Wawel Royal Castle-State Art Collection is a national cultural institution The Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Hill constitute the most historically and culturally important site in Poland. For centuries the residence of kings and the symbol of Polish statehood, the castle is now one of the country’s premier art museums. Established in 1930, the museum encompasses ten curatorial departments responsible for collections of paintings, including an important collection of Italian Renaissance paintings; works on paper; sculpture; textiles, among them the Sigismund II Augustus tapestry collection; goldsmith’s work; arms and armor; ceramics, with significant holdings of Meissen porcelain; and period furniture. The museum’s holdings in Asian and Middle-Eastern art include the largest collection of Ottoman tents in Europe. For conservation reasons the tents are not on permanent display. The collections of the Wawel Royal Castle are presented in several permanent exhibitions that evoke the historic appearance of the royal residence in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
Instead of paying a flat admission fee, visitors can pick and choose the exhibitions they would like to see. From spring to mid-autumn, visitors can also descend into the Dragon’s Den, climb to the top of the Sandomierska Tower, and take a guided outdoor tour to learn about Wawel’s architecture and gardens. The museum mounts special temporary exhibitions and displays. The Wawel Royal Castle also hosts a lively program of events including symphonic and chamber music concerts and performances of opera and courtly dance.
wawel.krakow.pl| Day of the week | Opening hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday |  |
10:00 - 16:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:30 - 17:00 | |
| Wednesday | 09:30 - 17:00 | |
| Thursday | 09:30 - 17:00 | |
| Friday | 09:30 - 17:00 | |
| Saturday | 09:30 - 17:00 | |
| Sunday | 09:30 - 17:00 |
| Day of the week | Opening hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | |
10:00 - 16:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Friday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Holidays | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| 2025.04.20 (Sunday) | x |
| 2025.04.21 (Monday) | x |
| 2025.05.01 (Thursday) | x |
| 2025.05.03 (Saturday) | x |
| 2025.06.19 (Thursday) | x |
| Day of the week | Opening hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | |
10:00 - 16:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 18:00 | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 18:00 | |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 18:00 | |
| Friday | 09:00 - 18:00 | |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 18:00 | |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Holidays | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| 2025.08.15 (Friday) | x |
| Day of the week | Opening hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | |
10:00 - 16:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Friday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 17:00 | |
| Sunday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Holidays | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| 2025.11.01 (Saturday) | x |
| 2025.11.11 (Tuesday) | x |
| 2025.12.25 (Thursday) | x |
| 2025.12.26 (Friday) | x |
Detailed opening hours can be found on the cards of individual exhibitions.
MONDAY 9:30 am−1 pm
free admission − pick up a free admission ticket (at the ticket window)
TUESDAY−SUNDAY 9:30 am−7 pm
e-ticket platform » |
| Audioguide | |
|---|---|
| available for a fee on the Museum's devices | 12.00 PLN |
Detailed ticket prices can be found on the cards of individual exhibitions.
Wawel Castle from A to Z combined ticket for all available exhibitions sightseeing without a guide
tickets online: regular 151 PLN, reduced 101 PLN
The ticket is valid on the day of the visit only. Timed tickets are issued for most exhibitions. The entry time is printed on the ticket – please be punctual. The number of tickets available every day is limited.
| when? | name | where? | about what? | for free | for children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2024.10.25-2025.02.02 |
Arcydzieła z kolekcji Lanckorońskich. Odsłona druga Temporary exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
painting | yes | |
|
2024.09.21-2025.02.09 |
Niech żyje król! Temporary exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, city, fabrics | yes | |
|
2024.11.29-2025.03.02 |
OKO MALARZA. Tadeusz Kuntze Temporary exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
graphics and drawing, painting | ||
|
2024.02.16 |
Art of the Orient Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, fabrics, painting, sculpture, utility items, weapons and militaria | ||
|
Armoury Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
weapons and militaria | yes | ||
|
Crown Treasury Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, medals and badges, numismatic items, weapons and militaria | yes | ||
|
Ottoman Tukish Tents Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, fabrics, weapons and militaria | yes | ||
|
Royal Private Apartments Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, fabrics, interiors and everyday life, painting, sculpture | |||
|
State Rooms Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts, fabrics, interiors and everyday life, painting, sculpture | |||
|
The Lost Wawel Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
archeology, architecture, art crafts | yes | ||
|
Wawel Underground: The Lapidarium Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
architecture | yes | ||
|
Wnętrza dworu polskiego w wieku XIX Permanent exhibition
|
Dwór w Stryszowie Stryszów 508 34-146 Stryszów Małopolskie |
interiors and everyday life | yes | ||
|
Europejskie style i mody w sztuce Permanent exhibition
|
Muzeum na Zamku w Pieskowej Skale Sułoszowa 32-045 Sułoszowa Małopolskie |
fabrics, furniture, painting | |||
|
Kultura staropolska Permanent exhibition
|
Muzeum na Zamku w Pieskowej Skale Sułoszowa 32-045 Sułoszowa Małopolskie |
art crafts, painting, weapons and militaria | yes | ||
|
Gabinet porcelanowy Permanent exhibition
|
Wawel Royal Castle ul. Wawel 5 31-001 Kraków Małopolskie |
art crafts | yes | ||
|
Angielskie wnętrza z kolekcją obrazów Permanent exhibition
|
Muzeum na Zamku w Pieskowej Skale Sułoszowa 32-045 Sułoszowa Małopolskie |
painting |
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