Travelling to Krakow as a multigenerational group (grandparents, parents, kids) and wondering how best to visit Wawel Castle. I know the grounds are free so will spend some time walking around there and see the dragon in the back but what indoor exhibits are most worthwhile? The kids love armories so we will definitely do that but trying to decide on 1-2 things beyond that (unfortunately the dragon's den will not be open yet for the season so that is out). Considering floor 1 + the cathedral (which I recognize is separate), but would appreciate any recommendations from those who have BTDT. Has anyone taken the "Most Precious" guided tour? It's around 2hrs and would save me from having to make decisions (haha) and provide some structure to the visit but also appears to cover a lot of ground so am curious how it is, if it felt too rushed, etc. Is the cathedral a must if we're also planning to visit St. Mary's Basilica? Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Canada
63 posts
I didn't explore the castle grounds beyond the free entry areas though I did visit the cathedral. I had visited St. Mary's Basilica a few days prior and while personally I would say the interior of St. Mary's was more striking, Wawel Cathedral was certainly still worth seeing in my opinion. Several points of interest inside including the tomb of King Kazimierz. One thing to keep in mind is photography is allowed in St. Mary's Basilica but not Wawel Cathedral with a few exceptions such as the bell tower.
Hopefully others can provide some insight about the castle grounds.
Posted by
Ashburn VA
1055 posts
We spent the day at Wawel last June. We move slowly, and spent a good 5 or 6 hours there, seeing everything. It was busy, but not swamped with people. The cathedral is worth it, but as another members said, there are no photos allowed, which I found curious. We asked why, but no one could explain that. Considering his place in Polish history, the tomb of King Kazmierz (Casius IV) was the highlight of the Cathedral, I think. There are a couple of nice places to stop for a drink or dessert on the grounds. We didn't take tours of the cathedral or the castle, preferring just to wander around at our own speed and we were satisfied with that. I can see where the tour would help you narrow your visit down to the 'must-sees' and if you're short on time, I think that would be a good way to go if you have no problems keeping up with a group and can hear well enough with some commotion around the group of 20 or so. The complex is a pretty big place to cover in a couple of hours. Sorry to say it, but to me, the gardens were a disappointment. First of all, it's a steep walk down. Having my husband in a wheelchair, all I can say is thank god we ran into a group of Irish footballers who delighted in picking up the chair and carrying him back up the hill. It was quite the sight. The trip down the hill and back up were the highlights there. The gardens were small, dull, and not particularly well laid-out or planted. For me, it wasn't worth the walk down and up again. But I'd definitely still go to Wawel; just skip the Royal Garden.