REGULATIONS FOR THE TICKET SALES  AND EXHIBITION TOURS AT THE WAWEL ROYAL CASTLE

1. Access to permanent and temporary exhibitions presented on the grounds of the Wawel Royal Castle – State Art Collections is provided according to the rules and during the hours established by the Institution.
2. Detailed information about the availability of the permanent and temporary exhibitions presented in the Castle, the exhibitions that are temporarily closed, tours, special events, the guiding and educational offers as well as the opening hours, ticket prices and the designated day of the week when  selected exhibitions can be visited free of charge is presented on the website www.wawel.krakow.pl, at the ticket offices, information desk and  booking office. 
3. The day of free admission applies to a selection of permanent exhibitions made available on a regular basis. Visitors collect free tickets for a specific hour at the ticket office, according to a set limit. No ticket reservations will be accepted for this day, and only individual tours without a guide are allowed . It is possible to organise museum lessons on this day. On this day, no charge applies only to entrance tickets to the permanent exhibitions available seasonal and temporary exhibitions,  guided tours, museum lessons and special events can be made available for a fee. The Wawel Royal Castle (WRC) reserves the right to change the day of the week on which free tours are available to another day.
4. Exhibitions and other WRC events are subject to daily or hourly admission limits – restrictions on the number of people present at a given  exhibition at any one time, the number of tickets for the day and the size of visitor groups, determined on the basis of conservation requirements and safety rules. Detailed information on visitor group limits is available at the Information Desk and at the booking office.
5. Children under the age of 13 are only allowed in the WRC when accompanied by an adult. Minors are the responsibility of their parents or guardians.
6. The staff of the WRC may refuse to serve visitors whose behaviour indicates that they are under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances, or who behave aggressively or in a manner that is not in accordance with the rules of social life and the regulations in force.
7. The WRC is not responsible for tickets sold through intermediaries and does not guarantee entry to the exhibition without valid WRC tickets.

1. Visiting  exhibitions take place on the basis of valid tickets, which can be purchased at the WRC ticket offices, at the booking office (booked together with the guide service, or as part of a museum lesson or event), in the online shop at: www.bilety.wawel.krakow.pl and to a limited extent in ticket vending machines. Sales at the ticket offices and in the vending machines take place on the day of the tour, and at other locations on the day of the tour or another selected day, according to the advance set by the Institution for each sales channel.
2. Temporary sales of tickets, services and products (e.g. brochures), are possible at other ticket points, such as information or reception. However, it is a supplementary sale, limited as to what is on offer and what can be purchased. Only additional ticket sales or sales for special events are available at these venues.
3. The purchase of tickets and reservations for events are subject to availability.
4. The fees for tickets and services are set out in the price list available on the WRC website, in the online ticket shop, at the Information Desk and in the Institution's ticket office area and booking office.
5. The cash desk accepts payment in Polish zloty (PLN) and accepts selected payment cards.
6. Visitors are obliged to indicate their wish to receive an invoice before the start of the sale. In the event that the need for a VAT invoice is notified at a later date than the time of purchase, the WRC will issue a VAT invoice within the time limits in accordance with the applicable legislation (if the contractor is not an individual, an invoice will be issued provided that a receipt with Tax Identification Number (NIP) is available). 
7. In addition to payment, the ticket office of the booking office accepts WRC vouchers, which are exchanged for tickets to WRC exhibitions:
   a)      The voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of issue for permanent exhibitions and until the day before the closing date for temporary or seasonal exhibitions.
   b)      The voucher entitles the holder only to tickets for the exhibition or exhibitions indicated in  the voucher.
   c)      The voucher  covers only the exhibition for which it was  issued. It is not exchangeable for cash or other tours offered by the Wawel Royal Castle.
   d)      The voucher must be exchanged for a ticket for an exhibition or tour in accordance with the timetable for a particular exhibition or tour available on the website wawel.krakow.pl.
   e)      If you wish to exchange your voucher for a ticket, the voucher bearer is obliged, no later than the day before the day of the visit, to register the date of the visit at the booking office, by calling 12 4221697, by sending an e-mail to: rezerwacja@wawelzamek.pl or in person. On the day of the visit, the bearer is obliged to present the original voucher and confirmation of the visit date request to the booking office. These form the basis for the issuing of an exhibition ticket.
8. On the free admission day, tickets are issued only at the ticket offices at the indicated times until the daily ticket limit is exhausted, but it is also possible for the WRC to make them available through other distribution channels.
9. The ticket is valid only for the day (and in the case of hourly limited tickets, also for the hour) for which it was issued. The exception are special tickets, the description of which indicates otherwise.
10. The time of the last entry to the exhibition is determined individually for each exhibition and published on the Institution's website, at the ticket offices, in the information desk area and at the booking office.
11. Tickets are sold or issued free of charge at least 10 minutes before entering  the exhibition or the start of a guided tour, museum lesson or other event, and 10 minutes before the last entry. A  member of the WRC staff may, at the request of the visitor, issue a ticket for a period shorter than 10 minutes, but shall not be liable for the consequences of the purchaser being late for the designated entry time. The exception are special events, the sale of which may be completed at other times.
12. Entry tickets for exhibitions entitle visitors to visit without a guide, unless the exhibition description indicates that the ticket includes a guided tour.
13. The range of tickets sold through different sales channels, such as the online shop, vending machines, and ticket offices may vary. These channels have separate ticket pools. Tickets  may not be available in one sales channel and may be available in another. A different price list and different closing date for sales of the events in question may also be available in each sales channel.
14. Tickets ordered via the website must be paid for in accordance with the available electronic payment methods within the indicated period from the date of booking. Failure to pay for tickets will result in their automatic cancellation and no tickets being generated for entry to the WRC exhibitions or participation in the event.  The purchase of tickets online is covered by separate regulations.
15. Headsets and audio guides are also available as part of the WRC's offer which, as an additional service to tickets, can be purchased through the online channel, at ticket offices and at the booking office.

