Museum · Krakow
Wawel Royal Castle: free entry days, tickets & hours
Independent guide, not the official Wawel Castle website. Official links are under Sources.
Wawel Castle is next free on Monday, 26 October 2026 (in 2 days).
- Mondays in October and December: free Castle Second Floor and Crown Treasury.
- Also free: children under 7.
- Otherwise: one castle route (First Floor or Second Floor), regular, PLN — zł 57.
- Free pass required: at the ticket offices on the day (8:45-16:00) or online up to one week ahead (Mondays: ticket office only). Max 5 tickets per person; limited numbers.
Calendar
Free days at Wawel Castle
- MON26OCTMonday, 26 October 2026 · in 2 days · 10:00–16:00
- MON2NOVMonday, 2 November 2026 · in 9 days · 09:00–17:00
- TUE3NOVTuesday, 3 November 2026 · in 10 days · 09:00–17:00
- WED4NOVWednesday, 4 November 2026 · in 11 days · 09:00–17:00
- THU5NOVThursday, 5 November 2026 · in 12 days · 09:00–17:00
- FRI6NOVFriday, 6 November 2026 · in 13 days · 09:00–17:00
33 free days for everyone in the next 12 months. Closures and public holidays are already taken out. Group-only days need proof of eligibility.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Free November: selected exhibitions free all month (Castle Second Floor, Castle Underground; Mondays Castle First Floor): Free pass required: at the ticket offices on the day (8:45-16:00) or online up to one week ahead (Mondays: ticket office only). Max 5 tickets per person; limited numbers.
- Mondays in October and December: free Castle Second Floor and Crown Treasury: Pick up a free admission ticket at the ticket office; number limited.
- Free for children under 7: Pick up a free admission ticket at the ticket window.
- November is the cheapest month: the State Rooms and the underground routes are free with a free pass.
- Free passes run out - get to the ticket office early, especially on Mondays.
- Walking the hill and the Arcaded Courtyard needs no ticket.
- Kids under 7 are free but still need a ticket from the window.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free dayFree November: selected exhibitions free all month (Castle Second Floor, Castle Underground; Mondays Castle First Floor) · 09:00–17:00 | everyone | Tue-Sun 9:00-17:00: Castle Second Floor (State Rooms, Ottoman Tents, incl. temporary shows on Anna Jagiellon, Bernini from 6 Nov, Vermeer from 27 Nov) and Castle Underground. Mondays 10:00-16:00: Castle First Floor only. 11 Nov: only Second Floor and Armoury, 9:00-17:00, tickets online only. Crown Treasury, Armoury and First Floor (Tue-Sun) stay paid. Not for organised groups. | Yes |
| Free dayMondays in October and December: free Castle Second Floor and Crown Treasury · 10:00–16:00 | everyone | Castle Second Floor (State Rooms, Ottoman Turkish Tents; last entry 15:10) and Crown Treasury (last entry 15:20). Individual visitors only. Rules for January 2027 onwards not yet published. | Yes |
| Free forFree for children under 7 | children under 7 | A 4th child aged 7-18 in a family also gets free admission. | Yes |
Official prices
Wawel Castle ticket prices
| One castle route (First Floor or Second Floor), regular, PLN — Reduced 43 PLN. Combined 1st + 2nd floor 95/71 PLN. Each exhibition is ticketed separately; Crown Treasury and Armoury 47/35 PLN each. | zł 57 |
| Castle 1st + 2nd floor combined ticket, incl. audio guide (reduced 71 PLN) | zł 95 |
| Crown Treasury (reduced 35 PLN) | zł 47 |
| The Armoury (reduced 35 PLN) | zł 47 |
| 'Wawel for Enthusiasts' all-exhibitions ticket (reduced 149 PLN) | zł 199 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (one castle route (first floor or second floor), regular, pln). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Wawel Castle
Guided tourKrakow: Wawel Castle & Cathedral Guided Tour★★★★★ 4.7 · 2.9k reviews1.5 - 2 hoursfrom zł 237.73
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Skip-the-line ticketWawel Castle Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Optional Exhibitions★★★★☆ 4.4 · 749 reviewsfrom zł 77.04
Guided tourKrakow: Wawel Castle Guided Tour with Entry Tickets★★★★☆ 4.4 · 420 reviews1 - 2 hoursfrom zł 149
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Guided tourWawel Castle & Cathedral Guided Tour with Old Town Sightseeing by Golf Cart★★★★☆ 4.1 · 322 reviewsfrom zł 280
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
Exhibitions (Oct-Dec 2026): Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-17:00, Monday 10:00-16:00 (selected exhibitions only). Castle closed 1 Nov 2026; reduced opening on 11 Nov. Wawel Hill grounds open daily from 6:00 until dusk; Arcaded Courtyard from 7:00 until 30 min before the gates close.
Wawel 5, 31-001 Kraków, Poland
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FAQ
Wawel Castle: common questions
Is Wawel Castle free?
Wawel Castle is free for everyone november: selected exhibitions free all month (Castle Second Floor, Castle Underground; Mondays Castle First Floor) and mondays in October and December: free Castle Second Floor and Crown Treasury. Also free: children under 7. Otherwise the official ticket costs zł 57.
Who gets free entry to Wawel Castle?
Children under 7 — a 4th child aged 7-18 in a family also gets free admission..
Do I need to book for free entry to Wawel Castle?
Free pass required: at the ticket offices on the day (8:45-16:00) or online up to one week ahead (Mondays: ticket office only). Max 5 tickets per person; limited numbers.
How much is a ticket to Wawel Castle?
One castle route (First Floor or Second Floor), regular, PLN costs zł 57 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Wawel Castle
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Sources
Where this comes from
- wawel.krakow.pl/en/free-november-2026 · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- wawel.krakow.pl/en/what-to-see · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- wawel.krakow.pl/en/common-questions · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- wawel.krakow.pl/swieta-bozego-narodzenia-i-nowy-rok
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.