Krakow Castle Tickets and Tours

If you’re passionate about history and intrigued by what lies behind these classic, regal buildings, Kraków Castle is a must-see during your visit to Kraków. Discover the history of its construction, from its beginnings during 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 Krakow, and you want to know how to explore it, keep reading 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 during your visit to Krakow.

The most comprehensive option

Krakow Wawel Castle Guided Tour

Discover Kraków's Castle and Cathedral

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

From $48 at Hellotickets

With this guided tour of Krakow Castle, you’ll explore Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral in depth, as well as their surroundings. Plus, you’ll have priority access, so you’ll skip the lines 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 designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You’ll also stroll through the Old Town and Kraków’s Main 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.

You have several options for purchasing tickets to Kraków Castle, in addition to the option of buying them online and planning 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 Center, which is open Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.
• At the Herbowa Gate, the most popular entrance to Wawel Hill. It is open from April to October from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Mondays) and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Tuesday through Sunday).
• You can purchase tickets online through the Castle’s official website, with the option to buy them 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 the ticket is valid only for the day of your visit.
• The Castle does not accept payments in foreign currency (euros or others). Payment must be made in zloty (PLN).

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

In addition, Kraków Castle also offers the option to purchase an audio guide at the Visitor Center (for an additional fee) or book 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 euros
• 3 exhibitions: 190 zloty (PLN) or approx. 40 euros
• 4 exhibitions: 240 zloty (PLN) or approx. 50 euros
• 5 shows: 290 zloty (PLN) or approx. 62 euros
• 6 screenings: 340 zloty (PLN) or approx. 73€
• 7 exhibitions: 390 zloty (PLN) or approx. €83

Kraków Castle is open daily:

• Monday: 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
• Tuesday through Sunday: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

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

Wawel 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 enough time.

The ticket categories available at Wawel Royal Castle are: regular, reduced, and complimentary. On the official Wawel Royal Castle website, you’ll find full details on who qualifies for reduced-price and complimentary tickets.

During your visit, you’ll be able to see permanent exhibitions, which I’ll tell you more about later. Additionally, the Castle 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 Krakow, the Krakow Tourist Card, which includes free admission to a variety of museums and tourist attractions in the city. Unfortunately, Krakow Castle is not included in 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 Krakow’s fascinating Jewish Quarter—a place where there’s plenty to see and do.

Wawel Royal Castle is located 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 transportation: Wawel and Stradom tram stops and Jubilat and Stradom bus stops.
• Bicycle: You’ll find places to park your bicycle at the castle entrance, as bicycles are not allowed on Wawel Hill.

Check for available parking near the Castle

Many travelers, especially Europeans, travel by car. If that’s the case for you, you’ll find parking available very close by. The nearest lot is at Plac na Groblach, just a 5-minute walk from the Castle. You can also find parking 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 at places like this. There’s nothing better than instilling a love for history, culture, and art from a young age. Although Kraków Castle doesn’t offer discounted family tickets, children under 7 enter for free regardless of the season.

The Castle also often organizes 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 kids.

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

The longest exhibitions are the State Rooms, which take up to 1 hour, and the tour of the outdoor gardens, courtyards, and St. Geron’s Church, which lasts 70 minutes. Other exhibitions range from 20 to 40 minutes, with the shortest being the visit to the Dragon’s Cave or Lair, which takes only about 10 minutes.

It will obviously depend on your availability. Since it’s an enclosed space, 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 stuffy, or you may have a harder time getting 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.

You have a variety of options when visiting Krakow Castle. This confirms that this is one of the best tours and excursions from Krakow. Let me tell you a little more about the permanent exhibitions you can’t miss:

State Rooms

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

Plus, I think this is one of the most comprehensive and ideal ticket options, as it gives you access to 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 hall. These consist of 4 halls on the first floor and 14 rooms on the second floor of the Palace.
• Last admission for this exhibition is at 4:00 PM from Tuesday to Sunday.
• The tour of the Royal Halls takes approximately 1 hour.
• The cost of a regular ticket for this exhibition is 30 zloty (PLN), approximately €6.50.

Oriental Art: Ottoman Turkish Shops

You’ll find this exhibition on Oriental Art on the second floor of the Castle, where you can admire carpets, silks, tapestries, weapons, armor, 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 for this exhibition is at 4:20 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
• The tour takes approximately 40 minutes.
• The cost of a regular ticket 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 definitely recommend it for those who appreciate 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 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. From Tuesday through Sunday, it is open until 5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m.
• The tour takes approximately 30 minutes.
• The regular admission price for this exhibition is 15 zloty (PLN), approximately €3.20.

Wawel Recovered

I highly recommend this one as well, 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 archives 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 1:00 PM. From Tuesday to Sunday, it is open until 5:00 PM, with last admission at 4:30 PM.
• The tour takes approximately 30 minutes.
• The regular admission price for this exhibition is 10 zloty (PLN), approximately €2.15.

First of all, try to plan your visit in advance. Above all, because you can take advantage of the opportunity to visit other attractions very close to Krakow Castle on the same day, such as:

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

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

I hope you enjoy this charming and historic place, which you must include in your itinerary. Kraków is a city to savor 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 sites, such as the Kraków Salt Mines, or enjoy the best food tours in Kraków.