1. Visitors are required to declare their entitlement to a concession or exemption prior to the sale. A relevant proof of entitlement must be prepared before approaching the ticket office. Once the tickets have been purchased, claims related to the subsequent presentation of documents entitling to a discount will not be taken into account.
2. Visitors are required to present the original valid document or its electronic equivalent entitling them to a concession or exemption when purchasing a ticket at the ticket office. In the case of tickets purchased online, the verification of entitlement is carried out by exhibition staff.
3. In the case of events organised by the Castle which include a guiding service, such as tours, guided tours included in the price, museum lessons, special events, annual ticket, the statutory entitlements concerning free admission to exhibitions do not apply, with the exception of guardians of school groups who collect tickets for purchased school activities. Anyone holding the statutory entitlement to free entry to exhibitions is entitled to purchase a reduced ticket for the above forms of visit.
4. A tour of the WRC on special terms, in addition to the list of entitlements to concessions and free tickets included in p. IV, is governed by individual bilateral agreements. The list of authorised entities and the agreed tour rules are available from the Head of the Direct Tourist Service Team.

Concessionary tickets are available to:

1. Pupils of schools in the educational system, students, doctoral students and students of colleges of social service employees from countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA), the Swiss Confederation and holders of the EURO26 and ISIC cards.
2. Pupils of schools run by social organisations abroad, registered in the database kept by an authorised entity subordinate to the minister responsible for education and upbringing, during the period of learning Polish, history, geography, Polish culture or other subjects taught in Polish, no longer than until they reach the age of 18.
3. Pupils of schools operating in the educational systems of other countries during the period of learning Polish, history, geography, Polish culture or other subjects taught in Polish, no longer than until they reach the age of 18.
4. Pupils of Polish sections of schools operating in the educational systems of other countries, no longer than until they reach the age of 18.
5. Pupils of European Schools operating on the basis of the Convention on the Statute of the European Schools, drawn up in Luxembourg on 21 June 1994 (Journal of Laws of 2005, item 10) learning Polish, history, geography, Polish culture or other subjects taught in Polish, no longer than until they reach the age of 18.
6. Teachers of schools and educational institutions, juvenile detention centers and shelters for minors, schools operating in the Member States of the European Union, the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) and the Swiss Confederation, and holders of the ITIC Card. Teachers of schools run by social organisations abroad, registered in the database run by an authorised entity subordinate to the minister responsible for education and upbringing; teachers teaching Polish, history, geography, Polish culture or other subjects taught in Polish in schools operating in the educational systems of other countries, Polish sections operating in the educational systems of other countries, in European schools operating on the basis of the Convention on the Statute of the European Schools, drawn up in Luxembourg on 21 June 1994.
7. Persons over 65 years old, pensioners and social pensioners, who are citizens of the Member States of the European Union, the Swiss Confederation and the Member States of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) - parties to the agreement on the European Economic Area.
8. Persons with disabilities accompanied by carers (one carer).
9. Veterans and Repressed Persons.
10. Members of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA).
11. Individuals awarded the badge "For the care of monuments", the honorary badge "Meritorious cultural activist", the honorary badge "Meritorious for Polish culture" or awarded with the honorary title "Meritorious for National Culture".
12. Individuals with the nationwide Large Family Card, the Krakow 3+ Family Card and the Krakow Card.
13. Tour guides of tour groups visiting the WRC exhibitions.
14. Academic lecturers at public and private universities.
