Basilica.

Architecture Wawel Cathedral

A great mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The cathedral was built in the 14th century, in the Gothic style, and was extensively renovated several times during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Other articles in this guide about the Wawel complex:

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