Wawel Cathedral: Skip the Line Ticket with Audio Guide

Although St. Mary's Church may be the most characteristic of Krakow, and the church of St. Wojciech may be the oldest, nothing beats the rank of the Wawel Cathedral. It was here that almost every Polish king and queen were crowned throughout history, and it is here that they rest in peace. The cathedral is also home to Zygmunt’s Bell (Sigismund Bell Tower), named after King Sigismund I, and still tolls on special occasions including national and religious holidays.

Apart from its striking beauty, Wawel Cathedral also forms a large part of Polish history.

It was here that Karol Wojtyła, who later became Pope John Paul II, preached. You’ll get to learn more about this when you visit the John Paul II Cathedral Museum. The crypts beneath the Wawel Cathedral hold the tombs of 17 Polish kings, as well as generals and revolutionaries. This includes political figures such as General Sikorski, Piłsudski, and Kosciuszko, and romantic country prophets like Mickiewicz, Słowacki, and Norwid. What’s more, the bone of the Wawel Dragon hangs in front of the entrance. It is said that the world will come to its end when the bones drop to the ground here.

The altar of St. Stanisław is considered sacred by the Poles. People prayed here for the freedom of their country and thanksgiving for all its triumphs. It was here that King Władysław Jagiełło hung the banners of the Teutonic Knights he triumphantly seized during the Battle of Grunwald, and king Jan III Sobieski left here a Turkish banner seized after the victorious Battle of Vienna.