15. Parents and carers benefiting from the WRC family discount during its period of validity (if visiting with one child under the age of 18, one carer is entitled to purchase a discounted ticket; if visiting with more than one child, the discount applies to two carers).
16. Documents proving entitlement to purchase a concessionary ticket are:
    a)      School, student or doctoral student ID, ISIC card (International Student Identity Card), EURO26 card.
    b)      ITIC international teacher ID. 
    c)      Service ID for: teachers of schools and educational institutions, including public higher education institutions, juvenile detention centers and shelters for minors issued by an authorised body.
    d)      Pensioner's or social pensioner's ID or a document confirming age.
    e)      ID or certificate confirming disability or degree of disability.
    f)       Certificate or ID confirming veteran's rights or status of a repressed person.
    g)      AICA Membership Card.
    h)      ID confirming the award of the badge "For the care of monuments", the honorary badge "Meritorious cultural activist", the honorary badge "Meritorious for Polish culture" or the honorary title "Meritorious for National Culture".
    i)       Large Family Card, Krakow 3+ Family Card and Krakow Card.  
    j)       Written consent or individual authorisation of the Director of the Wawel Royal Castle  entitling the holder to purchase a concessionary ticket.

 There is a fee exemption for the purchase of a ticket by:

1.  Individuals awarded the Order of the White Eagle, the Military Order of Virtuti Militari, the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, and the Medal for "Meritorious Culture Gloria Artis".
2. Employees of museums included in the State Register of Museums and employees of museums included in the List of Museums of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, operating on the basis of a statute or regulations agreed with the minister responsible for culture and national heritage published on the ministerial websites (the list is not identical to the State Register of Museums).
3. Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) or the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).  
4. Members of the Association of Art Historians.
5. Members of the Society of Enthusiasts of  History and Monuments of Krakow.
6. Persons with the Polish Card.
7. Veterans and injured veterans.
8. Journalists.
9. Persons with disabilities together with their parents or actual carers who hold the Krakow Card for Families with a Child with Disability (one carer per child).
10. Guides with  a valid licence to guide tourist groups through the WRC's exhibitions and outdoor trails.
11. Children up to the age of 7 (ages 0-6), until their seventh birthday.
12. Guardians of school groups (1 guardian per 10 pupils).
13. Academics together with students in order to participate in educational activities in accordance with agreements made or the approval obtained from the Management.
14. Other persons authorised by the Director of the Wawel Royal Castle to enter free of charge.
15.  Documents proving entitlement to the fee waiver are:
    a)      Card confirming the award of the Order of the White Eagle, the Military Order of Virtuti Militari, the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, the Medal for "Meritorious Service to Culture Gloria Artis".
    b)      An official ID card for employees of museums entered in the State Register of Museums and museums included in the List of Museums of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, operating on the basis of a statute or regulations agreed with the minister responsible for culture and national heritage published on the ministerial website (the list is not identical to the State Register of Museums).
    c)      ICOM Membership Card or ICOMOS Membership Card.
    d)      Membership card of the Association of Art Historians. 
    e)      Membership card of the Society of Enthusiasts of History and Monuments of Krakow. 
    f)       Polish Card.
    g)      Veteran's or Injured Veteran's ID card.
    h)      Journalist or press card.
    i)       Krakow Card for Families with a Child with Disability.
    j)       ID confirming the status of a guide authorised to show WRC’s exhibitions and outdoor trails at Wawel Royal Castle.
    k)      Document confirming the age of the child (in cases of dispute).
    l)       Written consent or individual authorisation of the Director of the Wawel Royal Castle to waive the fee.

