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Krakow Castle & palace tours

Our most recommended Krakow Castle & palace tours

Krakow: Wawel Castle & Cathedral Guided Tour

1. Krakow: Wawel Castle & Cathedral Guided Tour

Step into history with a guided tour of the former residence of Polish kings and a symbol of statehood, Wawel Castle. Discover the castle, which became a museum in 1930, and hosts a vast collection of paintings, graphics, sculptures, fabrics, goldsmiths, military items, porcelain, and furniture. See inside the chambers that display the famous tapestries of Zygmunt August and the magnificent renaissance Italian paintings from the Lanckoronski collection. Explore the Wawel collections of eastern art, one of the largest and most important collections of tents in Europe. Learn all about how the castle is also an important center for the conservation of art. Feel like you’re walking back through time as you discover the permanent exhibitions which decorated the way they would have been during the renaissance and baroque periods.

Krakow: Wawel Hill Audioguide Tour

2. Krakow: Wawel Hill Audioguide Tour

After collecting your audioguide at the local Tourist Information Centre, listen to the commentary as you walk along Kanonicza Street to the Wawel Hill. Wawel has been the monarch’s residency from the 11th century and is also the site where Polish royals were crowned and buried.  Once you've arrived at the Royal Castle, hear about the role of each building, and the stories behind them. You will learn about the history of Main Courtyard, the Arcaded Courtyard, as well as the Crown Treasury and Armory. End the tour at the famous Dragon’s Den.

Krakow: Wawel Castle Guided Tour with Entry Tickets

3. Krakow: Wawel Castle Guided Tour with Entry Tickets

Wawel Castle was the residence of the royal family of Poland till 1795. It is a source of great Polish pride and stands as one of the most spectacular buildings on the top of Wawel Hill.  During your tour of the castle, you will get the chance to witness the grandeur of Poland’s past as you pass through the magnificent halls of the castle. Presently, the castle also houses a museum that includes beautiful artifacts preserved from the historic times when kings and queens ruled the country. During your tour, you may also visit the Royal private apartments adorned with exquisite tapestries, paintings, and chandeliers.  The castle serves as a premier art museum and also includes an Oriental Art section with the largest collection of Ottoman tents on the European continent. This 14th-century castle built by King Casimir II the Great was at the top of its opulence in the 16th century when King Sigismund the Old commissioned the castle to be expanded and built into what it looks like today. Once you are in the castle, you will be transported into the era of kings and queens as your guide shares information about the royals who once lived in the castle and the myths surrounding this beautiful place. You may also get to see the Wawel exhibition, which displays objects uncovered during archaeological excavations around the region. It also includes scale models of buildings and other architectural elements.  Wawel Castle is recognized as a Unesco World Heritage site and is known to have immense cultural and historical significance in Poland.

Krakow: Wawel Castle Crown Treasury & Royal Armoury

4. Krakow: Wawel Castle Crown Treasury & Royal Armoury

Discover the rich heritage of Polish Kings and Queens on this guided tour of the Crown Treasury at Wawel Castle, in Krakow. Choose from a tour with or without a ticket to the Royal Armory. Save time with skip-the-line access to the Treasury.  Meet your licensed guide outside the castle and bypass line to visit the Crown Treasury. Uncover magnificent works of art, crown jewels, orbs, and more. Admire royal decorations of honor, including the mantle of the Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit, and rare jewelry collections. Next, visit the Royal Armoury on a self-guided tour (if you have chosen that option). Explore its collection of richly decorated weapons, donated to Polish kings by medieval rulers from across Europe. See the original famous winged Polish Hussars’ armor and weapons. Take in the exquisite gun exhibits of rifles, arquebuses, patrinals, and pistols from medieval European factories. View the most valuable collection of barrels in the country bearing the coats of arms of Polish kings, hetmans, and noblemen.

Krakow: Wawel Royal Hill Guided Tour

5. Krakow: Wawel Royal Hill Guided Tour

Join a guided tour of the Wawel Royal Hill, one of the most important hills in Poland. This was where Polish kings and queens reigned over Poland. Your guide will tell you about the secrets of the royals and show you the most important places within Wawel Hill.  After meeting your guide, you will pass by the most expensive hotel in Cracow, which has hosted HRH Prince Charles and President Bush. You are then going to stop by the house of Jan Długosz, the legendary Polish historian, from where you will have a magnificent view over Wawel Hill. Then, start to go uphill, passing through the Arms Gate, and stopping by the monument to Tadeusz Kościuszko, one of the most important Polish heroes. Walk past the entrance to the Wawel Cathedral. Continue in the direction of the center of Wawel hill and the medieval courtyard, and head to the Austrian Hospital, from where you will be able to see a beautiful panorama of Krakow. You are then going to pass by Sandomierska Tower and go downhill through the Bernardyńska Gate, eventually leading to the cave of the Wawel Dragon. 

