Do you have to pay to enter Wawel Castle? Is it free?

Kraków is associated with many tourist attractions, although in reality, there are few of them. In fact, the only world-class attraction in Kraków is Wawel Castle. The castle, located on the hill of the same name, attracts nearly 4 million people. Do you have to pay to enter Wawel? Is Wawel Castle a free attraction to visit? What can you see for free?

When Kraków residents say “Wawel,” they actually mean several separate things. The first is the Royal Castle on Wawel –  Wawel Royal Castle National Art Collection, the second is Wawel Cathedral (one of the most important churches in Poland), and the third is the Wawel Hill area. Is each of these things paid? Is it free to visit?

Free entry to Wawel Hill

No fee is charged for entering the Wawel Hill area, where the Wawel Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral are located. Strolling around Wawel Hill is one of the greatest attractions when it comes to walking around Kraków. From the hill, you can enjoy a view of the Vistula River flowing through Kraków and the surrounding area, including the Dębniki district and even the Kościuszko Mound.

No fees are charged for entering Wawel Hill. Additionally, entry to the famous arcaded courtyard of Wawel Castle is also free. While strolling around Wawel Hill, you can notice various interesting free attractions.

What is paid at Wawel?

At Wawel, there are two major paid attractions, which are among the most important tourist attractions in all of Poland: the state-run Wawel Royal Castle Museum and one of the most important churches in Poland, the Wawel Cathedral.

Wawel Cathedral, which belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, is a separate entity. To visit Wawel Cathedral, tickets are sold at the ticket office in front of the cathedral (different from the one selling tickets to the Castle) and, unlike tickets to the Royal Castle, you don’t really need to pre-book.

As it is a church of the Roman Catholic Church, admission to prayer for the faithful is of course free. Attendance at Mass is, of course, also free. There is a fee for visiting the church, for entering the crypts where the rulers of Poland and the most eminent representatives of our nation are buried, and also for entering the tower on which the most important bell in Poland, the Sigismund Bell, hangs.

Is admission to Wawel Hill paid?

Do you have to pay to enter Wawel Castle? f you are thinking about admission to Wawel Hill, admission to the hill is not paid. Entrance to the hill is free, the hill is closed for the night.

The paid attractions on Wawel Hill are two separate entities with two separate ticketing systems, i.e. the collections of the state museum Wawel Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral. It’s best to book Wawel Castle tickets in advance. You can get tickets to the cathedral on the spot.

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