1. Applications for tour bookings are accepted by the booking office tel. 12 4221697; email: rezerwacja@wawelzamek.pl.
2. Guided tours "on request" for organised groups and individual tourists are only possible upon prior reservation.
3. Individual tourists can only book tickets together with a guide service. Possible booking of tickets only, without guide service, is made by the Reservation Office for persons with special needs and for groups of more than 5 persons. Reservations for individuals, other than those described above, are made as far as the office is able. In other cases, the online purchase of tickets is recommended.
4. Written reservations are accepted no later than 14 days before the date of the visit, orders placed later (up to the day before the visit) require telephone or personal contact. When this is possible (availability of tickets and guide), the Reservation Office can accept a booking for the current day.
5. Reservations can be made by an adult.
6. Notification will be confirmed no later than 10 days after receipt of the order.
7. In the case of guided group tours, groups (with the exception of pre-school and primary school children) of more than 8 people are required to use headphones during the tour. Exemptions from this obligation are possible in exceptional circumstances by decision of the DORT Manager or Team Leaders.
8. Failure to make a booking by the deadline will result in cancellation of the booking, with the ordering party being charged for the cost of the tickets, guide and museum lesson. Cancellation of a booking (including part of it) without financial consequences may take place up to three days before the day of the tour; cancellation at a later date will result in the client being charged the full cost of the booking. On an individual basis, by means of a complaint by e-mail, the possibility of waiving the charge due to legitimate cases of hardship is considered. If payment for the booking has not been made in advance, it is possible – also on the day of the tour – to change the number of tickets booked (up to a maximum of 10% of the number).
9. The right to conduct guided tours of the Castle's exhibitions and trails is vested only in verified internal or external guides, selected in a PPL procedure, possessing a current licence – registered in the list of WRC guides and provided with a personal identification badge of the WRC and complying with the Rules and Regulations for the Provision of Guiding and Educational Services in force.
10. Only verified educators, selected through recruitment, have valid authorisations – entered on the list of WRC educators and provided with a personal WRC ID badge and complying with the applicable Regulations on the Provision of Guide and Educational Services – have the right to conduct educational and interpretative events in the Castle.
11. The right to conduct educational and interpretative events in the Castle, in addition to the Castle's employees, is held by persons authorised to do so via an appropriate cooperation agreement, volunteer agreement or civil contract.
12. If WRC employees discover that an individual or group is being guided by persons who are not duly authorised in accordance with clauses 9 to 11, they may call for the guided tour to be discontinued. In the event of non-compliance, a member of the Castle Guard may be summoned to ensure that an unauthorised person leaves the exhibition.
13. There is a restriction on the number of people in a group at individual exhibitions (see the Booking Office for details). Organised groups with more than the maximum number of persons indicated for an exhibition will be divided into smaller groups.

1. A refund of an unused ticket can only be made:
   a)      In the event that, for technical or organisational reasons, there is a shutdown or early closure of the exhibition, recorded and confirmed after the ticket sale at the ticket office (not applicable to combination tickets),
   b)      In the event that a special tour, outdoor tour, guided tour or museum lesson is cancelled for technical or organisational reasons, registered and confirmed after the ticket sale at the ticket office,
   c)      After consideration of the complaint – in justified cases of emergency, making it impossible to continue the tour.  
2. In other situations, not covered in point VI, it is not possible to refund the ticket purchased. In exceptional circumstances a ticket, with the approval of the DORT Manager or the Team Manager, may be used at another time.
3. In justified cases of emergency (e.g. sudden illness), individual tourists may return an exhibition ticket purchased at the ticket office of the WRC no later than half an hour before the visit for which the ticket is issued (except for reasons on the part of the WRC resulting in the unavailability of a particular exhibition or other event). The decision to consider a case as a legitimate random situation rests solely with the WRC. If you wish to return your ticket at a later date than indicated above, it is necessary to lodge a complaint, processed within 14 days.
4. A ticket purchased online is non-refundable. In exceptional cases of force majeure, considered on a case-by-case basis, tickets purchased are refundable no later than 24 hours before the date of the visit or participation in the event. The return can be registered via the form available at https://bilety.wawel.krakow.pl/index.php/product (except for reasons on the part of the WRC resulting in the unavailability of a particular exhibition or other event). Special cases are dealt with on a case-by-case basis by e-mail complaint for up to 14 days. Tickets purchased online are not exchangeable for tickets at a different price, for a different tour or event, or for a different tour or event date.
5. It is not possible to refund tickets for tours and combined events (relating to more than one exhibition), such as, e.g., the Passionate Ticket. In the case of events and routes, the only exception is for reasons on the part of the WRC resulting in the non-availability of the event or route. Non-availability of an exhibition or part of an exhibition on a given date does not constitute grounds for the return of annual and combined tickets.
6. A ticket purchased at the ticket office can only be returned on presentation of the ticket and a receipt or invoice or proof of purchase by card. 
7. The Castle is not responsible for the non-use of tickets or for the impossibility of taking part in a tour or event for reasons not attributable to the Castle.