Krakow: Wawel Castle & Cathedral Guided Tour

6. Krakow: Wawel Castle & Cathedral Guided Tour

See all that magnificent things with an expert local guide. Explore the residence of Polish kings at the Royal Wawel Castle, becoming one of the most important museums in Poland since 1930. See a vast collection of paintings, graphics, sculptures, fabrics, goldsmiths, military items, porcelain, and furniture, recreating the appearance of the rooms from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Visit the Royal chambers that display the famous tapestries of Zygmunt August and magnificent Renaissance Italian paintings from the Lanckoronski collection. See also the Wawel collections of Eastern art contain the most important, and largest collection of tents in Europe. Get entrance to the Wawel Cathedral and admire the Gothic structure that was once a sanctuary where Polish monarchs were crowned.

From Krakow: Trail of the Eagles’ Nests Day Tour

7. From Krakow: Trail of the Eagles’ Nests Day Tour

Be picked up at 9:00 AM from your accommodation in Krakow. Your route runs through the closer surroundings of Krakow. See, among other sights, the castle in Korzkiew. Also, pass through a fragment of the picturesque Ojców National Park. Get an unforgettable experience at the castle in Pieskowa Skała and Hercules Club nearby. In the castle, visit the courtyard and the observation tower. Next, visit the ruins of the castles in Rabsztyn and Ogrodzieniec, which have been adapted for tourists. The monumental nature of the buildings and views from the towers provide extraordinary impressions. The huge ruins of the castle in Ogrodzieniec have recently gained popularity thanks to the series "The Witcher". On the way to the magnificent castle in Ogrodzieniec, make a stop at the viewpoint next to the only desert in Europe - the Błędowska Desert. Your final 2 attractions are located next to each other. These are castles in Mirów and Bobolice. The last one has been rebuilt in recent years and made open to the public. After the tour, you will be back in Krakow by late afternoon.

Krakow: Wawel Castle, Cathedral, and Rynek Tour with Lunch

8. Krakow: Wawel Castle, Cathedral, and Rynek Tour with Lunch

Visit some of historic Krakow’s main attractions on this guided day tour. Start at Rynek, the central market square of the Old Town. Visit its underground Dungeon Market Historical and Archaeological Museum. After a full lunch of Polish delicacies, you'll explore the Wawel Castle and Cathedral. Your tour kicks off at the central square of Royal Krakow. Wander one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and learn about its past from your guide. Then, venture four meters underground to the Dungeon Market Museum, to walk at the same level as the cobbled roads of 12-13th century Krakow. Next, explore the residence of Polish Kings at the Royal Wawel Castle. See its collections of art, lavish fabrics, military items, and priceless furniture up close. Marvel at the famous tapestries of Zygmunt August and Renaissance paintings from the Lanckoronski collection in the Royal chambers. Finally, you’ll step into the impressive gothic Wawel Cathedral, where Polish monarchs throughout history have been crowned.

Ojców National Park and Pieskowa Skała Castle From Kraków

9. Ojców National Park and Pieskowa Skała Castle From Kraków

Enjoy pick-up from your hotel in Kraków and travel to the beautiful Ojców National Park. Discover the picturesque landscape as you learn about its history, architecture, and geology on a guided tour. Experience breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.  Journey through the Pradnik Valley and by the Pieskowa Skała limestone cliffs, viewing natural features of the ancient Jurassic landscape. Visit Pieskowa Skala Castle, Poland's masterpiece of Renaissance palace architecture. Take the chance to stop at the St. Florian's Gate, the Club of Hercules and the Little Church on the Water, a combination of natural and man made sites, as you experience the culture and history of this fascinating country. 

Ojcow National Park: Full-Day Trip from Krakow

10. Ojcow National Park: Full-Day Trip from Krakow

This 7-hour excursion to Ojcow National Park begins at 09:00 in the center of Krakow, or at your accommodation in the city center. Your adventure starts in Czajowice, where you’ll find the large limestone cave known as Grota Lokietka. Marvel at the sparkling stalactites and the 2 grand chambers of the famous cave. Hike through the dense woods and among the rocks to the imposing Krakow Gate rock formation. At this point, you’ll be in the center of the park, where the Gothic castle ruins lie waiting to be explored. Next, your bus will take you to Pieskowa Skala, the dramatic limestone cliff with its own, well-preserved castle. Tour this impressive Polish Renaissance property, and stop for photos at the oddly shaped boulder known as Hercules’ Club nearby.

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What people are saying about Krakow

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 1,057 reviews

Buena atencion

We booked this activity when we had a couple of spare hours the first day we arrived in Krakow with the hope that we would be able to see lots of the city. This activity was perfect for that and using the segways just made it more fun! Our guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic and we had a great time!

Great experience, Marta our guide was brilliant. We visited the armoury and treasury. A lot of history, definitely worth visiting. The tour was very well organised and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn a little bit more about Polish history

Really adorable lady that spent the day with us… that actually knows Polish cultura and history… everything explained with detail

Christof was one of the best tour guides I've ever had. Knowledgeable, funny and really dedicated. Time and money well spent!

Very interesting tour and so much beautiful historic artefacts and buildings to see.