Royal Private Apartments

Lonely Planet review

Wawel Royal Castle is now a museum containing five separate sections, each requiring a different ticket that is valid for a specific time. There's a limited daily quota of tickets for some parts, so arrive early if you want to see everything or phone ahead to reserve. You will need a ticket even on 'free' days.

Enter the castle's Royal Private Apartments at the middle of the eastern side of the courtyard, and go up marble steps to the 1st floor. In a way, it's a continuation of the previous trip, but leading through somewhat more intimate interiors, thus giving an insight into how the monarchs and their families once lived. The dozen or so apartments are visited on with a guide, which is included in the ticket price. English-language tours depart at least once an hour. As in the Royal Chambers, you'll see plenty of magnificent old tapestries, mostly northern French and Flemish, hanging on the walls. The collection, largely assembled by King Zygmunt August, once numbered 360 pieces, but only 138 survive. Even so, this is probably the largest collection of its kind in Europe, and one of Wawel's most precious possessions. Other highlights include the so-called Hen's Foot, Jadwiga's gemlike chapel in the northeast tower, and the sumptuous Gdańsk-made furniture in the Alchemy Room and annexe, including a 400kg cupboard.