1. Visitors to exhibitions are subject to the regulations contained in the Regulations of Wawel Hill, and at exhibitions it is prohibited to:
   a)      bring in sharp objects, weapons, ammunition and other tools and devices which could endanger life or health;
   b)      talk on a mobile phone;
   c)      touch exhibits and interior design elements;
   d)      step on carpets and sit on furniture;
   e)      visit after consumption of alcohol, drugs or any other similarly acting agent;
   f)       smoke (including electronic cigarettes) and use open flames;
   g)      consume food and drink;
   h)      slide on floors;
   i)       bring sound equipment into the exhibitions and the entire area of Wawel Hill without the permission of the WRC.
2. Before entering the exhibitions, it is compulsory to leave rucksacks, bags, handbags and any other items exceeding any of the following dimensions in the luggage room: base 35 cm, height 25 cm x width 15 cm, baby carriers on a frame, umbrellas, walking poles, pushchairs.
3. The Castle is not responsible for sensitive or valuable items left in luggage handed over to the storage room or elsewhere on the Castle premises.
4. Tickets purchased at the ticket office or ticket machine must be presented to the Exhibition Reception Clerk at the entrance to the exhibition or event. In the case of an annual ticket, you must also present an identity document matching the details shown on the ticket.
5. If the ticket is purchased electronically, validation is based on reading the code from the paper ticket printout or from the display of the mobile device – once the online order has been paid for, the sales system generates the e-tickets, which are sent as a pdf file to the email address specified in the order. If you purchase a concessionary ticket or take a free ticket, you must also present a document entitling you to the relevant concession.
6. The exhibitions should be visited according to the current tour direction. The passage of groups from room to room is regulated by a member of the Castle staff on duty. Priority is given to the group leaving the room; passing groups in the aisles is not allowed. The exceptions to this are the educational classes organised by the Education Department and the Art Interpretation Department, where groups are led by educators according to an individual movement pattern.
7. Only single guided groups of visitors are allowed in selected halls of the WRC at the same time. This should be guided by staff, including the exhibition supervisors. Two groups can stay in the Casimir the Great Hall and the Deputies' Hall, and three groups can stay in the Senators' Hall at the same time. On the Castle grounds you must obey the remarks and instructions of the Castle staff and the Castle Guards.
8. The Castle Guard, on the basis of its powers under the Act on the Protection of Persons and Property, has the right to intervene and escort out of the visiting area persons who do not observe the rules of visiting the Wawel Royal Castle exhibitions, behave in a way that threatens the safety of the collections or persons, disturb the order of visiting other visitors, or violate the generally accepted norms of behaviour in public places.
9. In the permanent and temporary exhibitions of the Castle, visitors are entitled to take amateur souvenir photographs and films - without the use of flashguns, tripods or so-called selfie-sticks.
10. In order to enable people with disabilities to visit the exhibitions, the Castle can make wheelchairs available to visitors. Those using this option return the wheelchair to the place where it was made available.
11. Persons with disabilities may visit the exhibition in the company of assistance dogs (within the meaning of Art. 2 pt. 11 of the Act of 27 August 1997 on Vocational and Social Rehabilitation and the Employment of Persons with Disabilities (i.e. Journal of Laws of 2020, item 426 as amended) and the Regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of 1 April 2010 on issuing certificates confirming the status of a guide dog (Journal of Laws of 2010, No 64, item 399).
12. WRC carries out special guided tours for groups of Israeli young people carried out within the framework of the Agreement concluded between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the State of Israel on cooperation in the field of study visits for organised groups of young people, signed in Warsaw on 22 March 2023.

1. In the event that a state of emergency is declared in the territory of the Republic of Poland, guided by the statutory obligation to secure and conserve the collections and the desire to ensure maximum protection for staff and visitors, the Castle may introduce special regulations concerning the number of people on tour and participating in events and the manner of movement and rules of behaviour in the exhibition area, in accordance with the regulations currently in force.