The Wawel Cathedral (Polish: Katedra Wawelska), formally titled the Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus, is a Roman Catholic cathedral situated on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. Nearly 1000 years old, it is part of the Wawel Castle Complex and is a national sanctuary which served as the coronation site of Polish monarchs.
The current Gothic cathedral is the third edifice on this site; the first was constructed and destroyed in the 11th century and the second one, constructed in the 12th century, was destroyed by a fire in 1305. The construction of the existing church began in the 14th century on the orders of Bishop Nanker. Over time, the building was expanded by successive rulers resulting in its versatile and eclectic architectural composition. There are examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical and Neogothic elements in the Cathedral's façade and interior. The exterior is adorned by side chapels and representative mausoleums, most notable being the golden-domed Sigismund's Chapel.
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | 12:30 – 4:00 PM |
Sandra Thompson | Mar 15, 201810
Loved the architecture from the outside, but once inside it was amazing. The different chapels were lavish in colour and style. The Royal tombs are a must see too. The highlight was the climb up the bell tower to see the bells, the view from the top is amazing. Definitely a must see on your visit to Krakow.
Jessica Nicole | May 2, 201810
The interior and exterior of the cathedral are equally beautiful! The cathedral is well maintained and contains lovely art and relics inside. I highly recommend visiting here
Graham Aley | Apr 27, 20188.0
Situated next to the castle contains the Sigismund Bell and the crypt where past kings and most valiant soldiers are interred. We paid for an audio guide and access to all these areas. The audio guide is really good and ensures you have time to reach the next point of note by pausing before continuing. Apart from tombs and crypts are exhibitions containing regal regalia and military morsels.
Andreas Adamsen | Mar 19, 201810
Beautiful church! Remember to visit the crypts, and see the location where Pope John Paul II held said very first mass! This is the same crypt where Jan III Sobieski - who is sometimes spoken of as the saviour of Europe, because of his role in the 1683 Battle of Vienna - is buried!
evan shields | Apr 14, 201810
The cathedral is amazing and it's worth paying the extra zlotys to climb the bell tower. Great view of the city and a fun experience!
Ilya Bunimovich | Jun 26, 20182.0
I bought a ticket via Viator and it clearly stated that either an electronic or printed voucher is accepted. But the woman working the Kasa (cashier) would not accept an electronic ticket, and was rude and unhelpful. She said it must be printed. I had to pay again to get another ticket. Viator is a RIP-OFF. Will never buy again.
Felix Yang | May 30, 201810
By no mean a big cathedral, but it sure is gorgeous. The tomb is the resting place for a lot of Polish historical figures.
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