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The State Rooms at Wawel Royal Castle

The State Rooms at Wawel Royal Castle: Our most recommended tours and activities

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, and Rynek Tour with Lunch

6. 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.

Kraków: Wawel Castle, Jewish Quarter, Wieliczka Salt Mine

7. Kraków: Wawel Castle, Jewish Quarter, Wieliczka Salt Mine

Day 1: Explore the Wawel Royal Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on Wawel Hill. Explore the castle's magnificent chambers graced with paintings from the Renaissance. See its collections of paintings, sculptures, military items, porcelain, and furniture. Stop for lunch at a local café. Next, visit the Rynek Underground Museum, a modern museum located underneath that Main Market Square and famously featuring 6,000 meters of multimedia exhibits depicting the city's history. Day 2: Visit Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter of Kraków. Walk along artistic streets home to independent galleries and vintage fashion boutiques. Learn about the history and heritage behind this part of the city from your guide. Enter Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory, now hosting two museums: the Museum of Contemporary Art and a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków. Broaden your understanding of Kraków's history with World War II and the life of Oskar Schindler. Stop for lunch at a local café. Later, head to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the oldest mines in the world and an extraordinary place full of secrets and legends. Stroll past magnificent chambers, countless corridors and see majestic salt sculptures.

Krakow: Skip-the-Line Tour of the Wawel Royal Castle

8. Krakow: Skip-the-Line Tour of the Wawel Royal Castle

Step inside the former residence of Polish royalty, Wawel Castle. With your guide, skip the lines and tour the royal residence which boasts a huge collection of paintings, sculptures, fabrics, and priceless furniture. Explore chambers within, which house the famous tapestries of Sigismund Augustus and various Italian Renaissance paintings. Travel back in time as you admire the permanent exhibitions that showcase Renaissance and Baroque decor. Learn about the historical figures who called this castle home and shaped Polish history from your guide. Continue on to the Wawel Cathedral and descend into the crypts.

Krakow: Wawel Castle & Cathedral Guided Tour

9. Krakow: Wawel Castle & Cathedral Guided Tour

Explore Krakow and the residence of Polish kings at the Royal Wawel Castle and the Gothic Wawel Cathedral with your expert guide. 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 the Wawel collections of Eastern art, that 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.

Krakow: Skip-the-Line Wawel Castle & Old Town Guided Tour

10. Krakow: Skip-the-Line Wawel Castle & Old Town Guided Tour

Discover the highlights of Krakow's history during this walking tour. Start with the top attraction in the city, the amazing Wawel Castle. First, have an opportunity to explore this fascinating castle from the outside, where you will see its most important points like defensive walls, Wawel Dragon, Wawel Cathedral and much more. Outside, your guide will treat you to information about this place and its history. After this introduction, step inside Castle Wawel which is even more impressive than its exterior. Explore the most important parts of the castle, including the royal staterooms. In addition to many precious monuments, the castle is also full of ancient paintings and stunning tapestries, which have been preserved from the interior's original decoration. Next, follow in the footsteps of the Kings of Poland as you explore the famous Royal Route from Wawel Hill to the Old Town. Get to the Main Market Square to admire the Gothic exterior of St. Mary's Basilica. Marvel at the decorative details of the historic Cloth Hall, where traveling merchants would meet to discuss business and barter their wares. Finally, pass one of the world's oldest universities, Jagiellonian University, and go to the green oasis of Planty Park, built on the site of the medieval city walls.

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What people are saying about The State Rooms at Wawel Royal Castle

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 1,300 reviews

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

Whirlwind tour was ideal for us. Our guide was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and very pleasant. Lots of fascinating facts and figures delivered with humour. Recommended.

Excellent tour. Particularly liked the archaeological aspect which was the second part . Lasted two hours in total. Great value for money . Would highly recommend.

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

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