Wawel Castle

One of the most recognisable symbols of Poland, this castle used to be the king's residence for hundreds of years. In 1993, it became a museum and a facility for restoring and conserving works of art.

This beautiful castle did not have it easy in the history of Poland. Surviving a huge fire that destroyed the northeast part and being abandoned in 1606 (after the king moved the capital to Warsaw), the castle started deteriorating uncontrollably. During the Swedish Occupation in Poland, there was another fire that destroyed the building once again. The royal insignia residing there were stolen, too.

After the Austrian army gave it back to Poles, they restored it from military quarters into a museum. Today, it consists of 6 "chambers", one of which is the famous Dragon's Den, the most famous cave in Poland. It is said that a dragon well-known in Polish folklore lived there.

You must leave your luggage and strollers in the checkroom. Bicycles and big luggage are not permitted on the property. The castle is on a hill, so plan ahead if that raises concern. It takes about 10-15 minutes of walking from the Main Square to get here.